Phil Lesh & Friends returned to The Fillmore in San Francisco for a two-night run featuring Stu Allen, Grahame Lesh, Stanley Jordan, John Molo, and Adam MacDougall.
Setting up shop for shows on Friday and Sunday, the band blended Grateful Dead classics, psychedelic sonics, and sophisticated jazz improvisation into four sets of stellar, captivating jams. Though there was no shortage of highlights, some of the most thrilling moments were when fusion guitar maverick Stanley Jordan took the helm on classic covers with his singular two-handed tapping technique.
On Friday, Jordan led the band through a John Coltrane-inspired rendition of Rodgers & Hammerstein‘s “My Favorite Things”. The Christmas-adjacent tune inspired high-level improvisation and was met with enthusiastic applause.
Phil Lesh & Friends – “My Favorite Things” (Rodgers & Hammerstein) – 12/15/23
[Video: Deadheadland Films]
Then on Sunday, Jordan once again stole the show if only for a song, this time with a stunning version of Harold Arlen‘s “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.
Phil Lesh & Friends – “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” (Harold Arlen) – 12/17/23
[Video: Deadheadland Films]
Click below to view full-show video playlists from Phil Lesh & Friends at The Fillmore (using the playlist icon in the top right corner to navigate songs).
Phil Lesh & Friends will return to San Francisco on January 13th for a show at The Warfield presented by Terrapin Clubhouse, which the Grateful Dead co-founder recently launched with three YouTube channels including the collaborative “Darkstarathon” and a new podcast, The Phil Zone. Click here for more information. Tickets will go on sale here this Friday, December 22nd at 10 a.m.
Phil Lesh & Friends – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA – 12/15/23 [Full-Show Playlist]
[Video: Deadheadland Films]
Phil Lesh & Friends – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA – 12/17/23 [Full-Show Playlist]
[Video: Deadheadland Films]
Setlist: Phil Lesh & Friends | The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA | 12/15/23
Set 1: Stagger Lee (The Wheel acapella tag at the beginning), Uncle John’s Band, Mountains of the Moon (>) , Let It Grow, Big Railroad Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover), Pride of Cucamonga
Set 2: Unbroken Chain (>) , My Favorite Things (Rodgers & Hammerstein cover) (Instrumental), Passenger (>) , Dark Star (Verse 1) (>) , Born Cross-Eyed, Standing on the Moon, Sugar Magnolia
Encore: Cumberland Blues
Note: “Friends” – Stu Allen, Grahame Lesh, Stanley Jordan, John Molo, Adam MacDougall
Setlist: Phil Lesh & Friends | The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA | 12/17/23
Set 1: Here Comes Sunshine (The Wheel acapella tag), Viola Lee Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover), Lazy River Road, Me and My Uncle (John Phillips cover), Jack-A-Roe ([traditional] cover), Bird Song (Jerry Garcia cover)
Set 2: Cosmic Charlie, Jack Straw, Dark Star, Crazy Fingers, Revolution (The Beatles cover), Over the Rainbow (Harold Arlen cover) (Instrumental), The Wheel (Jerry Garcia cover)
Encore: It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan cover)
Note: “Friends” – Stu Allen, Grahame Lesh, Stanley Jordan, John Molo, Adam MacDougall