Phish Covers Grateful Dead’s ‘Box Of Rain’ In Tribute To Phil Lesh

Phish kicked off a three-night run at MVP Arena in Albany, New York tonight and paid tribute to Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who died today at age 84. Phish opened the first set by covering “Box Of Rain,” the Grateful Dead song written by Lesh.

“Box Of Rain” appeared on the Grateful Dead’s 1970 album, American Beauty. One of the few Grateful Dead songs to feature Lesh on lead vocals, he co-wrote “Box Of Rain” with the band’s lyricist, the late Robert Hunter.

First performed by the Dead in September 1970, “Box Of Rain” was played regularly through 1973, but went missing from setlists for several years due in part to Lesh’s vocal issues. Revived in 1986, “Box Of Rain” remained a rarity in the Dead’s live repertoire in subsequent years. “Box Of Rain” was the final song played by the Grateful Dead at their last concert held on July 9, 1995, in Chicago.

Phish covered the Grateful Dead early in their career in the 1980s but had not performed a Grateful Dead song in concert since prior to playing “Terrapin Station” on the third anniversary of guitarist Jerry Garcia’s death, on August 9, 1998.

Lesh joined Phish onstage once, on September 17, 1999, at Shoreview Amphitheatre in Mountain View California. The collaboration took place months after Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio and keyboardist Page McConnell played their first shows as members of Phil Lesh & Friends. The ever-evolving Phil & Friends ensemble also included Phish drummer Jon Fishman and bassist Mike Gordon in subsequent configurations.

Phish was joined by Lesh’s Grateful Dead bandmate Bob Weir in 2000 and again 2016. Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann sat-in with Phish in 2009. Anastasio was recruited to perform with Lesh, Weir, Kreutzmann and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart for the 2015 “Fare Thee Well” concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary band.

“When I first played with Phil in 1999, I discovered that beyond being an astounding musician, he was a truly kind and wonderful man,” Anastasio wrote in a tribute to Lesh. “I cherish the memories of playing with him, sharing meals and laughs together, visiting his home, and getting to know him as a friend. The ‘Fare Thee Well’ shows were particularly special, with so many family members and lifelong friends backstage, sharing those precious moments together.”

Stay tuned for a full report, including a recap, the setlist and The Skinny of tonight’s show in Albany. Watch video of Phish opening Friday’s concert by covering “Box Of Rain” by the Grateful Dead in tribute to Phil Lesh (with Gordon wearing a red-white-and-blue wristband like one Lesh often wore) below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PofMFlw8MJI&t=628

Livestreams for Phish’s three-night run at MVP Arena in Albany, New York on October 25, 26 and 27 are available via LivePhish.com. Like the concerts, the webcasts will benefit the Divided Sky Foundation and will stream via LivePhish.com.

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Setlist (via Phish.net)