My Morning Jacket’s Grateful Dead Salute Culminates With Grahame Lesh Sit-In

By Scott Bernstein Oct 12, 2026 • 9:36 am PDT

My Morning Jacket completed their seven-night residency at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sunday with their first performances of the Grateful Dead’s “Sugar Magnolia” and “Box Of Rain.” Grahame Lesh joined both debuts, which capped a run featuring at least one Dead-associated cover at every show.

The finale brought two generations of Dead history together onstage. Frontman Jim James played Jerry Garcia’s Alligator guitar during “Sugar Magnolia,” while Lesh contributed bass and backing vocals. James and Lesh then opened the encore with an acoustic “Box Of Rain” duet, honoring Grahame’s father, Phil Lesh. Alligator came on loan from the Grateful Guitars Foundation.

Sunday’s concert concluded the band’s rainbow-themed residency, which began October 3. MMJ opened the final show with “Where To Begin” and drew from across their catalog, including “Phone Went West,” “Spring (Among The Living),” “Victory Dance” and songs from their latest studio album, is.

The salute to Bay Area music extended beyond the Dead. Jacket dusted off Sly & The Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” for the first time since December 31, 2017, according to setlist.fm. The San Francisco band’s “Everyday People” had appeared on opening night with Molly Tuttle, making “Thank You” the second Sly & The Family Stone cover of the residency.

After pairing “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 1” and “Pt. 2,” MMJ brought out Lesh for George Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity.” The performance marked Jacket’s first rendition of the Harrison song since January 29, 2014, as per setlist.fm. Lesh stayed on bass for the ensuing “Sugar Magnolia,” which ended the main set. James hugged his guest and introduced him after the song.

James and Lesh returned with acoustic guitars to begin the encore. Before their “Box Of Rain” duet, James reflected on the music’s connection to the city and venue:

“The spirit of San Francisco and the spirit of The Fillmore and the spirit of the music that comes from San Francisco, it is so powerful. The music comes through us and we carry it for a little while and we all carry it in our hearts. It’s such a beautiful thing music, it never dies and it’s always there for us and it always keeps us going. So, we’re going to do a song that Grahame’s dad wrote.”

Phil Lesh composed “Box Of Rain” with lyrics by Robert Hunter while his own father was dying. The song opens the Dead’s 1970 album American Beauty, which also includes “Sugar Magnolia.” Phil played acoustic guitar on the original recording, adding another connection to Sunday’s duet.

The residency’s Dead selections began with “Sugaree” on October 3, followed by “Brown-Eyed Women” and a Dead-style arrangement of “Me And Bobby McGee” on October 4. “Franklin’s Tower” with Karina Rykman came on October 6, “Scarlet Begonias” on October 7 and “Fire On The Mountain” on October 9. Saturday’s penultimate show featured “One More Saturday Night” and “Ripple” before Sunday’s two debuts.

James followed “Box Of Rain” with a solo “Bermuda Highway.” “Love Love Love” and “Dancefloors” rounded out the encore and the seven-night stand. Watch video of “Box Of Rain” and the residency-ending “Dancefloors,” which featured James back on Alligator, below: