In 1976, Jerry Garcia, the iconic guitarist of the legendary Grateful Dead, was driving over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in the midst of a spectacular lightning storm when he was struck by a singular musical inspiration, causing him to turn around and return home to write down the music in his head. Unbe- knownst to Garcia, at the same time, his song- writing partner, lyricist Robert Hunter, was sit- ting in front of a picture window overlooking the San Francisco Bay watching the lightning. He typed the first words that came into his head: “terrapin station.” Not knowing what it would be about, he kept typing as the story unfolded. The next day they met, and when Hunter showed him the words, Garcia said, “I have the music!” They dovetailed perfectly, and the song “Terrapin Station,” which debuted in 1977, immediately became a beloved favorite of the band and its fans.

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Restaurants have pheromones in their DNA. Sometimes the composite of menu and chef, wait staff and decor gives off such a strong vibe it’s impossible not to sense the synergies. Other times, the signals are more subtle, the whole a mix of influences and styles that it takes a moment to understand what is being said by the menu and chef, wait staff and decor. Such is the case of the Dining Room at Terrapin Crossroads. Read more…

‘THIS COULD HAPPEN anytime on any weekend into the foreseeable future,” Grateful Dead bass legend Phil Lesh promised a sun-drenched crowd after he and his son, Grahame, and guitarist Mark Karan finished a lively set early Sunday afternoon on the patio of Lesh’s new Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael.

While the trio worked through covers of Dead songs like “Bertha,” “Deal” and “I Know You Rider,” boats sailed by on the San Rafael Canal and Deadheads ordered from a brunch menu that featured a “Phil’s Scramble” (egg whites, avocado, cheddar, scallions and tomato). While the music was playing, young Deadheads twirled and danced in a kind of mini version of a Grateful Dead concert.

It was the first time the youthful-looking 72-year-old rock hall of famer had played al fresco at Terrapin, his new restaurant and music venue at 100 Yacht Club Drive, a pleasant little oasis off busy East Francisco Boulevard, marked by the Terrapin logo of two turtles dancing and playing a banjo and a tambourine. It’s the realization of his long-held dream of a musical home away from home in Marin County.

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When Lesh opened Terrapin Crossroads – a multi-use facility featuring an intimate venue, gourmet restaurant and upscale bar – in San Rafael, California earlier this season, one of his primary motivations was owning a place where he could throw West Coast “Rambles.” Directly modeled after Helm’s Midnight Rambles in Woodstock, New York, Lesh intends to welcome a rotating cast of musicians for ongoing jam sessions in the building’s 250-person capacity Grate Room.

For the series’ opening night on Thursday, Lesh led a lineup that also featured the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson and Adam MacDougall, Jon Graboff of Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Tim Bluhm of the Mother Hips and his wife, Nicki Bluhm, John Skehan of Railroad Earth, jazz drummer Jaz Sawyer and Lesh’s son, Grahame, on guitar.

The inaugural Ramble was billed as “Special Album Night,” and after performing The Band in its entirety, the ensemble then covered the Grateful Dead’s Workingman‘s Dead for their second set. Considered an all-time classic, Workingman‘s Dead was released in 1970, just one year after The Band hit shelves. Performed back-to-back, the influence that the Band had on the Grateful Dead during that era became obvious.

Here is Lesh’s complete dedication to Helm:

I’ve been planning to do the album you’re about to hear before Levon passed, as the inspiration for these Rambles and for this whole place comes directly from him.

When I played Levon’s Midnight Ramble with my boys Grahame and Brian, along with Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, a couple years back, I was so taken with the family atmosphere – breaking bread together in his kitchen and then walking through the kitchen door right onto the stage to play; Levon playing and singing with his daughter Amy, me with my boys.

I knew that I wanted to do something similar here at home. I spoke to Levon about it and sought his blessing, as it were – and he was very enthusiastic. He spoke of trading shows: we would go there, he would come here to play – family and friends making music together. He talked about acoustics and the woodwork, but really it was his big warm open heart that made the Barn so special.

So much of our vision comes from there – an intimate setting, collaboration with different musicians, multi-generationally friendly. It’s safe to say that this place would not exist if not for Levon’s example and encouragement. I’d like to dedicate not just the show, or the next show, or everything we do here, but the whole place, to Levon Helm.

To read the feature on Rolling Stone’s website here.

Friday, May 25 & Saturday, May 26

Phil Lesh * Jeff Chimenti* John Kadlecik * Mark Karan * Jon Graboff * Jaz Sawyer

Please visit the ticket office at Terrapin Crossroad or purchase tickets online.

We plan to celebrate the arts – music, culinary, poetry, dance, literature, visual arts including photography, theatre, and other creative endeavors – so aside from a performance space and restaurant, Terrapin Crossroads will also host art exhibits, have art-and-music-themed books in our Living Room, memorabilia displays, and provide a beautiful, comfortable place where people can meet friends to exchange ideas over a glass of wine or a drink, a terrific meal, and of course hear some great music. We’ll also be a place for teaching and learning: in addition to regular musical performances, we will offer curated conversations with celebrated visionaries, luminaries, characters, and eccentrics, discussing topics ranging from cosmology to history to environmental issues to building team spirit and beyond.

In the future, we will be opening Terrapin Crossroads up for weddings, birthdays and other family celebrations.

We look forward to hosting the community, getting to know you, and building stronger bonds between all of us.

Phil

PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS
APRIL 26, 27, 28 AND 29, 2012

We’re getting the band back together! For the first time in almost a decade, the longest-tenured Phil & Friends band, the Quintet (or simply the Q to many of you) will be playing together for four nights of music at Terrapin Crossroads! Phil, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, John Molo and Rob Barraco reunite for the first time since 2003 to bring you the sounds that largely defined Phil & Friends in the early 2000s.

Check back tomorrow, Monday, April 2nd for information on ordering tickets.

These shows will mark the start of frequent weekend outings for Phil & Friends at Terrapin Crossroads, outside of our inaugural two week run. These Phil & Friends runs of shows will feature a variety of bands, just as we did during the inaugural two weeks. Maybe it’ll be the Q again, maybe it’ll be other top-notch musicians with whom Phil has developed a deep musical bond. But the bottom line is that we’ll be doing this often. Cost of tickets for all Phil & Friends shows at Terrapin Crossroads will be $150. As with the initial run of shows, your ticket will also get you a poster from that night’s show, a good-night snack (grilled cheese sandwich, of course!) and access to see some very special musicians play together in a very intimate setting.

RAMBLES

Some of the most interesting music Phil makes is when he plays it loose, and that’s exactly what the Rambles are all about. Inspired by Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles, where musical friends drop by to play with Levon and his band in his beautiful barn in Woodstock, NY, these shows will try to bring some of that magic to the West Coast.

When he is in the mood to Ramble at Terrapin Crossroads, which we expect to be often, Phil will be bringing in one or more of his friends from the rotating group of top notch musicians with whom he plays in Phil & Friends, as well as other local or perhaps lesser-known musicians whom Phil admires, respects, and wants to turn you on to. The music will be dictated by whatever the band wants to play, no rules or preconceptions. These are going to be wild! The cost for the Rambles will be $65.

THE FELLOWSHIP

This band is made up of musicians who have known each other for more than 20 years, a bass player and two guitarists who all have an intuitive sense of where the others are headed musically: Phil and his guitar-playing sons Brian and Grahame. These rock and roll offspring are proof that musical talent is in the genes. Choir-like family vocal harmonies mix with with foot-stomping rock and Phil’s legendary bass tones to create unique renditions of classic Grateful Dead tunes, covers from different genres of music, and most intriguingly of all new material written by the Leshes. Shows performed by The Fellowship will feature the Lesh trio, as well as other guest musicians. Shows by The Fellowship will be $40.

TERRAPIN ALL-STARS

It’s a quiet night in Marin, and Phil gets the urge to play, which we expect will happen very frequently. With no shows booked under the moniker of any of the three primary musical outlets at Terrapin Crossroads (Phil & Friends, Rambles, and The Fellowship), keep on the lookout for the Terrapin All-Stars. These loosely-structured performances will feature Phil and whoever he can find around town and who is available to play. These could be young up-and-comers, established under-the-radar professionals, or superstars. If they’re available to play, Phil will find them and bring them out for a great night with the Terrapin All-Stars. These shows will likely be announced just days, or even hours, ahead of time, so make sure to join us on Facebook, Twitter and at www.terrapincrossroads.net for updates. With Terrapin All-Star gigs we will be offering an affordable-for-all opportunity for everyone to see Phil play. Phil will also be doing regular benefits with Terrapin All-Stars for his Unbroken Chain Foundation in order to highlight many of the Bay Area’s wonderful non-profit groups. And for $25 for the regular gigs and $50 for the benefits, you’re not going to be able to catch music of this quality anywhere else.