Phil Lesh and his ever present “Friends” set up shop at the Mission Ballroom last weekend and this time around he invited Grahame Lesh on guitar and John Molo on drums, Rick Mitarotonda of Goose, Jason Crosby on keyboards and violin, and the Trey Anastasio Band horns, Natalie Cressman, Jennifer Hartswick, and James Casey.
Well, well, well, String Cheese Incident pulled it off again. It’s no secret that they tend to save some of their best stuff for Red Rocks. The sky-divers, the tower drum jam, and the giant octopus that made it’s way through the crowd, are just of the mind blowing spectacles the band has put together over the years at the famed amphitheater. This one was just as special!
Saturday night marked the return of the mighty Phil Lesh to the stage of the majestic amphitheater. The lots were full early, and with the near perfect weather and the Cinco De Mayo holiday, it felt a bit like a FESTIVAL! It almost goes without saying that a huge contingent in the crowd were Deadheads, both grey-haired and baby-faced, some of whom may have been in attendance 40 years ago when Phil first played The Rocks with The Grateful Dead.
In stark contrast to the last time JRAD was supposed to play Red Rocks, the weather on Thursday as the show approached was a perfect late Summer Colorado day. The lots were hopping early, and the show was very obviously the go-to pre-party for the annual “Phish Dicks” Labor Day celebration across town at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. As Phishheads and Deadheads rubbed shoulders in the amphitheater, to say the energy and anticipation was high would be an understatement – the place was buzzing.
There are some jobs you can’t apply for, there are opportunities you can’t hunt down, and there are seats at the table you just can’t pull out for yourself. Colorado drummer Mark Levy taking his seat behind the kit during Phil Lesh’s three night run at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester New York this week is an opportunity of a lifetime and a job for which Levy is well suited.
GRATEFUL DEAD Saturday […]
Dark Star Orchestra is one group that will not and cannot get old, proving to fans and Deadheads alike that the music really never stops. These dudes (plus the lovely Lisa Mackey) have the Dead act down, and last Saturday night at the Boulder Theater was no exception. On this night, we were transported to Philadelphia’s Electric Factory, on Valentine’s Day of the late, great, year of 1969 for yet another epic rendition from the Grateful Dead catalog.
THE GRATEFUL DEAD […]
Last Tuesday evening we got up close and personal with 90’s Rock icon – close friends with the likes of Phil Lesh and Bob Weir – the often biblical-looking, ultra-talented frontman of The Black Crowes: Mister Chris Robinson. Weaving the perfect blend of covers, originals, and Black Crowes favorites, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood curated the most ideal night we could have asked for for the Eve of the Eve of the 2015 New Year.
