General discussion

Nice article on Bill Kirchen by Joel Selvin in today’s San Francisco Chronicle. Excerpt: … for the past 12 years, Kirchen has been pumping out a series of solo records featuring such songs as “Tombstone Every Mile,” “Rockabilly Funeral,” “Truck Stop at the End of the World,” “Womb to the Tomb” and “Poultry in Motion,” … Read more

Here is Chris Jones’ review of Railroad Earth‘s January 25 performance in Nottingham, adapted from a post on the eurotraders mailing list and posted here with his permission: I have to confess that I was in two minds about going – I didn’t fancy the 200 mile round trip… But I said to myself, it’ll … Read more

After playing and recording with the Shockenaw Mountain Boys, I did a house party on January 19 in Randolph NJ with mandolinist John Skehan. Here’s a photo taken by my friend Chris Jones at the Forest Tavern, Nottingham on January 25 during Railroad Earth‘s (the Shockenaw Boys’ “day job”) UK tour: And here is one … Read more

I went to New Jersey to do some recording with Tim Carbone, Andy Goessling, John Skehan and Johnny Grubb of Railroad Earth. This quartet also perform as the Shockenaw Mountain Boys. And what fun we had! We rehearsed for a day, did a radio show, and then played two live gigs before heading into the … Read more

Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen at the Hollywood Bowl 7/21/74 See that Fender Telecaster that Bill Kirchen (center) is playing? That, my friends, is the Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods – and that’s the title of Bill’s new CD. A true guitar hero.

Bob Minkin has been photographing musical events, and specializing in Dead-related events, for thirty years. He’s also been doing the graphic design on Dick’s Picks and other GD products for several years. A thirty-year retrospective exhibition will show at the California Closets Gallery from February 1 through April 30. The gallery is located at 610-A … Read more

I attended both days of the American Beauty Project in NYC (January 20-21), and I enjoyed the event immensely. The place was mobbed both nights, and musical ecstasy was much in evidence both onstage and in the green room. Lots of excellent musicians hanging out, sharing ideas, working up new arrangements. Here’s an excerpt from … Read more

I just posted some photos of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, and Maria Muldaur w/ John Kahn, in front of the Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound at the Hollywood Bowl 7/21/74. Poke around my flickr site and you’ll also see three images from The Last Waltz.

Links to this video clip just started popping up all over the place. It includes footage of the GD at Chateau D’Herouville on July 24, 1971, plus a clip of the Jefferson Airplane at Altamont (12/6/69) from the film Gimme Shelter, etc.