Phil Lesh Kicks Off 2024 at The Warfield

Photo by Dino Perrucci

Phil Lesh played his first concert of 2024 at San Francisco’s The Warfield last night. This version of Phil Lesh & Friends featured his son Grahame Lesh on guitar, as well as guitarists Eric Krasno and Stu Allen, drummer John Molo and keyboardist Steve Molitz. All the players are veterans of past Phil & Friends lineups, and Allen, Molo and Grahame all backed the bassist during his December shows at San Fransisco’s The Fillmore.

The evening opened with two songs written by Bob Weir, “Playing in the Band” and “Born Cross-Eyed.” Lesh then moved into his first take on The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” with Phil & Friends since 2015. His first version of “Doin’ That Rag” since 2022 followed, and then the ensemble ran through “Althea” and “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” to close the first set.

Lesh’s second set was an almost completely segued affair. The segment opened with “Terrapin Station” and then moved into “Stella Blue and ” the rest of “Terrapin Station.” After a pause to play Robert Hunter’s “Jack O’Roses,” the musicians then offered some back-to-back classic combos,” segueing from “St. Stephen” into “The Eleven,” “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.”

The bassist’s classic American Beauty cut “Box of Rain” closed out the night. Lesh has been focused on his Terrapin Clubhouse as of late.