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Post by robwinter on Nov 10, 2011 17:16:45 GMT -8
Hey guys! Here's some songs from a relatively new band I put together that I thought I'd share. We're covering the good ol' Grateful Dead. They are rough live recordings with just a few mics in the room and some of the tunes we've only played together a couple of times so we're flyin' by the seat of our pants. As Phil would say, this is us....warts and all. I hope it's worthy! www.reverbnation.com/withoutanet |
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Post by robwinter on Nov 11, 2011 16:43:18 GMT -8
Looking for constructive criticism, especially from bass players and Dead fans.
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Post by jlev on Nov 11, 2011 18:18:32 GMT -8
Not bad, but in my opinion you guys need to dig deeper. What made the Grateful Dead great to me was Garcia's emotional connection to the material. Got to feel it from your toes up to your ears. Garcia was a really good singer in spite of many uniformed opinions about him. David Grisman said something like "Garcia might have forgotten lyrics but he never failed to connect to the music emotionaly"
Great repitiore to mine for sure, have fun with it. I'd love to hear y'all tackle China Cat Sunflower.
Let there be songs to fill the air!!!!!
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Post by robwinter on Nov 11, 2011 19:25:38 GMT -8
Hey Joe, thanks for the input. Can you elaborate a little on what you mean by "dig a little deeper". Do you mean dig deeper into ourselves when playing the songs or do you mean dig deeper into their repertoire? If the former, what in particular gives you that feeling?
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Post by jlev on Nov 11, 2011 20:26:22 GMT -8
Well I meant the first but the second is good to, a whole lot of great tunes , a lifetime of music. I have only listened to one tune so far GDTRFB, so let's just hold that thought and I will listen to more and then write more.
I love the fact that many people are keeping that music alive, from Furthur, the New Riders, DSO right down to folks like us.
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Post by robwinter on Nov 11, 2011 20:47:00 GMT -8
Yeah, I wasn't going to put GDTRFB up at first but one of the other guys wanted it so it's there. We did a pretty good take of Sugaree that had a great jam but it won't fit on the site because it's over 8 mb. I like the takes of Promised Land and Deal the best.China Cat would be great fun to play....it's on the list to learn. We're going to take Dark Star for a spin next week.
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grateful
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Post by grateful on Nov 30, 2011 13:15:16 GMT -8
Good stuff - it's nice to see players who aren't all in their late 40's/early 50's taking this stuff on! I play in the Dead-based band Cowboy Neal from Placerville and I'm often glad for the 2 other guitar players - it would be a handful taking on the Dead's music with a 4-piece, though Jonny Mojo's Achilles Wheel and previous projects seem to manage it well. If your guys are OK with steady gigging, how about looking for a club to host Dead-theme'd nites where you can build a buzz? Best of luck - Deadheads are usually kind, but I've also found that they're kind of particular about how the music is performed... sometimes I think it'd be easier to do a "Jazz is Dead" project than what we're attempting.
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Post by robwinter on Nov 30, 2011 13:55:16 GMT -8
Good stuff - it's nice to see players who aren't all in their late 40's/early 50's taking this stuff on! I play in the Dead-based band Cowboy Neal from Placerville and I'm often glad for the 2 other guitar players - it would be a handful taking on the Dead's music with a 4-piece, though Jonny Mojo's Achilles Wheel and previous projects seem to manage it well. If your guys are OK with steady gigging, how about looking for a club to host Dead-theme'd nites where you can build a buzz? Best of luck - Deadheads are usually kind, but I've also found that they're kind of particular about how the music is performed... sometimes I think it'd be easier to do a "Jazz is Dead" project than what we're attempting. Hey grateful! Heard you guys as well....good stuff! I'm grateful for being able to play with these guys. We don't have a "Jerry" or "Bobby", each of them sort of alternate. Do you guys have keys? I don't recall...I'd have to hear you guys again. About the Dead themed night.....that could be a good idea. I wasn't sure if it would be better to take it out once every 3 months or so to get a good crowd that one night or to play steadily and build the buzz. I'm just trying to figure out what would be a good venue to have a Dead band. As far as Deadheads being particular....you got that right. I don't think you can ever do anything that will please 'em all. Lots of different opinions. We're just going to play how we play the best we can and see where it takes us! As Jerry or Bobby once said in the very early years, once there were more of them in the audience than there were of us, we were happy. |
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grateful
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Post by grateful on Nov 30, 2011 14:58:47 GMT -8
Thanks - we don't play often, and usually for community events or good causes, but we do play the occasional club gig. Come out and see us sometime and say howdy - www.facebook.com/CowboyNealBandThe idea of club residency is something that I've been pushing with bands for years, mainly because my rock'n'roll mentors in the Beer Dawgs did such a good job of reinforcing their brand by being installed at certain clubs on a steady basis - i.e.: if it was Thursday, that was Dawgs night at the Torch. I think the idea could work here, pick a night that won't cut into a club's bottom line and get the scene started. And I liked what Joe said earlier. I also think there's a deeper connection with the music and with the audience with the Dead's music than you'd experience playing other bands' music. There are some great models to pattern off of, like SoCal's Cubensis (It's hard not to hate'em just for the bitchin' posters!). Here's a nice interview with Craig Marshall that pretty much sums up playing in a Dead tribute band for me: youtu.be/ahC0ZKDAlZc |
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Post by robwinter on Nov 30, 2011 15:31:30 GMT -8
The songs I posted aren't polished or rehearsed much. Some of them were the first and second take. So I think as we get more comfortable with the material and find our way, we'll start digging deeper. I can feel it happening on some songs already and on others I can feel a longer way to go. We sort of let loose recently and took Dark Star for a walk in the woods for the first time and that can get real spacey.
Yeah, I like Cubensis and have been following them on facebook too. I go online to hear other tribute bands to see how their bass guy handles the Phil parts.
I like their quote:
"Some ask, why play Grateful Dead music?? For those that know, no answer is necessary, For those that don't, no answer is possible."
p.s. I can't get your myspace player to work....I tried on two computers...either it's the site or my computer. Probably my computer but thought I'd let you know.
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Post by jlev on Dec 3, 2011 20:32:40 GMT -8
Scott- have you seen DSO?
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grateful
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Post by grateful on Dec 5, 2011 12:04:56 GMT -8
@ Joe - no, never caught DSO, tho' more than one person has told me that their shows are more "faithful" than the Furthur sets these days, but then I never expected Furthur to re-create the Dead - something that Dark Star does VERY well, right down to replicating old shows right down to the setlist. I listened to some recordings when John K was still with'em and you'd be amazed how well they captured the vibe.
@ Rob - thanks for the head's-up on the Myspace dysfunction. Guess we don't ever even visit it anymore - soooo last year! ;-) Facebook is the best way to catch up, then.
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Post by jlev on Dec 5, 2011 12:23:59 GMT -8
DSO is faithful with the set lists abd the vibe. But they take the music other places, and they sing better than the Dead ever did live. And Rob Barraco is an absolute motherfucker, playin and singing. We have seen them 3 times and I was surprised to like as much as I did case I am not a fan of tribute bands.
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Post by robwinter on Dec 27, 2011 13:58:53 GMT -8
@ Joe - no, never caught DSO, tho' more than one person has told me that their shows are more "faithful" than the Furthur sets these days, but then I never expected Furthur to re-create the Dead - something that Dark Star does VERY well, right down to replicating old shows right down to the setlist. I listened to some recordings when John K was still with'em and you'd be amazed how well they captured the vibe. @ Rob - thanks for the head's-up on the Myspace dysfunction. Guess we don't ever even visit it anymore - soooo last year! ;-) Facebook is the best way to catch up, then. Scott, I think the myspace is working again....maybe it was just not working on one of my computers. Checked out the interview with Craig...that pretty much sums it up for me as well. Are you catching any Furthur shows? They are on fire IMO and Joe Russo kills it on drums. They are broadcasting the NYE show live on Sirius/XM. Also check out Bob's new recording studio at www.tristudios.com |
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grateful
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Post by grateful on Dec 28, 2011 8:46:55 GMT -8
Hey, now Rob - no NYE run shows for me this year  Made the 30th show last year and had a blast, so if you're on the fence and tix are still available, I highly recommend it. A room south of Market in a fly-by-night helps a lot, too. I listened to a bit of Phil & Friends from Warren Haynes Christmas Jam and that band would be hard to beat on almost every level. I'll definitely be jumping on any local shows when they start touring next year. Jonny Mojo's Achilles Wheel is doing the NYE at the Cosmic Cafe in Placerville - you heard'em yet? |
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