Watch Goose’s Rick Mitarotonda Star With Phil Lesh & Friends On Raucous ‘Hard To Handle’
See the guitarist shine on the early Dead staple cover
By Nate Todd Dec 6, 2022 • 12:08 pm PST
Relix shared pro-shot video of Goose guitarist Rick Mitarotonda leading Phil Lesh & Friends through “Hard To Handle.” The performance took place on October 23 during the Grateful Dead bassist’s recent residency at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.
Legendary soul singer Otis Redding co-wrote “Hard To Handle” along with Al Bell and Allen Jones. The song arrived posthumously in 1968 after Redding’s tragic death in a plane crash at the end of 1967.
A staple cover for the Grateful Dead sung by Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, the GD performed “Hard To Handle” largely between 1969 and 1971 with just two plays outside the Pigpen era. For the recent Cap performance, Rick took lead on a 13-minute rendition backed by bassist Phil Lesh, guitarist Grahame Lesh, drummer John Molo and keyboardist John Medeski as well as the Trey Anastasio Band horns: trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick, trombonist Natalie Cressman and saxophonist James Casey.
See Mitarotonda lead Phil & Friends through “Hard To Handle” below:
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