For most of 2018, Holly Bowling has been focused on her new project Ghost Light, also featuring Tom Hamilton, Raina Mullen, Steve Lyons, and Scotty Zwang. However, the fan-favorite pianist came to prominence for her solo piano arrangements of classic Phish and Grateful Dead tunes, and recently, Bowling has been returning to her roots as a solo performer.

Amidst a nationwide solo tour, Holly made a stop at Ardmore, PA’s Ardmore Music Hall last Friday to treat fans two sets of Phish and Grateful Dead favorites. After opening with the Dead’s “Help On The Way”> “Slipknot”, Bowling hopped into Phish’s “My Friend, My Friend”,before delving into an extended “Cassidy”, highlighting Bowling’s raw talent and ability to twist and bend songs into masterpieces on the piano.

Bowling played another long, composed piece, Gamehendge suite “Colonel Forbin’s Ascent”> “Fly Famous Mockingbird”, before throwing a curveball and inviting up Ghost Light bandmate and guitarist, Raina Mullen, to sing lead on Radiohead’s “Black Star”, off their beloved 1995 sophomore album, The Bends. The Radiohead cover helped close the first set, before Bowling took a brief intermission.

Set two opened up with the Dead’s “Weather Report Prelude and Part 1”, leading into “Let It Grow”. Holly mixed up some interesting Phish next, with a “Frankie Says” that led into “Steam”> “Wake Up” (Rage Against The Machine)> “Let It Grow Reprise”. The pianist’s choices to deviate slightly from Phish and the Grateful Dead’s catalogue made for a very unique Holly Bowling solo experience in Ardmore, PA. Holly finally wrapped up with a “Brokedown Palace” that led into “Piper” and, finally, a “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower” to complete the Help/Slip/Franklin’s sequence that began with the show’s opening number.

Luckily for fans, Holly Bowling has shared pro-shot video footage of the evening’s Radiohead cover with Raina Mullen. Watch the video below.

Holly Bowling w/ Raina Mullen – “Black Star” – 9/14/2018

[Video: Holly Bowling]

You can also listen to full show audio below, courtesy of taper Rich Stoler.

Holly Bowling – Ardmore Music Hall – 9/14/2018

[Audio:Rich Stoler]

For a full list of Holly Bowling’s upcoming tour dates and tickets to her shows, head to her website.

Setlist: Holly Bowling | Ardmore Music Hall | Ardmore, PA | 9/14/2018

Set One: Help On The Way> Slipknot> My Friend, My Friend, Cassidy, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent> Fly Famous Mockingbird, Black Star#

Set Two: Weather Report Prelude and Part 1> Let It Grow> Frankie Says> Steam> Wake Up (Rage Against The Machine)> Let It Grow Reprise, Brokedown Palace> Piper> Slipknot> Franklins Tower

# w/ Raina Mullen