Furthur Live Rehearsal Session @ Palm Ballroom, San Rafael, CA 6-1-2010

Set list

Hell In A Bucket> Cold Rain And Snow>
Mason's Children> Just A Little Light
Ashes And Glass> Ramble On Rose
Here Comes Sunshine>
He's Gone> Corrina
Tennessee Jed>
Touch Of Grey
And We Bid You Goodnight

with Sunshine Garcia Becker and Jeff Pehrson on vocals

Grateful Dead Channel host, Gary Lambert, to moderte Grateful Dead discussion in NYC

Gary Lambert, host of Sirius/XM Grateful Dead Channel, will host a discussion on the Grateful Dead as part of the band's exhibition at the New York Historical Society. The event titled "Tales of the Grateful Dead and New York," will tale place on Thursday, May 27 from 6:30-8 p.m. at New York's Society for Ethical Culture. Lambert will act as a moderator for the discussion, which will also feature radio personality Pete Fornatale, author Carol Brightman and writer/Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye. 

“The folks who put together the exhibition at the Historical Society asked me if I wanted to moderate a public program, which they put on frequently in conjunction with their exhibitions (as well as their freestanding events that are not connected to their exhibitions), on relevant matters to the Society’s mission of presenting New York history,” Lambert said in a statement. “So, I thought it would be really great to do something specific to the Dead and New York because their relationship to the city was so enduring and so important to them in terms of establishing a beachhead in the Northeast. Very early on there was a conscious strategy, which [former GD road manager] Sam Cutler mentioned in his recent book You Can’t Always get What You Want, of playing New York a lot as an anchor for all other dates they could do in the region, and the band developed a great mutual affection for the town and the fan base there. And it also occurred to me that although the Grateful Dead was uniquely a product of a certain time and place—the Bay Area in the ’60s—so much of what they did was informed by cultural forces that either originated or found their fullest expression in New York: a lot of the jazz and other avant-garde music that they chose to emulate, for example; and of course the Beat movement started in New York and migrated out west and that had a crucial impact on what those guys became. So I thought it would be great to get a bunch of smart people together and talk about that specific aspect of the Dead’s history and how and why the city took to them as it did.”

Furthur to headline Friday night at Vibes!

After months of anticipation over whether Furthur would be performing at the 15th annual Gathering of the Vibes Music Festival in July, promoters announced earlier today that the band will in fact be headlining Friday night!

Correct me if I am wrong, but I just realized that since Furthur and the Rhythm Devils are both at Vibes this year that means it will mark the first year all four remaining members of the Grateful Dead were present at the family-friendly festival since its incarnation following Jerry Garcia's death.

This is certainly going to be a Vibes to remember. Hope to see you all there!

For more inforation, visit www.gatheringofthevibes.com

Dead-family members to perform benefit concert for the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics

In the spirit of benefit concerts played by psychedelic San Francisco bands since the mid-60s, a number of musicians, including some who were integral in the original San Francisco scene, will join together to play a benefit concert for the Haigh Ashbury Free Clinics next month. The event which is billed as "a rock concert worthy of their strong musical heritage that would make their founding benefactor Bill Graham proud," will feature Moonalice, Eoin Harrington and orginal Country Joe & The Fish guitarist Barry "The Fish" Melton, including a number of addtional speical guests. The event will take place at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on June 17.

For more information, visit http://www.hafci.org/

Who will be the GOTV Friday Night 'Family' Headliner?

The 2010 Gathering of the Vibes Music Festival (July 29-Aug. 1) lineup is almost complete. One thing is missing: a Friday night "family" headliner.

GOTV will release the highly anticipated lineup addition on Saturday, May 15 at Noon. So who will be the "family" headliner for Friday night? Well, it has been hard to find any substantial rumors, but the obvious hope for all Vibe Tribers has to be Bob Weir and Phil Lesh's new band, Furthur. And it just so has it, Furthur added two new shows at the Nokia Theatre in New York City's Times Square for Wednesday, July 28 and Thursday, July 29, which would put them just a short bus ride from Bridgeport, CT - home of GOTV - for Friday, July 30. The only thing that concerns me is that Furthur announces all of their new show additions on Friday's and the announcement of the final headliner is scheduled for Saturday. But maybe I am just looking to deep into it.

My initial take was that if Furthur wasn't on the original lineup, than they weren't going to be added. But the more I look at the Furthur schedule, and the fact that Bobby or Phil have attended every Vibes over the past 14 years, leads me to believe it could happen.

What do you think. Will Furthur be the Friday night headliner at Vibes? And if not, who will it be?

Poll: Gathering of the Vibes named best value festival by Dead Beat readers

After a month long poll asking readers to choose one out of five festivals they would like to attend this summer considering the economic climate, Dead Beat readers have spoken, naming Grateful Dead themed Gathering of the Vibes (GOTV) as their top festival choice this summer.

Of the 29 Heads who cast votes in the poll, 10 (34 percent) chose GOTV as the festival they would most like to attend. The festival, which is celebrating its 15th Anniversary in 2010, is held at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT and features an array of new, jam band favorites, old school giants, unique musical collaborations, car-camping, craft vending, an on-site art gallery, kids activities, beaches and other engaging entertainment. Over the years, the festival has featured such high-profile acts as Bob Weir and Ratdog, Phil Lesh and Friends, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Les Claypool, Keller Williams, Donna Jean & the Tricksters and Dark Star Orchestra. This years line-up includes Damian Marley & Nas, Primus, Jimmy Cliff, Rhythm Devils featuring Keller Williams, Umphrey's McGee, Galactic, Jackie Greene, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Steve Kimock Crazy Engine, Dark Star Orchestra, Little Feat, The Radiators, Martin Sexton & Ryan Montbleau Band, Mix Master Mike, Deep Banana Blackout, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Assembly of Dust, Max Creek, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Zach Deputy, Harlem Gospel Choir, King For A Day, Donna Jean Godchaux, and many more TBA!

Of the remaining four festivals listed on the poll, All Good ranked second with 9 votes (31 percent), the first ever Nateva Festival finished third with 6 votes (20 percent), and Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam tied for last with two votes (6 percent) each.

While there are a number of other great festivals this summer, I chose these five festivals due to their popularity, superior line-ups and close proximity to the Northeast. I have also had the pleasure of attending each one of these festivals, except Nateva that is in its first year, and I believe the readers got it right! While GOTV has been held at a number of locations over the years, Seaside Park is a great getaway, making it feel more like a vacation than a festival with its beaches and urban setting. The line-up is still coming together, but you won't be disappointed if you make the trip to Seaside Park, July 29 - Aug. 1.

Thanks to everyone who participated. I look forward to getting your feedback on many other Dead-related issues in the near future. Thanks for reading along.

Furthur to reinterpret six Grateful Dead albums at Furthur Festival @ Mountain Aire

When Furthur first announced its intentions to hold a festival at Mountain Aire in Angels Camp, CA, there were little details released about the three-day event. Since then the band has unveiled a number of artist additions, launched a Web site soely for the festival and announced the band's intentions to perform six of the Grateful Dead's legendary albums. 

On Saturday, the band will revisit American Beauty (Set I), Workingman’s Dead (Set II) and Anthem of the Sun (Set III). On Sunday, Furthur will reinterpret Blues for Allah (Set I), Aoxomoxoa (Set II) and Terrapin Station (Set III). 

Furthur will also offer a public sound check on Friday night and members “will be jamming on several stages with some of their friends," not to mention lots of side trips like a spoken word stage that will feature some of our Grateful Dead family members and a trove of iconic Grateful Dead memorabilia, rare instruments and sound recordings.

Other Furthur Festival artists include: Electric Hot Tuna, Galactic, RatDog’s Mark Karan & Jemimah Puddleduck, The Mother Hips, Honeymoon, Carney, Maiden Lane, Blue Light River, The Waybacks and Common Rotation with Dan Bern, Jackie Greene, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams will also perform with their solo bands. 

For more information, visit Furthur Festival

Crimson, White & Indigo coming to a theatre near you

More than 20 years after the Grateful Dead performed one of its legendary concerts in front of 95,000 Heads at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, the band is celebrating the release of, Crimson, White & Indigo: Philadelphia, July 7, 1989, by showing the entire full-length concert at theatre's across the country.

Full list of locations and show dates listed below:

Philadelphia, PA
Ambler Theater
4/13/10

Gloucester, MA
Cape Ann Community Cinema
4/13/10

Rochester, NY
Little Theatre
4/15/10

New York, NY
City Winery
4/15/10, 4/16/10

Pasadena, CA
LAEM Playhouse
4/15/10, 4/17/10, 4/18/10

Los Angeles, CA
LAEM Sunset
4/15/10, 4/17/10, 4/18/10

Encino, CA
LAEM Town Center
4/15/10, 4/17/10, 4/18/10

Portland, ME
Patriot Cinemas: Nickelodeon Cinema
4/15/10, 4/18/10

Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Cinema Paradiso
4/16/10

Newport, RI
Jane Pickens Theatre
4/16/10

St. Pete's Beach, FL
Beach Theatre
4/16/10

Deland, FL.
Athens Theatre
4/16/10, 4/17/10

Washington, D.C.
Atlas Performing Arts Center
4/16/10, 4/19/10

Lake Worth, FL
Lake Worth Playhouse
4/17/10

Key West, FL
Tropic Cinema
4/17/10

Shreveport, LA
Robinson Film Center
4/17/10

Wellfleet, MA
Wellfleet Harbor Actor's Theatre
4/18/10

Bellingham, WA
Pickford Film Center
4/19/10

Cleveland, OH
Cedar Lee Theatre
4/20/10

Three Rivers, MI
Riviera Theatre
4/20/10

Oberlin, OH
Apollo Theatre
4/20/10

Telluride, CO
Michael D. Palm Theatre
4/20/10

Palm Beach, FL
Mos' Art Theater
DATE TBD

Poll: Furthur named best Dead-oriented band by Dead Beat readers

After a month long poll that asked Dead Beat readers to name the "best Dead-oriented band today," the Heads have spoken, naming Furthur as the top act.

Seventy-two Heads cast votes in the poll, and of those voters, 57 (79 percent) chose Bob Weir and Phil Lesh's band Furthur as their top choice. The Dead, a Grateful Dead spin-off band that includes all five remaining members of the legendary jam band, finished second with eight votes (11 percent), Phil Lesh and Friends received four votes (5 percent) and Bob Weir and Ratdog rounded out the poll with a lackluster three votes (4 percent).

It was not surprising to see Furthur finish as the clear winner, considering all the excitement that has surrounded the band since its recent tour. I was, however, surprised that The Dead did not fair as well, considering the band does consist of all five remaining members and they did put on one hell of a tour last spring. Phil Lesh and Friends and Bob Weir and Ratdog's recent hiatus, due to Bobby and Phil's obligations with Furthur, might have contributed to the two band's low vote count.

Thanks to everyone who participated in Dead Beat's first ever poll. I look forward to getting your feedback on many other Dead-related issues in the near future. Thanks for reading along.

Details announced for Furthur Festival @ Mountain Aire

After initially announcing its intentions to hold a festival this spring, Furthur has released advanced details concerning venue, artist lineup and activities for the first ever Furthur Festival @ Mountain Aire.

The festival is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, May 28-30, at the historic Calaveras County Fairgrounds in the Angeles Camp, CA. The event will include three days of "music, mountains and magic" on four stages. The lineup will feature two nights of Furthur, with performances by Electric Hot Tuna, Jackie Greene, Galactic, Larry Campbell & Jemimah Puddleduck, The Mother Hips, The Waybacks, Common Rotation w/ Dan Bern, Carney, Maiden Lane and Blue Light River.

There will also be plenty of other fun activities, including special late night shows (including a late-night all-star super jam on Friday), organic food and drink, special Grateful Dead memorabilia and an exhibit featuring instruments and artwork with unreleased music selected by archivist David Lemieux.

While I am sure the festival will be an event to remember, considering the beautiful location in the Sierra foothills, the lineup, aside from the two-nights of Furthur and the all-star super jam, is a little weak in the eyes of this Head. While I love Jackie Greene, Galactic and Hot Tuna, a number of other acts including The Waybacks, Carney, Maiden Lane and Blue Light River are bands most have probably never heard of and most likely won't be the deciding factor in anyone's decision of whether or not to attend the festival. But I am sure two-nights of Furthur and three days of camping in the beautiful Sierra foothills will be enough for those who are on the fence to make the trip out to Mountain Aire. If I wasn't stuck in upstate New York, you could bet I would be there.

Tickets go on sale March 22 at 9 a.m. For more information visit www.furthur.net.