Photo Credit: Geoff Tishman
Last night, March 7, Phil Lesh & The “Q” returned to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. for their final stand as a quintet before Friends dates commence on March 13. After a night away from the stage, the Grateful Dead bassist, along with Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Rob Barraco and John Molo, returned on Wednesday night and dusted off “Night of 1000 Stars” for the first time since 2021. The night continued with a taste of “The Wheel,” which was ultimately played in full as the night’s final song.
Night two with The “Q” got underway with the There and Back Again cut “Night of a Thousand Stars,” performed for the first time since the ensemble’s visit to The Capitol Theatre on Oct. 11, 2021. The initial song was proceeded by just the chorus of “The Wheel” before a full-fledged leap into the frontman’s Grateful Dead past on “New Speedway Boogie” and “New Potato Caboose.” Next, the group moved to Jerry Garcia’s solo archive, taking on “Bird Song” before the delivery of sister tunes, “China Cat Sunflower” into “I Know You Rider,” which merged into the evening’s set break.
Upon their return, the latter half of the night picked up on the Traffic original, “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” a song that has been a part of the Dead’s touring repertoire since June 1984. Next, they ran through fan favorite “Shakedown Street,” followed by From the Mars Hotel number, “Unbroken Chain.” After an explorative “Dark Star,” the band popped out on another Traffic tune, this time “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boy.”
“Passenger” arrived prior to the final song of the second frame, a cover of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” which preluded band introductions and Lesh’s signature donor rap, which urges folks to consider organ donation. Creating an arc between the night’s start and finish, the band picked up a complete version of “The Wheel,” which ultimately served as the evening’s encore.
With Lesh’s “Q” dates completed, the musician will take time away from the stage until next week, Wednesday, March 15, when he will continue his 84th birthday celebration with his Friends lineup, featuring Eric Krasno, Grahame Lesh, Karl Denson, Jason Crosby, Amy Helm and Molo.
Scroll down to view photos courtesy of photographer Geoff Tishman.
Phil Lesh & The “Q”
The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, N.Y.
March 6, 2024
Set I: Night of 1000 Stars+, New Speedway Boogie, New Potato Caboose, Bird Song, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
Set II: Dear Mr. Fantasy, Shakedown Street, Unbroken Chain, Dark Star, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boy, Passenger, Into the Mystic&
Enc.: The Wheel
Notes:
+ Start of “The Wheel”
& Donor Rap, band introductions
Setlist via setlist.FM.