Phil Lesh and Friends had a rare appearance outside of Terrapin Crossroads this past weekend. Phil and and a super interesting line-up played two sets dubbed ‘Dead Blues’ at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel.

Phil’s lineup included Junior Mack on guitar and vocals, Danielle Nicole on vocals, Jackie Greene on keyboard, guitar and vocals, Cody Dickinson on drums and vocals, Blind Boys of Alabama and vocals, JD Simo on guitar and vocals, Luther Dickinson on guitar and vocals and John Medeski on keyboards. Whoa.

As the gig’s title would suggest, the show had a bluesy theme and included plenty of blues standard that were staples of the early Grateful Dead such as “King Bee,” “Big Boss Man,” and “Deep Elem Blues.” With such a deep line-up, Phil flexed his muscles and included a Blind Boys of Alabama favorite “Amazing Grace.”

Set 1
01- Walkin’ Blues (JM)
02- Big Boss Man (JM)
03- I Ain’t Superstitious (DN/LD)
04- Same Thing (DN/JD)
05- Tennessee Jed (JG/JD)
06- New Speedway Boogie (CD)
07- People Get Ready (BB/DN)
08- Down in the Hole (BB)
09- Nobody’s Fault But Mine (BB/JM/JD)
10- Pray For Peace (BB/LD/DN)
11- Sugaree (all)

Set 2
12- King Bee (JD)
13- Deep Elem Blues (JG/CD)
14- You Don’t Love Me Baby (JM/JD)
15- Mystery Train (JM/JG)
16- Little Red Rooster (JD/LD)
17- Amazing Grace (BB/JM)
18- Higher Ground (BB)
19- Death Don’t Have No Mercy (DN)
20- Wang Dang Doodle (JD/DN)
21- Deal (JG/JD)
22- Friend of the Devil (JG/JD)
23- Down By the Riverside (all)
24- Donor Rap
Encore:
25- Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad (all)

Thanks to Richard Skaggs for the recording!

Photo credit: paulcitone