Photo: Jay Strausser

On May 1, an intergenerational ensemble of artists gathered at The Joy Theater in New Orleans to offer a special musical tribute to the late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who passed away in October 2024. This cycle of the Jazz Fest represents the first Big Easy gathering since Lesh’s demise; the event’s timing allowed a roster of 13+ former collaborators, friends, and admirers to pay musical homage to the bass bomb-blasting originalist. 

The night was dubbed A Dream We Dreamed: A New Orleans Tribute to Phil Lesh, and it featured musicians Vinnie Amico, Duane Betts, Nicki Bluhm, Rob Derhak, Jennifer Hartswick, Eric Krasno, Ross James, Jay Lane, Aaron Magner, Ivan Neville, George Porter Jr., Karina Rykman, and Al Schneir; a mix of artist spanning ties to The Meters, moe., Trey Anastasio Band, Wolf Bros, Disco Biscuits and more jam associated acts. 

As the amalgamated group of participants positioned themselves on stage, the 1,200-capacity venue was filled with whoops and welcomes. This ushered in a countdown for entry by de facto on-stage bandleader Krasno and brief opening instrumentals before Betts seized the lines of fan favorite “Brown Eyed Women.” Cowboy hat-clad Bluhm sang “Easy Wind,” reprising the blues-tinged spirit of Pigpen during her lead. The song was predisposed for instrumental accentuation, with Magner, who sonically strengthened the mention of the Dead’s late and original keyboardist.  

Betts resumed the lead on the night’s arrival of “Althea,” before the first set’s tried and true ode to the late great on the Robbie Robertson original “Broken Arrow.” “Broken Arrow” was first performed by the Grateful Dead on February 23, 1993, at the Oakland Coliseum. Phil Lesh notoriously covered the number with some frequency in his own Friends project and on their subsequent 1999 LP, Love Will See You Through. The song continued to appear on Lesh & Friends’ setlist, particularly during his annual runs at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. 

Krasno offered the lead on “Scarlet Begonias,” while Neville influenced the song with mystic key work that inspired a similar tone exhibited by fellow Big Easy staple, the late Allen Toussaint. Eventually, the band caught up to “Scarlet’s” sister tune and hitched it to “Fire on the Mountain,” led by Tony Hall. The set found an exit after a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” a song that Lesh was known to toss in lines, during its 50+ live covers from 1985 to 1995.

Fittingly, the night resumed its course after the set break with “The Music Never Stopped,” featuring considerable instrumental back-and-forth from Krasno and Terrapin Family Band member James. Hall brought the funk during the follow-up “Shakedown Street,” which preluded a high point of the night: Porter Jr.’s arrival and subsequent siege of the seductive tempo of “They Love Each Other.” 

Magner offered a mega solo on “Eyes of the World,” which turned into “Drums,” a percussive conversation between Lane and Amico. “Turn on Your Love Light” sparked the flame of desire, wanting more of what the band delivered, and the subsequent turnout of Garcia’s “Sugaree” with significant heart from the great Porter Jr. 

Stepping up to the mic, Krasno addressed the crowd and thanked James for putting the concert’s music together for this show. Ultimately, they kept the songs flowing with “Cassidy” and “Deal,” before edging the emotions of the concert and the reason for the gathering on “Brokedown Palace.” 

A Dream We Dreamed: Tribute to Phil Lesh

The Joy Theater – New Orleans 

May 1, 2025

Set I: Brown-Eyed Women, Easy Wind, Althea, Broken Arrow, Scarlet Begonias, Fire on the Mountain, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

Set II: The Music Never Stopped, Shakedown Street, They Love Each Other, Eyes of the World, Drums, Turn On Your Love Light, Sugaree, Cassidy, Deal

Enc: Brokedown Palace