the Infamous Stringdusters at the Grate Room, September 1, 2017

Terrapin Crossroads presents the Infamous Stringdusters with host, Phil Lesh
the Grate Room at Terrapin Crossroads
100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA
8:00 PM, Friday, September 1, 2017

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2017 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2017 event list! ☸ On to the next event!

[8:07 PM lights down, band out]

1. [8:08 PM] Where the Rivers Run (JG)
2. [8:12 PM] It'll Be Alright (TB) »
3. [8:m PM] Machines (killer jam, short Terrapin tease)
4. [8:28 PM] How Far I'd Fall for You (TB) »
5. [8:34 PM] Head Over Heels (AH) »
6. [8:38 PM] I Run to You (JG)
   [8:46 PM Andy calls up Phil, who stays for the rest of the set]
7. [8:48 PM] Big River (JG)
8. [8:54 PM] He's Gone (TB)
9. [9:00 PM] Rosalie McFall (AF)
10. [9:05 PM] Scarlet Begonias (AH)
    [set ends 9:14 PM, CP says “thanks, don't go away”]

[9:39 PM lights down, band out]

1. [9:40 PM] Won't Be Coming Back (TB)
2. [9:45 PM] Let Me Know (AH) »
3. [9:50 PM] You Can't Stop the Changes (AH)
4. [9:54 PM] I Want to Take You Higher (TB) » [9:59 PM] (another cover instrumental jam) » I Want to Take You Higher
5. [10:03 PM] I'll Get Away (JG)
6. [10:08 PM] Ring on Your Finger (JG)
7. [10:10 PM] Not Fade Away (AH) (with the Entertainer tease)
8. [10:20 PM] This Ol' Building (AF)
9. [10:24 PM] All That I Can Take (TB) »
10. [10:31 PM] Get It While You Can (TB) »
11. [10:40 PM] A Hard Life Makes A Good Song (JG) »
12. [10:43 PM] Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey AKA Also sprach Zarathustra »
13. [10:46 PM] Peace of Mind (AF)
    [set ends 10:51 PM]
    
    Encore
14. [10:53 PM] 17 Cents (JG)
    [show ends 11:00 PM and we dash over to the bar to catch the last 20 minutes of Jake Peavey's set]

the Infamous Stringdusters

• Travis Book: contrabass, lead and harmony vox;
• Andy Falco: guitar, lead and harmony vox;
• Jeremy Garrett: violin, lead and harmony vox;
• Andy Hall: dobro, lead and harmony vox;
• Chris Pandolfi: banjo.

• Phil Lesh: bass.

Hard to go wrong with a Stringdusters show: them boys really know how to pick! In fact, the opening half hour just completely knocked me out of my socks, just like the old Maxell ads! A little while later Phil got up to join them, and this time through, Travis stayed onstage to sing and play throughout Phil's sit-in. Phil compensated by staying up in the top of his register and playing a fair amount of lead bass, making for rather unusual renditions of the Grateful Dead repertoire. I'm not entirely convinced that tonight's combination was successful, but everyone involved seemed pretty happy about it, and I'm glad I was there to hear it! Heck, I'm looking forward to hearing it again, assuming that the show will eventually be posted online somewhere.

I'm always surprised at how many people disappear at set break on the shows featuring Phil as a guest. I can understand feeling like you got what you came for, but on the other hand, it's Friday night … why leave? I suppose that having Jake Peavey and Yellowhammer in the bar tonight might have been a really big draw for anyone looking to rock to something harder than a blazing hot string band. Picky fans!

So despite the temptation, Ting and I waited until the Stringdusters were all finished to run over to the bar, and for that, we managed to catch the last three songs of Jake's set. Didn't make note of the tune that they were playing when we walked in, but it was followed with a monster Shakedown Street, and then the band encored with a fine version of Casey Jones. If I'd been really paying attention, I would have taken notes on who was playing, but for now, the only clue about that will have to come from inspection of Ting's photos. Off the top of my head, I can confirm: Ben Jernigan: guitar; Alex Jordan at keyboard; Grahame Lesh: guitar; Jake Peavey: guitar and vox; Jeremy Plog: guitar. I didn't recognize the drummer or bass player – presumably they're part of Yellowhammer – and there was a girl sitting next to Alex playing tambourine and singing harmony. Oh yeah, and an additional guy playing 4-string electric mandolin (or uke?) during Shakedown. Pretty good for a Friday night!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2017 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2017 event list! ☸ On to the next event!