Most baseball players dream of playing in the World Series, most actors dream of winning an academy award and most musicians dream of performing their compositions at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. Last night, Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio got to fulfill that dream when he took the stage with the most legendary orchestra in the world at arguably the most famous venue in the world and he made the most of the opportunity.

[All photos by Benjamin Slayter / Slayter Creative]
Anastasio and the Philharmonic performed two sets filled with songs that sounded so natural in this setting you would’ve thought they were originally written with an orchestra in mind. Israeli conductor Asher Fisch clearly understood the Trey/Phish experience and did an exceptional job of infusing playfulness and frenzy into the performance from the beginning of the First Tube opener through the end of the If I Could encore. There was so much going on between all of the different parts each section of the orchestra brought to each song that it was literally mind blowing trying to take it all in. Luckily a mobile recording truck captured each and every note for posterity.
From the moment you walked through the entrance of the iconic venue and saw more balloons on 57th street than at a toddler’s birthday party it was clear this wasn’t an ordinary night at Carnegie Hall. There was hooting and hollering from the moment Anastasio walked on the stage but most of it was good natured and the orchestra seemed to get a kick out of the love and appreciation that was being showed towards them at nearly every opportunity.
READ ON for more of Scotty’s thoughts and Ben’s incredible photos of Trey Anastasio and the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall…