Phil Lesh Teams With Blind Boys Of Alabama, Jackie Greene, Dickinsons & More In Las Vegas

A special Phil Lesh & Friends show took place on Saturday night at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The Grateful Dead bassist’s band for the night was a rotating lineup of famed vocalists Blind Boys of Alabama, guitarists Luther Dickinson, Jackie Greene, Junior Mack and JD Simo, drummer Cody Dickinson as well as keyboardists John Medeski and Peter Levin and vocalist Danielle Nicole.

Phil and the core band of the Dickinsons, Medeski, Simo, Mack and Greene opened with blues numbers “Big Railroad Blues,” “I Ain’t Superstitious” and “The Same Thing.” Danielle Nicole sang “I Ain’t Superstitious” with Luther and “The Same Thing” with Junior. Luther then moved over to keys for a Jackie-led “Tennessee Jed” and returned to guitar for a Cody-sung “New Speedway Boogie.” Next, the Blind Boys Of Alabama and Pete Levin emerged for a series of songs that included Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” “Way Down In The Hole” by Tom Waits and the North Mississippi Allstars/Blind Boys co-write “Pray For Peace.” The entire ensemble added to the set-closing “Sugaree.”

The second set began with Simo channeling Ron “Pigpen” McKernan on Slim Harpo’s “I’m A King Bee.” After “Deep Elem Blues,” Junior Mack shined on “You Don’t Love Me” and “Mystery Train.” The focus on blues numbers continued with Luther and JD in the spotlight for “Little Red Rooster.” Blind Boys Of Alabama then emerged for “Amazing Grace” and “Higher Ground” before Danielle Nicole led a rousing rendition of “Death Don’t Have No Mercy.” Nicole and Simo went on to share vocals on “Wang Dang Doodle” ahead of the core band digging in on “Deal” and “Friend Of The Devil.” The second set concluded with the Blind Boys and the rest of the evening’s performers helping out on “Down By The Riverside.” Phil gave his “Donor Rap” before the core band and Mack joined in for the “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad” finale.

Fan-Shot Videos

People Get Ready / Way Down In The Hole Captured by Big Blues Bender

Tennessee Jed / New Speedway Boogie Captured by George Ove Lyons

Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad Captured by Chauncy BigJerry Picklebottom

Deal Captured by deandelray

Setlist (Compiled by Mark Palmer)

Set One: Big Railroad Blues, I Ain’t Superstitious, The Same Thing, Tennessee Jed, New Speedway Boogie, People Get Ready, Way Down In The Hole, Nobody’s Fault but Mine, Pray For Peace, Sugaree

Set Two: I’m A King Bee, Deep Elem Blues, You Don’t Love Me, Mystery Train, Little Red Rooster, Amazing Grace, Higher Ground, Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Wang Dang Doodle, Deal, Friend of the Devil, Down by The Riverside

Encore: Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad