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Got to play Phil Lesh's bass, Big Brown

The Bass Nerd

The Bass Nerd

Supporting Member
Dec 19, 2019
61
336
Chicago
www.thebassnerds.com
#1
I was able to catch Grahame Lesh this past weekend in Chicago at a new venue, Garcias. The venue is a giant homage to Jerry Garcia. I was able to do a little gear rundown with Brian Rashap before the show. Brian is/was Phil's bass tech and current holder of Big Brown. Brian also plays with Grahame. The venue is great all around. It has a large seated area with tables for people to eat while watching the show and a standing room area in the back by the bar. There's not a bad seat in the house. Sound was excellent. Staff was excellent. Andy Frasco and crew showed up to enjoy the show as well as Brendan Bayless. Great tunes and hang. Brian was nice enough to let me pluck a few notes on Big Brown before the show. We also did an in depth interview with him and will be releasing that soon on YouTube. A night I will not soon forget.

IMG_9690 2.jpeg


 
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#7
Very cool!

I met Brian Rashap at the Oakland airport in either 2017 or 2018. Nice guy. I was heading out on a short tour in Montana/Wyoming then back to California. Brian was carrying a bass to Phil for a show/festival in Idaho somewhere, and we were both connecting in Salt Lake City to get to our respective destinations. We were standing in the check-in line with our basses and got talking. Very nice guy and it was cool to know he was ferrying a bass to Phil. I also got to meet Phil at his bar/restaurant/music venue, Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, CA when a band I was touring with at the time (Tim Miller and the Adderall Cowboys) had a show there. Phil was there during our soundcheck and was very gracious.
 
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#11
The Bass Nerd said:
I was able to catch Grahame Lesh this past weekend in Chicago at a new venue, Garcias. The venue is a giant homage to Jerry Garcia. I was able to do a little gear rundown with Brian Rashap before the show. Brian is/was Phil's bass tech and current holder of Big Brown. Brian also plays with Grahame. The venue is great all around. It has a large seated area with tables for people to eat while watching the show and a standing room area in the back by the bar. There's not a bad seat in the house. Sound was excellent. Staff was excellent. Andy Frasco and crew showed up to enjoy the show as well as Brendan Bayless. Great tunes and hang. Brian was nice enough to let me pluck a few notes on Big Brown before the show. We also did an in depth interview with him and will be releasing that soon on YouTube. A night I will not soon forget.

View attachment 7186649

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Just curious - how heavy was it? 🧐
 
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#14
planetdrumz said:
Wow! What an honor that must have been! Ill be looking on youtube for that interview.

I read an article about Garcia's just a few days ago, looks like a really cool venue!

chicago.eater.com

Take a Trip Through the New Jerry Garcia-Inspired Jazz Club in Chicago

Garcia’s menu features giant bacon-wrapped hot dogs and milkshakes with a space that puts music first
chicago.eater.com chicago.eater.com
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I'll be back for sure. Might be my new favorite venue in Chicago. I saw Matteo Mancuso is coming soon and Dezron Douglas trio later this year. Both shows I'm sure will be great.
 
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#17
Hey! Hey! That was an awesome weekend. Was really cool playing that 3x10 Berg cabinet. Really really killer cabinet.

AAANNDD Real quick!... Ron DID do the electronics in Big Brown. Mundy did Osiris. On his own, as a side gig while an Alembic employee. Opps!
 
#20
HolmeBass said:
Probably sounded great, but definitely a departure from Phil's rig.
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Phil's rig for the last 5 years has been 2 Hartke 3500 heads into (2) 1x12 and (2) 1x15s. (Noble->Blue Thunder pre->mono CP-10->3500s). The Hartke's kept dying on us. I picked up a few around the Bay Area off craigslist for $150/ea (Phil was so stoked we were using used gear off craigslist. Was pretty rad) but those went as well. His last public show was on my old TH700. He would have loved this berg set up, although out here I use the 12" and a 15", no 3x10....YET!!!
 
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