Here is the latest news from David Gans, producer and host of the Grateful Dead Hour.
Changes at DeadNet
I’m in New Jersey mixing a CD this week, and I found out about this change Monday morning, the same time everyone else did. I don’t have a lot of information at the moment, and it’s not my place to make a public statement about it in any case, but I can assure you it’s a good deal more complicated than it might appear. I’ve been working with these people at Rhino and the new DeadNet for several months, and I believe they have great respect for the music and the community. It hurts me to read the violent and venomous posts I’ve seen from some people in these pages, although I can understand why folks are upset. I agree that it’s a bummer the change was made abruptly and without explanation, but I trust that there is a reasonable explanation and we’ll hear it soon.
Grateful Dead Hour #987
Week of August 20, 2007
Part 1 16:49
Hot Buttered Rum, Live in the Northeast
CUMBERLAND BLUES
Steep Canyon Rangers, Lovin’ Pretty Women
DON’T EASE ME IN
The Byrds, Never Before
I KNOW MY RIDER (I Know You, Rider)
The Derailers, Under the Influence of Buck
JOHNNY B. GOODE
Part 2 38:36
Grateful Dead 3/9/81 Madison Square Garden, New York City
ESTIMATED PROPHET->
UNCLE JOHN’S BAND->
DRUMS
Continuing with the much-requested recording of the Dead’s 3/9/81 performance at Madison Square Garden.
The first part of the show is a selection of interesting items that have crossed my desk recently:
The Derailers‘ web site quotes NPR: “Hangdog honky-tonk at its best.” The new CD is the Austin band’s tribute to Buck Owens.
I’ve heard the Steep Canyon Rangers live at the Suwannee SpringFest a few times and always enjoyed their brand of bluegrass. They credit the Grateful Dead for the arrangement of “Don’t Ease Me In” on this new CD.
The Byrds‘ Never Before isn’t a new CD, but I ran across the disc during one of my recent attempts to excavate the mess that is my studio and remembered that I’ve been meaning to air their early-’60s take on “Rider” for quite some time. Never Before, released in 1987, is a compilation of very early recordings by the ground-breaking LA folk-rock band. There are two excellent books, both by Richie Unterberger, that take Byrds records as their titles and cover the history of folk-rock: Turn! Turn! Turn! The 1960s Folk-Rock Revolution and Eight Miles High: Folk-Rock’s Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock. The importance of the Byrds in the history of psychedelic music can’t be overstated – and of course, David Crosby has been a friend of the Dead for just ever. If you’ve never heard his solo album If I Could Only Remember My Name, you oughta get it now. Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, and Bill Kreutzmann perform magnificently on several tracks.
Hot Buttered Rum is a northern California string band noted for touring in a biodiesel bus and for what they call “a high-altitude acoustic experience.” I’ve been a fan for several years, and I’ve been happy to see their fortunes rise on the national scene. Live in the Northeast is the band’s most recent release, and if you’ve never heard them before, an excellent introduction to their sound.
Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from Camp Zoe in Southern Missouri, presenting the Schwagstock festivals held year round and headlined by the Grateful Dead tribute act The Schwag. Camp Zoe features shaded camping, river floating, swimming beaches, hiking, and more, and has presented such acts as Keller Williams, String Cheese Incident, George Clinton, Hot Tuna and dozens of nationally touring bands.
Recording studio diary – August 2007
Recording at Mix-O-Lydian Studio in Lafayette, New Jersey, with Tim Carbone producing and other members of Railroad Earth in the band. Don Sternecker is the owner and engineer.
Eric Rawlins and I had the experience a decade ago of having our songs turned into a record (Home By Morning) by a talented group of players, producer and engineer. Same deal for me this time, only better because I am ten years farther along as a player, singer, and songwriter. Plus this producer, Tim Carbone (violinist of Railroad Earth) is tapped into a network of phenomenal players, and he and I see eye to eye on the nature of the mission. He’s making into me a better player, a better singer, and a better songwriter. We’re recording a number of songs that have only ever been played by me, solo, with my loop accompaniment; to hear those grooves and changes played by great musicians is a profound and thrilling experience. They’re taking these songs exactly where I wanted them to go.
Grateful Dead Hour #986
Week of August 13, 2007
Part 1 33:31
Grateful Dead 3/9/81 Madison Square Garden, New York City
CHINA CAT SUNFLOWER->
I KNOW YOU RIDER
SAMSON AND DELILAH
SHIP OF FOOLS
Part 2 21:24
New Riders of the Purple Sage
DIRTY BUSINESS
GARDEN OF EDEN
LAST LONELY EAGLE
Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from Camp Zoe in Southern Missouri, presenting the Schwagstock festivals held year round and headlined by the Grateful Dead tribute act The Schwag. Camp Zoe features shaded camping, river floating, swimming beaches, hiking, and more, and has presented such acts as Keller Williams, String Cheese Incident, George Clinton, Hot Tuna and dozens of nationally touring bands.
Gathering of the Vibes
The Gathering of the Vibes at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Here’s Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay singing “Cassidy” with Dark Star Orchestra.
More photos on my flickr page.