Give You That Friday Feeling!

Don't really have anything to say here.

I'm happy it's Friday. I'll be catching the 3rd and final Phish show tonight at MSG.

The first night was incredible.
The second night was jammed the F out.
...the rest lies only a few hours away.

Enjoy this great clip of the Grateful Dead performing, "New Speedway Boogie"
I believe this is during the Festival Express.

NOTE: this song will make you feel like a bad ass. Seriously, listen to it as you walk through a crowded city...see that it don't put a little bad ass in your step.



(OK i really only wrote this post because I wanted to say "bad ass"..it's a fun couple of words)

Garcia Rips the Banjo

Stumbled across this great rehearsal session with Jerry on banjo.

I was looking for a live version of him and Grisman performing 'Shady Grove' couldn't on YouTube thoguh. Anyone know if such a thing exists?! Hit me up!

RatDog & Friends? Another GD spinoff with a twist

Anyone who has went to http://www.phillesh.net recently has surely been hit with a big surprise.

Apparently, there is a new band on the loose dubbed, "Further"



The members include: Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Jeff Chimenti, John Kadlecik, Jay Lane, Joe Russo.

Did I just hear you say WOW? I know I at least heard you gasp...

Apparently any tension between the original boys Bobby and Phil has been ironed out and they are joined by an array of talented musicians, clearly familiar with the work of the Dead. Chimenti being keyboardist for The Dead and RatDog ~ Kadlecik, guitar/vocals for arguably the most popular GD cover band, Dark Star Orchestra ~ Jay Lane, founding member of Primus, currently in the RatDog lineup ~ and of course we have Joe Russo...half of the Benevento/Russo Duo.

Only shows announced thus far is a 3 night run in September at Oakland, CA's "Fox Theater."

Hopefully this expands into a full fledged tour, albeit one MUCH BETTER than this years, "The Dead" tour which I haven't heard a single really good thing about.

What this means for Benevento/Russo Duo and the other projects remains to be seen...

Levon Helm Is Grateful

Levon Helm is best known as the drummer for the legendary rock group, The Band.

The man needs no introduction. In fact I saw him at Mountain Jam in 2008 and he completely stoked the crowd playing old classics along with new hits off his 2007 album, "Dirt Farmer".

At the end of June 2009, he released another fantastic album, "Electric Dirt".

The first track off this album is a cover of the song, "Tennessee Jed" made popular by the 'greatest band in the land', The Grateful Dead.

Levon's version of this track hits the mark with grace and class. A tribute to the other great musical pioneers of his time, while adding a touch of his own genius in all the right places.

David Letterman had Levon on his Late Show at the end of last week and what track do you suppose he chose to play? You guessed it...I hope:


(...and how sweet is that album cover? Very Terrapin Station-y if I do say so myself.)