• https://www.dead.net/features/dead-world-roundup/phil-friends-rockin-road
    Phil & Friends: Rockin’ the Road

    A Brief Look at the First Ten Days

    In Phil We Trust. By now there have been so many intriguing lineups of Phil Lesh & Friends through the years, it’s nearly impossible to predict what turn he’ll take next. From Phil and Phish, to the lineup with Steve Kimock, to the one with the Little Feat boys, the classic PLQ with Warren and Jimmy, the band with Ryan Adams, and a zillion others in between (don’t forget Robben Ford, John Scofield, David Nelson, Barry Sless, et al), it’s been an amazing ride. I’m sure everyone has his/her own favorites, but coursing through every incarnation is a fundamental integrity and a devotion to uncovering new ways of looking at the Grateful Dead repertoire and the dozens of other marvelous tunes his groups have covered, from jazz chestnuts to classic rock. Kudos to Phil for continually mixing it up, keeping us off guard and challenging us every step of the way!

    Karan and Lesh
    Guest Mark Karan and Phil at the Greek, 9/23/07.
    Photo: Bob Minkin/minkindesign.com © 2007

    Phil’s latest band has been on the road since the last week of September, playing a fantastic selection of venues as they wend their way across the country on their way to a 10-show marathon at the new Nokia Theater in New York’s Times Square beginning at the end of October. The current quintet—Phil, Jackie Greene on guitar and many lead vocals, Larry Campbell on guitar, Steve Molitz on keys and the incredible John Molo on drums—is a little different than most of his previous bands in that in general they’re a little more song-oriented rather than jam-oriented, perhaps a bit more tuned into the rockin’ side than the space side, and also very comfortable with the country shadings in the Dead’s music. (That was true of the Sless-Campbell lineup, as well.) And of course there is the addition of a number of Jackie Greene’s songs, which so far have fit very comfortably in the mix of Dead and other tunes for the most part. Songs such as “Gone Wanderin’” “Supersede,” “Walkin’ Away,” “Mexican Girl” and “Cold Black Devil” are all excellent tunes, completely different from each other, and stretching the band in some interesting ways. Jackie’s own taste in Dead tunes so far has leaned toward the classic early ’70s repertoire, and has included both Garcia and Weir tunes — his “Sugar Magnolia” at the Greek was a real powerhouse, for instance. For his part, Phil seems to be really enjoying this high-energy outfit and the new twists to the repertoire, which has also seen the addition of a slew of new cover tunes, including The Allmans’ “Midnight Rider” (dynamite at Red Rocks), Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” The Beatles’ “Mean Mr. Mustard,” the Stones’ “Brown Sugar,” The Band’s “This Wheel’s On Fire” and “The Weight,” and a couple of great Dylan choices: “Gotta Serve Somebody” and “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” (Hey Jackie, how about a little “Idiot Wind” sometime?!)

    The epic Red Rocks show on September 29 marked the first time the group played a mini-acoustic segment in the middle of a show, with Phil on stand-up bass no less, and Larry playing spry fiddle on “Friend of the Devil” and mandolin on another song. The second electric set answered the question of whether this band could hit the deep spaces, as they drifted and charged through “That’s It for the Other One,” “Dark Star” and “Mountains of the Moon” on their way to a “China Cat > Rider” closer.

    Jackie Greene
    Jackie Greene gets down at the Greek. Photos: Bob Minkin/minkindesign.com © 2007

    Here are the set lists from the first week-plus of the tour:

    9/22/07 Santa Barbara Bowl

    The Golden Road, Loose Lucy, So Hard to Find My Way, Bird Song, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Walkin’ Away, Sugaree, I’m So Gone

    Cold Rain and Snow, Gotta Serve Somebody, Prayer for Spanish Harlem, New Speedway Boogie, The Other One > Cryptical Envlopment, Casey Jones, Brown Sugar, Franklin’s Tower/Brokedown Palace

    9/23/07 Greek Theater (Berkeley)

    Good Mornin’ Little Schoolgirl, Why Don’t We Do It in the Road? > Deal, The Weight*, Gone Wanderin’*, Cumberland Blues*, Supersede*

    Jam > Playing in the Band > Mexican Girl, Candyman, Fire on the Mountain, St. Stephen, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, The Wheel, Eyes of the World > Sugar Magnolia/Goin’ Down the Road+

    * with Barry Sless on pedal steel guitar

    + with Mark Karan on lead guitar and vocals

    9/28/07 The Fillmore (Denver)

    Jam > Friend of the Devil, Let It Ride, This Wheel’s On Fire, New Speedway Boogie, I’m So Gone > Mean Mr. Mustard > Cosmic Charlie

    Scarlet Begonias > Fire On the Mountain, Bird Song, Spots of Time, The Golden Road, Viola Lee Blues > Loose Lucy > Viola > Alabama Getaway > Viola/Box of Rain

    9/29/07 Red Rocks (Morrison, CO)

    Bertha, Big River, Midnight Rider, Candyman, Cold Black Devil, Deal

    (Acoustic) Friend of the Devil, Sweet Somewhere Bound, Deep Elem Blues, Brokedown Palace, Tell Me Mama, Ripple

    A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Dark Star > Mountains of the Moon > Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider /Not Fade Away

    9/30/07 Paolo Saleri Amphitheatre (Santa Fe)

    Good Lovin’, You Don’t Know How It Feels, The Wheel, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Mississippi Half-Step, So Hard to Find My Way, Casey Jones

    Cold Rain and Snow, Mexican Girl, Cumberland Blues, Gone Wanderin’, Eyes of the World > Sugaree > Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower /The Weight

    10/2/07 the Pageant (St. Louis)

    Good Mornin’ Little Schoolgirl, Deal, Tell Me Mama, Deep Elem Blues, Loose Lucy, I’m So Gone, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Cosmic Charlie

    Playing in the Band > Bird Song > Spots of Time, Althea, Loan Me a Dime > The Other One > Fire on the Mountain > Not Fade Away > Playing reprise/ Box of Rain

     

    There’s been lots of good stuff, and from all reports the band is getting more comfortable with each passing show. As usual, though, there’s been plenty of spirited debate about the relative merits of the new lineup; ’twas ever thus, from Stan Franks to Chris Robinson to Jackie Greene. Want to make up your own mind? You can! As usual, some excellent audience recordings from the tour have surfaced on archive.org, so you can hear full shows. By all means, check these out and TURN IT UP!

    Greek Theater (9/23) (Taped by Steve Schneider): https://www.archive.org/details/Phil2007-09-23.flac

    The Fillmore (9/28) (Taped by Chuck Miller): https://www.archive.org/details/PAF2007-09-28.AKG480

    Red Rocks (9/29) (Taped by Bob Fager): https://www.archive.org/details/paf2007-09-29..c42-sto2.flac16

    As always, you can find photos and set lists at phillesh.net, as well as ticket info for the remainder of the shows. We’ll have more on the tour as it progresses….

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    halloweendeadhead
    14 years 5 months ago
    Phil, I'll miss you not playing on Halloween 2009 !!!!!
    Phil, there's nobody I'd rather be with than Phil & Friends on my Halloween Birthday in NYC !!!!!!! What happened this year???? It's October 24,....We still have time to Book the Nokia Theatre. Whadaya think?????.
  • The Whale
    16 years 5 months ago
    Where are you guys? Would love to see phil & Friends!
    ATB ... How about some phil &Friends over here in israel? Would love it!
  • Duggles
    16 years 5 months ago
    We loved Charlottesville
    Had a great time in Charlottesville! Definately worth the price of admission. I especially loved the Cosmic Charlie seeing as that I had never caught that one before. With 350+ shows and many many post Jerry shows the days of seeing new Dead songs that I haven't seen are almost nonexistent. Thanks Phil. Dougles
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17 years

A Brief Look at the First Ten Days

In Phil We Trust. By now there have been so many intriguing lineups of Phil Lesh & Friends through the years, it’s nearly impossible to predict what turn he’ll take next. From Phil and Phish, to the lineup with Steve Kimock, to the one with the Little Feat boys, the classic PLQ with Warren and Jimmy, the band with Ryan Adams, and a zillion others in between (don’t forget Robben Ford, John Scofield, David Nelson, Barry Sless, et al), it’s been an amazing ride. I’m sure everyone has his/her own favorites, but coursing through every incarnation is a fundamental integrity and a devotion to uncovering new ways of looking at the Grateful Dead repertoire and the dozens of other marvelous tunes his groups have covered, from jazz chestnuts to classic rock. Kudos to Phil for continually mixing it up, keeping us off guard and challenging us every step of the way!

Karan and Lesh
Guest Mark Karan and Phil at the Greek, 9/23/07.
Photo: Bob Minkin/minkindesign.com © 2007

Phil’s latest band has been on the road since the last week of September, playing a fantastic selection of venues as they wend their way across the country on their way to a 10-show marathon at the new Nokia Theater in New York’s Times Square beginning at the end of October. The current quintet—Phil, Jackie Greene on guitar and many lead vocals, Larry Campbell on guitar, Steve Molitz on keys and the incredible John Molo on drums—is a little different than most of his previous bands in that in general they’re a little more song-oriented rather than jam-oriented, perhaps a bit more tuned into the rockin’ side than the space side, and also very comfortable with the country shadings in the Dead’s music. (That was true of the Sless-Campbell lineup, as well.) And of course there is the addition of a number of Jackie Greene’s songs, which so far have fit very comfortably in the mix of Dead and other tunes for the most part. Songs such as “Gone Wanderin’” “Supersede,” “Walkin’ Away,” “Mexican Girl” and “Cold Black Devil” are all excellent tunes, completely different from each other, and stretching the band in some interesting ways. Jackie’s own taste in Dead tunes so far has leaned toward the classic early ’70s repertoire, and has included both Garcia and Weir tunes — his “Sugar Magnolia” at the Greek was a real powerhouse, for instance. For his part, Phil seems to be really enjoying this high-energy outfit and the new twists to the repertoire, which has also seen the addition of a slew of new cover tunes, including The Allmans’ “Midnight Rider” (dynamite at Red Rocks), Tom Petty’s “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” The Beatles’ “Mean Mr. Mustard,” the Stones’ “Brown Sugar,” The Band’s “This Wheel’s On Fire” and “The Weight,” and a couple of great Dylan choices: “Gotta Serve Somebody” and “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” (Hey Jackie, how about a little “Idiot Wind” sometime?!)

The epic Red Rocks show on September 29 marked the first time the group played a mini-acoustic segment in the middle of a show, with Phil on stand-up bass no less, and Larry playing spry fiddle on “Friend of the Devil” and mandolin on another song. The second electric set answered the question of whether this band could hit the deep spaces, as they drifted and charged through “That’s It for the Other One,” “Dark Star” and “Mountains of the Moon” on their way to a “China Cat > Rider” closer.

Jackie Greene
Jackie Greene gets down at the Greek. Photos: Bob Minkin/minkindesign.com © 2007

Here are the set lists from the first week-plus of the tour:

9/22/07 Santa Barbara Bowl

The Golden Road, Loose Lucy, So Hard to Find My Way, Bird Song, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Walkin’ Away, Sugaree, I’m So Gone

Cold Rain and Snow, Gotta Serve Somebody, Prayer for Spanish Harlem, New Speedway Boogie, The Other One > Cryptical Envlopment, Casey Jones, Brown Sugar, Franklin’s Tower/Brokedown Palace

9/23/07 Greek Theater (Berkeley)

Good Mornin’ Little Schoolgirl, Why Don’t We Do It in the Road? > Deal, The Weight*, Gone Wanderin’*, Cumberland Blues*, Supersede*

Jam > Playing in the Band > Mexican Girl, Candyman, Fire on the Mountain, St. Stephen, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, The Wheel, Eyes of the World > Sugar Magnolia/Goin’ Down the Road+

* with Barry Sless on pedal steel guitar

+ with Mark Karan on lead guitar and vocals

9/28/07 The Fillmore (Denver)

Jam > Friend of the Devil, Let It Ride, This Wheel’s On Fire, New Speedway Boogie, I’m So Gone > Mean Mr. Mustard > Cosmic Charlie

Scarlet Begonias > Fire On the Mountain, Bird Song, Spots of Time, The Golden Road, Viola Lee Blues > Loose Lucy > Viola > Alabama Getaway > Viola/Box of Rain

9/29/07 Red Rocks (Morrison, CO)

Bertha, Big River, Midnight Rider, Candyman, Cold Black Devil, Deal

(Acoustic) Friend of the Devil, Sweet Somewhere Bound, Deep Elem Blues, Brokedown Palace, Tell Me Mama, Ripple

A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One > Dark Star > Mountains of the Moon > Dark Star > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider /Not Fade Away

9/30/07 Paolo Saleri Amphitheatre (Santa Fe)

Good Lovin’, You Don’t Know How It Feels, The Wheel, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Mississippi Half-Step, So Hard to Find My Way, Casey Jones

Cold Rain and Snow, Mexican Girl, Cumberland Blues, Gone Wanderin’, Eyes of the World > Sugaree > Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin’s Tower /The Weight

10/2/07 the Pageant (St. Louis)

Good Mornin’ Little Schoolgirl, Deal, Tell Me Mama, Deep Elem Blues, Loose Lucy, I’m So Gone, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Cosmic Charlie

Playing in the Band > Bird Song > Spots of Time, Althea, Loan Me a Dime > The Other One > Fire on the Mountain > Not Fade Away > Playing reprise/ Box of Rain

 

There’s been lots of good stuff, and from all reports the band is getting more comfortable with each passing show. As usual, though, there’s been plenty of spirited debate about the relative merits of the new lineup; ’twas ever thus, from Stan Franks to Chris Robinson to Jackie Greene. Want to make up your own mind? You can! As usual, some excellent audience recordings from the tour have surfaced on archive.org, so you can hear full shows. By all means, check these out and TURN IT UP!

Greek Theater (9/23) (Taped by Steve Schneider): https://www.archive.org/details/Phil2007-09-23.flac

The Fillmore (9/28) (Taped by Chuck Miller): https://www.archive.org/details/PAF2007-09-28.AKG480

Red Rocks (9/29) (Taped by Bob Fager): https://www.archive.org/details/paf2007-09-29..c42-sto2.flac16

As always, you can find photos and set lists at phillesh.net, as well as ticket info for the remainder of the shows. We’ll have more on the tour as it progresses….

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In Phil We Trust. By now there have been so many intriguing lineups of Phil Lesh & Friends through the years, it’s nearly impossible to predict what turn he’ll take next.
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I can't wait to see this band. Thanks Blair, as always, a very enjoyable article. BTW, anyone heard from Trey lately? I hope he's doing OK. The Dude Abides!
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16 years 9 months
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SUPER. GEEKED. FOR. CHICAGO.Haven't had a fix in some time!
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16 years 6 months
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last month my 2 yr. old lil girl got to go to see bobby. last satshe seen phil she loves to dance to anything to do w- the dead and i think its important that she is part of the wiorld i grew up in. all through the 2 shows she dancedshe yells jerry jerryall day is itpossible she sees j.g. most definetly, anywho i know she definetly got her phil for the night it took me forty three yrs. to have my baby. the dead in her life is so beautiful and ican tell how she lovea the musc. iam so blessed.acoustic stand up bass --yea- daddys got them debellum blues
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16 years 9 months
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looking forward to hearing red rocks got 4 of the shows but want RR look out for a poss vine bob - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Spanish Jam
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16 years 9 months
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Hi Blair You left out an honorable mention of one excellent guitarist--- non other than the lead guitarist with Donna Jean and the Tricksters , Jeff Mattson -- Phil and Friends Oct 1999
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16 years 8 months
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Saw the show at Red Rocks and had a great time. The whole thing seemed laid back. Easy in, got a pretty good seat in GA section. I very much liked the band's lineup. Jackie seemed thrilled to be a part of such a scene, and the others were clearly solid musicians. Deal in the first set was special. Brokedown was the highlight of the acoustic set for me. Second set opener Hard Rain's Gonna Fall built up momentum throughout so that by the last verse the energy was through the roof (hypothetically). The Rider was ecstatic. Maybe I'm a bit slow, but now (only 12 years later) I'm doing a better job of not comparing every version or lick to something I heard Jerry play and instead am taking the current band / version on its own merit. There's no replacing what was, but at the same time this is kind of liberating. Thanks to Phil for bringing the music to us and keeping such great energy in the system.
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16 years 5 months
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Gotta correct the Red Rocks set list-. The encore was NOT FADE AWAY. They encored Box of Rain the night before at the PHILmore.
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16 years 9 months
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A great article. A great tour. A great load off my mind; I was beginning to concider about that I shoulda resigned my membership... Gladly, I aint yet's... K?
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16 years 9 months
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Of course, it's silly to imagine that Rhnos could ever mow down Internet Archive when they deem it a threat to thier livlihoods, right?
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16 years 9 months
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* Rhinos.................................................................
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Got to see Ratdog at Red Rocks in July, which was incredible by the way. Then Phil Lesh and his friends at Red Rocks was another mind blower! My personal favorite was the acoustic Deep Ellem Blues. Fantastic!! Jackie Greene really sang the tunes well, he's pretty awesome. Larry Campbell rules. Got to bing my 3 year old daughter and she loved the music and climbing the stairs. See you all next summer!!
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tj crowley now there's a song one dosen't hear often....it took duane w/ boz to take it past 4 minutes...glad to hear someone else is stretching it AND playing it
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16 years 9 months
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chicago bob one word describes this show "PHILTASTIC"
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16 years 8 months
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A really fun show. Jackie Greene was truly engaged. Has a calm charisma (kind of an oxymoron) that pulls you in. Rocky
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Family and I had a blast a Red Rocks. The show was strong and the venue magical. By the time they hit KC the band was even stronger and tighter. Molitz mix seems to be a little light at times, make sure you get a good sounding seat. When you can hear him he is moving it into very beautiful spaces. Jackie reminds me of a very young and hungry Bob Dylan. Larry can play anything with strings and has already proved that with the Citern at the Rocks. Molo just beats the hell out of the skins and the man never stops smiling. Having Jackie in the mix looks like it is making Phil feel like a young buck. Phil don't forget to drop the occasional bomb on the crowd. I so wanted to hear one at Red Rocks comming out of Cryptical. Keep up the great work and thank you very much for touching my soul once again.
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Since Jerry died, I'm sure everyone has heard people saying that Bobby should not be singing Jerry's songs. In fact, there are a lot of people that call themselves "deadheads" that won't go see any of Bobby's shows. There are really dumb things said like, "Oh he grew a beard to be like Jerry." And "I don't think he should be singing Jerry's songs". So, what is with Jackie Greene? Why is it okay for Jackie to sing Jerry's songs? And ruin them? I'm amazed at the amount of people who follow Phil and don't mind that someone else sings Jerry's songs. I didn't hear anyone complain when Warren was touring with Phil and singing Jerry's songs, and now I don't hear anyone complaining about Jackie Greene singing Jerry's songs. Personally, I think everyone should sing Jerry's songs - they're beautiful and were written to be sung, not buried. But I'm confused as to why people follow Phil & Friends yet won't go see Bobby because he sings Jerry's songs. Seems to me like there are a lot of people who call themselves "Deadheads" but really aren't. The whole idea of being a Deadhead is because we love the band, the members of the band, the songs, and very importantly - we love the "family". Those of you who don't go see Bobby & Ratdog are missing the "family" part of the equation. Personally, I miss the old Phil & Friends when there was more instrumental. Now it's more vocals than instrumental and I miss that about the Phil shows. If you've been to any of Bobby's shows, he still gets into the instrumental parts where we try to figure out what's coming up next. That's always been a fun part of listening to the shows, the instrumentals where you can hear bits and pieces of songs & then it's fun to try to figure out what's coming next. Just my thoughts.
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16 years 8 months
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Hey we went and saw Ratdog this summer and they were smokin too! I agree let the songs of Jerry be sung so we can all enjoy them ! :)
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man i been jammin out to those new phil shows all weekend and phil has done it again.he just needs to come to tampa bay area.
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bobby dose jerry songs justice.its great to hear bobby sing the old jerry tunes.
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Had a great time in Charlottesville! Definately worth the price of admission. I especially loved the Cosmic Charlie seeing as that I had never caught that one before. With 350+ shows and many many post Jerry shows the days of seeing new Dead songs that I haven't seen are almost nonexistent. Thanks Phil. Dougles
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14 years 7 months
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Phil, there's nobody I'd rather be with than Phil & Friends on my Halloween Birthday in NYC !!!!!!! What happened this year???? It's October 24,....We still have time to Book the Nokia Theatre. Whadaya think?????.