“Mardi Gras” House Party featuring Phil Lesh & Friends, Danny Click & the Hell Yeahs and Go By Ocean
2014-03-10
Terrapin Crossroads Bar
100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael, CA
6:00 PM, Monday, March 10, 2014

[6:m PM lights down, announcements]

1. [6:11 PM] ? Leaning Back on Me
2. [6:16 PM] ?
3. [6:24 PM] ?
4. [6:30 PM] ?
5. [6:36 PM] ?
   [Neal joins now? I didn't notice him playing any earlier, but I also wasn't paying much attention, since I was in the dining room instead of the bar]
6. [6:42 PM] They Love Each Other (NC)
7. [6:52 PM] ?
   [set ends 7:03 PM]

1. [7:15 PM] ? Don't Wanna Know
   [add keys, drop pedal steel]
2. [7:18 PM] ? Stranded in the Rain
3. [7:23 PM] ? (cowboy song)
4. [7:30 PM] ? Waitin' Longer Than I Should
5. [7:34 PM] Baptize Me Over Elvis Presley's Grave
   [violin and pedal steel off]
6. [7:41 PM] When I Get Drunk
7. [7:50 PM] I Was Born Right Around Here
   [set ends 8:01 PM]

[8:37 PM lights down, Phil on after break following setup]

1. [8:40 PM] Keep On Growin' (GL/SA)
2. [8:49 PM] Love the One You're With (NC)
3. [8:56 PM] Bird Song (PL)
   [-GL, +DC]
4. [9:12 PM] I've Got a Feeling (DC)
   [-DC]
5. [9:25 PM] Here Comes Sunshine (SA)
6. [9:40 PM] Stella Blue (NC)
   [+GL, Fog City Horns]
7. [9:53 PM] Life Is a Carnival (GL) »
8. [10:00 PM] Iko Iko (SA)
9. [10:09 PM] Rocks Off (NC)
10. [10:15 PM] U.S. Blues (GL)
    [-GL, +ES, +DC]
11. [10:25 PM] Respect (ES)
    [-DC, +GL, +RJ]
12. [10:30 PM] Turn On Your Lovelight (RJ)
    [+DC, -ES]
13. [10:39 PM] Loose Lucy (AK)
14. [10:45 PM] Franklin's Tower (PL)
    [10:55 PM Phil introduces the band, -FCH]
15. [10:56 PM] Ripple (PL)
    [+ES, FCH]
16. [11:02 PM] Going Down the Road, Feelin' Bad
    [show ends 11:10 PM done, hugs, no bow]

• Stu Allen: guitar, acoustic guitar, vox;
• Neal Casal: guitar, vox;
• Jason Crosby: keyboards, vox;
• Grahame Lesh: acoustic guitar, vox;
• Phil Lesh: bass, lead and harmony vox;
• Alex Koford: drums, vox;
  - with a parade of guests -
• Danny Click: guitar, vox;
• the Fog City Horns;
• Ross James: guitar, lead and harmony vox;
• Emily Sunderland: lead and harmony vox.

• Ari: trumpet;
• ?: tenor saxophone;
• ?Christian: trombone.

• Steve Abramson: keyboards, harmony vox;
• Lynn Asher: tambourine, harmony vox;
• Adrienne Biggs: violin;
• Danny Click: guitar, vox;
• Kevin Hayes: drums;
• John ?M: pedal steel guitar;
• Peter ?: bass.

• Eric DiBerardino: bass, harmony vox;
• Danny Eisenberg: keyboards;
• Craig MacArthur: guitar, lap steel guitar, lead and harmony vox;
• Ryan McCaffrey: guitar, lead and harmony vox;
• Sean Nelson: drums;
• Mike Pascale: guitar, lead and harmony vox;
• with special guest -
• Neal Casal: guitar, vox.

Traffic is nice and light for Monday, so except for the usual hassle of busy Berkeley and the I-80 corridor, we have smooth sailing on our trip to Terrapin, arriving about 5 PM, just in time to snag a parking spot on Yacht Club Drive. We join the line – already stretching back to the doors of the Grate Room – and commence to wait, socializing and enjoying the fine weather. Having demonstrated that they're learning, the staff work their way down the line, prebanding us for entry (and bar access) around 5:15 or so. Tag and release – makes me think I'm some sort of bird being counted!

5:45 PM still standing around in line.

5:55 PM in, yeah, time for dinner! Leora has grabbed a table in the dining room to share with Erik & Gev, who had been waiting further up towards the front of the line. I socialize for a minute or two, then head over to the buffet to pile up a plate of food. My favorites are the asparagus and the gumbo. Should have eaten more asparagus and less rice!

Strangely, the venue isn't really decorated for a “Mardi Gras” House Party – no streamers, no balloons, no beads, no masks. Oh well. At least we know there will be music!

Go By Ocean begins playing shortly afterwards, but I'm not ready to begin taking notes, so I ignore them in favor of my friends and my dinner. They eventually launch into They Love Each Other, and I get up to take pics, noticing only now that Neal Casal is sitting in with them. Hadn't noticed him earlier, but not having given much attention, I can't say whether he was present for the earlier part of the set or not. They close their set with another original, and having finished dinner, my beer, and a big bowl of bread pudding, I decide it's time to go listen to the show, so I bid adieu to the Wahoos and head over to the bar, claiming a spot just behind the VIPs on the corner of Stage Right.

Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs are up next, and they put on a fine set, wandering between bluesy rock and country rock. Unfortunately, I miss most of the names when Danny does his band introduction – that funny problem where listening and typing don't mix. The bass player and his wife end up hanging out next to me for Phil's set, but being bashful, I don't quiz him – no need to discuss such trivia during Phil's set!

After a longer break, during which many amps are moved and rearranged, Phil takes the stage accompanied by a motley crew tonight – certainly a little more than can easily fit in the bar stage area! Tonight's setlist is remarkably varied, and while they drop a few clams here and there, it's a pretty fun time, particularly once they get to Rocks Off, which seems to kick the party into high gear.

Given that Franklin's Tower was followed by a full stop and a lengthy band introduction by Phil, I suppose that the last two tunes could be considered an encore, but the band never left the stage, so I'm labeling it otherwise. Interestingly, for Ripple, Phil stepped up to sing lead without his bass, with he took off and used as a sort of cane or prop instead. Going Down the Road, Feelin' Bad to end things was particularly fun, with the vocal lead swapped around among most of the singers present.

All in all, a real fun time!

• Cajun Spiced Asparagus Salad with Brandied Onions
• Mini-Muffaletta w/Cured Meats, Provolone Cheese & Pickled Garden Veggies
• Steamed Rice
• Vegetables Creole
• Blackened Redfish with Sautéed Crawfish
• Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo
• French Bread
• Warm Bread Pudding
• Naia Gelato Bars

(thanks to Bob Scalcione for help with the menu)

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