Phil Lesh Closes Out Phil-O-Ween Run & Announces Grateful Dead Tribute Finale

Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh closed out a run of three shows at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York on Monday night. Lesh’s Phil-O-Ween finale saw him joined by vocalists Nicki Bluhm and Teresa Williams, guitarists Luther Dickinson and Larry Campbell, drummer John Molo, multi-instrumentalist Barry Sless and keyboardist Jason Crosby.

The band kicked off the festivites with a run through old Grateful Dead classics “Cryptical Envelopment,” “The Other One” and “Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks).” Williams then stepped up front for the spiritual “Wade In The Water” before Bluhm belted out a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising.” It was then time for “When I Go Away,” a song popularized by Williams and Campbell’s old boss Levon Helm. The set concluded with a rousing version of the GD Halloween staple, “Werewolves Of London” by Warren Zevon featuring special guests Grahame Lesh and Elliott Peck of Midnight North.

Up first for the final set of the weekend was an expansive “Viola Lee Blues” that eventually found its way into “Shakedown Street.” Grahame and Elliott helped out at the beginning of the closing stanza. Next, Campbell led his mates through The Band’s “This Wheel’s On Fire” ahead of Little Junior’s “Mystery Train.” Phil then handled lead vocals on “Mountains Of The Moon” ahead of “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” and an inventive sequence of “St. Stephen” > “Rosemary” > “I Ain’t Superstitious” to close the set. Lesh & Friends said farewell with a cover of “Symphathy For The Devil” by The Rolling Stones.

In other Phil Lesh news, the bassist will bring a tribute to each year of the Grateful Dead that started in early 2015 to a close on November 7 at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California. Phil & Friends will recreate a Grateful Dead show from 1995, the last year of the band’s existence. Lesh will be joined by guitarists Stu Allen and Grahame Lesh as well as keyboardist Scott Guberman and drummers Ezra Lipp and Alex Koford on the 7th. Tickets are on sale now here.

Videos (Captured by Sean Roche)

[Cryptical > The Other One]

[Sympathy For The Devil]

[This Wheel’s On Fire]

[Mountains Of The Moon]

[St. Stephen]

[Viola Lee Blues]

[Werewolves Of London]

[Bad Moon Rising]

[When I Go Away]

[Wade In The Water]