Sam Grisman Fills In With Terrapin All-Stars At Sunday Daydream Vol. 4 After Phil Lesh Contracts COVID

Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh came down with COVID-19 forcing him to miss Terrapin Crossroads’ Sunday Daydream Vol. 4 concert at McNears Beach Park in San Rafael, California. Phil Lesh & Friends went forward with their headlining set at the event on Sunday as Sam Grisman held down the bottom end and Peter Rowan made an extended guest appearance with the Terrapin All-Stars.

“Well, it wouldn’t be Terrapin if there wasn’t a curveball! I’m bummed to let you know that I won’t be able to perform this weekend at ‘Sunday Daydream Vol. 4’,” Phil wrote in a note posted on social media two days before the event. “I’ve come down with Covid, and while I’m doing great and resting at home, I’ll miss seeing all your beautiful faces.”

Phil Lesh announced the show would go on with Sam Grisman filling in on bass. Lesh also revealed he was sending his legendary Big Brown bass to McNears Beach Park for Grisman to use and that he was hoping to recruit “some amazing musical friends” to join the bill. Legendary guitarist/singer Peter Rowan answered the call.

The Terrapin All-Stars’ lineup on Sunday saw Sam Grisman on bass joined by Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes, guitarist Stu Allen, keyboardist Holly Bowling, guitarist Grahame Lesh and vocalist/trombonist Natalie Cressman. Additional main stage performances were delivered by Wolf Jett and the Sam Grisman Project.

The headliners kicked off their lone lengthy set with the Grateful Dead’s holy triumvirate of “Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower.” Taylor Goldsmith handled lead vocals on “Help,” while Cressman helmed “Franklin’s Tower.” The seamless piece spanned over 20 minutes before Stu Allen stepped up to channel Jerry Garcia on “Candyman.”

Griffin Goldsmith and Natalie Cressman shared vocal duties on the subsequent “Cassidy.” Taylor Goldsmith then led the ensemble through a beautiful “To Lay Me Down” ahead of a half-hour run through Grateful Dead classics “Eyes Of The World,” “Bird Song” and “He’s Gone.”

Peter Rowan emerged for the final five songs of the Friends’ performance. Rowan has played several shows with the Sam Grisman Project, the group fronted by Peter’s Old & In The Way bandmate David Grisman’s son. The 82-year-old musician fronted his signature song, “Panama Red,” to start his time on stage.

Stu Allen was back in the spotlight next for a cover of The Beatles’ “Revolution.” Peter Rowan then starred on “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy,” a song he wrote for Old & In The Way that was initially released by New Riders of the Purple Sage. It was back to the Grateful Dead songbook for a Taylor-sung “The Music Never Stopped” featuring Cressman handling the parts sung by Donna Jean Godchaux during her time in the band. Rowan’s “Midnight Moonlight” was tacked on to end Sunday Daydream Vol. 4.

Listen to Oren Levy’s audience recording and watch fan-shot video of Sunday Daydream Vol. 4 below:

Setlist

Set: Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower, Candyman, Cassidy, To Lay Me Down, Eyes Of The World, Bird Song > He’s Gone, Panama Red*, Revolution*, Lonesome L.A. Cowboy*, The Music Never Stopped*, Midnight Moonlight*

* – w/ Peter Rowan