Recently, Ivan Neville commented, “Derek Trucks is a happening deal. He’s the best guitar player I’ve heard in years.” And, he’s absolutely right. It is praise such as that, coming from his musician peers, that has followed Derek Trucks‘ entire life. Touted as a genius guitar virtuoso when he wasn’t out of high school, Trucks… Continue reading Derek Trucks Band
Grateful Web recently caught up with Ivan Neville while he was in Maryland. The phone interview had to be postponed for two hours while Neville enjoyed some crab cakes, reputed to be the best in the country. “I’m in Baltimore ” he said. “You’ve got to have crab cakes, and I want to give them… Continue reading Dumpsta-Divin' with Ivan Neville
British-born keys player Jon Cleary now makes New Orleans his home where he has immersed himself in a social structure that lives and breathes music. He offers a unique perspective on the cultures that produced New Orleans popular music. “In New Orleans, music is such an important part of the culture here,” says Cleary. It… Continue reading Jon Cleary On New Orleans Music: Part Two
Jon Cleary’s upbringing, amid a family of musicians in England, clearly put him on his lifepath. He was destined to be a musician. “There was never any question,” he says. “That was all I really ever wanted to do.” His family, however, weren’t just players, they were avid enthusiasts and collectors. “Everybody in the family… Continue reading Jon Cleary On New Orleans Music: Part One
In a rare Grateful Dead booking configuration, this year’s 10,000 Lakes Festival will feature not only found Dead member Bob Weir and his band Ratdog, but also Chicago’s Mr. Blotto and New Riders of the Purple Sage. Mr. Blotto is touring in support of their latest album, Barlow Shanghai, a collaboration with gifted Dead songwriter,… Continue reading Bob Weir, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Mr. Blotto, & Festival Philosophy
Of all the great artists making the rounds this year, none have been more ambitious than Umphrey’s McGee. They released the follow-up album to Safety in Numbers called The Bottom Half; a risky two-disc endeavor of leftover studio gems and insightful audio fragments. The band has also since embarked on a national tour that will… Continue reading Grateful Web Interview with Jake Cinninger
The last eight months have been kind of a crossroads period for San Francisco rockers, New Monsoon. Not only did they recruit a new bass player, but also lost their two key percussionists who have left the band indefinitely. In today’s fragile music scene, this situation could have been disastrous. However, New Monsoon has managed… Continue reading Grateful Web Interview with New Monsoon's Ron Johnson
There is a new trend in the music industry today, bands which have been broken up for decades reforming suddenly in order to cash in on the pocketbooks and prosperity of their baby-boomer generation fans. Groups like The Police, Cream, and Pink Floyd have all appeared on stage together recently after years of absence, often… Continue reading Not Missing a Step: An Interview with The New Riders of the Purple Sage
This is the beginning. You are about to read Part I of a 3 part series about a quest for true Americana, true outlaws, true America. In case you haven’t noticed, the somewhat over genricized music industry is breeding a dozen cowpokes per corral. And America is it recognizable to you? So yours truly, a… Continue reading Searching for a Real Outlaw Part I
Phil Lesh like his Grateful Dead bandmates are the force behind the jam festival culture today. Lesh is continuing to tour this summer, along with some topnotch young jam musicians. Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon, formerly from Phish, are both jam legends in their own right, having learned that the grassroots is where music activism… Continue reading Phil Lesh Legacy
