Lebo with Phil & Friends

I like him.  Plays a lot of runs with his fingers coming waaaay off the fingerboard.  Not very efficient, but it seems to work for him.

Always seems to be having himself a good time.

First, you shouldn't be too surprised that those guys played well together on Thursday. Stu, Crosby & Lebo have been playing together quite a bit the past couple of years and they know each other and the music very well. Plus they had the day before in the park to basically get loose for the next night.

I really like Lebo with Phil. He's a very creative & versatile player who has a unique sound and approach that he's adapted into the GD style well, likely because he has a good ear and he listens & responds well to the other players, something that IMO some of the much bigger "names" who have played with Phil haven't done as well. It also helps that he can play the pedal steel and he sings well enough. He's also one of the busiest players in the Bay Area which is maybe why he isn't playing the next couple of shows, or maybe Phil wants to mix it up just a bit as he gets his show legs back.

I also like Scott Law very much. He & Stu are very compatible and comfortable together, he's very good with both rhythm & leads and he sings well.

I would guess that Graham will play mostly rhythm guitar in the Weir style, something he's become very good at, which will give Stu most of the leads and create a more traditional GD feel. I imagine Graham will take some leads as well, and with his fairly extensive touring the past couple of years in his own band I think he's gotten much better at that, but for me he's best with Phil playing rhythm guitar.

Ultimately I think Phil likes playing with varying players, and at this point also ones who don't need to learn the material or rehearse much, and the very intimate Grate Room allows that to work better. I also strongly believe that Phil makes everyone he's playing with better, which is why it's so nice to have him back.

I don't think I'm able to make tomorrow's show but I'm hoping to be there for the Law show on the 16th.

GTTS!

I>>>>> also like Scott Law very much. He & Stu are very compatible and comfortable together, he's very good with both rhythm & leads and he sings well. I would guess that Graham will play mostly rhythm guitar in the Weir style, something he's become very good at, which will give Stu most of the leads and create a more traditional GD feel. I imagine Graham will take some leads as well, and with his fairly extensive touring the past couple of years in his own band I think he's gotten much better at that, but for me he's best with Phil playing rhythm guitar.

This.

I prefer lebo with Phil over Stu and Scott law

I prefer Scott over Lebo, but not by much. Wish we could have both again. Stu is just Stu. Nothing new.

((((Brokedown in Bakersfield))))

This is the arrangement I prefer. Lebo sliding about and Scott ripping the telecaster.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cKOxB-HpCgs

i did not find lebo to be on par with the "big names", but he has a real mastery of tone and sound in his acoustic guitar playing that is rare on a GD related stage - typically in an electric band, the addition of acoustic seems more like a decoration, like a visual aid to bring that old timey feel home. just gets lost in the mix and usually adds very little.

but lebo's playing really stands up to the electric band and adds something interesting. hes never blown my mind with his improv, but he does seem to have a rare talent in making his acoustic stand up to, and blend perfectly with, an electric dead band. the style of playing isnt the same, but it reminded me of the guy from string cheese in his ability to manipulate the sound/tone and fit in properly with an electric band.

I LOVE  PHIL LESH

'my heart overflows

thank you

Daylight hits it on the head.