Grahame Lesh, son of the legendary Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, is a gifted musician who has carved out his own space in the music world while continuing to honor his family’s rich legacy. A talented guitarist and vocalist, Grahame is perhaps best known as a founding member of the band Midnight North, among numerous other projects. Over the years, he has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including notable Grateful Dead alumni and musical icons. Recently, Grahame sat down with Grateful Web to discuss a historic weekend at the Capitol Theatre, where a ceremony was held to dedicate Phil Lesh Lane to the Lesh family. The weekend was capped off by a special four-night run featuring an all-star lineup of musicians who have shared the stage with his father over the years.
GW: Elliot with Grateful Web, and today I have the pleasure of speaking with a very special guest, Grahame Lesh. Grahame, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today. I know it’s a huge day for you and the entire Lesh family, so we really appreciate you being here.
Now, before we dive into Unbroken Chain and the incredible four-night run at the Capitol Theatre kicking off this weekend, I want to talk about something very special happening in just a few hours: the dedication of Phil Lesh Lane at the corner of Broad Street and Westchester Avenue, directly outside the Capitol Theatre. It’s a fitting tribute to Phil, especially considering he played more shows at the Capitol than any other artist—106 shows in total. What does it mean to you and your family to see Phil’s legacy honored like this, with the street naming and the ceremony today?
GL: Thanks so much for having me. Yeah, it’s hard to put into words how special it all feels. The Capitol Theatre and that street hold so much meaning for us. It’s incredible to think that they’re naming that part of the street after him. As you mentioned, the Capitol was a place he played more than anywhere else, and that’s such a special connection. I think back to all the memories we’ve had there, so much time was spent there and around that physical location, so having a street name just feels like an extension of his legacy. It’s such a special tribute to a place that meant so much to him—and to our whole family.
GW: You’ve got a deep connection with the Capitol, too. Phil played there so many times. What was it about the Cap and its community that drew him in? What made that venue stand out for him?
GL: It started kind of similar to what we did out on the West Coast with Terrapin Crossroads, my parents’ restaurant and venue. Phil really liked the idea of having a place where his fans could come and see him in a more intimate, consistent setting. It’s an idea that I think my parents got from Levon Helm, really, with Levon Helm studios and the Woodstock community and what that was able to be for him. So to have both places on either coast was a really cool idea.
With the Capitol Theatre, it just became this special location, not just for him but for the whole community. The history there—especially with the Grateful Dead’s ’70s shows—was also really important to him. Just to see the reaction from the community that would come out was incredible. We got to know the staff, and obviously Peter Shapiro, and just everyone who worked there; it became like an East Coast family to us. So just all of those elements combined were really what kept our family coming back.
GW: Can you share any personal moments, whether professionally as a musician or growing up with your Dad and around the Dead, that stand out to you from shows at the Capitol Theatre?
GL: Yeah, a lot of my memories come from the last 12 or 13 years, especially playing with Phil and Friends. But if I had to pick a recent memory, I’d say those longer runs we did in 2021 and 2022, after the pandemic. We did these big runs—nine shows across three weekends—with different bands each time. The energy in the room after everything that happened in the pandemic was really special. The shows felt like this huge reunion—coming back together, doing what we love. Those are the moments I cherish the most.
GW: Now joining the ceremony today is Peter Shapiro, a legendary promoter and owner of the Capitol Theatre. Tell me about the importance of Peter Shapiro when it comes to the Grateful Dead’s legacy and what he has done to help keep the spirit of the Grateful Dead alive.
GL: I think it speaks volumes in itself—just being part of this weekend, especially considering all that he’s done with the Capitol Theatre, GD50, Lockn', Garcia’s events, and the incredible music booked at venues like Brooklyn Bowl. The shows are truly something special. Behind the scenes, he’s a huge fan and really gets what the community is all about. He has a deep understanding of what’s best for all of us, and together with the entire team, he plays a crucial role in keeping the scene alive and thriving.
GW: Let’s talk about this upcoming run of shows beginning tonight at the Capitol Theatre. An absolutely star-studded lineup featuring the original members of the Phil Lesh Quartet plus yourself, Rick Mitarotonda, Eric Krasno, Oteil Burbridge, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Jennifer Hartswick, so many others. How do you approach curating the setlists and choosing the musicians for such a special celebration?
GL: It’s been quite the process, as you could imagine. Originally, it was just going to be two shows, but as things evolved, we expanded to the four nights. I really wanted to keep the core of the band and then bring in as many Phil and Friends alums as possible. Getting the original members of the Phil Lesh Quintet together was a big part of that, as well as the members from the Sunday Band era, which was a band from the 2006-2008 timeframe. So working with members of all of those different groups on scheduling and making sure it fit everyone’s schedule was a big part of it. People like Jimmy Herring, who has obviously been going through a lot recently—getting him on that specific day really was perfect timing. I worked to bring in players who could bring something special to each show, like Rick, Krasno, and Oteil.
When it comes to the setlist, I wanted to focus on crafting it toward each member playing parts that they were known for. It obviously started with the quintet, so on Monday we’re going to be playing some songs from the Phil and Friends album. Then, kind of going backwards, just fit it together like puzzle pieces. I have a pretty good sense of what each musician brings to the table, so I start with the songs I know they’re known for and build from there. Plus, I ran it all by my mom, who was the ultimate setlist mastermind for Phil and Friends over the years. It’s been a fun process, and the setlists will evolve a bit, but we’re definitely making it work.
GW: And with such a talented group, how do you approach improv with everyone versus maybe, like Midnight North or other scenarios where you’re very familiar with the musicians? Do you just kind of rely on your morals and let others take leads? Do you kind of take the lead? How do you approach jamming in these super group scenarios?
GL: I try to follow my dad’s approach, especially when it comes to large groups with lots of instruments. He always talked about weaving a musical tapestry together instead of just trading solos. So, it’s really about creating a conversation in the music rather than individual performances. I kind of trust that everyone knows the music, and during sound check and rehearsal, run through everything to make sure that everyone’s on the same page with arrangements and stuff. But during the open sections and the jams, you know, it’s the Grateful Dead approach, so I trust them to bring their own style and go from there.
GW: Absolutely, it’s a conversation. Now, you’ve also chosen to support some important charities with the proceeds from this run—MusiCares and Undo Medical Debt. Can you tell us a little more about why those causes are important to you?
GL: I’ve always wanted to give back to causes that help musicians and people in need. Undo Medical Debt is an organization that does incredible work. Even small donations can make a huge impact, and for a lot of musicians, a medical issue can really set them back. I want to help those who don’t have the same resources we do. MusiCares is also doing amazing work, especially for musicians facing hard times. I’ve seen the impact they’ve had, and I wanted to make sure to support them as well. I know my family situation is different than a lot, but for a lot of my friends, you know, a medical issue can be devastating, even a relatively small one. So just being able to do something that will help people who might have had a medical issue or medical bills, chipping away at that in any little way I can, is great.
With MusiCares, they do such amazing work for musicians all over the place; we announced this right after the fires in LA, and specifically the work that they’re doing for music professionals in that terrible situation has been really inspiring. So I 100% wanted to make sure to contribute to them. All funds after the musicians are paid are going to these charities, so it’s going to be, hopefully, a significant chunk of change and can make a little bit of a difference in the world.
GW: The upcoming shows line up with what would have been your dad’s 85th birthday, which makes this celebration even more poignant. Did Phil have any birthday traditions or things he liked to do outside of music that might surprise fans?
GL: I don’t know if there were any big surprises there. He was always about playing music, especially on his birthday. It wasn’t really about big parties or anything like that—just being with family and playing music. That was his favorite way to spend the day. Playing music, always.
GW: A musician through and through. Finally, you are playing the Grand Opening of Garcia’s in Chicago! What can fans expect from that?
GL: I’m really stoked that Peter thought of me for that. And you know, just another example of Peter being such a force in our community. Opening a new venue in an amazing city is a pretty cool and special thing for us to have. I love Chicago. I obviously love Garcia’s in Port Chester attached to the Cap, so I think it’s going to be another amazing experience, and we’re excited to play it.
GW: Well, Grahame, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. We’re really looking forward to the shows this weekend!
GL: Thank you! It’s going to be an amazing time. I appreciate you having me on.
