Phil Lesh is hanging around New York City this month for a five-show residency at The Capitol Theatre, and on one of his off nights, he stopped by his son Grahame Lesh‘s show at Brooklyn Bowl. The Grateful Dead bassist dropped in for more than just some fatherly support, joining his son on the Robert Hunter-penned song “Jupiter”, which Grahame set to music with his band Midnight North.
Though Friday’s concert was originally scheduled as a Midnight North show, the band was forced to alter the bill to a Grahame Lesh & Friends concert as Midnight North’s Elliott Peck recovers from a recent health issue. In a letter posted to fans, the singer/guitarist announced that doctors found a tumor in her abdomen and that she will take a hiatus from performing as she seeks treatment. In her absence, Grahame and the rest of Midnight North are instead “doing our best to fill the air with musical healing energy.”
There was certainly musical energy in the air on Friday at Brooklyn Bowl when Phil took the stage early on during the co-headlining show with The Mother Hips. The luminary bassist is on the precipice of his 84th birthday—the reason for his five-night, two-week stay at The Cap—but was able to jump right in with the band of musicians less than half his age. Fittingly, they performed “Jupiter”, a song featuring words by Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and music by Grahame Lesh. The song appears on Midnight North’s latest album Diamonds in the Zodiac (a line from “Jupiter”), with Phil also playing bass on the studio recording.
Together onstage, Phil and Grahame locked into a family jam with the father laying the foundation as he has throughout his son’s life. Grahame in turn led the kinetic improvisation with ascending guitar leads while still keeping the euphoric nature of the vaguely “Terrapin Station”-esque composition intact.
As Phil sauntered offstage following the sit-in, Grahame quipped, “Maybe we’ll see you at The Cap next week.” Grahame is one of the Friends set to join Phil on March 13th, 15th, and 16th, alongside Eric Krasno, Karl Denson, Jason Crosby, Amy Helm, and John Molo.
Watch Phil Lesh join Grahame Lesh & Friends for “Jupiter” at Brooklyn Bowl below, beginning at 23:30. Revisit Live For Live Music‘s coverage of nights one and two of Phil’s residency (featuring The Phil Lesh Quintet, aka “The Q”) and find tickets for next week’s shows on The Cap’s website. The run of Grahame Lesh & Friends shows continues tonight, March 9th, with a show alongside The Mother Hips at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. For tickets and a full list of tour dates visit Midnight North’s website.
Grahame Lesh & Friends – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY – 3/8/24 – Full Video
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