As Deadheads began to gather in Las Vegas for the first weekend of Dead & Company‘s Dead Forever Sphere residency, Phil Lesh quietly shared the first episode of his previously announced Darkstarathon on his newly launched Terrapin Clubhouse channel.
Announced back in November along with Terrapin Clubhouse and The Phil Zone podcast, the Darkstarathon is a series of live “Dark Star” jams featuring different musicians, with each ensemble picking up where the last left off in an unbroken chain of collaborations.
“I will be collaborating with many musical friends to create a ‘Dark Star’ that pauses but never ends,” Lesh said in the initial announcement. “Each band will pick up where the last band left off, and it will be a living, breathing, infinite piece of music. … I promise to make it weird.”
The first episode of the Darkstarathon features the same lineup as the first Terrapin Clubhouse Session, including Phil alongside his son Grahame Lesh, Daniel Donato, Nicki Bluhm, Holly Bowling, and John Molo. The video begins with Phil explaining the general plan to the band in the studio before the session, detailing how they will play the first verse of “Dark Star” and then return to the hook to start an improvised jam.
“It’s everyone’s power to suggest a song, even if the song is not on the list,” Lesh tells the band.
“Adventure accepted!” Daniel Donato responds.
The band then busts right into a sprawling 40+ minute “Dark Star” jam that includes detours through “Franklin’s Tower”, “Good Lovin’”, “Morning Dew”, and “When I Paint My Masterpiece” before concluding.
“Okay, so that’s where we’ll start next time,” Phil reminds everyone at the end of the session. “That’s the endless ‘Dark Star’ symphony. It pauses but never stops.”
Watch Phil Lesh, Grahame Lesh, Daniel Donato, Nicki Bluhm, Holly Bowling, and John Molo begin the Darkstarthon with a stellar 40-minute jam below, and stay tuned for episode 2.
For more information on Terrapin Clubhouse, head here.
Phil Lesh – Terrapin Clubhouse Darkstarathon – Episode 1
The post Phil Lesh Launches ‘Darkstarathon’ With 40+ Minute Jam Ft. Daniel Donato, Holly Bowling, Nicki Bluhm, More [Video] appeared first on L4LM.
