Nectar's Burlington, VT
tour
notes
Harpua contained "Charge!," Happy Trails, Jingle Jangle Jingle, and Mike's Song teases from Page as well as a Timber (Jerry) quote from Trey. One recording in circulation contains the first set, as listed above. Another contains the above list for sets II (incomplete) and III. Since songs are repeated within the list, it is likely that one is mislabeled. This was the last Phish show at Nectar’s and the master copy of sets II and III is specifically labeled as such; the recording circulating as the first set may be from the night before or from another show entirely. Also, the band wished the audience good night after Harpua and made several references to it being the “last song” so this is likely a final set from another show where Foam may have been the encore. Since an exact date cannot be ascertained, we will continue to list as is.
YEM was preceded by two unknown jazz songs featuring the band as a trio with Trey on drums because Fish was absent. Fish arrived during the second jazz song and played trombone. This version of Sanity was the fast version. I Didn't Know was subsequently followed by a medley that included portions of Killer Joe, Low Rider, Back in Black, Godzilla, and Iron Man, as well as a rap funk. It is possible that this medley took place on 3/14/89. Free Bird was played for the first time since March 6, 1987 (155 shows). The third set was pieced together from Mike's notes and the source of this setlist is phish.com.

This show featured the first known Phish performance of If I Only Had a Brain, which featured Fish on trombone. Alumni contained additional lyrics. During the pause in Letter to Jimmy Page, a local band, Eyeburn, traded off punk rock jams. This setlist is incomplete.

Satin Doll was dedicated to Fish's t-shirt. McGrupp featured Fish on trombone. Mockingbird featured a "Paul Languedoc/Duct Tape Rap." Fluffhead was preceded by "Sailor in Jeopardy," which included Popeye and Jeopardy! themes. "Sailor" was then played as a jazz version. Fluffhead was introduced as “Lunkhead” and was dedicated to Mike (and his new mountain bike) and to Fish’s newly-shaved beard. The songs listed here are believed to be just one set. The setlist for set II (and set III if three sets were played) is unknown. The source of this setlist is phish.com.
These versions of Icculus and Sanity appear on the Junta re-release. During Icculus, Trey screamed "This is Red Rocks. This is The Edge!" Sanity was jokingly attributed to Jimmy Buffet. BBFCFM featured a tease of the Flintstones theme and Camel Walk contained a Sanity tease from Mike. This setlist is incomplete.
Mike teased Moby Dick before On Your Way Down. McGrupp featured Fish on trombone.
Mockingbird was aborted and had to be restarted due to error.  Fire contained DEG teases from Trey. GTBT was dedicated to Don Drive and East Coast Printers. I Didn't Know had a false start, lyrics changed to reference "Daubs" and "Seth," and featured Fish on trombone.
This show featured the first known Phish performance of Satin Doll.  Fluffhead's lyrics were changed to "sure got some Bette Davis eyes" and the song later contained a "Get up John-Boy" quote (in reference to The Waltons). The jam out of Ya Mar featured Jah Roy on vocals. During the jam, Jah Roy quoted lines from many famous reggae tunes, including One Love, Three Little Birds, and Stir It Up. I Didn't Know featured Fish on trombone. A-Train featured a Flintstones theme tease from Trey. This setlist is likely incomplete.
By request, extensive teasing of Iron Man preceded La Grange. The YEM vocal jam was based on the word “down” and contained teases of When the Levee Breaks. BBFCFM contained teases of the Flintstones theme and London Bridge Is Falling Down. This show is full of stage banter throughout, focused on the Dance Contest that took place during BBFCFM and Swing Low, “Art Funk” and “Foul, Reek and Fecal.” “Spunky Billington” (Ninja Mike) & Magoo from Ninja Custodian won the seemingly rigged dance contest and received the grand prize of Phish T-Shirts and a $20 bill. The listing for the third set may be incomplete. Some copies of this show in circulation are mislabeled as 6/18/88.
Ya Mar and the ensuing jam featured vocals from Jah Roy; the jam contained One Love quotes from Jah Roy and Trey. Halley’s Comet featured vocals from Richard Wright. I Didn't Know featured Wright on drums and Fish on trombone. BBFCFM contained Flintstones theme teases from Trey. The master recordings confirm this listing as the correct performance order. Many recordings of this show circulate with an incorrect song order, an incorrect date (May 25, 1988) and an incorrect venue (Ian’s Farm, Hebron, NY).
This setlist is incomplete; it is also possible this is the second of three sets. Before YEM, Trey declined a request from an audience member, “Del,” and notes that: “Last night was Del request night because you graduated... if you get a Masters we’ll do another request for you.” YEM was dedicated to audience member “Ed” with Trey remarking that he wrote the beginning of YEM while in class with him. I Didn't Know featured Fish on trombone.
This show included the first known Phish performance of St. Thomas. Sneakin' Sally contained DEG teases. Prior to Letter to Jimmy Page, Trey announced that per "Del's" request, they were going to play Letter to Jimmy Page as a band, and then Fish would play it by himself (telling the crowd that Fish didn't know it). YEM was dedicated to Del and La Grange was dedicated to Mike. Bike featured a Fish trombone solo. The date for this show may be incorrect; note that Trey referred to Tela as a debut at this show, though it actually debuted on 3/12/88.
Per phish.com: "The information on the flyer has been adopted that there were three shows 5/22, 5/23 and 5/24 and the complete 5/21/88 setlist has been adopted as 5/22/88, for which there was currently no setlist on file."
Happy birthday was performed in a "dub style" and was played for "Christa" and "Jen." The recording in circulation cuts in the middle of AC/DC Bag; this setlist may be incomplete.
I Didn't Know featured Fish on trombone. This setlist is likely incomplete.
There was a show on this date, but recordings do not circulate. However, mislabeled recordings circulate with this date are actually the Junta release party from 5/9/89.
This was John Paluska’s first Phish show and also the first known live Gamehendge, complete with narration between songs from McGrupp through Possum. This show contained the first known Phish version of Jump Monk and the first known versions of Tela and Forbin’s (although on 5/21/88, Trey called Tela a debut). Antelope contained Dixie teases from Trey. The members of Phish were, by accounts, at the Frank Zappa concert up the street at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium before this Nectar’s gig. This setlist is incomplete.
HYHU was teased prior to the start of the second set. Antelope contained "Moses Heaps" and Moses Brown" references. Bike included one verse of Love You and a trombone solo from Fish.
After Dear Mrs. Reagan, Trey introduced "Alex," a new waitress at Nectar's. I Didn't know featured Fish on trombone. Happy Birthday was dedicated to Trey's sister Kristy, who was running lights for the show, "Roz," and "Meg." He brought Kristy, "Roz," and Del Martin (because "Meg" was not there) on stage. This show featured the first known Phish performance of Phase Dance. Mockingbird also made its debut at this show and was played without Forbin’s. Before Whipping Post, Trey introduced Lizards as "Where Have All the Lizards Gone?" Page teased the theme from I Dream of Jeannie in Lizards. Suzy was stopped in its intro with Trey jokingly saying "good night" before restarting the song. Trey teased DEG in Good Times Bad Times.
The listed setbreaks may be incorrect. Happy Birthday, played in a decidedly 'dub' style, was dedicated to “Spup.” This show marked the first known Phish performances of Rocky Top and Terrapin. Flat Fee was teased after Antelope.
Icculus was dedicated to Paul Languedoc’s mother on her birthday. This show featured the first known Phish performance of Jesus Just Left Chicago.
This show marked the first known performances of The Curtain With, The Sloth, Fee, and Flat Fee, as well as the first known Phish performance of La Grange. Lushington did not contain any lyrics.
This show included some funny stage banter, including Trey’s announcement after TMWSIY: “That was called ‘The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday... and I’m going to get my head sharpened.” Lushington did not contain any lyrics. A set break was announced after Ya Mar, so this is the complete first set. The songs listed as in the second set are believed to have been performed in that set, though it is unknown whether more songs were also performed in the second set, and if there was a third set as well. This show featured the first known performances of The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, Divided Sky, Harpua, and Bundle of Joy, as well as the first known Phish performance of Avenu Malkenu. The keyword for Makisupa was "Woke up in the morning, dioxin on my head / Woke up in the afternoon Gaddafi in my bed."
This show featured the debut of Fuck Your Face and the first known Phish performances of Take the ‘A’ Train, Timber (Jerry), The Ballad of Curtis Loew, and Come On (Part One). 'A' Train featured Jeff Friedberg on saxophone. The Fuck Your Face debut was in dispute for many years, though the Phish.com setlist file seems to confirm that the song was indeed performed on this date.

Based on comments made by the band during the show, it appears that there may have been a third set. However, only the first two sets are known to circulate. This gig featured the first known performances of Ride Captain Ride and Sparks. YEM contained Wot and John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt quotes.

The setlist for this show is unknown.
Skippy and Fluffhead featured The Dude of Life on vocals. The jam after Camel Walk may have been Back Porch Boogie Blues. Spanish Flea included an introduction of the band members. Don’t Want You No More was not performed in its entirety, as it lacked the final lyrics. The lengthy percussion jam featured a guest appearance from Marc Daubert. Mike recalls that there were approximately 200 people in the audience. This gig featured the first known version of Slave to the Traffic Light and Fluffhead, the first known Phish versions of Fire, Don't Want You No More, Cities, and Skippy the Wondermouse, and the only known Phish version of Spanish Flea. This performance was on the upstairs level of Nectar's.