Photos, Videos & Audio: Phil Lesh, Melvin Seals, Nicki Bluhm & Terrapin Family Band In Central Park

Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh returned to Central Park SummerStage in New York City on Wednesday night after a two-year layoff from the venue. This year’s show in the middle of Manhattan saw Phil joined by youngsters The Terrapin Family Band, Jerry Garcia Band organist Melvin Seals and vocalist Nicki Bluhm. Phil and his ensemble started the night with a set of material favored by the Jerry Garcia Band before focusing on the Grateful Dead’s repertoire for the second set and encore.

Lesh has been playing more frequently with the TXR Family Band of guitarists Grahame Lesh and Ross James, keyboardist Jason Crosby and drummer Alex Koford instead of the rotating Phil Lesh & Friends’ lineups. It’s the first time Phil has settled in on a lineup since the Furthur days, but he does augment the core Family Band with guests as he did at Lockn’ and again in New York City.

The seven-piece took the stage after a brief huddle led by Phil and opened with Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue.” At this point it became clear the set of JGB material would be up first. James handled vocals on “Tangled Up In Blue” and added the growl Dylan often used in live versions of the tune. After “They Love Each Other,” Bluhm had her first turn in the spotlight for “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and knocked it out of the park. A tender “Mission In The Rain” came next and showed off how far Grahame has come as a vocalist and guitarist. Seals and Crosby were a powerful duo behind the keys as Melvin wailed away on organ and Jason offered more jazzy stylings on piano and electric piano.

Koford had his first turn as lead vocalist on a spot-on “Reuben & Cerise” ahead of a slow and plodding “Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power).” Nicki shined again on “I Second That Emotion,” while a thumping “After Midnight” saw Bluhm share verses with James. The band was well-rehearsed on the JGB material and the set came off well. Though for lack of a better term, a more Jerry-like lead guitarist would have been great.

Phil and the band came back for a marathon second set that started with a crowd-pleasing “Shakedown Street.” Nicki stepped up front for an impressive “The Music Never Stopped” ahead of a Grahame-led “Estimated Prophet” and “Galilee,” the evening’s lone TXR Band original (written by Brian Lesh). A quick run through “Playing In The Band” was followed by an impressive “The Wheel” > “Dark Star” > “Morning Dew” > “Dark Star” > “St. Stephen” > “Turn On Your Lovelight” sequence. The entire band moved as one through the segment with Nicki and Alex sharing vocals on a particularly emotional “Morning Dew.” Phil, Nicki, Melvin and The Terrapin Family Band then ended the night with a “Sugaree” encore. Lesh, Bluhm, The TXR Band and Robert Randolph return to the area in late October for a Halloween run.

Photos by Jeremy Gordon

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Videos (Captured by Stephen Hurtes)

[St. Stephen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A0KYzfQDko

[Tangled Up In Blue]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN5lmkXEdME

Audio (Taped by Jeff Travitz)