Latest News

Rod Moseanko wrote to me:

Chris Gaffney, lead singer and co-founder of The Hacienda Brothers has just been diagnosed with cancer. Although I was never able to get you to a live show with me, I will maintain to the end of my days that they are as hot as anyone I have ever seen on a stage.

His family and best friend, Dave Alvin, are putting out the word about having folks kick in a little help to meet his treatment costs. Even though he has health insurance, there will still be some more loose ends to cover….

To even think that the HB’s will never hit the stage together again is a sad fucking thought.

I saw the Hacienda Brothers in Nashville a while back, and while I’m not as crazy about them as Rod is, I was pretty impressed.

From the band’s web site:

The Hacienda Brothers have some sad and regrettable news to announce. Chris Gaffney, founding member and lead singer, has just been diagnosed with liver cancer. Gaffney had been recording as recently as January but was then unfortunately taken ill in February. He then began an extensive round of tests that had led to the recent discovery of the cancer. Early next month Chris will begin undergoing intensive chemotherapy in an attempt to fight the invasive cancer. Although Chris has health insurance it does not cover all of his medical costs and living expenses. In order to raise the necessary additional $60,000 a website has been set up by his family at helpgaff.com. Donation checks can also be written directly to the Chris Gaffney Recovery Fund, 403 43rd Street, Oakland CA 94609.

This summer the Hacienda Brothers will also be releasing a new CD, which was recorded just before Chris had been diagnosed with cancer. A portion of the proceeds from the CD sales will go directly to the Chris Gaffney Recovery Fund. The band is also scheduling several benefits concerts throughout the end of the year to help raise money and awareness for their ailing colleague, so please keep checking haciendabrothers.com for a complete list of shows.

To assist with raising money for our friend Chris Gaffney, please pass on the website helpgaff.com to any of your mailing lists or groups of friends. Remember any size donation is greatly appreciated. This is a very difficult time for Chris and he needs everyone’s support to pull through.

DGQ

Originally uploaded by dgans

David Grisman Quintet at the Suwannee SpringFest. Lots more photos here.

Week of March 31, 2008

Part 1 32:58
Grateful Dead, Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings
BLACK THROATED WIND
Interview: Bill Cutler
Kingfish
HOME TO DIXIE
Interview: Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler, Crossing the Line
ROCKINGHAM MILL
Interview: Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler, Crossing the Line
RIDIN’ HIGH

Part 2 23:57
Interview: Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler, Crossing the Line
ENGINE 99
Interview: Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler, Crossing the Line
SAILIN’ MAN
Interview: Bill Cutler
Bill Cutler, Crossing the Line
STARLITE JAMBOREE

This week’s GD Hour opens with a sample of the wonderful new 9-CD set Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings, announced just a couple of weeks ago. You’ll find some comments on the set in an earler blog post, here. Next week’s GD Hour will be filled with more music from the run.

The DeadNet store is carrying Bill Cutler’s long-awaited CD, Crossing the Line. Here’s an excerpt from his online bio:

Bill Cutler is a singer/songwriter, producer and manager, whose career — spanning musical styles from pop to punk — has led him to work with artists ranging from Jerry Garcia to Jewel.

A native New Yorker, Cutler first gained notice as a young songwriter in the 1960s, winning praise for his early protest songs, while performing at Greenwich Village clubs like the Gaslight Cafe and the Bitter End, where he shared the bill with folksingers Phil Ochs, Eric Andersen and David Blue.

A journey to San Francisco in 1967 for the “Summer of Love” led to an expanded view of music, and a switch from acoustic to electric guitar. Over the next few years, Bill criss-crossed the country, finally settling in Northern California. By 1970, Cutler was firmly entrenched in the Haight-Ashbury music scene, joining fellow guitarist David Rea in a new country-rock band, David Rea & Slewfoot, signed to Windfall/Columbia Records. Slewfoot’s debut album, co-produced by Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, found Cutler in the company of an all-star musical lineup, including Charles Lloyd (horns), Keith Godchaux (piano), John Kahn (bass), and Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden. Slewfoot went on to play a series of live engagements, including a memorable performance with the Sons of Champlin at the 1973 Columbia Records Convention.

Following the demise of Slewfoot, Bill began to concentrate heavily on songwriting. Several of his tunes, “Dangerous Relations” and “That Good Ol’ Harpoon Magic”, co-written with harmonica ace Matthew Kelly (Kingfish, Ratdog), were recorded for Kelly’s solo project in 1973. The album, called “A Wing and a Prayer” (Relix), also included an early rendition of Cutler’s haunting ballad “Ridin’ High”, with a Bob Weir vocal and Jerry Garcia on lead guitar. In addition to writing with Matthew, Bill provided production assistance on tracks featuring guitarist Mike Bloomfield, bluesman John Lee Hooker, New Riders Dave Torbert (bass) and David Nelson (guitar), singer Patti Cathcart (Tuck & Patti), and drummer Donny Baldwin (Garcia Band, Jefferson Starship).

Cutler continued his songwriting partnerships throughout the 70s, composing material for a number of artists, including “Home to Dixie” with Weir, Kelly and lyricist John Perry Barlow, for the debut album by Kingfish (Round Records/UA) in 1975. That same year, Bill recorded a number of his new songs with his own rock band, Heroes, with Jerry Garcia sitting in on lead guitar. Those historic tapes, now being released for the first time, contain some of Garcia’s most inspired playing during his year-long break from the Grateful Dead.

Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from:

Heart of Gold Records and Dig Music, presenting the debut self-titled release from Donna Jean and The Tricksters, featuring twelve original tracks including “All I Gotta Say”. The new CD is available in stores, digitally and online. More information and tour dates are available at donnajeanandthetricksters.com.

Fantasma Productions, presenting the Wanee Festival April 11 and 12 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. Bob Weir & Ratdog, Government Mule, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Levon Helm Band, Oteil & the Peacemakers & many more on two stages. Complete artist, ticketing and festival information can be found at waneefestival.com

Grateful Dead Productions, announcing the release of Winterland 1973: The Complete Recordings, a 9-disc set containing every note recorded at the legendary San Francisco venue on November 9, 10, and 11, 1973. Mastered in HDCD from the original 2-track reels using a state-of-the-art restoration technique, Winterland 1973 captures the post-Pigpen Dead at a creative peak on their home turf. Audio samples, historical documents, message board, and details of a limited-edition bonus disc are available now at dead.net.