Trey Anastasio a big Phish in a smaller pond

Trey Anastasio is one heck of a guitarist. It speaks volumes about his ability that the remaining members of the Grateful Dead enlisted him to perform with them during "Fare Thee Well," their run of history-making 50th anniversary shows. While nobody could truly replace Jerry Garcia, Anastasio did an admirable job of sitting in with the band, and honestly, it's hard to imagine a more fitting fretman for the gig.

While those shows were supposed to be the last, the outfit decided to keep on trucking as Dead & Company, announcing plans to embark on a full-scale tour that is slated to stop by the MGM Grand Garden later this month. While Anastasio won't be joining the band on that jaunt — the guys drafted John Mayer to accompany them on the road — you can still get a glimpse of Anastasio's fabulous fretwork when he visits Las Vegas this weekend.

This particular trip is noteworthy for the Phish frontman as it marks the first time in a half-dozen years that he isn't spending Halloween with his bandmates performing a classic album in concert. These sets are the stuff of legend, including last year's date in Vegas when the quartet added its own take to "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House" and a 1997 show when the guys gave "Loaded" by the Velvet Underground a whole new spin.

Even without his mates, expect Anastasio to be equally amped. Fresh off Phish's summer tour, and just before reconvening with the fellas for a New Year's run at Madison Square Garden, he's got nearly a dozen solo shows lined up, including these two at Brooklyn Bowl. He'll be armed with a dozen new songs from "Paper Wheels," his album dropping Friday.

— Read more from Dave Herrera at reviewjournal.com. Contact him at dherrera@reviewjournal.com.