In the latest episode from Series 7 of Spotlight On, podcast host and Lyte Chief Commercial Officer Lawrence Peryer talks to guitarist, singer-songwriter, and true rock ‘n’ roll lineage: Grahame Lesh.
The eldest son of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, Grahame followed in his father’s footsteps in becoming a musician. Making guitar his instrument of choice, Grahame is carving a path by writing his own page in the great American songbook, touching on all aspects of rock, folk, blues, soul, but remaining firmly rooted in the present.
Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Lesh has been a mainstay of the scene centered about Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael - the music venue founded by his father Phil in 2012 - and has both accompanied and collaborated with fellow luminaries like The Mother Hips, The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Twiddle, Amy Helm, the North Mississippi AllStars, Neal Casal, Jackie Greene, ALO and Eric Krasno.
After graduating from Stanford University in 2010 with a master’s degree in music, Grahame wasn’t entirely sure if he wanted to join the family business by becoming a bonafide musician himself. But after the grand opening of Terrapin Crossroads the stage was set, and Lesh soon after founded Midnight North (with Elliott Peck) in 2012 who have gone on to play hundreds of concerts around the country, releasing four studio albums, three live albums, and two digital EPs of original music in the process. The band’s most successful album to date is 2021’s There's Always a Story.
Aside from his personal music ventures, Grahame has traveled the world alongside his father as a member of Phil Lesh's Terrapin Family Band and Phil Lesh & Friends. The outfit - who perform reimagined versions of the Grateful Dead’s lauded body of work - have played concerts spanning Fuji Rock Festival in Japan to London, to Newport Folk Fest to New York City, inviting storied guests to join them on stage including Sheryl Crow, Benmont Tench, John Scofield, Nicki Bluhm, Dawes, Warren Haynes, and Grateful Dead’s very own Bob Weir.
Throughout the episode, Lesh discusses his approach to songwriting, his love of being in the studio, and what it means to him being a fan of music himself.
You can listen to the latest episode of Spotlight On featuring Grahame Lesh below:
Every week in Spotlight On, host Lawrence Peryer takes listeners on a behind-the-scenes exploration of the past, present and future of the modern music and entertainment business, with musicians, thought leaders, tech innovators and more.
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