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How You Philling?

Phil Lesh

By Jonathan Zwickel

Published on June 22, 2006

You know what they say: Lesh is more. Or is it, "Bass great, Lesh Philling?" Whatever — you could probably care Lesh. But unLesh you've been living inside a VW microbus for the past 40 years — actually, because you've been living inside a VW microbus for the past 40 years — you probably have a soft spot in your heart for Phil Lesh. He's the string-bean-thin, bespectacled bassist who powered the Grateful Dead's mighty low end (so low fans named the spot in the crowd right in front of him, where the bass thrummed hardest, the "Phil Zone") for so many years. In the post-Jerry era, Lesh has been touring with a rotating cast of "friends," which he usually keeps secret until showtime, but have included Joan Osborne (remember "One of Us"?), John Scofield, and a slew of sax players, drummers, guitarists, and general party-starters who jam on old Dead tunes and a few new numbers. Got it? Good, 'cause that's the end of the Lesh-on.

Phil Lesh and Friends play at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 22, at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Tickets cost $43. Call 561-962-4109.



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