The Rock Collection, a supergroup made up of Dan Lebowitz, Melvin Seals, Stu Allen, Greg Anton, Stephanie Salvia, and Robin Sylvester played at Terrapin Crossroads Saturday night. Concert attendees got a special surprise when the band brought up special guest and owner of the venue, Phil Lesh, for a couple of songs.
Much of the evening’s music consisted of songs co-written by Robert Hunter along with various other musicians, most of whom were playing onstage. The show kicked off with “I Will Love You”, which Anton and Hunter wrote together for Zero‘s 1991 album Zero Blues. Next came one of only five songs the entire evening that wasn’t co-written by Hunter, which was “Try”, from Lebowitz’s catalog. After running through a few more tunes, including Zero’s “Tear Tags Off Mattresses”, “American Spring”, and “Catalina”, the band welcomed up former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. The ensemble ran through “End Of The World Blues” along with the Grateful Dead classic “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” to close the set.
The band returned to the stage sans-Lesh to begin the second set, as they opened up with “Pits of Thunder”. This was followed by a selection from Seals’ catalog, “Celebrate”, from the veteran organ player’s 2014 album Melting Pot. The Rock Collection continued its brief foray away from Hunter tunes, with a run through The Allman Brothers‘ blues classic “Whipping Post”. After that the ensemble returned to the words of Robert Hunter with “Forever Is Nowhere”, “Just Because”, and “Home On The Range”. Finally, the show closed out with Bob Dylan‘s “I Threw It All Away”.
Check out videos of Phil Lesh sitting in with The Rock Collection at Terrapin Crossroads Saturday night.
The Rock Collection with Phil Lesh – “End Of The World Blues” – 1/25/20
[Video: Deadhead Films]
The Rock Collection with Phil Lesh – “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” – 1/25/20
[Video: Deadhead Films]
The Rock Collection doesn’t have any upcoming shows, but keep a tab on their website for up-to-date information. Phil Lesh recently announced a special “surprise” 80th birthday party for himself that will feature three nights of Phil Lesh & Friends at The Capitol Theatre, where the real surprise is that the audience doesn’t know who the friends are until the curtain comes up. Lesh will also headline LOCKN’ festival this summer, where he will once again celebrate his birthday.
Setlist: The Rock Collection | Terrapin Crossroads | San Rafael, CA | 1/25/20
Set One: I Will Love You, Try, Tear Tags Off Mattresses, American Spring Catalina, End Of The World Blues*, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo*
Set Two: Pits Of Thunder, Celebrate, Whipping Post (The Allman Brothers), Forever Is Nowhere, Just Because, Home On The Range, I Threw It All Away (Bob Dylan)
* with Phil Lesh