Grateful Dead Phil Lesh isolated bass "China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider" Veneta, OR 8/27/1972

[@eddiecrownshaw199]

They should mix every dead song like this

[@camaro5spd]

If you have the right system you you feel every note

[@biegs28]

Lots of taper section shows are bass heavy

[@adamwatson6916]

But then you wouldn't get to hear how great the rest of the band was .

[@deadshakers]

that’s kind of what my music sounds like

[@Cheap2Play]

RIP Phil. Forever in the Phil Zone.

[@Kylefassbinderful]

He's finally fully retired.

[@The_Nagus]

@@Kylefassbinderful Nah man, he's still jammin in the cosmos!

[@bradynorris1653]

He uses syncopations a lot, which I love. It gives the music a nice groove. I also love his “boingy” tone of this period.

[@KyOlsen]

Excellent description!

[@dlparker]

Yep. Just now listening to this track, and just now coming to the same conclusion. The way the three of them meshed is magical!

[@rayschumacher8036]

The Alembicized Guild Starfire, Godfather, was the best.

[@doubled5383]

He played short scale bass which has that plunkier sound

[@golds04]

In jazz we call it swing. Imo Phil likely listened to Jaco, Jamerson and Mingus. RIP Phil- so much : happy, groove and joy to this world.

[@robertking7269]

Happy birthday Phil keep being the glue that binds the songs together

[@c.rivaire2123]

RIP Phil Lesh... When I would walk in and hear your mighty bass , I knew I was home...

[@lesliepropheter5040]

Each band member plays their own song and it all blends in to for a body for us to hear

[@SoulDaddy33]

Well said.😊

[@jbspore]

"They're a band beyond description."

[@snerdterguson]

Oh woah oh oh

[@golds04]

RIP Phil. One of my most memorable musical moments was of you were making the ground shake on the Friday night before the Watkins Glen show on the introduction to Warf Rat- I remember it like it happened five seconds ago.🎉❤❤❤

[@robertst.jacques2075]

Phil Bombs Forever! 👍🏻

[@onomaex]

I have a new appreciation for Lesh now! How he never falls on the typical upbeat I’d put him up there with Lee and others for sure

[@Karmakatt6]

One of the biggest differences however was the Grateful Dead. Because Sklar, East etc, never played in the Dead. And that. Is. The. Key.

[@efreeze287]

​@@Karmakatt6 in my opinion, the grateful dead bouncy jam thing IS Phil. When I listen to JGB, I hear more conventional rhythm, gospel blues. You can say it's Weir too and of course he and everyone else contribute. But the foundational syncopated bouncy GD feel comes from Phil, I think.

[@krisenger4410]

Geddy Lee? Oh, Lesh is definitely up there. He is mentioned early on in Geddy's bio as an influence. He should be in a lot of players top five or ten, no questions asked. He influenced a lot of people, no doubt about it. And deservedly so.

[@snerdterguson]

Phil did bring in the jazz background. Others in the band were certainly INTO jazz, but none of them had as much experience playing it as Last did. So you can definitely give him lots of credit for the improvisational style they formed.

[@samferguson9171]

Great idiosyncratic groove. Chugging along like a beautiful train.

[@robertking7269]

Nobody rode that base line like Phil Lesh Long live the sounds of that badass Bass

[@Kylefassbinderful]

Only certain bass players are good enough to listen to 14min of their isolated bass tracks. Definitely worth listening to the whole thing.

[@Mountainrock70]

Worth listening to many times!

[@jonathansocha8223]

48,000 views for a 14 minute isolated bass track. 😂

[@Aaron_Gentry]

This man is a magician with a bass in his hands

[@NorthWriter]

Which makes it even more incredible that he didn't play bass until Jerry asked him to join the band. Like, he went from knowing nothing about playing bass to being an absolutely legendary master of the instrument, all within a few years in the same band.

[@StevieWonderBoy39]

@@NorthWriter even if he didn’t know how to play, as a composer, he definitely had an ear and mind for it before he put his hands on one

[@apchsiri1156]

​@@NorthWriterThe "never played bass before being asked" stories ranked in decreasing likelihood: Paul Simonon (by Mick Jones) Boz Burrell (by Robert Fripp) Phil Lesh (by Garcia)

[@xneapolisx]

The Phil Zone, full of Bombs!! Thanks for the memories Phil. RIP

[@samuelhaines617]

There is nothing like a Phil line. Always take me for a ride!

[@handybunny]

Never really appreciated what a great player he was until recently… go, Phil!

[@northernfreedommusic]

RIP Phil, I always loved the Bass, its beautiful to hear his beats isolated🎶💔

[@freddiesoverbite6162]

God, the Phil Zone kicks so much ass.

[@floepiejane]

Go to the shoe

[@mitchell9110]

Was listening to the Sirius Grateful Dead Channel in my car the other day. On one track, the Phil Zone was so intense, the car seats and armrests were vibrating. Wonderful stuff.

[@retsdon]

Absolute magic. Thanks Phil -for everything. Good journey...

[@dorothydottiebo1432]

⚡🎵🎶🎸🌹 We love you Phil! Heaven is rocking tonight. Thanks for the tunes!

[@johnmann7628]

Thanks for everything Phil 💞

[@ENigma-um8zw]

Thank you for the music Phil! ❤️⚡️

[@suzetteanne]

Thank you for posting this! I have a new appreciation for Phil Lesh’s melodic and grooving bass playing!❤

[@bent925]

In my opinion, as a melodic bass player, Phil’s syncopation drives the Dead and at the same time creates the counter melody Jerry thrives on. So many of the Dead cover bands I’ve heard have bass players trying to play “the pocket” and don’t venture off into the syncopated spaces Phil naturally plays. Not to boo anyone just hearing the differences in styles. There aren’t too many bands that can play with a bass player like that; the adventurous spirit (improvisational qualities of their songs) of the Dead’s members gave Phil a place to live. Kahn in JGB is more Motown R&B in the pocket and is awesome. Love his playing too, but very different from Phil. Phil’s unique approach to his “melodic” bass style is the foundation of the Dead and lifts the rest of the band up. Just my opinion and I appreciate the space to share it. Be kind and happy listening. RIP Phil Lesh

[@performtransform]

Prior to joining the band Phil wasn't a bass player...he was a trained trumpet player. He's playing counter leads, and Bobby's exploring every inversion on the chords. It's really quite remarkable.

[@JoshuaPolak]

Thank you for posting this. It's really Grate! and I'm Grateful...

[@Mike-bk8xo]

I rember driven to a show down the New Jersey turnpike on the way to a show at giant stadium in the lain to the right of me in a station wagon was phill and Jill and his sun driving to the show at first i could not belive it s Uprooted the horn dot dodda and phill honked back dot dot and waved fair thee well my brother. Rest in. Peace❤❤❤❤😢

[@biegs28]

RIP to the master

[@patriotsman6511]

Hope Phil lesh comes back in 2023

[@johnmanrow2667]

Incredible talent.

[@alanbauch2815]

That is some musical bass... and the tone is impeccable.... very interesting.... when he hits those big chords.....cool

[@erush710]

Incredible. Thanks. RIP Phil

[@novakaya]

A god of electricity and thunder walking amongst mortals

[@xianshep]

Fascinating!

[@garrettgerbil13]

Love this ! Thank you for sharing

[@sunnysideamps]

Incredible playing, totally unique, one of a kind- Rest in Peace Phil, you are missed!

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

Lesh and Casady, THE two most unique, exotic-sounding bass musicians ever.

[@JM-io6966bili]

RIP Phil Lesh. Groovy Fat Rhythm Line, I Like It. Jamming once again in heaven.

[@gmazz27]

Forever Grateful😢

[@JB-Deadskins]

This is cool, I'd love to hear it on Scarlet>Fire

[@JoshLooperMusic]

Walking that fretboard all the way to Heaven!! Rest easy Phil 😢🫶🏻🎸🔥💀🌹

[@PaulFormentos]

Imagine Phil's bass with Peart drumming....

[@evanschubert1113]

Disciplined yet free

[@kevinosburn7157]

Rest in peace

[@bido8176]

One of a kind

[@gringopig]

He always hits the right note at the right time

[@davidgoodman8730]

Oh how sweet it was to meet up with the family in the Phil Zone. No need for a cell phone, we we're all there puff n fatties, or just Kind nug bowls. Love and miss you all! Rip Phil

[@adamproductions4529]

Goated bassist

[@caniican]

This is beyond epic for me as a lifelong guitar player and Grateful Dead fan. This is so beautiful I am going to listen to these isolated tracks I feel Lesh and Bob Weir very often. Holy s*** I'm so glad I stumbled onto this channel.! Subscribed:-)

[@therealteal620]

RIP Phil, what a legend

[@cardinalchiropractic7439]

There have been a few shows that I got to see some sick Phil Thunder . 85 Hershey Park, 85 Richmond Dew/Stones 88 Oxford Mikey and the Heartbeats (heard they fired Pig and Bobby for like 2 weeks and I had a great low gen SBD of this and it is SICK

[@scke3717]

Its the space between the notes in context with the band...

[@masonkanterbury3007]

Brilliant!

[@Boris_Chang]

Back during this period, my favorite bassists were guys like Lesh, Casady, Entwistle, Bruce, Redding, et.al. They were the pioneers of bassists doing more than thumping out an oom-pah-pah polka theme for the other instrumentalists to play around. They made the bass a legit “lead” melody instrument.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Fashion icon to boot.

[@dwest8245]

This really cool. Thanks

[@natepoulin6525]

The backbone.

[@MikenFallbrook]

RIP Phil

[@esreveresrever2788]

during this show the dead changed their name to 'the heat stroke serenaders". true story. 🥀🍄🦄☠️❤️

[@joshevans3452]

It's actually the "Sunstroke Serenadeers".

[@johnmanrow2667]

Veneta 1972 (~);}

[@PureRush94]

Has anybody seen my knife?? I think I lost it on my way to the water truck

[@dlparker]

I'm just now listening to this. I never really noticed how 'funky' his bass lines are.

[@LeadenMarshmallow]

You're gonna have to help me out here. Where do you hear the slightest bit of funk in this? Genuine question

[@dlparker]

​@LeadenMarshmallow He's pretty consistently just a bit ahead of the beat.

[@Karmakatt6]

@@LeadenMarshmallow where do you not hear the funk?

[@brunoblivious]

​@@LeadenMarshmallow How the heck are you missing the funk? Gotta get your ears tuned.

[@josiedavis5256]

Phil zone forever

[@gregmock6808]

That stage is 4 miles down the mountain from my home...

[@paulreside6567]

Hey Craig, Paul down on Perkins Road here. I’m only 2 miles from that field. Veneta 😊Oregon rocks!!

[@gregmock6808]

@@paulreside6567 Hey Neighbor!

[@chadpittman3025]

He lived a long life ,lucky.

[@jonhowe2960]

could not really hear the Dead until it was explained to me that they were a three guitar band

[@mewienke]

Phil tapes are the bomb

[@Gr8fulJeff]

RIP ✌️❤️

[@Spike-w5o]

Do you get the feeling that Phil was the 1 who added the REAL SWING TO THE DEAD ?

[@ChrisDamiani]

hell yeahh

[@deadbeats4894]

RIP

[@blakewhittington4336]

He was such a big part of that unique sound honestly its why I didn't like going to D&C hearing the songs without this isn't the same it just isnt.

[@jpsimonds]

Oteil’s playing style is definitely missing some of that stomach punch that Phil had. But I wondered if that was out of respect for Phil and the band.

[@dreamwell2020]

Hey, man - I was trying to listen to Bobby.

[@davidkopec9442]

Early Nintendo bass. Love it.

[@beezyflippins]

4:55 🔥🔥

[@maryhowsrd3381]

Rip

[@maxonout]

I am going home and playing my bass with phil

[@RepublicanClooney]

Phil Side or Jerry side? The Ultimate Question!

[@jroc2201]

Hes just a truckin along

[@JAYBODDY]

Legend has it, Phil dosed EVERY show. 🫠

[@UncleB83]

Parish said that right? I believe it. A little drop every show ain’t gonna hurt.

[@lawrencesommers8779]

This so called legend, is on the whispering winds. This time no gentle sunny Californian breeze has ever heralded a more refreshing breath of truth.

[@blakewhittington4336]

Set this video to as fast as it will go to hear the patterns better

[@eroldcroft3045]

What do you call someone who never played bass, learned it on the fly, but influenced every jamband bassist

[@markwatson-vk2lh]

Bob Weir's comment on Phil Lesh's playing says it all: 'If you have any kind of mental illness, you're in the wrong band'. Phil could play it straight, but only if you asked him to.

[@direwolf6234]

and he's singing harmony on 'rider' while playing ....

[@softuniverse7771]

feeling the fuck out of this post. read that right as he was killing it in that part. RIP Phil

[@cosmonaught7690]

Can you do just Bobby or just Jerry?

[@tompoynton]

check his uploads!

[@aidannbrownn]

go to the website playing in the band and you can isolate them yourself. there is about 4 songs you can do

[@hommie422]

​@@aidannbrownnthanks for the advice!

[@camaro5spd]

😢

[@goldiecob]

Phil me up

[@drewlarsen2224]

What's up bass lovers

[@63ah1275]

@2:08. Phil bombs! 4:20 at my house. Funny coincidence. Nothing more.

[@ahighervibe4086]

If possible, I'd love to hear how a later version of China/Rider contrasts/matures with this version....sayyyy... The Alpine Valley 1989 Downhill From Here version or some other version from 88 - 90... The period from which many a seasoned dead head consider the Grateful Dead's "finest hour"😊

[@JohnGieschenJr]

Wait late 80s as peak Dead over 72?

[@martyhopkirk6826]

@@JohnGieschenJr Quite. I was just thinking yesterday how ‘72 is pretty much untouchable, and very definitely vastly superior to 80s/90s (not that I don’t rate the latter, but in terms of tightness and interplay between musicians, ‘72 is light years ahead).

[@JohnGieschenJr]

@@martyhopkirk6826 I struggle with the 80s. I was a teenager in the 80s and I was not into the dead at all but hated the whole vibe of the early and mid decade. It felt like a generally dark spiritual time. But late 80s and early 90s were not only Dead resurgence but lots of other rock too. It feels like rock’s last moment culturally. Anyway, Without A Net is a wonderful album. It typifies this awesome rawck phase of the dead. Bobby and Mickey’s band in a way. It was fun and great and Brent was amazing. But 70s - 71, 72, 73, 74 and even 75 - 72 being arguably peak in some ways, this pre-77 Dead sees Keith really help the band blossom. He played a lot of Jerry band then too and his playing is consistently magical helping keep the music ever flowing and moving. Bobby was working shit out and you hear the joy of discovery in his playing while the rest of the band plays at insane level of artistry. It’s just miraculous at times. Like Veneta Bird Song or Lyceum Dew - great d damn. Or any dark star from Europe 72 - it’s not rock. It’s a unique thing.

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

@@JohnGieschenJr Checkout 1983 Jerry Garcia Band. Crazy good jams!

[@sigguy5843]

With all due respect, my guess is that you were not around to experience the Dead in the late '60s and early 70's. The shows in the small venues like the Paramount in Seattle or the Fox in St. Louis or even the Fillmore East, or Veneta 8/72 or Folsom Field 9/72, The Dead has always created great tunes and experiences. We all have our favorites.

[@nunoharris]

Hi. What is the bass and Whats the brand of strings that Phil is using? Thanks

[@alexemslie4870]

Probably his alembic bass with flatwound strings of some kind. His alembic was a modded guild starfire. I have a starfire and it nails this tone.

[@robseck8879]

A guild starfire strung with pyramid gold flats, played with a pick will get you a good approximation of this tone.. at least I’m pretty sure he was using pyramids at the time, I think daddario chromes would work just fine and they’re a bit brighter

[@methyod]

on top of the guild w/ flatwounds and a pick, important to remember the bass would've had a preamp with an active EQ in it, and it'd be going through a VERY high headroom amp setup. Flats with a pick are gonna sound extremely different through that kind of rig than through, say, an ampeg. Phil's tone is EXTREMELY uncompressed compared to almost any other bass tone I can think of; there's some hair from the preamp, but that's really the only thing you're hearing aside from the strings and pickups. To that end, you'll probably want some kind of subtle tube or tube-sounding overdrive/preamp, a powerful EQ, the highest watt solid state power amp you can get your hands on (preferably a big clean PA amp), and a big ol pile of neutral sounding speakers (preferably PA speakers). That kind of setup doesn't have to be expensive but unfortunately it always has to be very heavy.

[@jkris2361]

Phil did not get a full Alembic bass until 1973.....being that this is the second half of 1972 , I think he is playing his heavily modified Gison EB3....this bass had at least one Alembic pickup in it, and most likely an Alembic pre-amp installed into the bass....

[@victorwong9622]

@@jkris2361 There’s plenty of video of Veneta ‘72 showing Lesh playing the Alembic Starfire. That EB3 had an unbelievable growl (Skull and Roses), it was last seen in 8/71, I believe it was stolen.

[@Frisbieinstein]

Big clam at 12:22.

[@tmjmccormack]

Doesn’t he flat out start with a massive clam here???

[@Frisbieinstein]

@@tmjmccormack Just being Phil.

[@theloniouscastaneda]

As he majestically enters the groove w a grand slide - into the wrong note. 🤣🤣🤣 Priceless! I do love Brother Phil but I can’t figure out what is more humorous - the fact that he starts on the wrong note, or the fact that the video maker here wants to share an isolated Phil bass track to show his expertise, and picks an example where Lesh enters the song w a big turd. 😁😁😁 God love the Grateful Dead and Phil Lesh, and this video creator as well!! #weallmakemistakes

[@myyootube2]

No way is that a turd. Just a shard left in time from a beautiful pot. His choices were so good, and such a fit. Seeing a recent Dead & Co only reinforced that for me. Priceless indeed. 😃

[@mcamp9445]

@@myyootube2In a band full of uniquely great players it turns out Phil is the hardest to replicate there are now quite a few people who can play like Jerry a reasonable number of people who can play like Bobby but none of the bases I’ve heard complain like Phil they’re buying just doesn’t work like his does

[@davidgoodman8730]

Please receive Jesus and we'll all be family forever 😊 im sure Jerry's there , plz dont be duked lovely people

[@Frisbieinstein]

The Grateful Dead hired got him to join because he a classical trumpeter who knew zero about electric bass. They wanted something different.

[@Rotary_Phone]

This bass line is not coming from a guitar with too many knobs, and switches. Needs more knobs, and switch action!

[@mwbright]

Is that an Alembic?

[@YaBoiRockstar]

Yes, he plays an Alembic during this show

[@michaelwoods9005]

It's a Guild Starfire modified by Alembic.

[@richierugs6544]

make it seem so easy don't he?

[@sambac2053]

Wearing a sweater when it was famously over100 degrees? Seems unlikeky, eh?

[@tomandshel]

That photo is from Europe in spring 72, either France or England.

[@jaredemershaw7180]

Improvising classical music

[@speedspeed121]

I say this as a musician, so please do not hate. This is not Phil. This has no groove or swing.

[@oldestgamer]

No, this sounds like Phil alright, you can hear the track bleed. Besides, if you have followed how Phil plays, which includes a lot of fretboard motion combined with groove, this has some of it. Not his best by far, give a listen to "Mama Tried" on Skull and Roses to hear some amazing bass playing.

[@speedspeed121]

@@oldestgamer I'd never bash Phil, so I am still going to assume this isn't him. I'm big time into tempo and rhythm and "swing," so I recognize quickly when something is out of the groove. Having said that, if it was him, it was a hot day in 1972. Maybe he was high as a kite lolol

[@LichenAndMoss]

Though it sounds weird like you say, this is 100% Phil. The groove you hear in the GD actually comes from the combination of Phil playing with the snare, the rest of the drums, the rest of the band. That's why it sounds weird in isolation without the reference of the rest of the band. There's a pulse we keep in our mind but it's different from groove. As a bassist I know that Phil is often playing around with the straight pocket. This is a good example. Check out the Bob Weir isolated track on KZbin. You can't believe that's what you're listening to for a whole show.

[@bluejayway2]

@@speedspeed121 bro this is phil and yeah veneta was known to be hot as shit that day. they had to take salt tablets before or even during their songs. if ur saying it's not his typical style then just say that. like wtf are you on about

[@mrdefinitely8769]

I say you are wrong. Nobody else plays like this on the recorded planet. Not natively at least. Also, he never played a song exactly the same twice. Not even close. In the soup that is the Grateful Dead, Phil is a standout. Usually even on his worse day. He does not need the title "Great Bass Player" when the honor of having your own sound is an even bigger compliment imho.

[@1965JB]

Jesus this music is boring. I know Phil is a great bass player but this must be what Deadheads think is genius and just isn’t.

[@gmcsrbosavl6964]

This song in general is boring or the isolated bass is boring? Both?

[@Karmakatt6]

I guess you just don't like licorice

[@1965JB]

@@Karmakatt6 I think that’s pretty much it. I respect the musicians and their talent but I just can’t get into listening to them for more than a few minutes.

[@Karmakatt6]

@johnsefner1061 I'd enjoyed the Dead for about 35 years but it wasn't until about 9 years ago that I just got it. It literally was like being hit by the 13 point lighting bolt. I can't explain it. Even Jerry couldn't explain it. And then you hear things like you really shouldn't bother explaining it. It means so much (or so little) to so many people. Maybe the Jerry Garcia Band or Grateful Dawg would appeal to you? Or maybe you haven't come across the right moment with the Grateful Dead. But the only thing i can assure you is, when it hits, you'll know and there's no going back. It reminds me of something I read a few years ago. A guy walks into a Brewhouse and says to the Brewmasrer, "it's not that I hate your Beer, I hate all Beer". To which the Brewmasrter said, "it's not that you hate Beer, it's that you haven't found the right one yet." Happy New Year brother!!

[@meyou-dv8ns]

Sounds like me when I first started bass at age 13. lol, sorry but it does

[@PeterSokol-bl5vz]

Boring…boring band.

[@NoName-fo7mz]

Sounds so terrible 😂