Phil Lesh Closes Latest Phil & Friends Fillmore Run On 25th Anniversary Of Liver Transplant

Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh brought his latest Phil Lesh & Friends ensemble to The Fillmore in San Francisco last night for their second of two shows at the historic venue. The concert was held on a special occasion as Sunday marked 25 years since Lesh underwent successful liver transplant surgery.

Phil Lesh’s surgery took place at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida on December 17, 1998. Lesh, who was 58 at the time, had been suffering from internal bleeding caused by hepatitis C, which he was diagnosed with in 1992. He received the liver of a young man named Cody and his since started encores of his concerts by preaching the importance of becoming an organ donor.

The bassist was joined by guitarists Stu Allen, Stanley Jordan and Grahame Lesh along with keyboardist Adam MacDougall and drummer John Molo at The Fillmore on Friday, December 15 and Sunday, December 17. Both shows began with Stu, Grahame and Phil singing a line from “The Wheel” a capella. “The Wheel” tag led into a Stu Allen-fronted “Here Comes Sunshine” last night.

The well-jammed “Here Comes Sunshine” ran into a similarly adventurous “Viola Lee Blues.” Phil Lesh & Friends then took a trip down “Lazy River Road” featuring Allen on lead vocals. Next, Grahame Lesh had a turn in the spotlight for the John Phillips-penned cowboy song “Me And My Uncle.” Jordan took a furious solo during the song as he went up and down his guitar’s neckboard at blazing speed. The subsequent “Jack-A-Roe” was sung by Stu Allen. Phil Lesh then helmed an exploratory 15-minute “Bird Song” to bring Sunday’s first set to its conclusion.

Phil Lesh & Friends returned to The Fillmore stage to open the final set of the weekend with a wild “Cosmic Charlie.” From there, Grahame Lesh and Stu Allen shared lead vocal duties on “Jack Straw.” The jam-filled frame rolled on with lengthy excursions through “Dark Star” and “Crazy Fingers” before the sextet offered up a cover of The Beatles’ “Revolution” sung by Allen. Stanley Jordan then led the ensemble through his signature instrumental take on “Over The Rainbow.”

After hinting at “The Wheel” at the beginning of both shows, Phil Lesh & Friends finally played the song to end the second set last night. Phil came back at the start of the encore to thank the audience, encourage fans to sign up as organ donors and introduce the band.

Lesh did not mention the anniversary of his liver transplant surgery. The night was capped with a performance of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” Stu Allen handled lead vocals on the Bob Dylan cover.

Listen to an audience recording of last night’s show tapped by thomascirca below:

Setlist

Set One: Here Comes Sunshine* > Viola Lee Blues, Lazy River Road, Me & My Uncle, Jack-A-Roe, Bird Song

Set Two: Cosmic Charlie, Jack Straw, Dark Star > Crazy Fingers, Revolution, Over The Rainbow, The Wheel

Encore: It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue

* – with “The Wheel” a capella intro