Grahame Lesh & Friends Deliver Three Sets in Mill Valley Ahead of Unbroken Chain: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Phil Lesh Weekend at The Fillmore

March 20, 2026

Photo: Geoff Tischman

In preparation for the West Coast iteration of Unbroken Chain: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Phil Lesh, which begins tonight at The Fillmore in San Francisco, bandleader Grahame Lesh called a pre-show summit on Thursday, March 19. Yesterday afternoon’s arrival at The Junction Beer Garden in Mill Valley, Calif. was dubbed the event’s official Kick-Off Party, with a guest list that included Bay Area staples delivering three sets of Grateful Dead music that recalled the bygone days of Terrapin Crossroads.

Joining Grahame Lesh for the pre-weekend concert were Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, Jason Crosby, John Molo, Elliott Peck, Brian Rashap, Greg Loiacono, in addition to the afternoon’s special guest arrivals, Pete Sears and Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats). To start the show, chosen players set off the first verse of “Viola Lee Blues” before abandoning the initial entry point and merging into full treatments of “Bertha,” “Jack Straw” and “Mama Tried.”

The group kept its collective pulse on fan favorites from the Dead songbook, including “Eyes of the World,” Jerry Garcia’s “Gomorrah,” and a frame ending “Big River.” The second set beckoned to the seasons via a “Cold, Rain and Snow” opener, before well-regarded takes on “He’s Gone” and “New Speedway Boogie.” During the latter, the group reverted to the concert opener, tacking on the second verse of “Viola Lee Blues,” before snapping back into “New Speedway Boogie.”

The second set continued with “Bird Song” and Althea.” A closing rendition of John Phillips’ original turned Bobby Weir-associated cover, “Me and My Uncle,” marked the final piece of the concert’s midsection. The group kept up their nods to the late Weir going during the third and final set’s opening number, “Cassidy.” They kicked into “Scarlet Begonias” next, followed by “They Love Each Other,” which coursed the final nudge of “Viola Lee Blues,” making for three sets of references to the Dead’s longtime cover.

Before concluding their time in Mill Valley, the ensemble set off a final batch of songs, including “Friend of the Devil,” the event’s title track, as known as the Phil Lesh-penned “Unbroken Chain,” before resolving into a set-ending “Shakedown Street.” For their final move, the group delivered “Ripple” as the event’s official encore.

Tonight, Grahame Lesh & Friends will take their talents to The Fillmore in San Francisco to set off three nights of concerts. The aforementioned shows are sold out.