Photo Credit: Dino Perrucci

On March 18, Phil Lesh & Friends returned to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. After marking the St. Patrick’s day holiday on Friday, the group of musicians took the stage at the storied rock venue last night, where they delivered staple Grateful Dead tracks, along with a peppering of choice covers throughout the two-set performance. 

The first frame commenced with a high powered run through of the Jerry Garcia original “Deal.” The night’s initial number saw exemplary instrumental solos by Katie Jacoby who soared on violin, in addition to John Medeski’s unmatched key work and Nicki Bluhm’s lead vocals. As a follow-up, the group of players dipped into “Jack Straw.” Grahame Lesh took the lead on the tune, before his father jumped in and added some lines.

After “Jack Straw,” the group of players turned to the traditional “Peggy-O,” before adding in “Cassidy” from Bobby Weir’s Ace archive. “Loose Lucy” emerged next, and saw the crowd echo the lyrics: “Thank you, for a real good time.” From one fan favorite to the next, the musicians pulled out “They Love Each Other” before capping the first half of the concert on “One More Saturday Night,” a fitting nod to the day of the week. 

Upon their return to the stage, the musicians noodled their way into “Eyes of the World,” to the delight of the audience. The number saw James Casey crush the Robert Hunter-penned lyrics, and even add an instrumental solo to blast the number into the stratosphere. “Eyes of the World” morphed into a perfected rendition of “The Eleven,” with Grahame Lesh taking the lead on lyrics from the 1960s gem. 

The previously mentioned song merged with an ensuing “Uncle John’s Band” ahead of a rousing take on “Sugar Magnolia.” As the night lingered on, the group of jammers turned toward “Dark Star” which was cut with The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” prior to a reprise of 1″968 Grateful Dead single “Dark Star.” The high times continued with a bubbly delivery of “China Cat Sunflower,” which ran over into the refrain of “Terrapin Station.” 

For the evening’s encore, the group tapped into a passionate take on “Ripple” to mark the end of their third night in Port Chester, N.Y. Following Saturday’s display, the group of musicians will make their way back to the famed stage tonight, for their fourth and final stand, which will double as Phil Lesh’s 100th show at The Capitol Theatre, since the location reopened its doors in 2012.

Watch clips from Phil Lesh & Friends’ March 18 gig below. 

Phil Lesh & Friends 

The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, N.Y. 

March 18, 2023

Set I: Deal, Jack Straw, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Loose Lucy, They Love Each Other, One More Saturday Night

Set II: Eyes of the World > The Eleven > Uncle John’s Band, Sugar Magnolia, Dark Star > Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds > Dark Star Reprise > China Cat Sunflower > Terrapin Station

Enc.: Ripple 

Setlist via setlist.fm.