UPPER DARBY, PA -- "I see the path ahead of me," Trey Anastasio sang Tuesday night from the Tower Theatre stage, and it was easy to identify with the former Phish leader's unbridled enthusiasm. That path has brought Anastasio away from the successful band he still holds dear, but it's clear that the driven guitarist and singer needed a new start as well.
The early returns on Anastasio's second career are more than encouraging. Touting the recently released "Shine," his first album since last year's Phish breakup, Anastasio and his seven-member band played a joyous (and not surprisingly, lengthy) set that showcased newer, straightforward rockers like "Air Said To Me" and "Come As Melody," the introspective "Sleep Again," the dirty garage rock of Phish's "46 Days," the lilting "Goodbye Head," and "Push On Til The Day" and "Mr. Completely," both of which fathered ferocious, extended, but very un-Phishy jams.
Anastasio hopped up and down, his shaggy hair a red tornado, as the evening's emotions threatened to overtake him; at other points, he turned his back to the audience and used a system of hand signals to indicate musical changes to his players. He also eschewed the traditional jam-band setbreak for a solo acoustic rendering of Phish favorites, the highlight of which was the tender "Lifeboy" and a "Bouncin' Around The Room" in which the audience took over lead vocal duties.
It's worth mentioning Anastasio's renewed focus on singing and stagecraft. The Princeton native's vocals rang clear and true, and the stage backdrop -- three lazy-looking sun faces on curtains and a starry display that was illuminated during the concert's latter portion -- nicely complemented these songs of hope, celebration and new beginnings.

-- Michael Lello
Philly EDGE Correspondent