Auto Mechanic in North Charleston, SC

On Sunday, July 13, Phish returned ot North Charleston, S.C. for their third and final performance at the North Charleston Coliseum. With their first two nights at the venue they’ve frequented since 1995, the legendary jam quartet locked into a mid-tour flow state and served up shows packed with the same sort of expansive jams and eclectic, eye-catching setlists that have made their Summer Tour so consistently engaging. Sunday’s show continued to build on this momentum with more surprising selections and lengthy explorations of old classics from a band that’s clearly enjoying the ride.

Phish stepped onstage last night with a romp through “Runaway Jim,” establishing a lighthearted and loose air that brought some buoyancy to the melodic intricacy of “Foam.” “Wolfman’s Brother” rolled in like a great exhale, stretching out past the 15-minute mark as the group rode the first set staple’s loping funk groove off into their eighth all-time performance of the undersung Sigma Oasis standout. Over a subtle jazzy flutter from John Fishman and a convincing Jaco Pastorious impersonation from Mike Gordon, the band unfurled 12 minutes of subversive rhythmic change-ups, clearly relishing every moment of the rarity.

As they crossed to the set’s second half, Phish followed their jazz impulse to the pointillistic changes of “Stash,” which centered a nimble melodic duet from Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio. That theme crashed into the slowly rolling groove of Gordon’s original “555,” which in turn gave way to their first treatment of the James Gang’s “Walk Away” since July 2023, complete with lead vocals from McConnell. To wrap up the first frame, the band turned up a 13-minute exploration of the Ghosts of the Forest standout “Drift While You’re Sleeping,” which sent the crowd off into the intermission with a dreamy, contemplative energy that recalled Friday’s unexpected “Sightless Escape.”

Phish found their footing in the second set with a 17-minute take on Anastasio’s Burn It Down original “Set Your Soul Free,” led by some dynamic effects deployments by the guitarist. In keeping with the one-two punch structure that’s kicked off some of their most thrilling second sets of this Summer Tour, the group swiftly moved into the intense and unmistakable opening of “Tweezer,” which started funkier than recent iterations (like Manchester, N.H.’s “Tweezerfest”) as it leaned back on some heavy slaps from Gordon. After settling into a lurching rhythm, Anastasio built heat with chunky riffs and released pressure with softer melodic lines, dancing in an atmospheric mood on the cusp of powerful peaks for a whopping 29 minutes. When they pivoted into “Ghost,” the quartet finally reached those promised heights with the evening’s searing, shreddy apex.

Phish capped off Sunday’s performance with a steady descent through TV on the Radio’s “Golden Age,” “A Life Beyond the Dream” and a blissed-out “Slave to the Traffic Light,” followed by an encore of the oddball fun-forward selections “Meatstick” and “Turtle in the Clouds” and a cathartic finale of “Tweezer Reprise.” They’ll return to the stage tomorrow, July 15, for the first of two nights at Philadeliphia’s TD Pavilion at The Mann, then continue on the road through the end of the month with standout stagings like two nights at Queens, N.Y.’s beloved Forest Hills Stadium on July 22 and 23 and tour-closing three-night return to Saratoga Springs’ Broadview Stage at SPAC from July 25-27. Following their Summer Tour, the band will embark on a seven-stop fall series from Sept. 13-21. Find tickets and more information here.

Read on for Sunday’s full setlist.

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PhishNorth Charleston Coliseum – North Charleston, S.C.7/11/25Set I: Runaway Jim, Foam, Wolfman’s Brother, Thread, Stash, 555 > Walk Away, Drift While You’re SleepingSet II: Set Your Soul Free, Tweezer -> Ghost, Golden Age, A Life Beyond The Dream, Slave to the Traffic LightEncore: Meatstick, Turtle in the Clouds, Tweezer RepriseSetlist via phish.net

Phish was two-thirds of the way to a memorable Charleston run as fans surrounded the North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday for the weekend’s final hurrah.

Friday and Saturday had been apt representations of why people are praising this tour—big jams, rarely played songs, a generally free-wheeling approach. With the “Sunday show” mystique adding to the anticipation, the Coliseum was particularly loud as the house lights went down just before 8:00.

“Runaway Jim” was first out of the gates, with the band speeding through a quick jam to get to “Foam”. The two songs have remained a reliable early-show pairing since the early 90’s, and their appearance on a 2025 setlist showed that the band is still willing and able to nod to its past. Nowaday, when the band chooses to tackle the complicated fugues of an early Trey Anastasio composition, the excitement of hearing an old classic is often met with the disappointing reminder why the band doesn’t play it anymore (sorry, “Glide”, you’ve never recovered from Coventry). Luckily for the Charleston crowd, that was not the case here: Trey made it through all of the sections without derailing the train at Flub City.

Page McConnell’s piano chords were instantly recognized as “Wolfman’s Brother”, the band and the crowd both antsy to groove after remembering just how difficult it is to dance to “Foam”. The band delivered the first exploration of the night here with patient interplay that saw Trey opting for rhythmic stabs rather than wailing high notes. The funky shuffle dipped into mellow waters before building back up to the song’s theme (with proper Trey heroics for good measure).

“Thread” was tasked with the job of being a less familiar-new song following a raging classic, and the drop-off in audience reaction was noticeable, but the band was undeterred. The song is definitely one of the weirder, darker songs that has come from Trey’s recent cache of sunny tunes about love, ocean, and waves, and this version leaned into that darkness. The band began to mimic a malfunctioning UFO before stopping on a dime, ending the surprising first-set interplanetary trip. The band had a laugh, with Trey adding, “We hope that was as much fun for all of you as it was for us…don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.”

“Stash” was another well-played classic, with the band hitting the changes before waltzing around the main theme. Trey had a few missteps, but all was forgiven with a strong ending. The solid version of “555” that followed begged the question, “Why is Mike Gordon only singing one song a night?”

“Walk Away” continued another first set trend as of late: a rarity to keep the setlist hounds and song-chasers coming back for more. The James Gang classic was appropriately incinerated, with Page’s vocals sounding just as sweet and radio friendly as the original.

For many, the set ended at the opening notes of “Drift While You’re Sleeping” as hordes of fans headed to concession early rather than take in the newer Trey song. But for those that stuck around, the multi-part composition was rendered admirably—whether you like it or not is a whole other thing.

“Set Your Soul Free” started off the final set of the weekend, quickly giving way to a jam that mellowed out quickly before picking up steam around a Trey-led climax.

Then, the inevitable: the Charleston “Tweezer”.

The jam started off as a synopsis of the musical theme of the night: full band interplay with a solid layer of mellow funk beneath it all. Around the ten-minute mark, it shifted as Page’s synth drones washed over Trey’s sustain notes. Jon Fishman picked up the beat, and the once-calming jam became an aggressive overload of grimy tension. In time, it wound down with a cascade of delay note flutters, clocking a little less than half an hour by the time “Ghost” appeared.

This “Ghost” continued the eerie, elastic funk of “Tweezer” before Trey’s tremolo notes made every guitarist in the house either want to quit or start practicing more.

TV On The Radio’s “Golden Age” covered similar ground as the previous two jams, but with a two-chord ending section that saw the band rising to the sort of peak that can make a set feel monumental.

“A Life Beyond The Dream” signaled the end of the nearly hour-long, three-song jam suite. The band knows how to deliver the song well, and it has the effect of the previous night’s “Joy”: you don’t have to like the song, but you can appreciate the moment (especially when Trey and LD Chris Kuroda are hitting the peaks during the solo).

“Slave To The Traffic Light” brought Phish back to the hallowed ground of its early material, as the band ended the set with a standard but solid performance of the classic piece.

After a night of watching the crowd in the Coliseum dance their asses off, it was the band’s turn. First, “Meatstick”—Trey and Mike refused to let the “Macarena”-era dance trend and (and failed Guinesss World Records attempt) die, doing their best Meatstick choreography as the audience sang and danced along. Then, “Turtle In The Clouds”—which gave Trey and Mike a chance to do that weird art dance jig thing that consistently leaves both them and the crowd laughing.

But like so many great multi-night runs prior, it was time to end this thing right with “Tweezer Reprise”. The Coliseum erupted as Phish’s most adrenalized three minutes of music pulverized the delighted faithful one last time.

Bows and smiles adjourned the evening, ending a weekend that will make a strong case as the best Charleston run yet.

Below, check out the setlist from Sunday night’s Phish finale at North Charleston Coliseum. Revisit our coverage of the rest of Phish’s summer 2025 run at North Charleston Coliseum here: Night 1 (7/11/25) | Night 2 (7/12/25). Find a list of upcoming Phish tour dates and grab your tickets here.

You can stream or download audio of this show—and every Phish show dating back to 2003—via LivePhish here. LivePhish is also offering nightly pay-per-view webcasts of Phish’s ongoing summer tour, which is set to hit Philadelphia, PA on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 15th and 16th. Order your LivePhish webcasts for Philly or check out the various discounted bundles available here.

[Editor’s note: Live For Live Music is a LivePhish affiliate. Ordering a webcast/download or subscribing to LivePhish+ via the links on this page helps support our work covering Phish and the rest of the live music world. Thanks for reading!]

Setlist [via phish.net]: Phish | North Charleston Coliseum | North Charleston, SC | 7/13/25 Set One: Runaway Jim, Foam, Wolfman’s Brother, Thread, Stash, 555 > Walk Away, Drift While You’re Sleeping Set Two: Set Your Soul Free, Tweezer -> Ghost, Golden Age, A Life Beyond The Dream, Slave to the Traffic Light Encore: Meatstick, Turtle in the Clouds, Tweezer Reprise Notes: Trey teased the All Things Considered theme in Tweezer.

Phish – “Runaway Jim” [Pro-Shot] – 7/13/25

Phish – “Walk Away” (James Gang) – 7/13/25

[Video: BRADFORD WALKER]

Phish – “Set Your Soul Free” [Pro-Shot] – 7/13/25

Phish – “Tweezer” Jam (Partial) – 7/13/25

[Video: BRADFORD WALKER]

Phish – “Tweezer Reprise” – 7/13/25

[Video: BRADFORD WALKER]

Phish’s second night in North Charleston, SC picked up where night one left off—except instead of a single marathon jam, night two was a showcase in how to go deep without going long.

The opening “The Moma Dance” surprised absolutely no one. The song usually serves as musical small talk before the real hard-hitting conversation, but this “Moma” slipped into Type II territory for a few minutes, foretelling the musical direction for the evening.

“NICU”’s Caribbean feel was the sonic equivalent of an ocean breeze tickling a palm frond, even as Trey Anastasio struggled with the signature lick. Then, after a few setlist softballs, it was time for a change-up.

The tour’s run of bust-outs continued with “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, resurrected for the first time since 12/3/2019. Page McConnell reminded everyone that he may be the best vocalist in the band, while Anastasio slayed the song’s blues licks. Chris Kuroda projected saintly white circles on the ceiling of the coliseum, serving as a halo for the crowd of Holy City heathens.

“Divided Sky” was up next, serving as the music theory quiz portion of the night. The band, Trey in particular, earned high marks during the song’s soaring final section.

The band has been ensuring that at least one Mike Gordon song shows up in the first set, and tonight’s was the early classic “Destiny Unbound”. The song has officially evolved into a jam-like animal, and this version got its legs with a groove that Trey used to tease the ’60s flower power chords of “I’m A Man”.

“Monsters”, one of Phish’s most somber rockers, was next, with its minor key chords serving as a frail whimper waiting to be destroyed by an epic Trey solo. His guitar gently weeped over the band’s slow build, with six-string fireworks that were more Gilmour than Hendrix, the Charleston crowd loving every string bend and distorted squeal.

“Plasma” reaffirmed that this was indeed still a party, with the song’s rolling groove paving the way for some fun interplay from Mike and Trey. The band gave the song a similar jam treatment as “Moma” and “Destiny”, taking the song out just far enough to momentarily mingle with the cosmos before returning to earth.

Phish – “Plasma” [Pro-Shot] – 7/12/25

Trey sketched out the familiar chords of “Bathtub Gin” as Page smashed his Baby Grand, and it was on. It was obvious why “Gin” has found its home as a set closer as the band built up towards a crescendo. The entire set up to that point had been a balance of improvisational indulgences and guitar heroics, and the best of each built to a white light peak before the band wound down the signature “Gin” riff.

“Mike’s Song” opened the second frame, welcomed by the crowd as Mike took the mic once again to tell the tale of an overzealous doorman. The change to the minor key gave way to a mid-’90s tradition that seems to have fallen by the wayside: Mike’s jam. Trey switched back to a major key, and the gearshifts were officially set to Set 2 Type 2. Trey played confidently as Page laid down a strong foundation of piano chords underneath. If the previous night’s “Down with Disease” was a clinic in long-form improv, this “Mike’s” was a masterclass in how to deliver a quick punchline without sacrificing the exploratory weirdness.

“Mike’s” dissolved into the soothing sound salve of “I Am Hydrogen”, the classic combination confirming that this Mike’s was coming from the old school mid-’90s playbook.

“Weekapaug Groove” was up next, because of course it was. The song dipped into the improvisational Milky Way while keeping its feet firmly grounded in the groove, clocking in at a lean but muscular eight minutes.

“Mercury” allowed the band a few verses to catch its breath before returning to the ether. Jon Fishman’s marimba break cued up what would be the longest jam of the night. The drummer danced around a psychedelic disco groove that was far too hip (and fatigueless) for a 60-year-old dad. Trey laid back before showing why he’s “one of the great Texas guitar players,” building a solo over the last few minutes of the jam before steering it towards “Soul Planet”.

There is an argument to be made that out of all of Phish’s 300+ songs, “Soul Planet” gets the distinguished honor of being the worst song that has produced the best jams, such as the 47-minute monster from a few years back. It sometimes feels as if the band is saying, “Hey, get through just three minutes of this awkward ocean love song and you’ll be rewarded with a sick jam,” and tonight’s version was no different.

Fishman announced the arrival of “Harry Hood”, and the band synthesized three decades of playing the song into a version that followed the form of so many before while still feeling fresh. Echoing the way Friday’s “Suzy Greenberg” punctuated “Chalk Dust Torture”, Trey took one more crack at it, this time calling up “I Am The Walrus” for the first time since 10/11/2023. The song’s climax was full-on lysergic overload, affirming the night’s theme that your trip can still be short.

Phish emerged for the encore, quieting the rowdy crowd as the quartet gathered around the a single mic to belt out an a cappella “Carolina”. The old-time charm was endearing, as the band sang of “morning glories” and “strolling with your girlie,” reminding the crowd just how fine it was to be in Carolina.

“Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” was tasked with delivering the final knockout punch for the evening. S.A.N.T.O.S. said whatever it was that he had to say, and Trey crushed one final solo before the band took a bow and called it a night.

Night two in Charleston was a night of big, but not necessarily long, jams. The band didn’t need the half hour of the previous night’s “Disease” to get to a place that excited them or the audience; they were able to do it in contained bursts in practically every song, never looking back—from the jammed out “Moma” all the way until the ending “S.A.N.T.O.S.”. Night one may have delivered one of the longest jams of the tour, but night two delivered some of the strongest, proving that the biggest jams aren’t always the best jams.

Below, check out the setlist and a selection of videos from night two in North Charleston, SC. Stream or download audio of the show here.

Phish returns to North Charleston Coliseum tonight. Tune in live via LivePhish’s nightly webcasts here.

Phish – “Jesus Just Left Chicago” – 7/12/25

[Video: Blake Jefferson]

Setlist [via phish.net]: Phish | North Charleston Coliseum | North Charleston, SC | 7/12/25 Set 1: The Moma Dance, NICU, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Divided Sky, Destiny Unbound, Monsters, Plasma, Bathtub Gin Set 2: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Mercury > Soul Planet, Joy, Harry Hood, I Am the Walrus Encore: Carolina, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S. Notes: Jesus Just Left Chicago was performed for the first time since December 3, 2019 (208 shows). Trey teased I’m a Man in Destiny Unbound. Carolina was performed for the first time since December 6, 2019 (206 shows).

SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 29: Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drive towards the basket during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on February 29, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brien Aho/Getty Images)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are coming to North Charleston to play the Charlotte Hornets, each organization announced in a preseason schedule release Monday.

Charlotte will play Oklahoma City at the North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. They will then match up against the Memphis Grizzlies at Greensboro's First Horizon Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.

Tickets for each context will go on sale Wednesday, July 16. They will be available online through the Hornets website or each venue's website.

“We’re always looking to foster new and existing fan engagement throughout the Carolinas, so with Spectrum Center renovations nearing completion in early October, this is the perfect opportunity to host our preseason games in outer markets,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer Seth Bennett. “The Hornets are the NBA team of the Carolinas. We’re excited for fans in Charleston and Greensboro to experience the excitement of a home game, while deepening our visibility, connection and impact within each community.”

The Hornets' full preseason schedule, including the local preseason broadcast schedule, is set to be released at a later date.

As for the NBA champs, the Thunder, after playing the Hornets, will take on the Dallas Mavericks in Fort Worth, Texas.

Oklahoma then returns to Paycom Center for the team’s preseason home debut vs. the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 9. The Thunder hits the road again to face the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 11 and the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 14 before concluding exhibition play with a home match-up versus the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 17.

Opening the preseason in North Charleston grants NBA fans in South Carolina a chance to see reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was recently named Finals MVP after averaging 30.3 points and 5.6 assists per game against the Indiana Pacers.

Two Home Preseason Games – Presented by Bank of America – To Be Played In Charleston and Greensboro; Tickets On Sale Wednesday, July 16

July 14, 2025 – The Charlotte Hornets announced today their two-game 2025-26 home preseason schedule, with both games being played outside of the Charlotte market in Charleston, S.C. and Greensboro, N.C. The Hornets will host the reigning NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder at the North Charleston Coliseum on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. followed by a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies at Greensboro’s First Horizon Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Charlotte’s preseason games are presented by Bank of America. Tickets for each game will go on sale Wednesday, July 16 and are available online at hornets.com, ticketmaster.com and each venue’s website: northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com and gsocomplex.com.

“We’re always looking to foster new and existing fan engagement throughout the Carolinas, so with Spectrum Center renovations nearing completion in early October, this is the perfect opportunity to host our preseason games in outer markets,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer Seth Bennett. “The Hornets are the NBA team of the Carolinas. We’re excited for fans in Charleston and Greensboro to experience the excitement of a home game, while deepening our visibility, connection and impact within each community.”

The Hornets have traditionally hosted several regional home contests as part of their preseason schedule and have previously played 10 preseason games in Greensboro, most recently in 2022. Greensboro has a strong connection to the Hornets as the city has served as the home of the Greensboro Swarm, the team’s NBA G League affiliate, since 2016. Charlotte has played four preseason contests in Charleston, most recently in 2012, also at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Charlotte’s full preseason schedule, including local preseason broadcast schedule, will be released at a later date.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS 2025-26 HOME PRESEASON GAMES

Spectrum Center, which will be celebrating 20 incredible years of sports and entertainment when its doors reopen Sunday, Oct. 19 for a Billie Eilish concert, is currently undergoing phase two of renovations that will result in a transformed arena. Hive Society Memberships for the Hornets 2025-26 season, including the newly introduced Half Season Plans (Purple and Teal), are currently available. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 704.HORNETS or visit hornets.com.