Phil Lesh & Friends kicked off two nights at Denver’s Mission Ballroom on Saturday with a lineup featuring the Trey Anastasio Band horns—James Casey, who was celebrating a birthday, Natalie Cressman, and Jennifer Hartswick—as well as Jason Crosby, Grahame Lesh, Rick Mitarotonda (Goose), and John Molo. In addition to standard selection from the Grateful Dead songbook, the concert included a tribute to the late David Crosby in each set.
Set one got off to a celestial start with a psychedelic “Dark Star” that flowed into a mellow “Ripple”. “Ship of Fools” then kept the waters moving until the band dropped into “Jack Straw” with a splash. “Pride of Cucamonga” came next ahead of a pairing of “China Cat Sunflower” > “New Speedway Boogie”, and the band closed the set with a cover of Crosby, Stills & Nash‘s “Long Time Gone” in honor of the recent passing of David Crosby. Last played by Lesh at Terrapin Crossroads before its closing in 2021, the song was a team effort, with Grahame Lesh, James Casey, and Jennifer Hartswick each singing lead on a different verse.
The band’s tribute to the late David Crosby continued in the second set, which opened with his song “Tamalpais High (at about 3:00)”. Aside from the proceeding Grateful Dead live staples, “Viola Lee Blues” by Cannon’s Jug Stompers and the traditional “I Know You Rider”, the two Crosby tunes were they only real covers of the night—that is, until the encore, when the band played “Happy Birthday to You” by Mildred J. Hill and Patty Hill in honor of James Casey. The birthday celebration was especially sweet given Casey’s recent battle with colon cancer, which inspired him to release a Christmas EP benefitting the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and Eastern Virginia Medical School’s HOPES Clinic to support the fight against the disease.
Phil Lesh & Friends – “Tamalpais High (at about 3:00)” (David Crosby), “Viola Lee Blues” (Cannon’s Jug Stompers), “I Know You Rider” (Traditional) – 2/4/23
Set two also included Phil favorite “Unbroken Chain”, an emotional “Wharf Rat”, and a heady sequence of “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot” > “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” > “Franklin’s Tower”.
In addition to “Happy Birthday to You” and compulsory donor rap, the encore featured another Phil favorite, “Box of Rain”.
Check out fan-shot videos and photos from Phil Lesh & Friends at Mission Ballroom courtesy of photographer David Tracer below. The band returns to the Mission tonight, Sunday, February 5th. For tickets and a full list of Phil Lesh’s upcoming tour dates, visit his website.
Phil Lesh & Friends – “Long Time Gone” (Crosby, Stills & Nash) – 2/4/23
[Video: Rev Buddy Greene]
Setlist: Phil Lesh & Friends | Mission Ballroom | Denver, CO | 2/4/23
Set: Dark Star > Ripple, Ship of Fools > Jack Straw, Pride of Cucamonga, China Cat Sunflower > New Speedway Boogie, Long Time Gone (Crosby, Stills & Nash)
Set 2: Tamalpais High (at about 3:00) (David Crosby), Viola Lee Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers), I Know You Rider (Traditional), Unbroken Chain, Wharf Rat, Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo > Franklin’s Tower
Encore: Happy Birthday to You (Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill) (Sung to James Casey), Box of Rain
