Phil Lesh & Friends Quintet Rocks St. Louis On This Date In 2001

One of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh‘s longest running groups in the wake of Jerry Garcia’s death was the Phil Lesh Quintet, aka The “Q.” Though billed as Phil Lesh & Friends, the lineup of Phil, Jimmy Herring, Warren Haynes, Rob Barraco and John Molo was beloved by fans and quickly earned The “Q” nickname. A fantastic performance from the five-piece took place at the famed Fox Theatre in St. Louis on this date in 2001.

Phil Lesh & Friends’ two-set rocker at the Fox started like most shows from the lineup did, with a jam. Eventually, the quintet worked the improv into “Unbroken Chain,” one of Phil’s signature songs. Haynes then led the group through “Built To Last” before Phil took the lead on a cover of The Youngbloods’ “Get Together.” The “Q” proceeded by showing off one of their originals, “Celebration” ahead of a “China Cat Sunflower” > “I Know You Rider” sequence.

The evening’s wild second set featured one jam after another linking such songs as “The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion),” “Doin’ That Rag” and “Turn On Your Lovelight.” Also of note was a gorgeous cover of Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me” and a fantastic “Cosmic Charlie” > “I Am The Walrus” > “Cosmic Charlie” to end the second set. For the encore, the group said farewell with “Not Fade Away.”

Listen to a crispy recording captured by Marty S:

Setlist

Set One: Jam > Unbroken Chain, Built To Last, Get Together > Celebration, China Cat > I Know You Rider

Set Two: Jam > Golden Road > Jam > Doin’ That Rag > And It Stoned Me > Turn On Your Lovelight > Cosmic Charlie > I Am The Walrus > Cosmic Charlie

Encore: Not Fade Away