Dead Set Live, the only place where every note, every solo, every spacey jam is pulled straight from the stage and fed into your speakers exactly how it was meant to be heard: live and unfiltered. Tonight, we’re diving deep into the ever-shifting soundscape of Phil Lesh & Friends, curating a full setlist of legendary performances from across the years.
This isn’t just a playlist—it’s a living, breathing celebration of Phil’s post-Dead musical journey, and every track you hear tonight comes straight from the stage to your soul. Whether you’re tuning in for the nostalgia, the improv, or the community, this show is your ticket to the golden age of jam.
And don’t forget—tonight also brings another episode of the Phil & Friends Radio Show on Dead Set Live Radio, where we exclusively spin live Phil & Friends sets, showcasing the depth and dynamism of one of rock’s most fluid and fearless projects. No repeats, no filler, no studio takes—just raw, exploratory magic from one of the Grateful Dead’s founding spirits. If you’ve never tuned in before, now’s the time. Let it be your gateway into the heart of Dead family improvisation.
🌈 Phil & Friends: The Best of the Best, Picked by JamFest (and You)
Phil Lesh never stopped jamming. After the final notes of the Grateful Dead, he forged a new path—Phil & Friends—and turned it into a sandbox of sonic exploration. Over the years, the lineup evolved, but the mission remained: keep the music alive, let it breathe, and never play it the same way twice.
Here are some of the absolute best live Phil & Friends shows, handpicked by JamFest and celebrated by heads across the world. And yes—every single one of these iconic shows is fair game for tonight’s live-only broadcast.
🌟 The Warfield Run (1999)
With Trey Anastasio & Page McConnell
When you bring Phish and the Dead together under the ornate ceiling of San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre, something cosmic happens. This historic run featured Trey and Page weaving their psychedelic stylings into the Dead tapestry, with a “Viola Lee Blues” opener that exploded into a multi-dimensional jam right out of the gate. And who could forget the tender “Hello Old Friend” opener, introduced by Phil’s own children?
🔊 Tonight’s Pick: “Viola Lee Blues” (3/30/99, Warfield Theatre) – 24 minutes of pure exploratory bliss.
🛸 The Phil Lesh Quintet (2000–2003)
“The Q” – Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Rob Barraco, John Molo
This was peak Phil. “The Q” was the tightest, most cohesive lineup in Phil & Friends history. Their chemistry was unmatched, their jams were endless, and their energy was relentless. This era is the high water mark.
🪐 Essential Listen: April 20, 2001 – The Tower Theatre. A night where everything clicked. Emotional, intense, and improvisational to the core.
🌀 Bonus Track: “St. Stephen > The Eleven > Eyes of the World” (Tweeter Center, 7/5/02 Camden, NJ) – A seamless suite from a Jersey summer night, complete with sunshine jams and stormy peaks.
🐢 Terrapin Crossroads “Day in Dead History” Runs
These shows were a love letter to Deadheads—recreations of classic Dead concerts, done Phil-style, often with new “Friends” lending their unique voices to the music. Held at Terrapin Crossroads, Phil’s home base, these nights were intimate, loose, and filled with Easter eggs for deep-cut fans.
🎶 Tonight’s Gem: “The Other One > Wharf Rat” (TCX, 2013) – Phil leads the charge into uncharted territory, only to land softly in the heart of Garcia’s storytelling balladry.
🎸 June 28, 2002 – Marcus Amphitheater
Described by fans as the Phil & Friends experience. Gov’t Mule and the Allman Brothers warmed up the stage, and by the time Phil took the reins, the energy was already molten. This show is revered for its climactic setlist, tight playing, and the overwhelming feeling that something special was in the air.
🔥 Highlight: “Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower” – absolute peak jam power.
🕊️ February 4, 2008 – Deadheads for Obama
Historic and hopeful, this show brought Phil, Bob Weir, and Mickey Hart back together for the first time in years. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a moment. It felt like a revival and a political rally rolled into one, with fans dancing on history’s doorstep.
🌟 Must-Hear: “U.S. Blues” encore—equal parts anthem and statement.
🌳 Lockn’ Festival 2015
When Phil brought out Carlos Santana and The Chris Robinson Brotherhood for a jammed-out set under the Virginia stars, the universe briefly aligned. This set was a melting pot of grooves, color, and sonic wizardry.
🌌 Tune in Tonight: “Shakedown Street” with Santana – a funky, electric revival that takes the groove to galaxies unknown.
💡 Why These Shows Matter
Phil & Friends wasn’t about nostalgia—it was about growth. Each lineup brought something new. Each tour felt like a different era. What tied it all together was Phil’s devotion to live music as a living organism. The setlists were daring, the solos endless, the transitions unpredictable. From “Dark Star” to “Sugaree,” every note was an opportunity to find something new in something familiar.
And that’s what Dead Set Live is all about.
💡 Weirdest Phil & Friends Moment
The most surreal time I ever had at a Phil & Friends show was at The Warfield when Chris Robinson was the lead vocalist. I had recently introduced him—and his/their A&R person, Rob Casino—to the Grateful Dead at the Shoreline Amphitheatre for a few shows. Then, to see him on stage like that was a strange and surreal feeling for me, for some reason.
🔊 Tonight’s Dead Set Live Playlist (All Live. All the Time.)
- Viola Lee Blues – Warfield (3/30/99)
- The Wheel > Uncle John’s Band > The Other One – Camden (7/5/02)
- Help > Slip > Franklin’s – Marcus Amphitheater (6/28/02)
- Eyes of the World – Tower Theatre (4/20/01)
- St. Stephen > The Eleven – Red Rocks (2003)
- Shakedown Street (w/ Santana) – Lockn’ (2015)
- Wharf Rat – Terrapin Crossroads (2013)
- U.S. Blues – “Deadheads for Obama” (2/4/08)
Bonus track during encore: Box of Rain – Always live. Always from the heart.
📻 Don’t Miss: The Phil & Friends Radio Show – Tonight!
Only on Dead Set Live Radio, this is your weekly deep dive into Phil’s most jaw-dropping moments, handpicked from the vast ocean of Friends lineups over the years. Every week brings a new vibe, a new lineup, and new improvisational treasures.
So if you love Phil & Friends, this is your front-row seat to the ongoing saga. Tune in, turn it up, and let it ride.
💀 Dead Set Live: Where the music truly never stops and the songs are always alive.
