by Rob Blaze
On Halloween night, the Mint’s legendary stage became a portal to Phish’s mythic universe. “The Great Divide,” Southern California’s premier Phish tribute, didn’t just play three sets of Phish’s vast songbook—they resurrected the band’s most sacred ritual: the full Gamehendge saga, complete with a Halloween-themed narration that would make Colonel Forbin proud.
“The Great Divide” had dropped a breadcrumb days earlier, posting Phish’s 1995 Halloween poster, the year Phish played The Who’s “Quadrophenia” album in its entirety. Fans wondered if “The Great Divide” would be performing this album as their Halloween surprise? The answer arrived in layers of misdirection worthy of the Vermont pranksters themselves.
Set one was pure fire. “Axilla” snarled out of the gate, followed by a breezy “NICU” and a “Free” that floated like a blimp. “Guyute” showcased the band’s intricate musicianship, while a “Meatstick” dedicated to Dodgers unicorn Shohei Ohtani had the room chanting in Japanese, “Tou tou atama ga shock.” The peak came with a “David Bowie” that twisted through tension and release before “Divided Sky” brought everyone temporarily back to Earth with a soft landing.
Then the trickery began. Set two opened with the Beatles’ “Back in the USSR,” sparking speculation of a White Album tribute. A searing “Drowned” from Quadrophenia followed—direct homage to ’95. There were setlists on stage, titled, “Halloween Through the Years,” featuring 11 different songs from past Halloween shows. Classic bait-and-switch. Instead, the band launched into an epic treat— “Gamehendge!”
Set three—blasting off… “Sand” grooved into “Mercury” (perhaps with a “Plasma” tease?), then “Roggae” offered a moment of lunar calm. “2001” launched us into space, “Light” explored improvisational galaxies, and the closer “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” reminded us what space smells like. The encore—“Run Like an Antelope”—was a full-throttle barn-burner that definitely “shifted our souls into high gear.”
The light show was fantastic—Billy Sunday bathed the room in Kuroda-esque splendor. Strobes sliced through fog and beams of color bounced around the room. Costumes were Phish-level epic—winners were “Spock’s Brain” (yes, from the obscure Phish tune), and a manic “Beaker” (from The Muppets). Picking the winners must have been hard, as there were so many great ones including Mary Poppins, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and a Hamburglar even planted a real cheeseburger beside Justin’s pedalboard—the type of prank Trey would absolutely love.
Over the years, the Halloween shows where Phish performed classic albums in their entirety have become some of their most revered performances. The Great Divide didn’t just honor the tradition; they reinvented it, proving the spirit of Burlington is alive in L.A.
Stay connected with The Great Divide, spread the word to your Phish phriends, and don’t miss their next show…
Setlist:
Set 1: Axilla, NICU, Free, Guyute, Meatstick, Chalk Dust Torture, Ghost, David Bowie, Divided Sky
Set 2: Back in the USSR > Drowned > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > The Lizards > Tela > Wilson > AC/DC Bag > Forbin’s Ascent > Famous Mockingbird > The Sloth > The Final Hurrah > Possum
Set 3: Sand, Mercury > Plasma tease > Roggae, 2001, Light, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.
Encore: Run Like an Antelope
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