Furthur, Today
Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Phil Lesh in 1974
Phil Lesh-Grateful Dead, Berkeley Greek Theater, San Francisco 1981, Photo by Irene Graham (I was there!)
Bob Weir, Greek Theater, 1981 ("Bobbyyyy!!!")
John Kadlecik of Furthur, 2010Legendary Grateful Dead Band FURTHER plays Redmond, WA
Second of Three Installments; see installment #1: Furthur, The Music
Furthur at Marymoor Park, September 18, 6 p.m.
FURTHUR, THE BAND
Grateful Dead founders Bob Weir (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Phil Lesh (lead guitar in the lower register, or bass), are joined by John Kadlecik (little Jerry lead guitar) of Dark Star Orchestra, along with Jeff Chimenti on keyboards (from Bob Weir’s band Ratdog) and Joe Russo on drums (collaborations with Phil Lesh & Friends, and Phish).
Second of Three Installments; see installment #1: Furthur, The Music
Furthur at Marymoor Park, September 18, 6 p.m.
FURTHUR, THE BAND
Grateful Dead founders Bob Weir (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Phil Lesh (lead guitar in the lower register, or bass), are joined by John Kadlecik (little Jerry lead guitar) of Dark Star Orchestra, along with Jeff Chimenti on keyboards (from Bob Weir’s band Ratdog) and Joe Russo on drums (collaborations with Phil Lesh & Friends, and Phish).
The thing about Bob Weir that I’ve only recently begun to fathom, is just how great a rhythm guitar player he really is. Subtle and masterful, he consistently weaves a rich texture in and around the performance, artfully guiding the orchestration while empowering the vocals and other guitars. Listen for his influence in “Help on the Way” and “Let it Grow.” He’s also become a fine singer, although personally, I miss the cute “Bobby” of the early concerts, and wish he’d lose the ZZ Top beard! Bobby was adopted, and in this truly amazing autobiographical article, shares his story about the life-long odyssey of finding his family, and the magic telecaster that finally made The Big Time.
The English language is just plain inadequate for describing the bass playing artistry of Phil Lesh. He sees no reason why a bass guitar can’t be played with as much creativity and soulfulness as a lead guitar, rather than focusing on the downbeat. He rocks my soul. My bass instructor Danny Morris, a huge Phil fan, at Berklee College of Music said, "Wouldn't it be great to tour the world as a jazz improvisation band, disguised as a rock band?" Phil turned 70 on March 15 this year. One of his more personal causes is organ donorship: he successfully survived a liver transplant over 12 years ago. When I think of the many, many fabulous musical moments he has given me, I want to give him a liver, and a kidney, too!
A quick Time Out here to tout two other important causes formed and supported by the Grateful Dead family:
• Furthur Foundation: For nearly 25 years, the Furthur Foundation has been giving money to progressive non-profit groups working on environmental and social change issues.
• Unbroken Chain Foundation: Created in the spring of 1997 by Phil Lesh and friends, the Unbroken Chain Foundation is a nonprofit organization which seeks to perpetuate the long-standing tradition of community service that has been the hallmark of the remarkable three-decade relationship between the Grateful Dead and its audience.
After Jerry Garcia’s passing in 1995, the Grateful Dead went through a few iterations, as The Other Ones, and recently The Dead (The Gorge, May 16 2009), which featured Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band) on lead guitar (in the Jerry position). Warren was bluesy and slidy, which was fun and a little country, but I think this is going to be my favorite lineup since Jerry: John Kadlecik on lead. He brings 12 solid years of touring and playing Grateful Dead material with Dark Star Orchestra, a high-powered, professional tour de force. John says, endearingly, “I listened to classical music and my old, hand-me-down Beatles albums, and that’s pretty much all I listened to until high school in ’83-’84. At that time I had some friends who turned me on to The Police and The Cars and Rush and Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd—which a lot of people considered to be passé and oldies by that point, I suppose, but I didn’t care.” (Neither do I!!) Through a friend John discovered Grateful Dead music in 1987, and 23 years later he is playing lead guitar with the legends he worshiped!!! Read the entertaining John Kadlecik Interview.
Jeff Chimenti rocks the keyboards. From the further.net site: “Although he had never listened to Grateful Dead music, his relationship with saxophonist Dave Ellis introduced him to Bob Weir, and in 1997 he replaced the legendary Johnnie Johnson (of Chuck Berry fame) in Bob's band "RatDog." He later was the keyboard player for the Dead's re-constituted band "The Other Ones" which officially became "The Dead" with stints in 2002-2004, and then again in 2009.
Joe Russo on drums: Growing up in Northern NJ with walls covered by KISS posters, compelled by fire, make-up, and the ways of rock, Joe Russo began playing drums at the age of 8. Cutting his chops in the shadows of Bonham, his early tendencies leaned strongly to hard rock. At the age of 13, through the guidance of his teacher Frank Marino (Long Island Drum Center of Nyack) Joe began to discover a whole new world of drumming.
Stay tuned for the next installment: Furthur, The Experience
The English language is just plain inadequate for describing the bass playing artistry of Phil Lesh. He sees no reason why a bass guitar can’t be played with as much creativity and soulfulness as a lead guitar, rather than focusing on the downbeat. He rocks my soul. My bass instructor Danny Morris, a huge Phil fan, at Berklee College of Music said, "Wouldn't it be great to tour the world as a jazz improvisation band, disguised as a rock band?" Phil turned 70 on March 15 this year. One of his more personal causes is organ donorship: he successfully survived a liver transplant over 12 years ago. When I think of the many, many fabulous musical moments he has given me, I want to give him a liver, and a kidney, too!
A quick Time Out here to tout two other important causes formed and supported by the Grateful Dead family:
• Furthur Foundation: For nearly 25 years, the Furthur Foundation has been giving money to progressive non-profit groups working on environmental and social change issues.
• Unbroken Chain Foundation: Created in the spring of 1997 by Phil Lesh and friends, the Unbroken Chain Foundation is a nonprofit organization which seeks to perpetuate the long-standing tradition of community service that has been the hallmark of the remarkable three-decade relationship between the Grateful Dead and its audience.
After Jerry Garcia’s passing in 1995, the Grateful Dead went through a few iterations, as The Other Ones, and recently The Dead (The Gorge, May 16 2009), which featured Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band) on lead guitar (in the Jerry position). Warren was bluesy and slidy, which was fun and a little country, but I think this is going to be my favorite lineup since Jerry: John Kadlecik on lead. He brings 12 solid years of touring and playing Grateful Dead material with Dark Star Orchestra, a high-powered, professional tour de force. John says, endearingly, “I listened to classical music and my old, hand-me-down Beatles albums, and that’s pretty much all I listened to until high school in ’83-’84. At that time I had some friends who turned me on to The Police and The Cars and Rush and Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd—which a lot of people considered to be passé and oldies by that point, I suppose, but I didn’t care.” (Neither do I!!) Through a friend John discovered Grateful Dead music in 1987, and 23 years later he is playing lead guitar with the legends he worshiped!!! Read the entertaining John Kadlecik Interview.
Jeff Chimenti rocks the keyboards. From the further.net site: “Although he had never listened to Grateful Dead music, his relationship with saxophonist Dave Ellis introduced him to Bob Weir, and in 1997 he replaced the legendary Johnnie Johnson (of Chuck Berry fame) in Bob's band "RatDog." He later was the keyboard player for the Dead's re-constituted band "The Other Ones" which officially became "The Dead" with stints in 2002-2004, and then again in 2009.
Joe Russo on drums: Growing up in Northern NJ with walls covered by KISS posters, compelled by fire, make-up, and the ways of rock, Joe Russo began playing drums at the age of 8. Cutting his chops in the shadows of Bonham, his early tendencies leaned strongly to hard rock. At the age of 13, through the guidance of his teacher Frank Marino (Long Island Drum Center of Nyack) Joe began to discover a whole new world of drumming.
Stay tuned for the next installment: Furthur, The Experience
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