Latest News

Here is the latest news from David Gans, producer and host of the Grateful Dead Hour.

“Forty Years So Far”

Here is the poem that Laura Slusher gave to me last night. I read it on the air. Forty Years So Far (dedicated to David Gans) by Laura Slusher December 7, 2011 This personal story of love and true fun Goes back to 1971. That’s when my long, strange trip was begun. Didn’t dream it would be a forty-year run. I hadn’t yet heard, even late in November, Of the “family” of which I’d soon be a member. My life was to change on the seventh of December: With love, light, and songs I clearly remember! Before school it was dark out, and I’d hated to get out of bed. But hate changed to love in the afternoon, when my friend approached me and said, “Guess who’s playing tonight at Felt Forum: New Riders and then Grateful Dead. Life is too short to do homework, let’s go to the city instead.” There was little to lose so we hopped on a train, We got off at Penn Station, into cold wind and rain. The show had sold out, staying there seemed insane. But by rushing back home we had nothing to gain. Each time I yelled, “I need a ticket,” inside I would grumble and cuss. Hours later, a man in a trench coat made the following offer to us, “Gimme ten for each five-fifty ticket, and tonight you’ll see what’s all the fuss.” I sat in the 12th row for the 6-hour show, and claimed a permanent seat on the bus. Went to surprise shows like Gaelic Park, and to shows of great renown Like the huge and legendary Watkins Glen and exhausting Englishtown, Then came west for Winterland’s last, and settled in Oakland, the jewel in the crown. Where the music never stopped, until tragically, I heard the bus broke down. In the morning on the ninth day of August in 1995. A friend called my office to tell me Garcia was no longer alive. I thought no more Dead, no more joy, didn’t think any of us would survive. But the music was in us, and much was done toward helping the Dead culture thrive. I’m grateful for all the hearts and souls, the work of many hands, The faith and Deadication of musicians, technicians, and fans. For keeping the bus wheels turning, the credit is not just one man’s, But I dedicate my poem to just one, and his name is David Gans. For my 40th GD anniversary, I decided that a very good way To acknowledge the special event in a valuable, meaningful way Was to donate forty dollars to listener-sponsored KPFA. And please note, it’s in David’s honor that I make this pledge today.
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A sweet end to a wonderful day

I walked into the phone room a few minutes ago and saw the name of an old friend on a pledge card that was being filled out by my friend Robert. It’s Frank Kracher, who I met in 1985 when he was a reporter for Channel 7 News in San Francisco. He’s in Asheville NC now, still a reporter (and weekend anchor). Robert handed me the phone and I caught up with Frank after not having spoken with him for a couple of years.

Its been that kind of day here. So many friends trooped through this Marathon, in person and on the phone and in the chat room and in email and in the online pledge messages – and via an internet audio stream! So sweet, and such a good result for KPFA: we raised more than $25,000 today. Thanks to all my friends, and to the friends I haven’t yet met, for making this a true EVERYBODY WINS event.

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KPFA marathon, new band, new music, upcoming gigs

Good day, friends!

I have two urgent items for your immediate attention, and some news about my musical plans for the year.

First, tomorrow (Saturday, February 4) is the annual KPFA Grateful Dead marathon! I’ll be on the air from 9 am until 1 am Pacific time, and the program will be webcast via KPFA, nugs.net, and gdradio.net – please spread the word! And I hope you’ll make a donation some time during the day. You can do that online at kpfa.org or call 510-848-5732 or 1-800-439-5732.

Plenty more info (and a photo of the wonderful t-shirt that Papa Lindsey made for us, plus a list of the fine thank-you gifts we’re offering) here.

We’ll have a live performance from The Fall Risk at around 2pm, and the David Nelson Band will join us from The Big Island at around 6:30pm. The rest of the day will be filled with rare musical treats by the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia; I’ve been working on this for quite a while and I have some wonderful gems to share.

Saturday, February 4, 9 am to 1 am: the annual KPFA Grateful Dead fund-raising marathon. Webcast all over! More info here

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The second action item has to do with a swell new band, the Sycamore Slough String Band. This is an acoustic quartet doing Grateful Dead-ish music, with Bay Area bluegrass luminary David Thom on mandolin, “Fiddle Dave” Muhlethaler, and Roger Sideman on bass. We had our first two rehearsals in a recording studio, and we came away with enough presentable material for two CDs (more on that later). We emerged form that session with a video clip of my new arrangement of “New Speedway Boogie,” and we’ve entered it in the Dead Covers Project. Please take a look at the clip on YouTube and hit the “like” button if you’re so inclined – it’ll help us get noticed. You can also find us on Facebook and you’ll see our first two gigs in the listing below.
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Oh, one more thing! I have TWO new releases on Festivalink and Livedownloads – a solo show recorded 3/26/11 at Rollinsville CO and a studio recording with my pal Eric Rawlins titled Desert Wind, Rollin’ River. You’ll find information and links to both downloads sites at dgans.com/discography/ . Both recordings as available on CD from either vendor, and they’re also on iTunes.
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I will have a couple of new festival appearances to announce very soon.

THE SCHEDULE:

Friday, February 10: House concert in Placitas NM. Email me for info.
Saturday, February 11: Top Dead Center and DG at Low Spirits, 2823 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque NM. 505-344-9555. https://www.lowspiritslive.com
Sunday, February 12: House concert in Flagstaff, Arizona. Potluck dinner at 4, music at 6. Email me for details/reservations.
Monday, February 13: Normal Bean, DG, and Top Dead Center at the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St., Tucson AZ. Tickets: $10 for Rialto and KXCI members, $12 general public (and at the door)

Thursday, February 23, 8pm:: Sycamore Slough String Band at Murphy’s Pub, 464 First St. East, Sonoma CA. 707.935.0660

Wednesday, April 18, 8pm: Sycamore Slough String Band at Iron Springs Pub and Brewery, 765 Center Blvd, Fairfax CA. No cover!

July 4-7: Grateful Fest at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, Nelson/Garrettsville OH

July 19-22, 2012: Gathering of the Vibes, Bridgeport CT.

August 17-18: A Bear’s Picnic, Laurelton PA

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My performance schedule is posted at dgans.com/gigs.html – new gigs are being added all the time.

As always, I’m in the market for house concert opportunities. If you see an open spot on my schedule in your general vicinity, let’s try to make something happen! And remember: word of mouth is a gigantic part of musicians’ promotion and publicity these days, so if you like my music, please spread the word about my gigs and recordings.

My recordings are available at https://www.dgans.com/discography/

If you want to be removed from this list, please send email to david@trufun.com and I’ll take care of it ASAP.

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