Mike Gordon Debuts Lone Song From Phish’s ‘Evolve’ LP Previously Unplayed Live & Brings Out Drew Carey For Blender Hijinx (2024)

Watch Gordon present the live debut of “Human Nature” in Solana Beach and welcome Drew Carey for a cameo in Los Angeles.

By Scott Bernstein Jun 17, 2024 • 8:09 am PDT

Phish bassist Mike Gordon brought his solo band back on the road for headlining shows in Solana Beach, California on Thursday and Los Angeles on Friday before they started a five-show run with Vampire Weekend that began at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on Saturday and Sunday. On Thursday, Gordon’s outfit offered the live debut of “Human Nature,” a track featured on Phish's forthcoming Evolve album, and on Friday they welcomed comedian Drew Carey for a cameo playing off his “dick in a blender” tweet regarding his experience seeing Phish at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Mike Gordon is joined in his quintet by keyboardist Robert Walter, drummer John Morgan Kimock, percussionist Craig Myers and guitarist Scott Murawski. Walter was making his return to the unit for the first time since 2020 as he missed the band’s 2023 tour while he was on tour with Roger Waters.

Scott Murawski and Mike Gordon co-wrote “Human Nature.” The studio version will be released on Evolve, which arrives on JEMP Records/ATO on Friday, July 12. The song was the lone cut on the 12-track LP that hadn’t been performed live by Phish or any member of the band. Phish has played 10 of the 12 songs in concert with “Valdese” rolled out by the Trey Anastasio Trio on June 11, 2023 in Denver.

“Scott and I wrote a song that’s coming up on the new Phish album that’s coming out,” Gordon advised the crowd at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California as the five-piece lit into the funky, Talking Heads-inspired “Human Nature.” Mike explained they would take the opportunity to perform the tune and treated fans to an expansive version of the new song. “Human Nature” has also been played at the three shows that have followed, including on Friday night at L.A.’s Teragram Ballroom.

Check out audience-captured video of the “Human Nature” premiere:

Drew Carey emerged during the “Tiny Little World” that closed the first set at Teragram Ballroom. A decription of Carey’s appearance on Phish.net reads:

During Tiny Little World, Mike held up a blender to the microphone while the blender was turned on. Drew Carey appeared on stage and started to dance. While dancing, he rummaged through the front of his pants for a while before producing a vegan sausage. Mike opened the blender and Drew stuffed the sausage in the blender while it was whirring. Mike then triumphantly held up the blender. This was a nod to where Drew had recently said he would stick his dick in a blender in exchange for this (seeing Phish at Sphere).

Watch footage of Carey’s cameo thanks to Instagram account @PhishOnPhilm below:

Mike Gordon opens for Vampire Weekend in Burnaby, British Columbia on Tuesday, June 18. Phish kicks off their summer tour on July 19 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

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Setlists (via Phish.net)

Thursday, June 13

Set One: Mull, Steps, Jones, Crazy Sometimes, Meat, Louisiana Sun, Back in the Bubble

Set Two: Haywire, Human Nature [1] > Got To Be More Careful, Peel, Guilty Pleasures, Connected, Sughn Never Sets

Encore: Carini

[1] Debut.

This show featured the debut of Human Nature.

Friday, June 14

Set One: Back in the Bubble, Haywire, Marissa, Tilting, Peel, Connected, Tiny Little World

Set Two: Say Something, Louisiana Sun, Sughn Never Sets, Got To Be More Careful, Human Nature, Jones, Mull, Crazy Sometimes

Encore: Guilty Pleasures

During Tiny Little World, Mike held up a blender to the microphone while the blender was turned on. Drew Carey appeared on stage and started to dance. While dancing, he rummaged through the front of his pants for a while before producing a vegan sausage. Mike opened the blender and Drew stuffed the sausage in the blender while it was whirring. Mike then triumphantly held up the blender. This was a nod to where Drew had recently said he would stick his dick in a blender in exchange for this (seeing Phish at Sphere).