1. Warren Haynes: “I am a Jamband whore; and I couldn’t be happier.”

Warren

Well, he didn’t exactly use those words, but Warren said about as much in a Billboard article out today. The man is having his busiest year to date with big tours going on with The Dead (Spring Tour 2009), The Allman Brothers (Beacon Run and Summer/Fall tour w/ WSP), and his own Gov’t Mule project (touring on and off throughout the year). Warren also talks about the new Gov’t Mule album out soon and the solo disc he recorded this year with George Porter, Jr., Ivan Neville, Ian McLagan, Ron Holloway. Always a rumor monger, let me also point out that Warren says that “he’s confident the Dead is going to do some more”, especially with the group’s 45th anniversary in 2010. You may be a whore Warren, but we love you.

2. Animal Collective sample the Dead’s ‘Unbroken Chain’ in new track

Phil

News broke today via a Tweet that self-proclaimed Deadheads Animal Collective have been granted the rights to legally sample the Grateful Dead’s classic PhilZone Epic ‘Unbroken Chain’ in a new track the band is working on. You can listen to an unreleased version of the song here (Phil vocal loop comes in near the end).

3. Mike Gordon announces September tour; gets bad haircut

Mike

Mike announced today via a creepy video that he’ll be taking to the road in September with his solo band featuring shred-tastic Scott Murawski on guitar, Brooklyn drummer Todd Isler, keyboardist Tom Cleary, and percussionist Craig Myers. Let’s just hope he leaves that Joker costume from the video (see right) at home – that thing is down right scary.

4. Phish continue Halloween festival map mystery

The Map - 7/17/09

Phish blacked-out more states on their Halloween festival map today (see right). Only 13 states now remain including Texas, Florida, and Nevada. That said, all the real phans know that the festival is still doing down in Indio, CA. Expect the announcment to drop before the band’s upcoming Red Rocks dates and Summer Tour Leg 2, likely this Monday coming up.