There was a “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” at The Capitol Theatre on Friday when Phil Lesh & Friends opened their third and final weekend run. The Grateful Dead bassist’s seventh show in Port Chester, NY this month featured a new crop of Friends and a tribute to the late Jerry Lee Lewis who died earlier that day at 87.
For Friday’s outing, Lesh was joined by Marcus King, Eric Krasno, Grahame Lesh, Nicki Bluhm, Jason Crosby (Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Assembly Of Dust), and Tony Leone (Little Feat, Chris Robinson Brotherhood). King will be on hand for Saturday’s performance as well before subbing out for Duane Betts on Halloween night.
As Phil & Friends took fans down the mine for “Cumberland Blues” to start the show, one of the most immediate advantages of this new lineup was the duality of Jason Crosby, who stepped away from his keyboards mid-song to deliver ferocious fiddle leads.
The Workingman’s Dead classic “Dire Wolf” came next, with Nicki Bluhm giving the plea for mercy some added levity with her tender voice while Crosby tickled his honky tonk keys. The first set rolled on with a cover of Merle Haggard‘s “Mama Tried” before a local shoutout in “Ramble on Rose” as Eric Krasno crooned “Just like New York City” to thunderous approval.
A lengthy take on “Peggy-O” followed, as Grahame Lesh and Nicki Bluhm acted out the back-and-forth of unrequited love. After that came an eerie “Candyman” that properly set the Halloween mood on the stage flanked by dancing skeletons made of jack-o-lanterns, prior to a slinky “West L.A. Fadeaway” finishing the first frame.
As the band resumed their posts for the second set, Marcus King could be heard saying to Nicki Bluhm, “We’ll see what happens,” which perfectly encapsulates the Grateful Dead ethos of playing in the moment. To start set two, King led the band through a bluesy take on Traffic‘s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” which, rather than segueing into the traditional “Hey Jude” coda, rolled straight into “Turn On Your Lovelight”.
“Sugaree” followed, and with it came a lengthy jam powered by the triumvirate of guitarists and propelled by Crosby’s swirling organ work. The music never stopped, so they say, as the band transitioned into the Dead’s ’60s psychedelic anthem “St. Stephen”. Phil Lesh then took center stage for “Mountains of the Moon” before concluding the set with “Viola Lee Blues”.
Taking The Capitol Theatre stage once more, the band fired up a bluesy “Deal” following Phil’s donor rap. In the midst of the Jerry Garcia cover, King took the band down a firey path to Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On” as a tribute to the rock n’ roll pioneer they called The Killer, before winding back into “Deal” to close the show.
Check out a gallery of photos from Phil Lesh & Friends at The Capitol Theatre on Friday courtesy of photographer David Gray. Full-show audio is also available thanks to taper David Dyche.
Phil Lesh & Friends – “Cumberland Blues”, “Dire Wolf” [Pro-Shot] – 10/28/22
Phil Lesh & Friends – “Dear Mr. Fantasy” (Traffic) > “Turn On Your Lovelight” (Bobby “Blue” Bland) [Pro-Shot] – 10/28/22
Phil Lesh & Friends – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY – 10/28/22
Setlist: Phil Lesh & Friends | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 10/28/22
Set One: Cumberland Blues, Dire Wolf, Mama Tried, Ramble on Rose, Peggy-O, Candyman, West LA Fadeaway,
Set Two: Dear Mr. Fantasy > Turn on Your Lovelight, Sugaree > St. Stephen > Mountains of the Moon, Viola Lee Blues
Encore:Â Deal > Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On > Deal
