May 77 - Grateful Dead - Box Set

This is the first time, that I ever had the privilege to review a full Grateful Dead Box Set, very special, since it is one of my favorite years of the Dead,1977. This set is done up very luxuriously, both the music and the Box itself, music is two track recording done by Dead recording engineer, Betty Cantor, she recorded it on a stereo reel to reel tape machine. The music was then mastered by Jeff Norman.



There are five shows here, May 11, St Paul, Minn. May 12 and 13 at Chicago Illinois, then May 15 at St Louis ,Mo. then finally at Tusc, Alabama on May 17 at University of Alabama Basketball Gym, which is a bit unusual, since they had never done a show in Alabama, but it is a very good show, and the football team was helping the sound crew set up their sound system in the gym.



All of the music is mastered down to HDCD, which really sounds good , especially if your CD player decodes HDCD. Still, the sound quality is excellent throughout the recordings. By the Way ,there are still around 2500 box sets out of the original 15,000 sets left. The recording quality is really especially good in these concerts, Rhino Records puts out a good product. I skipped around the first time thru these concerts, I'm listening to the last show recorded at the University of Alabama now, really a creative show. They have cut back on gear since the last huge tour in 74 "the Wall of Sound" tour. The quality is just as good or better, they learned from that that tour, you do not need all of that gear. The stereo spread and eq are perfect on most shows, this is one of the most audiophile recordings, that the Grateful Dead have ever put out. They so some of the same songs every show, but there is a good mix of songs. As the band goes on thru the tour, they are tight as ever, but you really pick up a sense of joy from their performance. They really had picked up a lot of discipline working with Keith Olsen on their last Album "Terrapin Station". I think the icing on the cake on this recording was the incredible singing of Donna Godchaux on this tour. She is right on her game.



www.dead.net

The Best Grateful Dead Tribute Band

There is a band that plays music as sweet as the Dead ever did. The same songs,having Bob Weir and Phil Lesh as members truly helps, they were afraid to get a guitarist that sounded anything like Garcia in the Band they called the Dead, they had Warren Haynes, but it just didn't sound quite right, but with John Kadlecik from DSO in between Bobby and Phil, things are as good or better than ever ,so the band "Furthur" has taken the concept of the Dead Furthur down the Road. There are times when this band makes you smile like in times past, they are tighter than ever, the communication between players is eery, after I watched their 4 night run at Sweetwater Music Hall in Marin County, I was blown away , especially at the playing of Kadlecik who's guitar playing is so melodic, with a tone and phrasings very similar to his mentor Garcia. On 1/18/13 at Sweetwater Music Hall they start out with "Jack Straw" done to perfection, with ace keyboard player Jeff Chimenti playing some honky tonk piano on his keyboard. They also have a male and female back up vocal unit that makes the harmonies as good as ever. They do songs that the Dead themselves never did while on the road. The second song on the eighteenth, Kadlecik sang "Reuben and Cherise" from Garcia's favorite solo album "Cats Down Under The Stars" which then goes into "Me and My Uncle" and then "Big River", where Kadlecik plays an incredible solo, sounding like a pedal steel at times. Than they do "Pride Of Cucamonga" where Kadlecik does some more mastery. Jeff Chimenti is a super talented keyboard player as Joe Russo is also a great drummer, both with a heavy jazz background. Kadlecik counts off "Built to Last" and they go into a version that sounds very much like the original Grateful Dead. Just an update on what this growing group has been up to, and it looks like a pretty full year of touring for them. Enjoy!!! www.Furthur.net

Welcome to the Country, country pedals

Country music that is. Compressors are big in the country scene.

Part 3 or Discs 3 + 4 of Europe 72 Olympia ,Paris Show - Review by Steve Seachrist

Disc Three

1. Truckin'

Bob repeats the Number-One-in-Turlock bit and the band plays like they are playing a

hit single. It’s a typical daydream in most ways. It’s nice that the verses and choruses

are remembered, lyric-wise. It helps with the credibility. I’m buying this version. We

arrive at the last verse unscathed but for Jerry’s awesome and unpredictable fills. Bones

are patched and we are on our way home. Jer winds up and bursts into a series of rock

figures before heading out on a more esoteric excursion. Pig backs him up admirably

with good jams on the Hammond. Before 7:30 we are certainly setting up for that repriseof the last verse, and that happens from a whisper to a scream within its short lifetime.The jam after this is short and rocky. It is fully flavored with the taste of the main song rather than any other side trip. This very suddenly drops into something that promises to

become…

2. The Other One

Why on Earth the top of this CD track did not rate the “Jam” title (like 4/16 did) is way

beyond my pay scale. We basically land here on a desolate other world, dust our only

friend. This could make you cry if you did not know that rescue was imminent. Each of

the principals (minus Pigpen) carry on making all manner of rackets for several minutes.I really love these nebulous jams where searching is more important than finding. Jerry bows out near 4:45 and the others carry on beautifully without him. Bob strikes some really odd chords here. Jer comes tweedling back in a minute later, then he pushes out some volume-knob swells. This soon gets more aggressive, sparking Keith to make his own noise for a bit. At around 6:45 Phil makes several runs at the opening, but no one takes him up on any of them. More than a minute later, he pokes at it again and ever-so slowly everyone gets on board, but not all at once. In fact, they back off again, teasing us mercilessly with the entrance to the song proper. Phil rumbles through variations on his opening, now obviously just toying with it as the jam turns unpredictable corners again and again. The way this version blossoms is completely amazing. By 11:30 there is still tension even though a very high near-climax is reached. They back off yet again, setting up a little jam that Bob leads, again sans Jerry. Pig chimes in on organ and everyone except Jer comes to the table with the theme. Still no Garcia, they build it to its true structure and then the lead guitar finally warbles back into existence. Here the song has come around to its freakish form. It wails and wails here, all hands very much on deck. Parisian minds are being cracked open like oeufs. There is a slight cooling before Weir comes in with the verse. Pigpen is very active here and the backing vocals sound amazing. Piano leads the way out. Very quickly, the band leaves, and the only sound to be heard comes from the…

3. Drums

Billy displays his plentiful talents by knocking around on the trap kit for a few minutes.

It sounds like he has the snares turned off as he moves around the various three drums at hand. His right foot doesn’t do much but his left taps quietly on the high-hat pedal. His rolls are impeccable. A couple of minutes in, we can hear where this might go. Bill does a cool thing by pushing down on a drum head with one stick while hitting the drum with the other, then slowly releasing the hold, forming a change in tone kind of like a talking drum. We hear Phil warming up the bass as the track marker clicks over to one called…

4. The Other One

The top of this is a bass and drum solo, so I don’t know why it did not get a separate

title. Phil is front-and-center for almost two minutes before he plays the actual riff and

the band joins all at once. Jerry leads the jam into areas one would expect here but Bob

gets in some really tasty and unusual chording around 3:30. Soon after that both the hot

and cool dynamics of the song are displayed in turn. As space allows, more piano comes forward. The mood swings from bright to cloudy near 6:15 and it seems we will arrive at a verse soon. Before that can happen, a complete breakdown is called and Garcia works reverbed figures over slow, growling chords by Lesh. Next, Jerry clicks on the wah and dials it way back to a muted tone as he mimics demons. Phil and Bob are two ends of  the accompanying spectrum – one rumbling deep and the other strumming bright and squealing feedback. Jerry gets a grip on some pinch harmonics and lets them wail loudly. This is a fantastic little space jam. As its fruits dry on the vine, Bobby takes a chance on strumming the entrance to…

5. Me and Bobby McGee

Great song placement! As the cowboy ballads have been appearing in the midst of the

big jams, this one works just as well. It feels like relief. Groove, vocal harmonies, and a

catchy melody all come together as an antidote to the preceding madness. Pigpen warms the underpinning with organ as Jerry plays a perfect solo. The following verse is the one where Bobby McGee gets away and our singer wistfully regrets losing her. Wow, this is wonderful. The song builds to the wordless last verse and all cylinders are firing perfectly. Hear the guitar fills and piano embellishments. The cute last chord changes land kind of unexpectedly back on the still-unfinished…

6. The Other One

Oh, yes. We will hear a second verse soon, I can feel it right at the top as Garcia makes

no bones about playing the theme. The momentum is undeniable and the song moves

forward with that goal in mind. In less than two minutes, we are set up and Bob sings the one about Cowboy Neal. Note that it is Weir who plays those final guitar figures ending it and leaving an opening for Garcia to start…

7. Wharf Rat

I’ve really been enjoying the versions of this song from this tour. On this one, Weir rings some chiming chords in the first verse. Garcia sings it mildly at first, without as much conviction as I expected. He sounds a tad distracted, maybe. I think I detect some out of- tuneness in the guitar department and perhaps this is killing him. The song breaks down into its bridge and it becomes ever so delicate here. Bad things could happen. They don’t – the protagonist proclaims he will get up and fly away, and the song follows this sentiment. It lifts off and sails on. But it is still a bit of a struggle here. Nothing awful occurs, it’s just that the stars are not quite aligned. More barely off-color tones emanate from Weir at times when he could have been brought down somewhat in the mix to minimize this. Garcia decides to make the best of it and he gets busy with some colorful guitar work. The band jams out the ending only for a minute or so and lets the greater jam finally die here.

Disc Four

1.Jack Straw

I am dying to hear this. All previous versions have had Weir singing the verses instead

of alternating with Garcia as he had on the original

Europe ’72 album. So, was the

alternating idea something that came about in the field, or back at the ranch during

overdubbing sessions? Now we will find out (maybe).

Yup, the opening sounds precisely like the official version from all those years ago. But

then again so do these vocals, so I am guessing these are the overdubbed ones. Do I hear a ghost Weir voice during the Garcia parts? Maybe. We’ll know more after we hear the version from the next show. I’m really tempted to go straight there now, but I’ll wait. Even so, I’m pretty sure we just have a re-mix of the parts you’ve already heard a million times. It’s drier and more live sounding, for sure. It wraps up exactly like you knew it would. Great version. Weir says he wants to hear a pin drop and a crowd member yells something in English about California.

2. Sugar Magnolia

The band responds with this. It is a picture-perfect version, sung expertly by an audibly

hoarse Bob Weir. The verses are tight and rocking. Once they are dispensed with, Weir

quietly requests “rock-n-roll” and the band obliges. They set up the song-ending groove

and Garcia lets the changes go around a few times before chiming in with a lead. And

what a lead it is. He quotes familiar riffs and also goes somewhat sideways with these.

Unfortunately the false ending is a premature little wreck. Oh, well. They burst into

the coda with such force that the transgression is instantly forgotten and this is where

Weir earns his keep. The end is a scream fest and Garcia is so turned on that he begins

cranking immediately on…

3. Not Fade Away

Jerry’s gonna tell us how it’s gonna be. He sets a fast pace, Pigpen and the others climb

aboard and the song rocks hard. And by hard I mean very hard. The singing is yelling

and the playing is wailing. Stuff cools nicely after two choruses and Garcia takes the

opportunity to play some nice patterns. I am halfway expecting a familiar melody to

come forward (like “Mountain Jam” or something) but that does not occur. Instead, the

band jams on that one chord for a good while and Jer delights in playing over it. When it mellows sufficiently he begins working the riff for…

4. Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad

As the singing starts, Donna is onstage and the boys share vocal duties with her. Check

out Pigpen’s swirling Hammond here. Nice addition. The first guitar solo is fantastic in

its studied restraint. Donna lets out a yelp to celebrate and Jerry busts right into the next

verse with audible joy in his voice. Dig this! Another solo, why not? This one pushes

harder and includes some of the fastest little licks I’ve ever heard Garcia pull off. Don’t

miss this. Back to choruses and they of course build and build, with the not-bashful

Donna Godchaux adding interpretive screams. The breakdown lands on the “Bid You

Goodnight” changes which Jerry decides to double up on at the last split-second. Then

those quiet two chords are but a fakeout as we of course explode back into…

5.Not Fade Away

Hear Keith at the top of this, adding bluesy greatness. Then Pig gives us a taste too

before he jumps forward to join Bob on the vocal tradeoffs. This ending segment is one

for the ages. It cements my opinion that this whole show is near the top of the list for the tour.

6. One More Saturday Night

As the two guitars play the intro in harmony, Bob somehow also manages to mention

that this song is the new single and he suggests that the French audience go out and buy

it. Could they find it? Who knows? At least they got to hear it live. The version has a

lot of charm but it is not as together as some. Jerry makes up for some of that by playing fantastic, noisy licks near the end of the first solo. Bob comes back strong with a couple more verses. His voice is ragged and also right. More harmony guitar leads to the fun key changes in the bridge, which of course climb right back to the final choruses. It’s a raucous way to end a show that will remain one of my favorites from any time. The last chord is beaten to a bloody pulp and the crowd goes bonkers.

DeadViDs- All Dead

"Europe 72" - Volume Two - Review

I have had this set for about a week and I go back and forth on it. I loved "Europe 72" ,it turned me on to the Dead, back in the day. I have the '03 Rhino remastering of it, as I have gone from 2 sets of LPs in the Seventies, to a Cassette version, then to 2 versions on Compact Disc, the original in '91 and also the remaster by Rhino (which is done in HDCD),which I love , both CD versions are very good, but Rhinos' really opens it up and you can just hear everything in the recording,also,it is tonally exquisite.

  This Volume Two was a great idea, but I find the sound quality a bit disappointing at times, especially for Rhino, but most people who are used to mp3s will not notice anything, Digital recording has set new standards for what and how folk listen to stuff. There is some distortion in places, I find listening to it on a regular CD Deck as opposed to a HDCD deck makes it sound better. There are some very good performances on here, a great version of "Greatest Story Ever Told", an inspiring "Sing Me Back Home" (Haggard) with some pretty harmonies on it, even Donna Jean sounds good on this song. I find that Disc Two has a deeper tonal quality to it. Also it ends with a very good rendering of "Not Fade Away- Going Down the Road Feeling Bad". This is a good companion for the original Europe 72, no songs repeated. It is culled from the 73 disc remix/remaster of the whole Spring Grateful Dead Tour, which covers 22 shows, in 73 Discs. I have not heard any of those, so hopefully there are no sound problems with that box set which you can still get from dead.net for $450.  

www.dead.net

Interview With Dennis McNally, About New Europe 72 Box Set

 This is a short interview I did through an e-mail conversation with Dennis McNally, longtime publicist and historian for the Grateful Dead, some info from his view about the highly anticipated release of the Europe 72 Box Set, which is easily the Group's biggest undertaking, containing 22 full shows performed on the Europe 72 Tour, in a format of 73 HDCD CDs, with the first 7,200 versions in a fancy trunk with extras and personalization's and the rest after that are music only, the 73 CDs in Digipak packaging. Also, there is being released a Europe 72 -Part 2, which contains songs not on the original Album.


1. Dennis,your book about the Grateful Dead is the one I go to when I want to find something out, it's like the
textbook of The Grateful Dead, you were there, as publicist alot and also as Historian, moreover, you were there, from the beginning. How excited are you about this release of the Whole Europe 72 Tour, Twenty Two Shows, Seventy Three CDs?

It's unquestionably, overall, the best tour in the band's history.  And of course it was recorded in 16 track, so now what you're going to hear is the best possible version... so yes, I'm excited/impressed/very pleased that Rhino pulled the trigger on this.

2. This original 3 record set of "Europe 72" turned myself and many others on to the Grateful Dead. Back Then, Did the Organization think that this recording which they had put so much into would turn out to be as big and influential as it  was?

  By the time of Europe '72, the band had already put out six albums.  Though Workingman's Dead and American Beauty had done well, their overall experience with the record business had been mostly a little disappointing, even though they recognized that Warner Bros. had actually treated them pretty well.  So, no, I doubt very much that they had any wild expectations of the results of Europe '72.

3. Just to keep this short, any special memory of the tour, that you would like to share?

 I'm lazy - I'm going to give you the story as I wrote it in the book....


"It was during their second and last night in Paris that the most hilarious adventure of the tour began.  A young Frenchman approached the band at the theater and began arguing about their lack of political consciousness.  To Kreutzmann, it seemed "obvious he wanted free tickets."  They put him off, and he moved his harangue to Cutler and Rex Jackson, getting no satisfaction.  When everyone returned to the hotel, he took up a position in front, bracing every member of the tour party as they came in or out. He was wearing a velvet jacket, which caught their eye, and when they eventually concluded he'd become a bore, Rex dumped ice cream on the jacket he was so proud of, and the Dead all had a good laugh and went to bed.  While they slept, Monsieur la Politiquehad his revenge, introducing a foreign substance into the equipment truck's gas tank.
         The next day they were scheduled to play Lille, a very political college town.  The buses and one truck arrived, their equipment truck did not.  No amps,no show.  The promoter was not able to offer instant refunds -- according to some memories, he was unable to offer refunds at all.  Sensing trouble,the streetwise Garcia decided that honor did not require going to the hall, and along with Kreutzmann, elected to stay at the hotel.  "You guys are nuts" was his analysis.  Phil and Bobby went out on the stage and talked to the audience, but "Pasde musique" was about the best they could muster, even after Weir's five years of high school French. "It quickly became my job to explain to a crowd of irate Frenchmen just exactly this -- no show tonight, sorry about that.  I got three or four sentences off before the crowd became very surly."
         Ushered offstage into the dressing room, Lesh, Weir, Rosie, and a few others suddenly realized they were in deep shit. The audience was furious, convinced of American perfidy, and though no one was thinking in terms of death, Weir thought "they woulda thumped us good and proper."   The door to the dressing room had a window, and they covered it with newspapers and considered their options.  Other than being thumped, there was only one: climb down the drainpipe to the top of the truck, jump down on the hood,then to the ground, and run run run for the bus, which was waiting with the engine idling.  The furious Frenchmen began to pound on the door, and as the hinges started to creak, Dead family members began going out the window.  A gentleman to the end, Weir's main worry, as he thought about it later, was getting the interpreter, Rosie McGee, and photographer,Mary Ann Mayer, down the drainpipe. That accomplished, he turned to the promoter, promised they'd make up the show, dropped a rose on the sill, and scooted down the pipe like the part monkey he was.  He was on the roof of the truck when he heard the door give way, and he hit the ground running for "what physicists called the absolute elsewhere, in a big hurry."  A couple of hours later, after wrapping themselves around some good Bordeaux, it was all pretty funny, but it had been a near thing." 

From Dennis McNally's Book "A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of The Grateful Dead"
(available on Amazon and where fine books are sold"

www.Dead.net

"To Terrapin" - Grateful Dead- HDCD

On May 28,1977, the Grateful Deadtook the stage and put out possibly the best sounding and tightest show that the band has ever done.This was not a multi-track recording. 1977 and 1972 were my 2 favorite years of Dead Music. "To Terrapin" was released in '09 as was their June 77,box set from Winterland which covered 3 full shows, June 7,8 and 9. I also have 2 great Dick's Picks from 77, DP 10 "Winterland,Dec 29" and DP 15 "Live From Englishtown ,NJ, an outdoors festival with the MTB. (I was at that one).






"To Terrapin", was done way after last Dick's Pick, #36(I was at that one too, Philly, 72) the untimely death of Dick, led to other outlets from the vault ,like Road Trips and special shows ,like "To Terrapin". This concert was a bargain ,selling for around 15 bucks for 3 Discs in a Cardboard sleeve. The artwork, along with the music is beautiful. This is a Betty Cantor recording, like Dick would used for a Dick's Pick, but technology had picked up and also Rhino Records were in charge of Dead releases, so the sound quality was shining, it was mastered by Jeffrey Norman.



Garcia is playing his Travis Bean guitar on this show, which had a different timbre than the Wolfe,his custom guitar, built by Irwin Guitars. I really loved the tones he got out of this instrument which had an aluminum frame. There is a very well done "Estimated Prophet" on Disc 3, which is off of their newest CD , "Terrapin Station". A very good "Playing in The Band", with some unusual jamming for this version. Keith Godchaux plays great on this disc. On the first CD, there are very good versions of "Jack Straw" and "Row Jimmy", overall, a very good setlist. This summer, I have been taking a bit of a break from bluegrass, and there haven't been any stellar releases that I have heard, except Ricky Skaggs latest, recently. I have been delving into the vault of Grateful Dead music, something only a Deadhead would understand. See you next time.



http://www.dead.net/  -Coming soon, Europe 72 Box Set

Europe 72 -Part 2 - Grateful Dead

              

I'm sure that you have heard of the huge project Jeffrey Norman and David Glasser of Airshow Mastering have been working on. They are remixing and remastering every song from the Europe 72 Grateful Dead Tour which consisted of 23 concerts. They will release this in 72 HDCD Discs in a special fancy boxed set for the first 7,200 orders and after that you can get the discs only in digipak for the same $450.00




I am happy that they also decided to release a Europe 72 -part 2 , which will contain songs from the tour that did not make it on the original Europe 72.





http://www.dead.net/

THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND SETS SAIL WITH ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE THIS DECEMBER

MTB Headlines Cruise With ZZ Top, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Foghat, Artimus Pyle, Molly Hatchet, Johnny Winter, The Edgar Winter Band, Among Others


Royal Caribbean's Liberty Of The Seas Cruise Ship Departs on Four-Day Excursion to the Bahamas December 1



Nashville, Tenn. (July 7, 2011) – This December, legendary southern rockers The Marshall Tucker Band will ‘batten down the hatches’ and take to the seas, as they co-headline the inaugural ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE, benefiting the Native American Heritage Association (NAHA).



“This is going to be one hell of a party on the Atlantic,” notes Marshall Tucker Band lead singer and founding member Doug Gray. “Hittin’ the waters with some of our best rocker pals never sounded so good. You can bet we’ll have some of these guys jammin’ with us MTB-style on more than a few of our sets!”



Departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Dec. 1, The Marshall Tucker Band joins more than 18 rock bands including ZZ Top, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Dickey Best & Great Southern, Foghat, Molly Hatchet, Johnny Winter, The Edgar Winter Band, and The Outlaws, among others, on a four-day Bahamian cruise.


As many as 3,200 music fans, served by a crew of 1,300, will be aboard The Royal Caribbean Line’s Liberty of the Seas. The ship, one of the largest (160,000 tons / length equal to almost four football fields / 18 decks) and most luxurious passenger vessels in service today, is scheduled for stops in Bahamian cities Coco Cay and Nassau. The main attraction of the cruise is the multiple performances by the rock bands brought aboard in four different on-board venues. Liberty of the Seas also features on-board surfing thanks to its FlowRider wave generator, a boxing ring, a full-sized volleyball / basketball court, cantilevered whirlpools and a range of gourmet restaurants.



The unprecedented cruise will benefit Native American Heritage Association’s mission to provide emergency assistance and self-help programs to the Sioux Native Americans living on reservations in South Dakota. Since 1993, NAHA has worked with Lakota (Sioux) Reservations, strengthening the Native American communities and families one member at a time. The challenges are difficult as unemployment rates on the Reservations are at 80%, 70% have no transportation, the average life expectancy is 58 years of age, infant mortality is 10 times the national average and 31% of Native American children under the age of 4 are obese because of lack of proper nutrition. NAHA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in partnership with Feeding America and Gifts In Kind International, has provided food, clothing, heating assistance, personal care items and home care items to the many Native Americans in need. NAHA has a 17-year history of executing its mission in a fiscally responsible way, outperforming most other charities. Thanks to its financially sound business practices, NAHA has earned 6 consecutive 4-star rating with www.charitynavigator.org. 92.4% of all NAHA revenue goes toward its program services. For additional information, visit http://www.naha-inc.org/



This year, The Marshall Tucker Band celebrates its 40th year since forming in 1971. Last May, the band, in recognition of four decades, released The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits and lead singer Doug Gray’s lost solo recordings, Soul Of The South. The legendary southern rock band continues to tour regularly and recently returned from a five-concert tour of Iraq and Kuwait, where they entertained thousands of United States military personnel.



For ROCK LEGENDS CRUISE ticketing information, visit www.rocklegendscruise.com.



For additional information on The Marshall Tucker Band, visit http://www.marshalltucker.com/

"Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack and other News"

First, this set of five discs and four shows has just about the best Sound Quality of any Dead recording ever, period. This is the last time the famed "Wall Of Sound" is used. It has been all over the world in '74. So, this four night stand is it's farewell and they now have it tweaked to perfection. I saw the "Wall Of Sound" in Philly in August hanging from the ceiling of the Civic Center in it's single configuration, a huge cylinder of speakers , amps, beyond huge.



There is a distinct clarity to this mix, each musician has control of the volume and tone of their vocals and instrument. Phil's bass is not laying bombs, but it is perfect in the mix. Garcia's vocals sound great. The fifth CD see's Mickey Hart return to the group.


Jerry's "Wolf" sounds big, fat and clear, Weir plays a hollow body Gibson for his parts. I always liked Bobby playing the Gibson, so warm sounding. This is probably a 24 track recording as it is for the Grateful Dead Movie. You cannot compare it to a 2 track Dick's Picks, though some of them sounded very good. There are a lot of great jams on this five disc set. Great jam out of "Black Peter" on (Disc 4 , 10/19).


The material is from "Europe 72", "Wake Of The Flood", and the newly released "Mars Hotel". This was the culmination of The "Wall Of Sound" era, they had to truck 2 of these total sound systems on tour. While they were playing in one town, the crew was in another town setting up for the next show. It just showed the Dead's commitment to their fans, always the best!!


On to the news, which is probably old by now, Rhino Records, The Deads' current label is almost done remixing and mastering every show from the Europe 72 Tour, The 72 discs will sell for $450. The first 7,200 customers get a special wood box for the CDs and a hardcover book, plus other keepsakes. You still order the music only version from the http://www.dead.net/  for the same price. This will be a special box set for sure.





Happy Fourth Of July!!!

"Follow Me Down" - Sarah Jarosz - A Review

If you expect more of the rootsy, country-bluegrass , folk sound of "Song Up In Her Head", you won't find that here. Jarosz has pulled a quick Chris Thile type move into the experimental, very eclectic style of expanded string music. She wrote all of the songs except a couple, one by Bob Dylan and the other by "RadioHead". Also, she has so many guest musicians ,it is quite an extraordinary affair. Her vocals a bit like Norah Jones at times. Gary Paczosa (one of the best acoustic music producers in Nashville) works with her on this CD as he did on her first one.




She plays everything from toy piano to electric guitar, but sounds best on octave mandolin. She is studying contemporary improvisation at Boston's New England Conservatory.



A lot of songs sound like a jam band. Then there are songs that are like chamber music. Sometimes her music is frenetic with all sorts of percussion going on.



Some of her guests include The Punch Brothers, Vince Gill, John Leventhal, Vicktor Krauss, a total of about 24 well known musicians.



Jarosz definitely is a super talented young lady and I can see this CD being hugely popular.



One song that really touches me is her version of Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells" with Vince Gill singing backup vocals. Paczosa mixed this CD, that must have really been a task, with all that is going on. He does an excellent job however. I really like track seven, also, with her creative and in command jamming on octave mandolin.



If you like Mumford and Sons, Trampled By Turtles, you should love this. Very well done CD.



http://www.sarahjarosz.com/

70s Rock Influence on Today's Country Music

70s Rock Influence on Todays Country Music


By Jim Moulton, CSO Staff Journalist



Something missing today are the great jam bands of the seventies. I want to talk about a couple; The Marshall Tucker Band and The Grateful Dead. Both of these bands rocked yet had very country influences.



From Spartanburg, South Carolina came the very talented and together Marshall Tucker Band, started by Doug Gray and two brothers, Toy and Tommy Caldwell. Toy is probably the most underrated guitar player around, He could flat out pick (with his thumb, no pick). He also played pedal steel on some of their songs. His brother Tommy played a very improvisational bass, similar to Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. The band had a very unique sound with a horn player (Jerry Eubanks) who played Flute and sax. Long Lost was a tape of a 1976 European Tour that was to be released in the seventies by Capricorn, but never was. Their current label Shout Factory recently released Stompin' Room Only with some other live songs to fill out the Disc. The sound quality is similar to a Dicks Pick by the Grateful Dead, but the music is historical, the MTB at their very best. "Long Hard Ride" starts out the CD, and plain jams out, it is a country instrumental with a very good melody, Toy is just off the meter with his guitar pickin'.



Toy Caldwell wrote most of their material. "This Ol' Cowboy", the second track has Toy singing also and really playing at his best, a song that has a swing quality to it, one of my favorite MTB tunes. "Fire On The Mountain" (George McCorkle) has Toy on steel, is an outlaw country type song. The classic "Can't You See" was never done better. The last song on the disc "Hillbilly Band" is what the term Chickin' Pickin' is all about, once again, Toy Caldwell Shines. This disc is a must have to find out what this great band is all about.



Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, in California, The Grateful Dead were on the road constantly and they recorded every show. Their leader Jerry Garcia, started out as a bluegrass picker, banjo player and also a great pedal steel player. The Dead in my opinion were also at their peak in 1976-7, and I am going to talk a bit about one of their live Dick's Picks releases from 1976, Vol. 20, a four disc affair, with almost two full concerts on it. The sound quality is quite good for a Dicks Picks, since Rhino took over their releases and remastered it. The Dead had a much bigger following than did the MTB, though I saw the MTB open for them once. Garcia was an audiophile sound freak and loved to experiment with sound. He was playing a custom Travis Bean guitar at this time in his career. It was built on an aluminum frame, plus had a neat switch where he could knock out all of his effects loop. There was a new Mu-tron effect he was using at this time that was an envelope filter (auto-wah). For a lot more of this info, there is a great new book out called The Gear Of the Grateful Dead, excellent and thorough read.



The Dead were coming back from a tour in 1976 with probably the largest Sound System ever; the infamous "Wall Of Sound" , I saw it once in Philly at The Civic Center Hung from the center of the ceiling. One year of lugging this around and they had to give it up, sounded great though. They rented equipment and a sound guy for 1976, who used a system with lots of custom stuff that was like a mini "Wall Of Sound". Their sound board had parametric EQ before it was being used in studios.



Now to the music, I mean what can you say, two full shows, Songs that really stand out to me are "Ramble On Rose", Brown-Eyed Women" and "Peggy-O" from Disc one. "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo" and "Scarlet Begonias" on Disc two. "Cold Rain and Snow" and "Big River" on Disc three. "Playing In The Band" and "Comes a Time" on Disc four. You can't help but hear the country influences in these shows.

I encourage you to check out these historic recordings!!

"The Foundation" (Cracker Barrel Version) - Zac Brown Band - a Review

For a long time, I had been fighting this guys material, Like, who is he? Covering all this stuff and sounding like Charlie Daniels. Doing Southern Rock in his shows.

Zac Brown quit his job cooking in the Family restaurant in Atlanta to start a musical career. He started out just by himself singing and playing guitar. One by one ,He added members to his group. This is his third CD i think, the First one on a major Label. What I am listening to is what won me over for good. There is a short fiddle intro and then the song starts, I used to see this video on GAC all of the time, The song is Free, The video shows the ZBB on a visit to Iraq and follows them around and they do a show for the troups. For me , this is tops, it is a real sacrifice to make a trip to Iraq, but they looked comfortable and the song is beautiful.

Alan Jackson's cohort for many years, Keith Stegall helps him produce this CD. Brown insists that their music is Southern, not country, now there are places in the CD that I can pick that up, but face it folks, "chicken pickin' is chickin' pickin'". Talking about, "Chicken Fried" is a classic song that just begs a listen, full of great hooks and melodies. I really love a song that they do called "Mary". It is about someone who is letting him down. Between him and his lead guitar player, the song has some really great guitar pickin', his classical type guitar gives out a different vibe, but he makes it work. It is a custom Taylor, made for him. He really can play well as does his whole band.

"Different Kind Of Find" goes into some southern rock on the lead guitar, this recording has a real live vibe. His band really has their own signature on their sound and they are southern folk that make you feel at home. When I first watched him, I just did not trust him. He seemed a bit aloof, I think that is, just him. After watching much footage of him, he seems to be a real downhome type of guy.

Bonus coverage - What makes this Foundation different is the addition of three cover songs that they do live. They do a Band like version of "The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down", The vocals are just great, lots of emotion and energy put into it. Then they do a Lucinda Williams song, "I lost It" For the last song is a very moving version of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released." Another awesome rendition with an incredible slide break, ala Duane Allman , I mean the phrasing, everything sounds just like He is in the House. Man, can this guy play some guitar. Zac sings this really well with help from his band.

Well, this was a very enjoyable review. This CD is plain good, plus , the bonus stuff. Now if I play my cards right, the good thing about reviewing for Cracker Barrel is that if they like your review, you might get a gift certificate for yourself and a friend for a meal, not a chintzy meal, but like whatever you want to eat. Zac ,also has some things in the store , like a cookbook and a couple of sauces "Southern Ground Grub".

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God Is Good
www.countrystarsonline.com
www.countryreviews.blogspot.com

Brian Wamplers "Talent Booster" Pedal

Brian Wampler is one of the best guitar pedal makers around, I am a proud owner of his ego compressor compressor which is a ross like Nashville compression pedal. These names were from a sort of joke web site someone made up of pedals, The ego compressor, Now it is the talent booster, it may not boost your talent, but you will get some great tones from this pedal, i love the sound of this boost.

Lynyrd Skynard Set for A & E Private Sessions and also Lopez Tonight

Lynyrd Skynyrd set for A&E Private Sessions
& Lopez Tonight


Nashville, TN – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Lynyrd Skynyrd is set to hit the airwaves this weekend, Sunday, August 1st (9am EST/8am CST) appearing and performing on A&E’s Private Sessions with Lynn Hoffman.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will talk about their inspirations behind the band’s latest studio album, God & Guns (Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records) and performances include “God & Guns” and “Still Unbroken” off their new album as well as classics, “Sweet Home Alabama” and a special extended version of “Free Bird.”

Private Sessions showcases performances and conversations with top names in contemporary music and film. Each Sunday morning at 9 am EST, Private Sessions dedicates each hour to the body of work of a single artist or group, featuring not only current releases but also the projects that defined and built careers.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is also slated to perform on Lopez Tonight on August 26th. Stay tuned for more details…

And it doesn’t stop there, the legendary band continues throughout the summer; supporting the release of their CD/DVD combo set Live From Freedom Hall, being honored by the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C., and a multi-city tour with Celebrity Apprentice winner Bret Michaels.

Upcoming tour dates are as follows:

August 5 - Bangor Waterfront Festival - Bangor, ME
August 6 - Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, NJ (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 7 - Kings Island Timberwolf Amp - Mason, OH (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 9 - Musikfest - Bethlehem, PA (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 11 - Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo - Sikeston, MO
August 13 - Gwinnett Center - Duluth, GA (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 14 - UCF Arena - Orlando, FL (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 18 - Christensen Stadium - Midland, TX
August 19 - The Backyard - BeeCave, TX
August 20 - BOK Center - Tulsa, OK (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 21 - Allen Events Center - Allen, TX (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 22 - Ford Park Arena - Beaumont, TX
August 26 - Gibson Amphitheatre- Los Angeles, CA (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 27 - Orleans Arena - Las Vegas, NV (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 28 - San Diego Sports Arena - San Diego, CA (Hannity Freedom Concert)
August 29 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA
September 2 - Tulalip Amphitheatre - Tulalip, WA
September 3 - LB Day Amphitheatre - Salem, OR

Tickets can be found at the group’s website, www.lynyrdskynyrd.com



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The Allman Brothers Band - Still jamming!!!

I was checking out music on "ON DEMAND" on TV and saw the Allman Brothers, which was a show of their yearly tuneup in NYC. It is the lineup with Derek Trucks on guitar and Warren Haynes on guitar. Butch Trucks looked healthy wand was really into it. Bassist Oteil Burbridge sounded very well. They played for about 30 minutes,and it was a good representation of where they are at. Both guitarists played slide , on one song, which was an instrumental , the leads had a jazzy feel to them. I have put a youtube of the more original band for you to enjoy, you can always buy a disc of their latest music on their website store.

"Letters In The Deep" - Cadillac Sky - A Review

Cadillac Sky is a group that has put out 2 very good contemporary bluegrass CDs on Skaggs Family Records. They went to Dualtone so they metamorphosis into a band without boundaries. Here is a group that has the best instruments that money can buy, use Blue Chip picks ($35), Collings guitars and mandolins, Nechville Banjoes, Daddario strings, TAAG violins, Their promo says they sleep easy knowing their instruments are protected by Colorado Cases. They have a Bible verse on their CD. I visited their website that has some Cd making footage, Dan Auerbach (frontman of another group) produced it for them, they basically wanted an old fashioned type recording without overdubs and cut and paste, that will sound better the more that a listener listens to it.

Well, it is very different than their previous CDs , lots of dissonance in the melodies, all acoustic , you hear talking in the background of songs. "Lee Of The Stone : West" is a very pretty instrumental, but it is only 44 seconds long. Honestly, I find it very odd to say the least, electronic sounds , mellotrons. There is a good amount of clipping in the recording, it is a very loose affair. "Hypocrite" is a song about hypocrites, "Say one thing and you do another, repeat.

"Bathsheeba" is a frantic sounding tune, that has some nice mandolin and guitar with some good tone. Then, some harmonies ,like from "Pet sounds" ,come in the mix. The voices sound poor, like they were meant too, "Pitiful Waltz" is a good description of the song. Well, I have spent alot of time with this and I loved their first 2 Cd's. You make up your own mind, This a Free country. All I can give you, is what I am given.

www.cadillacsky.net

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Mountain Heart - Live At Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, Pa.- A Review

Mountain Heart has been around quite a while as an excellent bluegrass band, they are in the process of changing into a country rock, Southern rock jam band, The newest member, Josh Schilling, has sang and played with several types of bands, and I read he has a separate project on the side, which would not surprise me. This is exciting, I thought I was going to a bluegrass show last and it turned into a jam session with several cover songs, some new songs for the new CD that they are working on, They are looking for a label, but their manager Brian says they are going on with or without a label, they can get some Distribution help and keep on Touring. They are already working on the CD. He gave me a three song demo CD, I can't let anyone hear it, but He said I can tease folk about. Here's a tease for ya, if your good, I will give you another tease at end of review, This CD has drums on it.

I got to Sellersville Theatre right after the first act was done (Fitzmaurice), heard they were good, from the nice couple behind me, This guy sent me some nice pics tonight,I had asked him if He would, and he did, will see if I can add a couple to the review, when it goes on CSO.

A little about Mountain Heart, in a big way ,this is a shame, I sampled some of their stuff, they have a real big discography. They have been a big bluegrass band, making lots of great songs. But on the other hand, When I talked to Jim Van Cleve He is excited about it. They know how great that Josh Schilling is, There is a great chemistry in the group, everyone plays together. Josh Schilling could take them places. He is a great singer, his vocals are so mature and strong, heard a youtube of him singing the national anthem with the rest of the group. He is an incredible keyboard player, reminds me of a young Chuck Leavell.(Who can sing and play guitar)

I really was not prepared for what I heard last night. I was expecting a show like the Ark,
but I got like a professional cover band. They started out playing an instrumental. It was good, one of the many short ones the group does. After that, the small crowd in the front started chanting, Louder!! Louder!! , Well, The Mountain Heart sound guy complied. From then on, it was real loud. The room right behind me, the rest of the Theatre that was empty
was loud, but the room had lots of noise, which made the signal midrangey.

Next, I heard a very familiar bass thump and the ride began as Jason Moore, on bass played the intro to "Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers. They virtually nailed the song note for note, in an acoustic way. The hi guitar parts were played by Jim on fiddle. The difference is Josh slows it down in the middle and does some sct singing with it.He is on electric piano here. Aaron Ramsey , their new mandolin player really is a great player and adds alot to the show.

They did an accapello gospel number and I thought it was weird that 2 members went into the side stage.

The show was pretty much focused on the very talented Josh Shilling , who has a great voice, is a great guitarist and played a lot of electric piano this night. I'm listening to the Ark show as I write this, The group seemed more focused that night, tonight ,they are sort of p rowling the stage. I also miss Barry's ongoing dialog with the crowd at the Ark.

The band jams on and on, and for a while, they settle down and do a few really nice songs. All of which will be on the new CD. They do a real nice version of Bruce Hornsby's "That's Just the Way it Is" , That one really caught me off guard as it is just plain rock music.
Also, "Very Superstitous" with some wah, caught me off guard. I did notice some people leave during the show, as they were expecting bluegrass, I mean, we are in a small town, in rural, Pa. This is a country/bluegrass group venue where the group is playing mostly rock and jam oriented music. They ended with more jamming, and left the stage, I mean, you knew they were coming back. Pretty soon, Josh and the bass player Jason come back and and Josh sits at the keyboard for another Allman brothers song, a newer one "Soul Shine".

And that was it, that's just the way it goes. The group sticks around and sign some Cds and stuff, I talk to Brian and JIm, very nice, down to earth group. I'm looking forward to this new CD.


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www.countryreviews.blogspot.com

Lynyrd Skynyrd To Release Live From Freedom Hall CD/DVD set

LYNYRD SKYNYRD TO RELEASE LIVE FROM FREEDOM HALL CD/DVD SET ON JUNE 22nd; LAST CONCERT RECORDED WITH LONGTIME MEMBERS BILLY POWELL AND EAN EVANS

SUMMER TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

New York, NY: Lynyrd Skynyrd will release Live From Freedom Hall on June 22 as both a CD/DVD set and as a stand-alone DVD. Live From Freedom Hall not only captures the band in its most natural state – on stage- but is also one of the last concerts to be recorded with longtime members Billy Powell and Ean Evans, both of whom passed away last year. The release is a tribute to and a celebration of Skynyrd.

The track listing for Live From Freedom Hall is as follows:
“Travelin’ Man”
“Workin'”
“What's Your Name?”
“That Smell”
“Simple Man”
“Down South Jukin’”
“The Needle and the Spoon”
“Ballad Of Curtis Loew”
“Gimme Back My Bullets”
“Tuesday’s Gone”
“Red White and Blue”
“Gimme Three Steps”
“Call Me The Breeze”
“Sweet Home Alabama”
“Free Bird”
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s latest, Gods & Guns, was released via Roadrunner/Loud & Proud, debuting on the Billboard Top 20 at #18, representing their highest debut since 1977. Throughout the past year, the band has been enjoying continued success and increased visibility, appearing on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, FOX News Channel’s Huckabee, Hannity, Fox & Friends, PBS Soundstage and more.
The band was recently inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their classic and beloved American rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” has surpassed the two million mark in downloaded ringtones. With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales beyond 30 million, Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a major cultural icon that appeals to all generations.
Lynyrd Skynyrd will return to the road for the next several months, touring with Bret Michaels and 38 Special in June before embarking on the Hannity Freedom Concert Series in August.
Tour dates are as follows:
Gods & Guns Tour 2010
May 28 - Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO
May 29 - Harrah's Metropolis - Metropolis, IL
May 30 - Horseshoe Casino - Elizabeth, IN
Lynyrd Skynyrd w/Bret Michaels and 38 Special
June 10 - Cruzan Amphitheatre - West Palm Beach, FL
June 13 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Spring, TX
June 17 - Verizon Wireless Music Center Birmingham - Pelham, AL
June 18 - Time Warner Pavillion @Walnut Creek - Raleigh, NC
June 19 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Charlotte, NC
June 20 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Virginia Beach, VA
June 24 - DTE Energy Music Center - Clarkston, MI
June 25 - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Tinley Park, IL
June 26 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Maryland Heights, MO
June 27 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Noblesville, IN
July 1 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
July 2 - Comcast Theater - Hartford, CT
July 3 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA
July 8 - Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH
July 9 - DTE Energy Music Center - Clarkston, MI
July 10 - First Niagara Pavilion - Burgettstown, PA
July 11 - First Niagara Pavilion - Burgettstown, PA