After announcing the launch of his new Terrapin Clubhouse project at the end of last year, Phil Lesh has shared the first episode of The Clubhouse Sessions featuring Daniel Donato, Holly Bowling, Nicki Bluhm, Grahame Lesh, and John Molo.
Comprised of new friends, frequent collaborators, and old Terrapin Crossroads regulars, the multigenerational outfit led by the Grateful Dead bassist delivers a set of five Dead staples live in studio—among them, “U.S. Blues”, “Beat It On Down the Line”, “Brown Eyed Women”, “Mexicali Blues”, and “They Love Each Other”. Though the jams stick pretty closely to song forms rather than straying off into the realm of experimentation, the casual studio environment showcases the six musicians in a particularly relaxed state, not unlike the vibe of Lesh’s former Terrapin Crossroads venue, where you never knew who might stop by.
Terrapin Crossroads closed its doors in 2021 after serving as a home base for Lesh, who became averse to touring in recent years due to his advanced age. For nearly a decade after opening in 2012, the intimate club provided a hub for touring acts, with whom Lesh would regularly sit in, and hosted many memorable collaborations and community events.
Lesh announced the launch of Terrapin Clubhouse with a cryptic onstage announcement in November 2023, later detailing three new YouTube channels dedicated to the project—Terrapin Clubhouse, Clubhouse Sessions, and Darkstarathon—as well as a new podcast, The Phil Zone. Since then, he has stayed mostly quiet, with the first episode of The Clubhouse Sessions marking the first official Terrapin Clubhouse release.
Watch episode one of Phil Lesh’s Clubhouse Sessions featuring Grahame Lesh, Nicki Bluhm, Daniel Donato, John Molo, and Holly Bowling below, and stay tuned for more Terrapin Clubhouse updates.
The Clubhouse Sessions – Episode 1