Though Bob Weir and Phil Lesh spent many years on the road together in Furthur (and of course in the Grateful Dead), the two musicians rarely get a chance to play with one another these days. Weir is busy touring with Dead & Company or the Campfire Band, while Lesh maintains residencies at Terrapin Crossroads, The Capitol Theatre and others. Though Lesh did host Weir at Terrapin earlier this year, the two finally crossed paths once more during a performance at The Warfield in San Francisco, CA last night, for Jackie Greene’s birthday show.
Greene assembled his band with some very special guests for the show. In addition to Weir and Lesh, Mark Karan, Nicki Bluhm, Ross James, Alex Nelson, and Bruce Spencer were all in attendance.
The first set was all Jackie Greene, with sit ins from Karan and Spencer peppering the performing. Afterwards, Bob Weir emerged for a short five song set that mirrored his recent acoustic performances, with songs from his new Blue Mountain album and a set closing “Ripple.”
The third set was the big Grateful Dead celebration, with Weir and Nelson joining on a set opening “Jack Straw” and “Standing On Shaky Ground.” At that point, Lesh emerged, as did Nicki Bluhm, for some Dead classics. The band played through “Scarlet/Fire” as well as a towering version of “Dark Star” with “I’m So Gone” in the middle. All of the guests stayed on for “Shakedown Street”, and Greene’s band finished things up with a medley that included “Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2”, a reprise of “Shakedown Street”, and “China Cat/I Know You Rider”.
Watch “Dark Star > I’m So Gone > Dark Star” featuring Bobby and Phil, below.
The show concluded with everyone joining together one more time for “Sugaree.” What a birthday party! As today is Greene’ birthday, let’s wish him a happy birthday and thank him for putting together such a seriously Grateful performance! You can see his setlist, below.
