One Year Ago: The Dead Shines in Santa Clara, Rolls on to Chicago June 28, 2016 13:11

Fifty years after The Grateful Dead was born in Palo Alto, California, “The Core Four” (Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann) returned to Santa Clara County to bid farewell to a sold out Levi’s Stadium on Saturday and Sunday night.  Joining the core four members of The Dead for the 50^th Anniversary “Fare Thee Well” run are Phish front man Trey Anastasio (lead guitar/vocals), Bruce Hornsby (piano/vocals), and Jeff Chimenti (organ/keys).  The two Santa Clara shows were added shortly after the initial announcement of this coming weekend’s three-night run at Soldier Field Chicago (July 3^rd – July 5^th).  For those unable to attend these final five shows, live hi-definition webcasts have been offered ($20-$30 per night), making it entirely too easy to watch the star-studded lineup from the comfort of your own couch.  While the anticipation and reality of attending in Chicago sets in, I couldn’t resist tuning in for both nights in Santa Clara. 

Due to conflicting plans, I was unable to tune in live for Saturday night’s show, but fortunately each show has been made available for 30 days once purchased.  This meant a Sunday afternoon Dead show on the couch, only to be followed by a live Sunday evening Dead show…on the couch.  While I couldn’t resist checking Saturday’s set list, sitting and watching it in its entirety was still the top priority.  The celebration began with “Truckin’” and “Uncle John’s Band,” two of the band’s biggest hits.  Phil Lesh then took over lead vocals as the band dug even deeper into the Dead archive with “Alligator.”  The folksy sound of The Dead shined in “Cumberland Blues,” making way for “Born Cross Eyed.”  Anastasio took on his first round of lead vocals with “Cream Puff War,” one which always seems to pump some adrenaline into the band and crowd alike.  The set rounded out with “Viola Lee Blues,” originally a country/blues tune that was transformed into a psychedelic powerhouse in their earliest days.  A spectacular rainbow stretched over the stadium, sparking the notion from many that Jerry was smiling down on Levi’s Stadium.

Watch "Truckin'" from Santa Clara here:

The old-school, early Dead theme continued immediately in set two with “Cryptical Envelopment,” the first of four sections of the “That’s It For The Other One” suite on Anthem Of The Sun (1968).  The “Dark Star” that would follow will undoubtedly serve as one of the more special moments of the Fare Thee Well run.  “Dark Star” was the first lyric that Robert Hunter wrote with the Dead and was first performed, without lyrics, by the Grateful Dead in September 1967.  The first version with lyrics was in the December of that year. The song was a major focus for improvisation and was played regularly through the 1960's and up to 1973.  “St. Stephen” made way for “The Eleven,” which led directly into “Turn On Your Love Light.”  Kreutzmann and Hart took over on “Drums,” only to be followed by “What’s Become Of The Baby,” a tune off of Aoxomoxoa (1969) which wasn’t actually played live until being busted out by Furthur in 2010.   The set’s early hints made “The Other One” no surprise, beautifully placed late into the night.  Weir’s vocal delivery on “Morning Dew” was as powerful as expected and gave an emphatic ending to the second set.  The band didn’t take long to return to the stage for “Casey Jones,” ending the night with the entire stadium singing along.  

Night two kicked off in ferocious style, as “Feel Like A Stranger” set the tone and left no doubt that the guys had shaken any cobwebs loose.  Weir roared through “New Minglewood Blues” and opened things up for an amazing delivery from Hornsby on “Brown Eyed Women.”  The bluesier rendition of “Loose Lucy” came next, giving the band and crowd a chance to say “Thank you, for a real good time.” “Loser” and “Row Jimmy” slowed the pace a bit, just before Anastasio really seemed to find his groove on “Alabama Getaway,” one of his few lead vocal rolls thus far.   “Black Peter” and “Hell In A Bucket” would round out set one of night two.  Anastasio took “Hell In A Bucket” to another level, letting it rip, much to Lesh’s pleasure. 

One of my favorites, “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo,” kicked off what developed into my favorite set of the weekend.  So many Dead tunes send that fuzzy feeling through you as you sing along, and this one is up there with the best.  There’s something about the line “Farewell to you old Southern skies, I’m on my way” that has always hit home for me.  Next came “Wharf Rat,” the self told saga of a down and out dockside wino, another gem from Hunter and Garcia made famous in the early 70’s.  They led beautifully into “Eyes of the World,” one which Lesh took lead vocals on, rather than Anastasio or Hornsby, both of which could have been a perfect fit.

It’s to be expected that there will be a few rusty moments over these final five shows, and that seemed to be the case with “He’s Gone.”  Weir had some difficulty with the lyrics in multiple verses, which Anastasio and Hornsby attempted to help with.  The chorus even seemed off rhythm, especially when it came time for “Nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile.”  No one lost their composure, and the tune was still finished in respectful fashion.  Round two with “Drums” seemed to go even longer, with Hart and Kreutzmann taking us all into another realm.  I can relate with those who just don’t care for “Drums” every night, but they had me locked in and blown away with it on Sunday night.  The stadium lit up as the opening notes of “I Need A Miracle” hit, and Weir stepped up, ready to redeem himself.  This one has always given one of the most notable, resounding vocal performances from Weir, and I was immediately reminded why. 

Things slowed down once more for “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” first played by The Dead in 1966, and often credited to Rev. Gary Davis.  Anastasio stepped up to the plate yet again on “Sugar Magnolia,” which sounded as on-point as any song throughout the weekend.  The “Sunshine Daydream” medley seemed entirely too perfect for the second set closer, and those watching in Santa Clara, as well as around the world, had every reason to rejoice.  “Brokedown Palace,” which includes the line of words “fare thee well”, for which this entire run of shows is named, brought the two-night run in Santa Clara to a close.

There was an expected progression seen from the entire band over the weekend, and Anastasio was no exception.  Being an enthusiastic fan of both The Dead and Phish, it’s been interesting to watch the progression of Trey in this highly scrutinized role.  He was apparently given 90 songs to master and has spent at least five hours each day doing so.  He has shown the ultimate composure and poise, focusing on hitting every note just as Jerry would.  Some might say that he is holding back, or that the guys need to cut him loose, but let’s be honest, he knows his role in this band.  His selection for these shows has been a hot topic, and he is proving the doubters and naysayers wrong.  Bobby, Phil, Mickey, and Billy knew that this was his role to play, and he’s validating their notions with every tune.  Will there be moments where Trey is delegated to play rhythm and might have made more sense on lead vocals?  Of course.  “Eyes of the World” was a perfect example.  No one should expect to see the same demeanor from Trey as they are accustomed to with Phish.  This role is about paying homage to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, not being the front man of one of the greatest bands since Jerry paved the path.  He is clearly ecstatic to be on stage, as that big smile we have seen suggests.

Dead & Company Will Play in Charlotte, Donate $100,000 to HRC & Equality NC June 3, 2016 11:47

With Dead & Company's highly anticipated summer tour scheduled to kick off next Friday, June 10th, in Charlotte, NC, thousands of fans have anxiously awaited to hear whether or not the band would join the likes of Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen in canceling their shows in North Carolina.  Dead & Company  has announced that rather than cancelling it's Charlotte show in protest of the infamous HB2 bill and depriving their fans, the band will instead be donating $100,000 to The Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina.  They also announced that they will host a "participation row" section of "local organizations fighting discrimination and national organizations dedicated to voter registration and protecting the planet.

See below for the band's official statement:

This March, when North Carolina lawmakers passed HB2 and Governor Pat McCrory signed it into law, we categorically objected to it. We had hoped that by now this abhorrent law would have been repealed. Sadly, it has not.

After much thought, consideration and conversation, we feel the most effective way to move forward is to perform as scheduled in Charlotte, North Carolina on June 10 and to donate $100,000.00 to organizations engaged in this battle for justice – the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina.

Additionally, we will assemble a "Participation Row" social action area, where we'll host local organizations fighting discrimination and national organizations dedicated to voter registration and protecting the planet. Every fan in attendance will have an opportunity to learn about the true ramifications of the HB2 law, and take meaningful action by registering to vote; to that end we are working on an online community registration site that will assist the HeadCount organization in promoting and simplifying voter registration.

Dead shows have always been a safe place for all of our audience to come together through music no matter how they appear or self-identify. History shows these values of openness and inclusiveness have served us - and the world around us - well.

We’ve never been a band that’s spoken many words when we’re on stage. But we hope that our actions, and the actions of our fans, will ring louder than ever before.

With Love and Respect,
Dead & Company

Watch Dead & Company perform "Scarlet Begonias" on Jimmy Kimmel Live here:

Watch Dead & Company's Five Song Set on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' May 11, 2016 09:40

On Tuesday night, Dead & Company, the newly formed supergroup combining Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, & Bill Kreutzmann with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, & Jeff Chimenti, made it's second-ever national television appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night.   The band played on an outdoor stage, performing a total of five Dead originals.  Only "Bertha" was shown on television, but thankfully Jimmy Kimmel Live has officially released additional footage of "Scarlet Begonias," "Fire On The Mountain," and "Not Fade Away" as well.

Dead & Company is scheduled to kick off it's highly anticipated summer tour in next month at PNC Pavilion in Charlotte, NC (6/10), before performing two sets at Bonnaroo Music Festival on Sunday, June 12th.  For further details and all ticketing info on Dead & Company's summer tour, head over to the band's official website.

All videos via Jimmy Kimmel Live on YouTube

Watch Dead & Company perform "Bertha" on Jimmy Kimmel Live here:

Watch Dead & Company perform "Scarlet Begonias" on Jimmy Kimmel Live here:

Watch Dead & Company perform "Fire on the Mountain" on Jimmy Kimmel Live here:

Watch Dead & Company perform "Not Fade Away" on Jimmy Kimmel Live here:

DVR Alert: Dead & Company Performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live Tonight May 10, 2016 10:02

Dead & Company, the newly formed supergroup combining Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, & Bill Kreutzmann with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, & Jeff Chimenti, will be performing tonight on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live.   This will mark the band's second-ever performance on national television.  Other guests on this episode include Russell Crowe and Mike Birbiglia.  Tonight's show can be watched on ABC at 10:35 PM CST / 11:35 PM CST.

Dead & Company is scheduled to kick off it's highly anticipated summer tour in exactly one month at PNC Pavilion in Charlotte, NC (6/10), before performing two sets at Bonnaroo Music Festival on Sunday, June 12th.  For further details and all ticketing info on Dead & Company's summer tour, head over to the band's official website.

Watch Dead & Company perform "Franklin's Tower" at at their American Express UNSTAGED show last October here:

Anders Osborne And Luther Dickinson's "Black Muddy River" Says It All May 4, 2016 16:36

Last summer, JamBase published a series of 50 videos titled Songs of Their Own, which honored the Grateful Dead in preparation of the band's upcoming 50th anniversary Fare Thee Well celebration.  On May 17th, the first video of this series was published, featuring Anders Osborne (guitar/vocals) and Luther Dickinson (slide guitar) performing "Black Muddy River", a Dead classic from the In The Dark album.

Apparently, Anders and Luther were toying with the idea of performing "Bertha" or "Black Muddy River", but arrived at JamBase's studio in San Francisco without a final decision. After hearing just a couple bars of “Black Muddy River,” the JamBase team strongly encouraged the pair to cover it. Right before they began recording, Anders was told that “Black Muddy River” was the last song Jerry Garcia sang with the Grateful Dead at Soldier Field in 1995. After a heavy pause, he simply replied, “Wow, I wish you hadn’t told me that before we recorded this.” What followed was one-take and an absolutely heartfelt rendition of the song.

We make a point to recognize and celebrate the birthdays of our favorite musicians, as a way of thanking them for their endless contributions to our music scene.  We can't think of a better way to honor Anders Osborne on his 50th birthday than with this tribute to the Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary.

Watch Anders Osborne and Luther Dickinson perform "Black Muddy River" here:

Throwback: A History Lesson With Jerry Garcia January 14, 2016 12:19

Today we look back on an in-depth interview with Grateful Dead guitarist/vocalist, Jerry Garcia.  This unedited interview with Garcia comes from the mini-series "The History of Rock and Roll."   Garcia shares memories from the earliest days of The Dead, including The Acid Tests, Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, songwriting with Robert Hunter & David Grisman, and many entertaining stories from the Haight-Ashbury days.  Dick Latvala provides a brief tour of the Grateful Dead Vault as a special bonus at the end of the interview.

Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the Grateful Dead, which came to prominence during the counterculture era in the 1960s.  Though he disavowed the role, Garcia was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group.  He was well known by many for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story.  Garcia battled diabetes and struggled with addiction through the 80's and 90's, and ultimately died of a heart attack on August 9th, 1995 at age 53.

"The History of Rock and Roll" is a definitive 10-part documentary covers rock 'n' roll history from its humble beginnings in the '50s to Lollapalooza in the '90s. Fans can experience their favorite rock 'n' roll moments all over again through hundreds of exclusive interviews, classic footage, and unforgettable in-concert performances from rock 'n' roll's biggest stars. A must-own for any rock 'n' roll fan.

Watch the unedited, 53-minute interview with Jerry Garcia here:

Happy 70th Birthday: Ron "Pigpen" McKernan September 8, 2015 21:45

Fare Thee Well: The Grateful Dead's Final Stand at Soldier Field July 9, 2015 09:40

Photo by Phierce Photo of FX Media Solutions

When I awoke and drove in to work on Friday, January 16th, I was already excited and knew that I was in for a long day.  Several of us were heading to the Charleston Pour House for four rotating sets of Phish and Widespread Panic, courtesy of tribute bands Runaway Gin and Machine Funk.  Sometime around noon, my phone started to light up with calls and text messages asking if I had heard the news.  The rumors were officially true: The Grateful Dead were playing a three-night run at Soldier Field over the weekend of July 4th.  To make things even sweeter, Trey Anastasio, Bruce Hornsby, and Jeff Chimenti were all set to round out the lineup.  Any chance at the slightest bit of productivity that afternoon was officially shot, and a hotel reservation in Chicago was made immediately.

In order to honor their creative tradition, the initial ticket offer was made via mail order, in order to ensure that the band's total ticket allotment would be available only to those willing to make the extra effort.  Elaborate, Dead-themed artwork was encouraged on each envelope.  Over 500,000 ticket requests were received, leaving just a ten percent chance of "winning the lottery."  The overwhelming response led promoters to adjust the seating arrangement to accommodate more guests. Peter Shapiro, the event's organizer and head promoter, gave his word that the level of production would provide all mail order ticket holders with an amazing experience.  

On April 10th, more rumors were confirmed when the band announced that their final run would now consist of two additional shows at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on June 27th and 28th.  It only seemed right that the band make a return to the Bay Area, where it all officially started 50 years prior.  Much debate surrounded the band's selection of Anastasio on lead guitar, as past Dead lineups have included many other amazing guitarists such as Warren Haynes, Steve Kimock, Jimmy Herring, and John Kadlecick in that role.  

FULL STORY: Fare Thee Well: The Grateful Dead's Final Stand at Soldier Field

VIDEO: Jimmy Herring Playing Jerry Garcia's Travis Bean TB 500 Guitar April 14, 2015 21:29

-Today, Widespread Panic shared a longer video of the musicians jamming on the Grateful Dead song, “He’s Gone” prior to their March 15th show in Spokane, WA. Jimmy Herring can be seen playing Jerry Garcia's Travis Bean TB500 guitar.  This six minute video showcases Herring's uncanny familiarity with Jerry's style, having toured with The Dead and Phil & Friends in years past.

-Many will recall that 1998 and 1999 found Herring, with bassist Alphonso Johnson, Dixie Dregs (and former Widespread Panic) keyboardist T Lavitz and jazz drummer Billy Cobham touring as Jazz Is Dead. Jazz Is Dead released three albums; the material was fusion jazz-rock, largely instrumental-only cover interpretations of classic Grateful Dead songs.