Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Bring Out Grahame Lesh In Oakland

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings continued their Grateful Dead Acoustic Reckoning Tour with Paul Kowert to the Bay Area on Friday and Saturday for concerts at The Fox Theater in Oakland. Grahame Lesh, the son of late GD bassist Phil Lesh, joined the trio for their extended encore on Friday.

Welch, Rawlings and Kowert have been focusing their two main sets on material from the Dead’s Reckoning live album to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the LP. After opening with “Bertha” and “Black Peter,” the three musicians performed Reckoning cuts “Dire Wolf,” “Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie,” “It Must Have Been The Roses” and “Dark Hollow” came in the middle of the first set on Friday. “Loser” followed along with “Cassidy” and “Cumberland Blues” to seal the opening stanza.

Friday’s second set began with a version of the Dead’s “Brown-Eyed Women” ahead of a string of traditional songs “I’ve Been All Around This World,” “Cold Rain And Snow” and “Deep Elem Blues.” Next up was a gorgeous “Brokedown Palace” and intense “Jack-A-Roe.” Welch, Rawlings and Kowert linked “Bird Song” and “Stella Blue” with “Ripple” to close out set two.

David Rawlings introduced Grahame Lesh on acoustic guitar to rapturous applause upon returning to the stage. Grahame guided Gillian, David and Paul through “Box Of Rain,” one of his father’s signature songs, to kick off the encore. Both “Box Of Rain” and the “Sugar Magnolia” that followed were Welch & Rawlings debuts.

The four musicians continued by delivering a nicely-jammed “St. Stephen” featuring “Not Fade Away” within. Welch then fronted a powerful “Morning Dew,” which ended with a stellar solo fron Rawlings. Lesh was on hand for the entire encore, including the “And We Bid You Goodnight” finale.

Watch Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Grahame Lesh team for the encore on Friday at The Fox Theater in Oakland via fan-shot video courtesy of Ted Silverman AKA TedToob: