Phil Lesh kicked off his two-night run at the Capitol Theatre on Friday night with a fantastic group of “Friends.” Celebrating his 68th show since 2012, the Grateful Dead bassist brought along Karl Denson (The Rolling Stones, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe), Robert Randolph, Jackie Greene, Ross James, Jason Crosby, Tony Leone, Alex Koford, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The band played through Grateful Dead favorites for two full sets, opening with a spectacular “Shakedown Street” led by saxophonist Karl Denson. Jackie Greene and Ross James took turns on another energetic opener, “Jack Straw,” before Alex Koford brought a heart-pulling version of CSNY’s “Almost Cut My Hair.” Greene took lead on “Bertha,” before Denson struck in on a firing “West L.A. Fadeaway,” which segued into a sing-a-long marathon “Ophelia” with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in full effect. The first set closed with “Samson and Delilah.”

Watch the first- set opener, thanks to nugs.tv below:

Watch the full band tackle “Ophelia” in the video below, courtesy of Stephen Hurtes:



The second set brought the heat, with a “Help On The Way” opener, that led straight into a “Slipknot!” and “Franklin’s Tower” jam featuring musical tradeoffs between Jackie Greene, Ross James, Jason Crosby, and Phil Lesh. The full band continued with a “Viola Lee Blues” “Cumberland Blues” sandwich, then a Lesh-led “Unbroken Chain.” The second set closed on a high note with “Turn On Your Lovelight” and Not Fade Away.” The band once again returned for a performance of The Band‘s “The Weight.”

Watch the second-set opener below, courtesy of nugs.tv.



Watch “The Weight,” courtesy of Chuck Siegel:



On Saturday night, Karl Denson, Robert Randolph, Ross James, Jason Crosby, Tony Leone, and Alex Koford will return to the Capitol with Lesh, along with Neal Casal subbing in for Jackie Green on guitar. Tickets for the show at the legendary venue are available here.

Setlist: Phil Lesh & Friends | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 5/26/17

I: Shakedown Street (KD), Jack Straw (JGe, RJ), Almost Cut My Hair (AK), Bertha (JGe), West L.A. Fadeaway (KD), Ophelia (JGe), Tennessee Jed (JGe, AK), Samson and Delilah (RJ)

II: Help on the Way > (JGe), Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower > (JGe, RJ, JC, PL), Viola Lee Blues > (all), Cumberland Blues > (all), Viola Lee Blues (all), Unbroken Chain (PL), Turn on your Lovelight > (JGe, RJ), Not Fade Away (all)

E: The Weight (KD, JGe, PL, RJ)