Grahame Lesh and Amy Helm debuted their new Songs Of Our Own project with a three-night stand this past Thursday through Saturday at Park City, Utah’s Egyptian Theater. The pair were joined by a talented backing band on music from the live repertoires of their fathers: Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead and Levon Helm of The Band. Phil sat-in with Songs Of Our Own each night of the run including at Saturday’s finale
Songs Of Our Own is a true multi-generational affair outside of Phil’s guest appearances as the band features Amy’s son and Levon’s grandson, Lavon “Lee” Collins on drums and vocals. The ensemble also includes keyboardist Peter Levin, bassist Adam Minkoff, multi-instrumentalist Charley Drayton, guitarist Dan Littleton, vocalist Elliott Peck and drummer Nathan Graham. Various configurations were presented throughout the night.
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The Park City finale on Saturday began with Lavon stepping center stage to front the band on “Truckin’,” while Drayton and Graham handled drumming duties. Collins was behind the kit for the “New Speedway Boogie” led by Amy Helm that followed. Songs Of Our Own showed off copious improvisational skills but unsurprisingly the focus was on the songs and not the jams. Saturday’s first set rolled on with a Lavon-sung “The Shape I’m In” and a harmony-laden “He’s Gone” featuring Minkoff on lead vocals.
The ensuing “Rockin’ Chair” was a stripped-down affair with Grahame on acoustic guitar and lead vocals accompanied by Minkoff on bass, Littleton on electric guitar, Levin on piano and Drayton on drums. Next, the rest of the outfit returned for a rousing “Casey Jones” sung with authority by Lavon Collins. Then, Peter Levin displayed his virtuostic organ work on “Chest Fever” before Phil Lesh emerged to play bass on the Grateful Dead classic “Tennessee Jed” to close the opening frame.
Phil came back with the full band to get Saturday’s second set underway with a country-tinged “Friend Of The Devil” led by Amy Helm. The Grateful Dead bassist left Songs Of The Own to power through a Minkoff-fronted take on The Band via The Four Tops’ “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever.” A nicely extended “Uncle John’s Band” came next along with The Band gem “Rag Mama Rag.” From there, the ensemble delivered a memorable “St. Stephen” before Amy sang her father’s “Up On Cripple Creek” vocals for what she said was just the second time ever.
Saturday’s second set continued with an emotion-laced “I Shall Be Released” and high-energy “Don’t Do It.” A rollicking “Ripple” featuring Phil Lesh on bass concluded the frame. For the encore, Songs Of Our Own and Phil Lesh punctuated the night and run by pairing “The Weight” and “Box Of Rain.”
View photos from the run and see what Grahame and Amy wrote about the shows below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq3QAN0uu9y/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq3hrGRviNP/?hl=en
Setlist (Saturday, April 8)
Set One: Truckin’, New Speedway Boogie, Caledonia Mission, The Shape I’m In, He’s Gone, Rockin’ Chair, Casey Jones, Chest Fever, Tennessee Jed*
Set Two: Friend Of The Devil, Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, Uncle John’s Band, Rag Mama Rag, St. Stephen, Up On Cripple Creek, I Shall Be Released, Don’t Do It, Ripple*
Encore: The Weight*, Box Of Rain*
* – with Phil Lesh
