Phish’s Mike Gordon Joins Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration At Red Rocks

After playing three shows in Boulder, Phish bassist Mike Gordon stayed in Colorado to perform at the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The event honoring the late Grateful Dead guitarist featured the Colorado Symphony accompanied by bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Melvin Seals, drummer Duane Trucks, guitarist Tom Hamilton and vocalists Jacklyn LaBranch and Lady Chi.

Burbridge unveiled a new Dire Wolf bass designed by renowned luthier Doug Irwin of Irwin Guitars, who built multiple instruments for Jerry Garcia – including his Wolf guitar that the new bass is modeled after – and Bill Asher of Asher Guitars. Garcia’s Wolf guitar was played by Hamilton at various points of the show.

“The first piece of wood for this guitar was cut from the same batch of wood that Jerry’s Wolf was made with,” Burbridge wrote. “I almost cried when Bill sent me the video of Doug Irwin up out of his wheelchair, cutting it himself.”

The first two sets featured the Colorado Symphony, conducted by Christopher Dragon, performing the music of Garcia and the Grateful Dead with Burbridge, Hamilton, Trucks, Chi and Garcia’s former Jerry Garcia Band bandmates Seals and LaBranch.

The orchestra sat out the third set, which began with several songs that were staples of Garcia’s solo bands, including Little Milton’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting for a Miracle,” Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally” and Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue.”

Gordon appeared on the Red Rocks stage to add a second bass to “Lay Down Sally” and “Tangled Up In Blue.” Gordon played a Fender bass alongside Burbridge’s new Dire Wolf bass and the pair provided a breakdown during “Lay Down Sally.”

The night ended with Gordon exiting before a “Deal” finale. Scroll on for photos, audio and video of the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration at Red Rocks.

Photos by Bill Grenfell

Audio Taped by Z-Man