Benefit

Phil Bounces Back with New and Old “Friends”

Analise Dubner — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:17:39 -0400

With characteristic resiliency and positive energy, Phil Lesh rebounded from his prostate surgery of last December in grand form, and was soon back to the happy business of making music.

He started out with some low-profile appearances in the Bay Area, beginning with a benefit for Darfur and Doctors Without Borders, held on February 9th at Slim’s in San Francisco (where he’d been spotted a few weeks before, in his first public appearance post-op, as an audience member at a show by Particle, for which the opening act was Crystal City, a band that includes among its members Phil’s son Grahame). The benefit featured Phil as special guest of Rich Price & The Foundation. Grahame Lesh and younger brother Brian also turned up onstage during the course of the evening.

On March 2nd, Phil returned to his old hometown and to his musical roots, with a trip across the Bay to Berkeley for another fundraiser, this time for co-beneficiaries the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra (with which he played violin and trumpet as a child) and the Jazzschool. For this event, Phil served as a guest conductor with the YPSO, which is the oldest youth orchestra in California and the second oldest ensemble of its kind in the United States.

The most talked-about Lesh sighting so far this year, however, took place some 3,000 miles from home on April 9th and 10th, when Phil flew to New York for two gigs at SOB’s (aka Sounds of Brazil), an intimate Lower Manhattan club with a capacity of about 400. The shows (which, not surprisingly, sold out instantly on the basis of a single announcement on Phil’s website) were a low-key way of breaking in a new Phil Lesh & Friends lineup that mixed some old and new faces. Making return appearances were P&F veterans Larry Campbell and Steve Molitz; longstanding Friend John Molo had to sit out the first night due to illness (he was ably filled in for by Jaz Sawyer), but John was back stoking the rhythm engine at the second show. The newcomers were singer Christina Durfee (known for her work with Trey Anastasio) and the acclaimed blues/R&B guitarist/vocalist Larry McCray. The second night also brought a welcome guest appearance by a familiar Friend, the ubiquitous and tireless Warren Haynes.

Back in the Bay Area, Phil had one more trick up his sleeve, making a stealth guest appearance on April 26th with longtime cohorts David Nelson, Barry Sless and Pete Sears at the Iron Springs Pub in the Marin County town of Fairfax.

Be on the lookout for more Phil & Friends activity down the road, starting out with a June 3rd performance at the Mountain Jam, the third incarnation of an annual bash thrown by Warren Haynes and Radio Woodstock at the Hunter Mountain ski area in upstate New York.

As ever, Phil urges you, if you haven’t done so already, to become a blood and organ donor; and also for all men to have themselves screened for prostate cancer. Early detection saves lives!

For the official Lesh lowdown: www.phillesh.net

—GL

Laminate - Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Analise Dubner — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:23:27 -0400

BGP Laminate, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. 6/8-9-10/1994. Rex Foundation benefit

Winterland Arena, Sufi Benefit - Poster

Thu, 10 May 2007 14:05:49 -0400

Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA. Sufi benefit.

Winterland Arena, Poster, 'People's Park Bail Ball' benefit

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:03:44 -0400

People's Park Bail Ball, Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA. 5/28/69

Winterland Arena, Poster, Marijuana Defense benefit

Wed, 09 May 2007 19:49:32 -0400

Marijuana Defense Benefit. Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA. Artist: Mari Tepper

Backstage Pass, Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Wed, 09 May 2007 15:09:17 -0400

Backstage Pass, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. Rex Foundation benefit. Artist: Tony Reonegro

Backstage Pass, Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Wed, 09 May 2007 15:00:50 -0400

Backstage Pass, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. Rex Foundation benefit. Artist: Tony Reonegro

BGP Laminate, Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Wed, 09 May 2007 14:53:59 -0400

BGP Laminate, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. 6/8-9-10/1990. Rex Foundation benefit

Phil Lesh - Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Analise Dubner — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:37:50 -0400

Phil Lesh, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. Rex Foundation benefit

Grateful Dead - Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Analise Dubner — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:29:09 -0400

Grateful Dead, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. Rex Foundation benefit

Vince Welnick - Cal Expo Amphitheatre

Analise Dubner — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:11:18 -0400

Vince Welnick, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. Rex Foundation benefit

Grateful Dead - Oakland Coliseum Arena

Analise Dubner — Tue, 08 May 2007 00:29:51 -0400

Grateful Dead, Oakland Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA. Cambodian refugee benefit

Article from 'San Francisco Chronicle' by Ralph Gleason

Fri, 04 May 2007 19:43:57 -0400

Article from 'San Francisco Chronicle' by Ralph Gleason.

Article from 'San Francisco Chronicle'

Fri, 04 May 2007 19:25:20 -0400

Article from 'San Francisco Chronicle,' A Benefit for the Grateful Dead. By Herb Caen.

Phil - Kezar Stadium

Analise Dubner — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:30:28 -0400

Phil Lesh, Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA. FM broadcast KIOI-San Francisco. Students Need Athletics Culture & Kicks (SNACK) benefit.

Jerry & Bobby - Kezar Stadium

Analise Dubner — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:27:33 -0400

Grateful Dead, Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA. FM broadcast KIOI-San Francisco. Students Need Athletics Culture & Kicks (SNACK) benefit.

Grateful Dead - Kezar Stadium

Analise Dubner — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:24:25 -0400

Grateful Dead, Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA. With Ned Lagin on keyboards. FM broadcast KIOI-San Francisco. Students Need Athletics Culture & Kicks (SNACK) benefit.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Article about Benefit for Native Americans

Wed, 02 May 2007 14:32:38 -0400

Seattle Post-Intelligencer article about Grateful Dead doing a 'Native American Fund Benefit' on 11/17/1968.

The Bank, Torrance, CA Poster

Tue, 01 May 2007 19:58:41 -0400

The Bank, Torrance, CA Poster.

Road Crew Benefit - Poster

Analise Dubner — Tue, 01 May 2007 14:05:15 -0400

Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA. Road Crew benefit. First 'Box of Rain'. Also: NRPS. Artist: TH

Academy of Music, New York - Poster

Analise Dubner — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:28:06 -0400

Academy of Music, New York, Poster. Hell's Angels party/benefit.

Donna Godchaux's first official appearance as a member of the Grateful Dead. Also: Bo Diddley.

Sufi benefit - Poster

Analise Dubner — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:19:10 -0400

Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA. Sufi benefit.

Black Panther benefit - Poster

Analise Dubner — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:12:47 -0400

Oakland Arena, Black Panther benefit, Poster.

Airwaves Benefit - Poster

Analise Dubner — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:08:46 -0400

The Fillmore West, San Francisco, Airwaves benefit, poster. Artist: Miranda Bergman.

Phil Lesh - Rex Foundation Benefit

Analise Dubner — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:07:44 -0400

Phil Lesh, Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, CA. Rex Foundation Benefit.

Haight-Ashbury Legal Organization (HALO) Benefit - Poster

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:03:30 -0400

Haight-Ashbury Legal Organization (HALO) Benefit. Winterland, San Francisco, CA. Artists: Kelley/Mouse, Rick Griffin

Bill Graham Memorial Concert

Analise Dubner — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:39:33 -0400

October 25, 1991 - Bill Graham Dies at the Age of 60. Grateful Dead with Guests. Polo Field, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA. 'A Benefit for Laughter, Love & Music'. Memorial for Bill Graham

Suzanne Vega & Jerry Garcia - Madison Square Garden

Analise Dubner — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 12:47:58 -0400

Suzanne Vega & Jerry Garcia, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY. Benefit for the Rainforests

Jerry Jams

Analise Dubner — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:46:17 -0400

Jerry Jams, Jerry Cares Cover Benefit album for Bergen County Music for Kids

Straight Theater Benefit - Poster

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:27:34 -0400

Straight Theater benefit posters at the Avalon Ballroom. Artists: Linda Nimmer and Jacob

Marijuana Prohibition Benefit

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:20:32 -0400

Poster for the Marijuana Prohibition Benefit, at California Hall, San Francisco.

End Marijuana Prohibition Benefit Ball Poster

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:15:19 -0400

End Marijuana Prohibition Benefit Ball, California Hall, San Francisco.

'A Benefit for Laughter, Love, and Music', Memorial for Bill Graham

Jonathan Lane — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:54:01 -0400

'A Benefit for Laughter, Love, and Music', Memorial for Bill Graham, Polo Field, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

Grateful Dead

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:34:18 -0400

Grateful Dead "Zenefit" at the Avalon Ballroom, benefit for the Zen Center.

Benefit for Music Programs in Berkeley Schools

Jonathan Lane — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:12:40 -0400

Benefit for Music Programs in Berkeley Schools, Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA. Acoustic Set by: Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia & Vince Welnick

Article - Jazz Club Benefit

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:53:16 -0400

Jazz Club Benefit - "Gigantic All-Night Jazz/Rock Dance-Concert" Bill Graham's most successful night since operating the Fillmore. SF Chronicle, Ralph Gleason column

1966 Peace Benefit Poster

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:50:33 -0400

Mt. Tamalpais Amphitheatre, Marin County. Peace Benefit. Artists Stanley Mouse & Alton Kelley

Poster - Phil Lesh & Friends

Analise Dubner — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:55:34 -0400

Poster - Phil Lesh & Friends. Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA. A Benefit for the Unbroken Chain Foundation. Artist: Michael R. Everett

Poster - Benefit for the Rainforest

Analise Dubner — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:52:26 -0400

Poster - Grateful Dead Benefit for the Rainforests. Madison Square Garden, New York, NY. Artist: Robert Rauschenberg

Mickey Hart Performs At Seva Benefit (Wavy Gravy's 71st Birthday)

PatRhino — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:27:53 -0400

On May 18, at San Francisco’s intimate Grand Ballroom (upstairs from the old Avalon Ballroom), Mickey Hart was part of very strong lineup celebrating Wavy Gravy’s 71st birthday and raising a heap o’ money for Wavy’s favorite cause, SEVA.

With Wavy acting as emcee and spinning old and new stories between sets, the evening flowed seamlessly. Mickey’s Global Drum Project mate Sikuru was up first, fronting an all-percussion group that banged, bopped and rumbled through an exciting set that leaned heavily on material popularized by the late, great Babatunde Olatunji (a long-time friend of the Dead’s). Next was a 45-minute jaunt through the distinctive world of rising jam band Tea Leaf Green, who definitely got the crowd movin’ and shakin’ their collective groove thang. Then came my favorite set of the night, by Black Crowes (and occasional Phil & Friends) singer Chris Robinson & Wooden Family, a trio with Chris on acoustic guitar, George Reiff on bass and the fantastic Jonathan Wilson on electric guitar. Working through a collection of originals and covers such as “New Speedway Boogie” and Dylan’s/The Byrds’ “Nothing Was Delivered,” they established a warm, mellow vibe reminiscent of parts of Workingman’s Dead, but nicely colored by Robinson’s soulful delivery. Very cool.

After the infamous Baby Gramps stunned the crowd with a between-sets version of a down-and-dirty Delta blues-inspired song I presume was called “Scrotum” (the cat does play a mean dobro!), the latest edition of Zero hit the stage to thunderous cheers. As always, Steve Kimock built his guitar solos slowly, feeling his way through a succession of melodic flights on his way to the stratosphere, while saxman Martin Fierro honked and squonked and screeched in his inimitable way, sometimes locked in with Kimock, but often flying alone. A nice addition to this version of the group was our old JGB pal Melvin Seals on organ; a good fit for sure. Among the group’s meaty jam tunes were “Gregg’s Eggs” and “Catalina,” the latter warbled by Judge Murphy.

Closing the show was a group billed as Mickey Hart & Friends, which turned out to be sort of an extension of the current Rhythm Devils band. However, in Bill Kreutzmann’s place was the ever-monstrous Mr. John Molo, and filling in for regular RD bassist Mike Gordon was the fantastic George Porter Jr., of New Orleans’ incomparable Meters. What a great fit he ebullient Porter turned out to be! Far from being some loose, thrown-together aggregation, however, MH&F sounded seriously rehearsed and hit the ground running. With Jen Durkin belting in front, they grooved their way through a selection of RD originals, including “The Center,” “Your House,” “Fountains of Wood” and “Next Dimension,” then closed with a pair of Dead tunes: “New Speedway Boogie” (v.2!) and “Fire on the Mountain.” The place was still rocking well past the midnight hour.

Toss in an auction of cool memorabilia in an adjacent room and surprise appearances by Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and Pete Sears, and you’ve got a night of fine tunes for a good cause. Wavy’s birthday parties are always a good time. May we share many more with him!

For more on SEVA, go to seva.org.