Nice review of Confessions of a Dead Head in the Bohemian last month:
…. it’s the passage on “Brokedown Palace” and the turning point it played in the author’s grieving process over his father’s death that epitomizes
this short book’s humanity.
Archive for April, 2010
Review of “Confessions”
Thursday, April 29th, 2010My weekend at Shakori Hills and MvA’s wedding
Monday, April 26th, 2010I was sitting in my hotel room in Siler City NC when I got a text message from Bobby Miller. “You go on at 11:30. Stage manager asked me to tell you.”
It was 10:49, and Siler City is a good half an hour from the festival.
I had no idea I had a mainstage set at 11:30. I thought I was doing a looping workshop at 5:30 and a set in the Cabaret tent at 9:15.
I leapt up, threw all my stuff in the car, and headed over. Fortunately the line of cars to get in was short, and I was able to jump the artist check-in line to get my wristband and parking pass. Jammed over to the mainstage,
thanked Bobby profusely for saving my life, set up my stuff, and we were playing live at 11:30 sharp.
Half my rig wasn’t working: the “acoustic” guitar side. I played the set in “electric” mode, which made things interesting.
It took me a few minutes to get my head straight and become present with the music, my mandolin-pickin’ partner, and the audience, but I think it was a good set.
I didn’t record that set, nor the Cabaret set. I hope someone did!
Musically, this was most satisfying. The looping workshop was great fun, although it ended prematurely when the mist turned to rain and my gear started getting wet.
I turned in early Saturday night, missing Donna the Buffalo altogether (except for their set with Preston Frank, which was of course delightful) so I could get in the road at 8am. I made it to Decatur in plenty of time for Mark van Allen‘s wedding, which was followed by a humongous jam at Eddie’s Attic. I ran out of steam and headed for bed just a few minutes before midnight, after almost five hours of music. There were still a few performers waiting to go on. What a day!
One of the workers at Shakori Hills told me he thought the staff vote was more-or-less “unanimous” last fall to invite me back, and he thinks I will be invited back again. I sure hope so: Shakori Hills is as musician-, family-, and earth-friendly a scene as you could possibly imagine. All that and Tom’s Sugar Shack, too! (Although I did not partake of the Veggie Thing nor French Toast this time around.)
P.S. This note, from the Shakori Hills web site:
You may have heard about our efforts to own the land we call Shakori Hills. Owning the land will make it easier to make improvements and to claim it as “our own.” Ours, meaning yours, everyone’s. If you have an interest in helping us with this endeavor, please feel free to write shakorihills@grassrootsfest.org or call us at 919-542-1746.
I made a donation at the festival and I am going to contact them about getting some national attention for the campaign. Even if you have never been to Shakori Hills, and even if you may never get there, I believe it is a worthy cause to support because this is a model event for our style of music festival – and for public gatherings in general. now that I think of it.
P.P.S. Bobby Miller, Jay Sanders, some other friends, and I are playing four shows in North Carolina this week. Deatils on my web page. And Bobby is finishing up a CD that I think you’re gonna like; he leaked a mix of “She Said She Said” to me last week and I was delighted!
Grateful Dead Hour no. 1127
Sunday, April 25th, 2010Week of April 26, 2010
Part 1 34:51
Introduction
Grateful Dead 8/16/87 Town Park, Telluride CO
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
SAMSON AND DELILAH
HE’S GONE->
DRUMS
Part 2 21:34
Seven Walkers 4/9/10 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
EVANGELINE
SEVEN WALKERS
Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from:
The All Good Festival July 8 – 11 in Masontown, WV featuring FURTHUR featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain, Dark Star Orchestra, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi, Old Crow Medicine Show, George Clinton & P Funk, Keller Williams, Railroad Earth, Dr. Dog & dozens more with no overlapping sets. Complete information and All Good Festival tickets are available at www.allgoodfestival.com
Grateful Dead Productions, announcing Crimson, White, and Indigo – the complete concert of July 7, 1989 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Multi-camera DVD with audio newly remixed in Stereo and 5.1 surround from the multitrack masters, PLUS three audio CDs, mastered in HDCD. Crimson, White, and Indigo is available now on dead.net and in stores everywhere.
The Nateva Festival July 2–4 in Oxford, Maine with Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, moe., The Flaming Lips, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs, Keller Williams, Jememiah Puddleduck, Max Creek, Moonalice, She and Him, Toubab Krewe, and dozens of others. Tickets, camping and complete information available at www.natevafestival.com
DG gig and “Life Is a Jam” release update
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010The “Life Is a Jam” download is ALMOST ready to go. Maybe by the time you read this – give us a try at http://www.dgans.com/liaj/download
To refresh your memory, “Life Is a Jam” is a studio recording with me on guitar and vocals, Mark Karan (Jemimah Puddueduck, Ratdog) on lead guitar, Mookie Siegel (David Nelson Band) on keyboards, Joe Kyle, Jr (The Waybacks) on bass, Dave Brogan (ALO) on drums, and Zac Matthews (Hot Buttered Rum) and Bear Kittay on background vocals. The download package and promo CD contain three versions of the song, each with a unique jam – a total of about 27 minutes of music for your money!
Here is a video clip of a solo performance of “Life Is a Jam,” recorded April 17 at the Mill Valley Masonic. Big thanks to Mark Karan for inviting me to open the show!
We still have a few copies of the limited-edition promo CD available at http://www.dgans.com/liaj/
-
I’m about to get on a plane for North Carolina, where I’ll play two festivals, four club dates, and my good pal Mark van Allen’s wedding bash – can’t wait!
In May, I go to the southwest for a short run of shows that ends Memorial Day weekend at the Desert Rocks Music Festival in Moab, Utah. And while I’m there, on Sunday, May 30, I will be participating in a guided bike tour of the Moab area sponsored by Rock the Earth (rocktheearth.org). Details haven’t been posted yet; stay tuned.
I’m hoping to add a gig or two to my Ohio trip in early July. If you have an Ohio venue in mind, or if you’re interested in hosting a house concert, please get in touch.
Anyway, here’s a complete list of confirmed gigs as it stands today. Details, links, and more info at http://www.dgans.com/gigs.html – and new performances are being added to the schedule as they’re confirmed.
I hope to see you at one or more of these shows, and I hope you’ll spread the word!
April 23-24: Shakori Hills Grass Roots Festival of Music and Dance, Silk Hope NC
Sunday, April 25, 7pm: The first annual Franallen Jam (celebrating the wedding of my good friends Mark van Allen and Fran Cooper!) at Eddie’s Attic, 515 B McDonough Street, Decatur GA. Tickets are on sale now.
Tuesday, April 27: DG and Friends @ Jay Sanders’ Mindtonic Music Series at Rocket Club, Asheville NC
Wednesday, April 28, 9:30pm: DG and Friends at the Blind Tiger, Greensboro NC
Thursday, April 29: DG and Friends at Mo Daddy’s, Asheville NC. $7
Friday, April 30: DG and Friends at the Reel House, Boone NC
Saturday, May 1: French Broad River Festival, Hot Springs NC
Thursday, May 6, 8pm: The Curios, Michael Foley, and DG at the Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley.
Thursday, May 20: XTra Ticket and DG at the Sail Inn, Tempe AZ
Friday, May 21: Flagstaff Brewing Company, Flagstaff AZ
Saturday, May 22: Mountain High Bar, Cedar Crest NM
Sunday, May 23: Mike’s Music Exchange, Santa Fe NM
Wednesday, May 26: The Rim Rock, Torrey UT
May 28-30: Desert Rocks Music Festival, Moab UT
Sunday, June 12: Fairfax Festival, Fairfax CA
Wednesday, June 16, 4-8pm: Fairfax Farmers’ Market, in Bolinas Park, Fairfax CA. Free! Great organic produce, prepared foods, etc.
July 2-5: Grateful Fest at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Nelson/Garrettsville OH
July 29-August 1: Gathering of the Vibes, Bridgeport CT
August 6-8: A Festival of Family, Millerton NY – benefit for the Rex Foundation
August 13-15: A Bear’s Picnic, Laurelton PA
September 9-12: Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival, Harrodsburg KY
DG profile in Greensboro weekly
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010‘Dead Hour’ DJ and guitarist gets a little help from friends for NC shows – Yes! Weekly (Greensboro NC) article by Ryan Snyder
Live solo “Life Is a Jam”
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010Courtesy of videographer Peter Blaha, here is “Life Is a Jam” from my set at the Mill Valley Masonic April 17 2010, opening for Jemimah Puddleduck.
Dead to the World 4/21/10
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010Thing One – Steve Kimock Crazy Engine 12/17/09
Leave a Light On
She
Death Don’t Have No Mercy – Jemimah Puddleduck 4/17/10 Mill Valley Masonic
“Leave a Light On” and “She” were incomplete due to a malfunction – not sure if it’s my production disc or the players. I apologize for the musicus interruptus. Onward!
Jam->
Not Fade Away->
Jam – Grateful Dead rehearsal 4/16/79 San Rafael CA
Live in the KPFA Performance Studio: Joe Rut and the Super Burrito
Plastic Jesus
Pickle and Taco
Jelly Donut
Tiny Arrow
Use Your Turn Signal
So Long Lazy Ray
My Uncle
All Your Love
Dosey Doe/Maggie’s Farm
Monkey Boy
Our Days Are Numbered
Joe Rut – guitar, vocals
Bernie Jungle – percussion (homemade kit named “Shirley”)
Lucio Menegon – lead guitar
Dave Jess – bass
Jason Kleinberg – fiddle
Val Esway, Heather Davison – background vocals
Grateful Dead Hour no. 1126
Sunday, April 18th, 2010Week of April 19, 2010
Part 1 26:10
Introduction
BK3 2/24/10 KPFA Performance Studio, Berkeley CA
THUNDER
Part 2 30:45
BK3 2/24/10 KPFA Performance Studio, Berkeley CA
SUGAREE
CHAINS OF LIFE
BROWN-EYED WOMEN
Grateful Dead, Blues for Allah
SAGE AND SPIRIT
Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from:
The All Good Festival July 8 – 11 in Masontown, WV featuring Furthur with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Widespread Panic, Umphrey’s McGee, Yonder Mountain, Dark Star Orchestra, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Old Crow Medicine Show, George Clinton and P-Funk, Keller Williams, Railroad Earth, Dr. Dog, and dozens more with no overlapping sets. Complete information and All Good Festival tickets are available at allgoodfestival.com.
Grateful Dead Productions, announcing Crimson, White, and Indigo – the complete concert of July 7, 1989 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Multi-camera DVD with audio newly remixed in Stereo and 5.1 surround from the multitrack masters, plus three audio CDs, mastered in HDCD. Crimson, White, and Indigo is available now for pre-order on dead.net and in stores everywhere on 4/20.
British blogger interviews DG about “Life Is a Jam”
Friday, April 16th, 2010Short interview with British musician/blogger Gary Grainger about my new online single “Life Is a Jam.”
And I am still flogging these limited-edition advance CDs of the single – Three takes of the song, each with a unique jam. The band is DG, Mark Karan, Mookie Siegel, Joe Kyle, Jr., and Dave Brogan.