The Dead Go To Washington, Meet Obama

President Barack Obama met with the surviving members of The Dead yesterday at the White House to thank them for their efforts during the election season. The Dead were in D.C. for a show at the Verizon Center where old friend Tipper Gore joined them on percussion for Sugar Magnolia.

[Photo by David Oppenheimer from Glide Magazine’s Gallery]

President Obama spent about 15 minutes with the band and some of their wives talking about the history of the Oval Office and the desk he uses. According to a report in the Washington Post, Jill Lesh – Phil’s wife – noticed a bouquet of Scarlet Begonias just outside of the Oval Office.

The band followed up their trip to the Oval Office with a stop at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for a meeting with senior advisors David Axelrod and Pete Rouse, and deputy chief of staff Jim Messina – the biggest Deadheads on Obama’s staff.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist…

Set I: Cassidy, Passenger, Pride of Cucamonga, Easy Wind, Lazy River Road, Alabama Getaway, Big Railroad Blues

Set II: Peggy-O@, Glory Road@, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall@, Jam > Dark Star > King Solomon’s Marbles > drumz > space > Come Together > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia*

Enc: Uncle John’s Band > Ripple

Notes: @ Acoustic. * WIth Tipper Gore on percussion.

The Dead, who are offering live downloads of each show on this tour, return to the stage tonight in Charlottesville, Virgina before heading north.