[UPDATED] Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band Cover Wilco In Chicago

Phil Lesh and The Terrapin Family Band honored Chicago’s own Wilco on Friday night at the first of two shows at Thalia Hall in The Windy City. The Grateful Dead bassist and his band covered “Misunderstood” to end last night’s concert.

A trend seems to be developing as Phil and the group paid tribute to Nirvana during a recent tour stop in Seattle. Last night’s version of “Misunderstood” was led by guitarist Alex Koford who recently made a move from behind the drums to the band’s third guitarist along with Ross James and Grahame Lesh. Nathan Graham is now The Terrapin Family Band’s drummer.

Phil has a few connections to Wilco. Lesh joined forces with the group at the 1999 Mountain Aire Festival in Calaveras, California to harmonize with Jeff Tweedy on “Ripple” in a rare bass-less appearance. More recently, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline made a few cameos with Phil Lesh & Friends at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York in 2014. Watch last night’s show-closing “Misunderstood” with thanks to @ronnieD312:

Here’s the “Ripple” featuring Wilco and Phil with thanks to sl8boy:

Last night’s show started with “China Cat Sunflower” before vocalist Elliott Peck led the group through “Mr. Charlie” and “Look Like Rain.” Ross James then had his first turn up front for “Throwing Stones.” Next up was a run of “Jack Straw” and “Black Peter” ahead of a “Help On The Way” and “Slipknot!” that landed on a Koford-sung “Casey Jones.” Thursday’s second set started with a jam that gave way to more of “Slipknot!” and Grahame and Elliott sharing lead vocals on “Cassidy.” Koford stepped into the spotlight for “Reuben & Cerise” within “Cassidy.” Another intriguing sequence followed as “Dark Star” featured a foray into the Robert Hunter/Brian Lesh-penned “Mountain Song.” A run of Grateful Dead classics “Scarlet Begonias,” “Eyes Of The World” and “Terrapin Station” brought the second set to a close. “Uncle John’s Band” preceded “Misunderstood” as the evening’s encore.

Setlist

Set One: China Cat Sunflower, Mr. Charlie, Looks Like Rain, Throwing Stones, Jack Straw, Black Peter, Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Casey Jones

Set Two: Slipknot! > Cassidy > Reuben & Cerise > Cassidy, Dark Star > Mountain Song > Dark Star, Scarlet Begonias, Eyes Of The World, Terrapin Station

Encore: Uncle John’s Band, Misunderstood