Full Show Audio: Phil Lesh, Nicki Bluhm, Eric Krasno & Terrapin Family Band Team At Capitol Theatre

Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh returned to his East Coast headquarters of The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York on Thursday night. Phil was joined by The Terrapin Family Band, guitarist Eric Krasno and vocalist Nicki Bluhm for a show that included a number of songs outside of the Grateful Dead repertoire such as a Nicki original and a Ryan Adams cover.

The ensemble opened with a pairing of “Jack Straw” and “Like A Rolling Stone.” Guitarist Ross James shared lead vocals on the former with Grahame Lesh and fronted the latter. Nicki Bluhm then channeled Ron “Pigpen” McKernan on “Easy Wind.” The set rolled on with a loping “They Love Each Other” and a particularly intense “Loser.” One of the evening’s biggest surprises followed as Bluhm led the group on the title track from her recently released album To Rise You Gotta Fall. Phil, Eric, Nicki and The Terrapin Family Band ended the frame by digging into early Dead songs “Born Cross-Eyed” and “Cream Puff War.”

Last night’s second set began with a jam that eventually gave way to a triumphant “Passenger.” The band then took “Cumberland Blues” for a spin. Multi-instrumentalist Jason Crosby showed off his fiddle skills during the “Cumberland” jam ahead of the beloved “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” pairing. Next came the Phil debut of Ryan Adams’ “Gimme Something Good.” Bluhm handed lead vocals on the song from Ryan’s self-titled 2014 studio album. Nicki performed the song a few times with Ryan and The Infamous Stringdusters in 2016 including a version at The Capitol Theatre on July 24, 2016.

Nicki and Grahame dueted on a beautiful “Cassidy” that featured a short, adventurous jam. Phil, Eric, Nicki and The Terrapin Family Band went on to perform multiple parts of the “Terrapin Station Suite” starting with “Jack O’ Roses.” The ensemble then concluded the set with a powerful “Playing In The Band” sung by Kraz and frenetic “Samson & Delilah” led by Ross James. Phil returned to start the encore with his traditional “Donor Rap” before the group capped the night with a “Ripple” encore.

Listen to an audience recording of last night’s show taped by nico11104:

Setlist

Set One: Jack Straw > Like A Rolling Stone, Easy Wind, They Love Each Other, Loser, To Rise You Gotta Fall, Born Cross-Eyed > Cream Puff War

Set Two: Jam > Passenger > Cumberland Blues, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Gimme Something Good > Cassidy, Jack O’Roses > Lady With A Fan > Terrapin Station > Playing In the Band, Samson and Delilah

Encore: Donor Rap, Ripple