Happy Birthday Mike Gordon: Cactus Plays Grateful Dead

Phish bassist Mike Gordon celebrates his 53rd birthday today. Cactus and his solo band performed last night at the inaugural Camp Greensky festival thrown by Greensky Bluegrass in Michigan. That project is just one of several Gordon’s been involved over the course of his multifaceted that includes filmmaking, visual arts and other artistic endeavors.

Mike’s resume almost included membership in Dead & Company alongside the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. Gordon rehearsed with the band that ultimately was rounded out by bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and guitarist John Mayer, but that was the extent of Mike’s participation as his commitments to Phish and his solo band left no room for D&C tours.

This birthday edition of Sunday Cinema presents a collection of videos of Cactus performing with members of the Grateful Dead. Bobby, Mickey, Billy and Phil Lesh each make an appearance in the footage that spans 1999 to 2016.

Here’s footage from the Phish show on September 17, 1999 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Phil Lesh joined the band for several songs that night, including the Dead staple “Cold Rain And Snow.” Watch that historic sit-in below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT7baxyTPhQ

Mike has performed on a number of occasions at Lesh’s Terrapin Crossroads restaurant and concert venue in San Rafael, California. Watch a few clips from 2016 and 2014 below:

[Pride Of Cucamonga – July 17, 2016 with Jackie Greene & John Molo | Captured by LazyLightning55a]

[Touch Of Grey — October 26, 2016 with Terrapin Family Band | Captured by Gabriel Jones]

[Scarlet Begonias — October 26, 2016 with Terrapin Family Band | Captured by jshensa]

Phil joined Mike and his Phish band mate, guitarist Trey Anastasio, as well as drummer Joe Russo and keyboardist Marco Benevento at the 2006 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. This clip features their collaborative rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Casey Jones,” check it out via CapturedAlive:

Mike was part of the The Rhythm Devils lineup in Las Vegas for Vegoose in October 2006. The group then consisted of Mike, Billy, Mickey, guitarist Steve Kimock, vocalist Jen Durkin and percussionist Sikiru Adepoju. Here’s their rendition of the Hart-written Dead original “Fire On The Mountain” via Creative Endeavor Video:

Gordon and his solo band mate, guitarist Scott Murawski and Kreutzmann came together nine years ago to the day to celebrate Cactus’ birthday with a one-off performance in New York City. Mike, Scott and Bill held a gig at City Winery on the night Phish had off between concerts at Jones Beach Amphitheatre in Wantagh, New York. Here’s a portion of “Eyes Of The World” posted by Robyn Gould:

Weir’s solo band RatDog welcomed Gordon to the House Of Blues stage in Boston on February 24, 2014. Weir, Kimock, Chimenti, late bassist Rob Wasserman and drummer Jay Lane tackle the Grateful Dead’s tender “Bird Song” in this video shared by Chris Van Slyke:

Weir first joined Phish onstage during the quartet’s 2000 Fall Tour. Some 16 years later, Weir again joined Mike, Trey, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman at a stop on Phish’s 2016 Fall Tour. Anastasio provided lead vocals normally left to Weir on the Dead’s frequent jam vehicle “Playing In The Band.” Watch that version of “Playing” via LazyLightning55a here: