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| Phil Lesh @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The Lesh Family brought another stacked lineup Sunday to Marin County for Sunday Daydream Vol. 2 at Stafford Lake Park in Novato as thousands attended another successful reunion of the Terrapin Crossroads Legacy. Moved to a larger venue and a longer curfew, the one-day festival once-again drew a huge crowd to see patriarch Phil Lesh gather a Phil & Friends lineup that this time featured the members of Dawes joining in.
When gates opened promptly at 11 am, all the morning fog had burned off and the Terrapin starved masses scurried to get to the front by the rail or, in some cases, to nab the perfect shady spot to throw down a blanket. The main stage was nicely positioned with a view of the rolling hills and trees behind it and Stafford Lake to the side. For Vol. 2, a second stage was added to keep the music continuous throughout the day and the “Keep It Weird Stage” was under a giant weeping willow – evoking the classic “Brokedown Palace” lyric “Going to plant a weeping willow. On the bank’s green edge, it will grow, grow, grow.” The second incarnation also saw other improvements – a vastly expanded local food truck selection, closer positioning of the porta-potties and a healthier dose of shade on a day without a cloud in the sky.
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| Elliott Peck on the 'Keep it Weird' stage @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Moonalice took the Main Stage first to bring their always eclectic blend of psychedelic, soul and rock classics to the large number of early arrivers. 83-year-old Lester Chambers belted out many of the songs. Though seated at center stage, he displayed an incomparable ability to project his vocals filled with a blend of love and defiance. His son, singer Dylan Chambers, performed by his side and introduced “People Get Ready” by talking about how long his dad had been singing the song and then pointing out that composer Curtis Mayfield’s son was on the cord today. The song stood out with great guitar solos by Barry Sless and harmonica from Lester Chambers. Their version of “Bird Song” saw sister background singers Erika and Chloe Tietjan taking the lead on harmonies as guitarists Roger NcNamee and Sless provided heavy psychedelic guitars behind them.
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| Moonalice @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Beloved Terrapin nation members Mookie Siegel on keys and drummer John Molo turned up the heat on “Turn on your Love Light” as Pete Sears laid down a fast pace on bass and Stu Allen joined the stage for the final two songs. Perhaps no musician without a last name of Lesh is as connected to the Terrapin Crossroads legacy as Allen and on this day he would take the stage with every band at some point to add his vivid guitar and vocals. Moonalice finished their set with a rousing version of The Chambers Brothers’ “Time Has Come Today” with Lester Chambers unleashing the final vocal shouts of “Time!” as his son banged on the cowbell with long dramatic pauses for effect.
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| Moonalice @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The Incubators headed by Bay Area locals Katie Freeman and Chris Chappell delivered a quick set over on the second stage with a sound reminiscent of Linda Ronstadt and the early Eagles. “Down The Road” stood out and probably triggered the mentioned comparison with the lyric “Damn you desperado, never bidin’ time so love can grow. You think there’s somethin’ better you might find down the road.”
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| The Incubators on the 'Keep it Weird' stage @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
A gathering of Terrapin Crossroads all-stars was next up on the main stage as Nicki Bluhm returned to Marin County triumphantly with guitarists Scott Law and Ross James, along with drummer Alex Koford and last-minute bassist Grahame Lesh. James pointed out that Lesh hadn’t known he’d be performing with the band until just before they took the stage, but Bluhm wryly added “Aah, it’s in his blood.” The band played a deeply funky version of “Little Too Late” that had the crowd in rapture. Throughout the set, Phil Lesh sat at the back of the stage taking in the whole set with a huge smile on his face. Law performed a new song for the first time and James introduced his solo spotlight by also performing a song he had never done before a live audience. “My favorite part of Terrapin was the people who came together. And one of my favorites of those people was Neil Casal. It’s been four years since he left. I wrote a song for him that I’ve never played and we’re gonna’ see if I can make it through now.” The song (I believe it was called “Let’s All Take a Hit”) was a moving tribute with a desperate plea for people feeling pain to lean on their friends and others. Given the current state of increased mental tension and isolation, it feels like it should be an anthem for this generation.
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| Ross James, Nicki Bluhm, Scott Law and Grahame Lesh @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
The five members on stage together were a testament to the synergy that was Terrapin Crossroads – blending so many featured artists from different bands and solo careers to create beautiful music and memories together. “This really feels like a reunion in so many ways,” Bluhm gushed. “It’s so great to be back in Marin County and to be spontaneous with friends. May it live on forever!” Bluhm’s “To Rise You Gotta’ Fall” provided the appropriate crescendo for a terrific jam set.
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| Elliott Peck @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Heading back over to the “Keep It Weird Stage,” guitarist/vocalist Elliott Peck was joined by RatDog guitarist Mark Karan, keyboardist Alex Jordan and bassist Burt Lewis for an engaging set of mostly Grateful Dead covers. “Loose Lucy” and “Next Time You See Me” provided highlights. Allen then joined for a rousing version of “Mr. Charlie” that saw Jordan take a fantastic solo on the keys as a large herd of deer made their way through the marsh in the scenic background. “New Speedway Boogie” and “Viola Lee Blues” completed the set and had the large crowd huddled around the stage swaying and dancing.
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| Melvin Seals @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Melvin Seals and JGB took the main stage with a rousing rendition of “In the Midnight Hour” as Seals leaned into the organ while guitarist John Kadlecik, drummer Jeremy Hoenig and bassist John-Paul McLean got the crowd up off their blankets and on their fee. Kadlecik provided the lead vocals throughout the set, his heart aching voice lending the tears to Van Morrison’s “It Stoned Me” as Melvin finished the song with a huge organ solo that sounded like a jet engine taking off from the park. “The Maker” saw a long bass and keyboard intro before Kadlecik delivered a wailing, soaring solo. “Don’t Let Go” saw Hoenig setting a great drum beat for Seals to show off his legendary organ talents before the song turned into a very interesting extended jazz jam. A bluesy cover of Ray Charles’ “Lonely Avenue” followed leading up to Stu Allen joining for a version of “Hey Pocky Way” performed as a mass celebration on the Sunday afternoon.
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| San Geronimo @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Local Marin musical icons San Geronimo were the final act to take the “Keep It Weird Stage.” Sandwiched between the ever-creeping set times of the bands all day before them and a hard stop to ensure the full time for Phil & Friends, their set was abbreviated, but roaring. Americana with a rock edge, a whiskey-induced drawl and a touch of psychedelia, listening to the band felt like taking a historical road trip through Marin’s musical history. Darren Nelson and Jeremy D’Antonio out front on guitars took the vocal leads with Brian Rashap (Phil Lesh’s bass tech) on bass. “Carolina” was a sweet, twangy song that fit perfectly as the audience stood lakeside on a sunny day looking out at rolling hills. They finished with a quick cover combo of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” melding into a lightning-fast Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman.” They wowed an enthusiastic crowd that surrounded the smaller stage.
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| Phil Lesh & Friends @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Six hours after the day had begun, Phil Lesh & Friends took the stage. Joining Phil and his guitarist / son (and event organizer) Grahame Lesh were Dawes members’ Taylor Goldsmith (guitar/vocals), Griffin Goldsmith (drums), Lee Pardini (Keyboards) and Trevor Menear (guitars). Additionally, Trey Anastasio Band horn members Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet) and Natalie Cressman (trombone) joined the supergroup with Stu Allen participating for most of the set and Nicki Bluhm also sitting in for a song. “Bertha” got things off to a great start with Taylor Goldsmith taking the lead vocal duties and Phil and Griffin driving a very fast-paced version of the song that snapped anyone suffering from a little too much sun back into the groove.
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| Phil Lesh & Friends @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
A nicely stretched “Cassidy” led into a steam engine version of “Brown-Eyed Women” with Taylor Goldsmith once again taking lead vocals and getting the audience up to full-tilt again. In a master stroke of changing pace, Hartswick provided her uniquely powerful vocals to a very tender version of “Brokedown Palace,” a traditional show-closer and encore song that was surprisingly slotted into the fourth song on this day. Hartswick’s versions of this song always are devastating and as mentioned earlier, given the lake-side location, there was probably no more fitting song for the day.
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| Nicki Bluhm & Taylor Goldsmith @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“The Music Never Stopped” saw Nicki Bluhm able filling the “Donna” role in joining Goldsmith as the song continued to rise higher and higher until coming into a hard finish. Stu Allen joined the fray for a deeply psychedelic “China Cat Sunflower” that carried a locomotive pace. Rather than going into the traditional follow-up of “I Know You Rider,” the group pulled another surprise with Taylor Goldsmith leading “Playing in the Band” as the song morphed into an extended, winding jam with horns front and center. Be careful if listening to any taper versions of this song as there was a LARGE static moment that caused Taylor Goldsmith to half-jokingly ask “Everybody OK?” before heading into the next verse. After “Playin’” a short set-break took place providing everyone with an opportunity for hydrations as the sun finally began to set beneath some of the taller trees.
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| Trevor Menear, Jennifer Hartswick & Natalie Cressman @ Stafford Park Lake (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Set two was short but triumphant. Cressman took lead vocals on an eleven-minute version of “New Speedway Boogie” on a tight, meandering version that saw Goldsmith and Menear both stretch out on guitar with Menear playing a long, mean slide solo next to an approving Phil that took the song down a curvy road. Cressman came back to pick up the pace of the speed with authority on her soulful vocals before the band headed into the chorus of “One way or another this darkness has got to give” The highlight of the entire day (for this reviewer) came next with Allen singing an incredible version of “Days Between” that captured all the song nuances of optimism, regret, fear and hope. Ironically, the moon had risen over the stage as the sun still shone as Allen sang “Comes the shimmer of the moon…” and “Comes the lightning of the sun…” Pardini’s gentle keyboards wove a perfect carpet under Allen’s mournful moments. Once the song was over, the entire group smiled and exchanged pleased glances and nods at each other making it clear that the version has not just wowed the audience, but also the players themselves.
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| Phil Lesh & Friends @ Stafford Lake Park (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Finally, the day came to a close with Phil Lesh taking the lead on “Cosmic Charlie” – a 1968 song that dropped out of the Grateful Dead’s repertoire for decades at a time. It was my first time seeing the song live and great to hear Lesh in full, loud voice. At the conclusion, Phil told the crowd that there was more to come for Terrapin Crossroads. “It’s such a great pleasure to see you all again,” he said before Grahame introduced all the players and thanked everyone who had made Vol. 2 so memorable for everyone.
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