Mike Gordon Has Dead-Ful Afternoon With Phil Lesh

Written By: Chad Berndtson

After “Cumberland Blues” kicked off a tasty afternoon set of the Terrapin Family Band with special guest Mike Gordon on bass and vocals, Phil Lesh paused to acknowledge the moment and also to apologize, telling a packed-beyond-packed bar at Terrapin Crossroads that they got started more than 30 minutes behind schedule because, well, they hadn’t anticipated so many folks would show up.

“This is one of those times when…you just have to go with it,” his Philness said, to roaring approval.

It wasn’t quite pandemonium at Terrapin Crossroads, but it definitely was packed – inevitable with Gordon as the announced guest at a nearly last minute, free show. A few Terrapin regulars mused that some of Phil’s regular crew had considered moving the show into the more spacious Grate Room as it became apparent this would be no ordinary-sized Sunday afternoon crowd. But the assembled band stuck with the hootenanny-style bar setup, and delivered about an hour and 15 minutes of pleasantly middle-of-the-road Dead, with a sneak Phish tune – “555” – for the appreciative nods of the fans who knew it.

No one was at his best; Gordon, in particular, looked travel-weary, presumably just in from San Diego. But the music wasn’t quite the point. Terrapin Crossroads is a place where this kind of stuff regularly happens – there is a reputation to uphold, and this was a laid-back, just-enjoy-it afternoon of the Dead and Phish worlds hanging out and shooting the breeze.

Gordon gamely sang a few – “Tennessee Jed” and “He’s Gone” had their moments – and once he and Phil got used to a barroom ensemble with two meaty basses in the mix, they vibed off each other, all grins and sly musical jokes being passed back and forth. It was mostly standard fare; “Scarlet Begonias” promised some interesting jamspace before petering out and moving into “Bird Song” via you-can’t-quite-call-it-a-segue, and all three supporting players – Grahame Lesh, Ross James and Alex Koford, were up to the task.

But again, comfort was the point, not exceptional musicality. It was a merely pleasant afternoon – and didn’t need a thing more.

Setlist

Set: Cumberland Blues, Tennessee Jed, Ship of Fools, 555, Scarlet Begonias > Bird Song > He’s Gone, Loose Lucy, U.S. Blues

Encore: Touch of Grey

Videos

[Touch Of Grey -Shot by Gabriel Jones]

[Scarlet Begonias -Shot by jshensa]

[U.S. Blues -Shot by jshensa]