reCAP :: Phil Lesh & Friends ft. Chris Robinson Brotherhood with Special Guest Eric Krasno :: 2014.11.07
Once again Phil Lesh did not disappoint at The Capitol Theater. On the first night of the second weekend of a residency that see’s the former Grateful Dead bassist playing five weekends in a row at the theater however, he himself took a step back out of the spotlight. Instead it was the members of his backing band whose playing and skills were highlighted. For this weekend, Lesh was accompanied by members of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, as well as by his steadfast drummer of choice Joe Russo and jazz funk guitarist Eric Krasno.
Taking the role of Lead vocalist, Chris Robinson himself sang with a whiskey soaked growl and played along on guitar. “Althea” opened the show drawing gracious applause from the crowd. For years Lesh has had a working relationship with Robinson, himself born in the wrong decade – he’s a classic 70s hippie musician and soul – so he fit right in with the tone and tunes of the evening. The rollicking “Mr. Charlie” brought a bluesy, swampy boogie rhythm to the set, and then gave the band it’s first chance to groove into psychedelic improvisation and a sinewy guitar solo from Neal Casal. That swamp boogie sustained through “Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodeloo,” the bluesy gamblers lament “Loser” and its much more upbeat and jazzy counterpart “Deal,” the latter of which saw Adam Macdougall leaning heavily on the Hammond organ, coaxing rich swaths of dense blues from the keys.
Set two found the band continuing with a New Orleans styled boogie. “Bertha” opened the set with Robinson drawing huge applause for his spirited vocal delivery of the classic. Lesh himself then took the lead on another classic from The Grateful Dead repertoire, “Box of Rain” that mellowed the mood just for a moment. At 75, he’s certainly not singer he once was, his voice here raspy and hoarse, but also sweet and melancholy on the lovely ode. With Robinson back on stage the band then proceeded to roll through several songs without stopping, beginning with upbeat “Playing in the Band.” Noticeably missing here was the dulcet female vocal accompaniment – the Donna Jean vocal part – but the multiple vocal harmonies between Lesh, Robinson, Russo and Casal certainly drew the crowd in to sing along in unison as they moved into “The Wheel.” “Uncle John’s Band” kept the energy level up high, and on cue, the audience bellowed out the line – “God Damn well I declare, have you seen the light?” The band brought the show to a close with a swanky encore of “Sugaree,” Robinson delivering a sensual and bluesy vocal cadence, while Krasno drew jazzy Jerry Garcia-esque tones from a hollow body guitar.
Phil Lesh and Friends once again put on another great performance of classics from the Grateful Dead cannon. And he continues to bring more and more younger musicians into the fold to further the legacy of the band as it moves towards its fiftieth anniversary. Judging by the smiles on the faces of a sold out crowd leaving the theater, it’s a legacy that will live on for generations to come.