Maybe we here at WTN are late to the game on this one, but it seems there has been a recent surge of full-length set and show concert videos showing up all over YouTube. For live music phreaks, this is, uh… amazing! It’s like a live music concert DVD store with free instant streaming has landed in my living room. In case you’re not sure what I’m talking about, here’s some choice examples below, enjoy phanners and happy Friday!
Note: The embedded vids below take some time to load. Be patient, it will be worth it!
Phish live in 92 from Shoreline:
Grateful Dead NYE 78′ the closing of winterland:
2/21/2003 – Peak Oxy years stuff right here:
Bisco 12/29/2010 – the standout show from last year’s NYE run w/ Sammy on drums:
Believe it or not, it’s 2012. The Grateful Dead has been an American institution for almost 50 years, longer than many people live. And it’s not just Furthur out there touring, the Dead’s music continues to live on in more bands than one could ever imagine after so many years. Here’s a sampling of what 2011 meant in Grateful Dead land, and what’s in store for 2012:
1. FURTHUR
Photo: Mary Ouellette / SoundSpike
Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s Furthur continue to tour from coast to coast, the incarnation closest to the original Grateful Dead experience. While there are haters and lovers of Furthur, all true deadheads can rejoice in seeing Bobby and Phil share the stage and make magic. To get a feel for where the band is at today, check out this show from Madison Square Garden from November 10th.
2012 Forecast: Furthur already has a spring tour booked, and will likely continue to tour at least through the end of 2012. With more Phil and Friends shows in the works and a possible Ratdog reunion tour, 2012 may be a lighter touring year than 2011.
2. 7 WALKERS
7 Walkers
If you haven’t heard the debut album or caught a show from Billy K. and Papa Mali’s ’7 Walkers’, do yourself a favor and check them out. This stripped down ensemble invented a whole new genre of Grateful Dead known to fans as ‘Swampadelica’. Their album is soulful, bluesy, fun, and a must have for deadheads. You can buy it from the official 7 Walker’s site here.
2012 Forecast: Next up for 7 Walkers is a series of shows with Steve Kimock aboard next week’s Jam Cruise. After that, look for continued dedicated attention and touring from Billy K. as well as a possible follow-up studio album.
3. MICKEY HART BAND
Mickey has put together a brand spanking new band for 2012 with a whole slew of new original songs taboot. Check out the YouTube above to see the cast of characters that Mickey has assembled. The band just recently finished up a winter tour that was pretty smoking from what I’ve heard. Let’s hope Mickey keeps this band around for a while and releases some of the great new originals they’ve composed.
2012 Forecast: Mickey and his new band already are still in the midst of a few January shows and then will likely be releasing an album of original material with a supporting tour to follow later in the year.
4. PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS
Phil Lesh reunited ‘Phil and Friends’ this year at Warren Haynes’ annual Christmas Jam. Check out the vid above of a playful China Cat Sunflower from the reunion. The Xmas Jam group featured Jackie Greene, Warren Haynes, Jeff Chimenti, Joe Russo, and of course uncle Phil himself.
This was just a preview though, Phil and Friends will be playing 3 shows in Colorado in February of 2012 with an amazing lineup of John Scofield and Warren Haynes on Guitar, Jackie Greene on Keyboard/Guitar, John ‘The Lion King’ Molo on Drums, and Phil. These shows promise to be nothing short of epic. To get a feel for what the shows might be like, check out the vid below of a very similar band featuring Warren and Sco from Mountain Jam 2007. I was at this show and it is probably my favorite P&F show ever out of many, many shows I’ve seen.
2012 Forecast: Aside from the February shows, rumors have been swirling that Phil and Friends will crank out some more shows in 2012. Expect to see some one-off or mini-runs at Phil’s new Terrapin Crossroads venue.
5. DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
DSO
DSO continues to tour relentlessly, from New York to San Francisco to Jam in The Dam and beyond, bringing unmatched energy, passion, and love for the Grateful Dead canon to ‘Starheads’ everywhere. With Jeff Mattson firmly settled into the lead role in Dark Star, fans everywhere (including myself) can’t stop singing the praises of the new frontman and the raw 60s and 70s style psychedelic guitar work he brings to the band. If you’re still a skeptic on Dark Star and think they’re just a ‘cover band’, stop fooling yourself and catch them on their upcoming tours, you will not be sorry!
2012 Forecast: DSO is sure to keep up the relentless touring in 2012. So far the band is playing the NE and SE in the winter, Jam in the Dam in March, and the West Coast in April. Expect a NE and festival tour in the summer, West Coast in late fall, and a return to the NE for NYE 2012.
Bonus Dead: As if this wasn’t enough, RATDOG is reuniting on January 25th for a special webcast show from Bob Weir’s TRI Studios venue that he launched in 2011. The golden road really does go on forever, and there’s nothing to do but smile about it.
Pre-sale tickets just went on sale for what promises to be an exciting and intimate affair at the Fox Theater in Oakland featuring Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby, alone and together. The evening will most likely feature solo sets from each artist, some duet performances, and special guests taboot. See you there!
Here’s a taste of Weir and Hornsby together at moe. Down 2011 performing Jack Straw:
To get tickets, head on over to the APE pre-sale now (pw is ‘layover’) and get your tickets while they last.
The newly revamped Rhythm Devils kicked off their 2010 tour this past weekend with a Friday show in Arcata, CA and a big Saturday showing at the NWSS at Horning’s Hideout in Oregon. The new lineup includes an all-star rhythm section of Billy, Mickey, Andy Hess (ex-Gov’t Mule) on bass, and Sikiru Adepoju on the talking drum. Rounding out the band is Keller Williams on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, along with Davy Knowles also on the ax. Check out Saturday night’s setlist and recordings below, along w/ a couple of videos that have surfaced from the first 3 shows. Lots more to come from the Rhythym Devils in 2010 including a BIG Gathervig of the Vibes headlinging spot on Saturday July 31st… Stay tuned!
Hart and Kreutzmann
The Rhythm Devils
7/17/10
Northwest String Summit
Horing’s Hideout
North Plains, OR
Setlist (1 set show):
Cumberland Blues>
Sitting on Top of the World
Friend of the Devil
Next Dimension
Bird Song
Casey Jones
Don’t Ease Me In
Ship of Fools
Jack-a-Roe
Comes Dawn
Not Fade Away
Ripple
Sorry for the delay Welcome To Now fans – the WTN tour bus is just pulling back into the station and we’ll be back tomorrow with Lots more music and fun and (of course) Phish coverage for you all. In the meantime, remember, whatever you do – Take Care Of Your Shoes, watch out for Wooks, and most importantly….
And while you wait, enjoy this vid one more time – cause we just can’t get enough of it!
Furthur continues to go a little bit Furthur than they’ve gone beore – this time by announcing even more dates to their summer/fall 2010 schedule. The newest dates are a West Coast run in September with BIG stops at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, Red Rocks, and Vegas. With the cool fall breeze blowin’ California Love all through the air, these shows are sure to be nothing short of magic. All the stops on this mini Western jaunt are as follows:
FURTHUR SEPTEMBER 2010 TOUR
9/16 Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene, OR
9/17 Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene, OR
9/18 Marymoor Amphitheater, Redmond, WA
9/20 Santa Barbara County Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA
9/21 The Hellenic Theater, Los Angeles, CA
9/22 The Joint, Las Vegas, NV
9/24 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO
9/25 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO
32 year ago today, the Dead played one of their top shows of the fine year of 1978. April 15th, 1978 found the band playing a gig at William and Mary College in Virgina. While an unexpected venue for a monumental show, that is often how it goes on tour and certainly for the Dead who had a knack for blowing the big gigs while bringing the heat at the strangest of times.
Jerry in 78'
The show features the year’s only Morning Dew and what a ‘Dew it is! This is not to be missed, Jerry lays it all on the line with in a truly heart-wrenching show of emotion and beauty. The perfect complement to the rocking Not Fade Away that preceded it, this Dew is just about perfect. This Not Fade Away -> Morning Dew sequence is the exclamation point on this smoking show, a true gem of 78.
Egypt 1978
The Grateful Dead ~ 4/15/1978 ~ William and Mary College Hall Williamsburg, VA
Set 1: Mississippi Half Step, Passenger, Friend Of The Devil, El Paso, Brown Eyed Women, Let It Grow, Deal
Set 2: Bertha-> Good Lovin’, Candyman, Sunrise-> Playin’ In The Band-> Drums-> Not Fade Away-> Morning Dew-> Around & Around,
1982 is an often overlooked year for the Dead, but it was an incredibly solid year for the band. Brent Mydland, who joined the band in 1979, was really settling in and finding his place in the tunes. Jerry’s playing was as strong as ever and his voice was aging beautifully. In his own right, Bobby was gaining steam and really starting to take his rhythm work to another level after some shaky times in the early-mid 70s.
Show Flyer - 8/10/82
To get a sense of how the band was sounding in 82′, give a listen to this wonderful recording of a summer 82′ show at the Iowa City Fieldhouse. The show is rock-solid from front to back, but some highlights include an extended and trippy Feel Like a Stranger opener, a haunting Friend of the Devil, and a unique pre-drums sequence of Lost Sailor->Saint of Circumstance->Eyes of the World. Unusual for 82′, this stand-alone Eyes (without the common Estimated Prophet precursor) is just top-notch and smoking with exciting and exploratory jamming. Other high points include a seamless Miracle->Bertha 1st set closer, and an always fun China->Rider set 2 opener. Check out the download below, it’s an absolutely sparkling Charlie Miller Matrix mix of the show – a gem for any head’s collection.
The Dead - Summer of 82'
The Grateful Dead
8/10/82
University Of Iowa Fieldhouse
Iowa City, IA
SET 1
Feel Like A Stranger
Friend of the Devil
New Minglewood Blues
Tennessee Jed
Cassidy
It Must Have Been The Roses
On The Road Again ->
BIODTL
Stagger Lee
I Need a Miracle ->
Bertha
SET 2
China Cat Sunflower ->
I Know You Rider
Lost Sailor ->
Saint Of Circumstance ->
Eyes Of The World ->
Drums ->
Space
Iko Iko ->
Truckin’ ->
Stella Blue ->
Sugar Magnolia
ENCORE
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue ->
Johnny B. Goode
Today we celebrate the one year anniversary of Welcome To Now! Founded on March 25th, 2009, WTN has been there over the past year along with all you freaks out there, sharing in the groove and digging the wonderful music taking place all across this great land. In honor of this special day, let’s look back at the 10 biggest musical moments of the past year in Jam:
1. PHISH RETURNS
Phish @ Hamtpon - 3/07/09
Phish returned to the stage in 2009, with a more than triumphant year of playing. The reunion began with a historic 3 show run at Hampton Coliseum in March. Things just got better as the year went on for The Phish – the band released a new album, ‘Joy’, and hit the road for a big 2-leg summer tour, Halloween at Festival 8 in Indio, CA, an East Coast fall tour, and New Years in Miami. All in all, 2009 was a great year to be a Phish-head!
Hampton Fluffhead
fluffhead
►
2. PHIL AND BOBBY GO FURTHUR (JOHN K. LEAVES DSO)
Lesh, Weir, and Kadlecik - Dec. 09'
Phil Lesh and Bob Weir shocked deadheads everywhere in August of 09′ when they announced their newest post-Jerry Dead project: Furthur. Unexpected to all, Phil and Bobby called on John Kadlecik, aka ‘Faux Jerry’, aka ‘The Ghost of Jerry’, DSOs long-time axe-man, to join the band. The new project laid to rest indefinitely both Phil Lesh and Friends and Ratdog, and dealt a major blow to DSO, leaving them without a front man. In the 6 months the band has been together, they’ve played a big coming out 3-show run in Oakland, a brief Northeast December tour, New Year’s run in San Fran, and a smoking Winter tour of the East Coast and Midwest. Coming up in 2010, the band will hit the stage for a Memorial Day Festival and a mini-tour of the Northeast in late June and early July.
Furthur NYE 2009 Poster
3. THE DEAD REUNITE FOR TOUR
The Dead - Spring 09'
Months before Furthur, the Core Four reunited for the first time in over 5 years for a one-off Spring Tour across the US. The boys were joined by Warren Haynes on lead guitar and vocals, and Jeff Chimenti of Ratdog on the keys. Check out a few tour highlights below for download!
The Disco Biscuits closed out a fantastic year of playing with their second Annual 5 show run at the Nokia Theater in New York City. By all accounts and from personal experience, this string of shows was top-notch and a real exclamation point on the year for the band. Check out choice downloads, videos, and news from 2009 in the Bisco Archive.
Bisco NYE Run 09 Flyer
5. PHISH FESTIVAL 8 & ROLLING STONES MUSICAL COSTUME
Phish - 10/31/09 Set 1
Phish re-launched two traditions on Halloween weekend 2009 with their first festival of Phish 3.0 along with a highly anticipated Halloween musical costume set – The Rolling Stones’ ‘Exile on Main Street’. Breaking new ground, the band also performed an intimate and picturesque acoustic set at Noon on Sunday, with complimentary donuts and coffee for phans. Truly a magical weekend, and it’s now going to be seen like never before in a full length 3D film being released April 30th. Check out this crisp video/audio stream of the Sunday acoustic set here!
6. ABB BACK WITH A VENGEANCE: BEACON, MOUNTAIN JAM, AND MORE
ABB Beacon Marquis 2009
After canceling their annual Beacon run in 2008 due to Greg Allman’s battle with Hepatitis C, the band returned in 2009 with a guest-filled 40th anniversary run at the Beacon Theater. The run included guest stops from a star-studded cast including Clapton, Lesh, Weir, Helm, Scaggs, Anastasio, and McConnell. The band kept trucking in 09′ with spring and summer festival appearances including Wanee and Mountain Jam as well as big summer and fall tours. The band just wrapped up a fantastic 9 show run at the United Palace in New York city, is sounding better than ever, and has more shows plotted for 2010 already. Check out setlist, vids, and a review of the final night at the United Palace here.
Haynes, Trucks, and Clapton - Beacon 2009
7. PHIL LESH CELEBRATES 70TH BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL PHRIENDS
Lesh, Robinson, Weir, Greene, and Kadlecik - 3/12/10
On March 12th 2010, Phil Lesh celebrated his 70th birthday (technically 3/14/10) with a big bash at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA. The evening featured a fun 3 set format complete with an opening acoustic set and 2 raucous electric sets featuring special guests from throughout Phil’s solo career including John Molo, Chris Robinson, Jackie Greene, and Steve Molitz. Give it a listen here:
Breaking with long-standing tradition, Phish played their first mainstream festival with 2 separate appearances (an extended late night set and a 2 set show) at 2009′s Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, TN. The band realized a long time dream and provided the festival’s highlight with a big collaboration with Bruce Springstreen, who also headlined the festival in 09′. The boss and the boys treated fans to a fun cover/bust-out of ‘Mustang Sally’, as well as performances of Bruce’s own songs ‘Glory Days’, and ‘Bobby Jean’. To re-live this special moment, check out this smoking video of Glory Days:
9. STRING CHEESE REUNITE FOR BIG ROTHBURY GIG
SCI @ Rothbury 2009
The String Cheese Incident reunited for a special one-off show at 2009′s Rothbury music festival. The band put on a massive spectacle of a show enhanced with massive light and art installations. The show went off with flying colors, so much so that the band has decided to tour further in 2010, with gigs at Red Rocks and beyond already announced and more in the works. To get a taste of the Cheese to come, buy the Soundboard of the Rothbury show here.
SCI at Red Rocks
10. TREY BRINGS BACK CLASSIC TAB
Markelis, Lawton, Anastasio, and Paczkowski
Having brought back the core four of his Classic Tab Band – Russ Lawton, Tony Markelis, Ray Paczkowski, and, of course, Big Red himself – in the Fall of 2008, Anastasio hit the road with a bigger-and-better Classic TAB band a few months ago in the Winter of 2010. For the tour, Trey added to the core four with a 3-piece horn section featuring TAB vets Jeffier Hartswick and Russell Reminton along with new-comer cutie Natalie Cressman. The tour was a massive success and featured some of the most enthused and passionate guitar work from Trey since Phish’s 2009 return. Check out lots of downloads, setslits, vids, and more in the TAB Winter Tour archive, enjoy!
