On Saturday night Phil Lesh hosted the second of two “Dead Blues” nights at his home base of Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California. The bassist was joined by a similar lineup from the first night with Luther and Cody Dickinson, John Medeski, Roosevelt Collier and Grahame Lesh returning, while adding Tash Neal (The London Souls) and JD Simo for the finale.
The ensemble once again focused their efforts almost exclusively on the blues tunes that influenced the music of the Grateful Dead. The night got going with Bo Diddley’s signature song “Hey Bo Diddley,” which was performed by the Dead a handful of time in 1972 and again with the Neville Brothers in 1986. Next up was “C.C. Rider,” the traditional blues song that originally recorded by Gertrude “Ma” Rainey in 1924 and sung by Bob Weir when it was debuted by the Dead in 1979. Folk-blues standard “Stealin'” followed, which the Dead turned into a vampy psychedelic garage rock number in their early days. “Big Railroad Blues” came ahead of Slim Harpo’s “I’m A King Bee.” Johnny Cash’s “Big River” and “Sugaree” brought the first frame to a close.
Phil Lesh & Friends got their second set of the night underway with a jam that eventually segued into “I Know You Rider.” Chuck Berry’s “Around And Around” followed. The collective then offered up the traditional song “In The Pines,” which according to the Grateful Dead Lyric And Song Finder was only confirmed to have been played once by the Dead in July 1966. Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful” segued into Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody,” a song the Dead backed the singer-songwriter on during their 1987 tour together. “Fire On The Mountain,” “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” and “Turn On Your Lovelight” a tune that Ron “Pigpen” McKernan would often stretch out with an off the cuff rap live concluded the final stanza. The band finished off the night with The Beatles’ “Get Back,” which the Grateful Dead attempted once in January 1987.
Phil Lesh will conclude his three-night & Friends run tonight with Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, John Medeski, Anders Osborne and a special guest. nugs.tv will once again provide a free webcast live from Terrapin Crossroads.
Watch full show pro-shot video and check out the setlist below:
Setlist (via PhilZone)
Set I: Hey Bo Diddley, C.C. Rider, Stealin’, Big Railroad Blues, I’m A King Bee, Big River, Sugaree
Set II: Jam > I Know You Rider, Around And Around, In the Pines > Spoonful > Gotta Serve Somebody, Fire on the Mountain, Going Down The Road Feeling Bad > Turn On Your Love Light
Encore: Donor Rap, Get Back
