There’s a phrase that likes to circulate in our little scene called “passing the torch.” It’s one of those collections of words that gets uttered whenever a band member from an older generation collaborates with a band from a younger one. That’s what happened 23 years ago today when Bob Weir joined Phish at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA.
Interestingly, a similar situation occurred just one year prior, when the Grateful Dead‘s own Phil Lesh joined Phish for a handful of songs (including some trampoline-inspired “You Enjoy Myself” jams) at the same northern California shed. Fast-forward a year and a few weeks, and the band got the chance to perform with another member of the Grateful Dead.
Weir, a Bay Area native son, emerged for Phish’s three-song encore, which included two Grateful Dead favorites and a Phish original. They started the extended encore with a cover of Marty Robbins‘ “El Paso”, sung by Weir of course, before high-tailing it into “Chalk Dust Torture”. Finally, the show ended with a powerful rendition of “West L.A. Fadeaway”, with Weir taking the vocals on the classic Jerry Garcia song.
Phish – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA – 10/6/2000
[Video: nognuisagoodgnu]
This show, the Phil show, and of course, the 1999 Phil & Phriends shows, were “torch-passing moments.” After years of intentionally steering clear of all things Dead so as to stymie the comparisons, the embargo had been lifted, and they had progressed to a point where it was no longer necessary. Of course, this would not be the last time that Weir and Phish would collaborate onstage. Bobby once again joined Trey, Mike, Fish, and Page for a surprise sit-in six years ago in Nashville, where they sang each others’ songs, turned in spacey improvisation, and genuinely shared the stage as peers.
Setlist: Phish | Shoreline Amphitheatre | Mountain View, CA | 10/6/00
Set One: Carini, Stash, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Mellow Mood, Maze, The Moma Dance, Run Like an Antelope
Set Two: Heavy Things > Down with Disease[1] -> Spock’s Brain, The Inlaw Josie Wales, Rift, Cities > Sand > Golgi Apparatus, Brian and Robert, Bold As Love
Encore: El Paso[2], Chalk Dust Torture[3] > West L.A. Fadeaway[2]
[1] Unfinished.
[2] Phish debut; Bob Weir guest appearance.
[3] Bob Weir guest appearance.
Glide was teased before the Carini opener and Jibboo was teased before Heavy Things. Disease was unfinished. The encore, which included the Phish debuts of El Paso and West L.A. Fadeaway, featured a Bob Weir guest appearance. Trey teased Chalk Dust after West. L.A. Fadeaway.
[Originally published on 10/6/18]
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