Phil Lesh & Friends Revisit 1968 At Terrapin Clubhouse: ‘Clubhouse Sessions Episode 5’

Phil Lesh‘s Terrapin Clubhouse facility/YouTube channel has been a wonderful source of new performances from the Grateful Dead bassist. The latest video — Clubhouse Sessions Episode 5 — finds Phil regaling a Phil Lesh & Friends ensemble with tales of the Dead’s 1968 along with performances of early Dead songs and ends with a tune featuring special guest guitarist Dave Bruzza of Greensky Bluegrass.

The 40-minute video starts with Phil sharing memories with “Friends” guitarists Grahame Lesh and Stu Allen, keyboardist Holly Bowling and drummer Alex Koford. The bassist discusses the evolution of “China Cat Sunflower.” Phil notes “China Cat” was originally performed by the Dead in a different key.

Written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, “China Cat” was debuted live by the Grateful Dead on January 17, 1968 at the Carousel Ballroom in San Francisco. The first “China Cat” gave way to the premiere of “The Eleven” and viewers see Phil Lesh & Friends discuss how to pull off the transition before delivering the sequence themselves.

Phil Lesh then talks about how “China Cat” started to be linked with “St. Stephen” and eventually “I Know You Rider,” which would be the song’s frequent partner for the rest of the Grateful Dead’s career. “Jerry took ‘China Cat’ into a new key when we were jamming out on the end of that. It really just flowed right into ‘I Know You Rider’ so easily. I think Jerry just started playing it one night at some show and then it was a thing.”

The 84-year-old musician went on to talk “New Potato Caboose” and how the Dead would jam the song he wrote with lyricist Bobby Petersen into “Born Cross-Eyed.” Phil Lesh & Friends listens to a Grateful Dead version of the sequence and then pull it off at the Clubhouse. Clubhouse Sessions Episode 5 concludes with Dave Bruzza joining the band on “Going Down The Road Feelin’ Bad.”

Watch Phil Lesh & Friends’ Clubhouse Sessions Episode 5 video below: