Mood and muse, two inexplicably intertwined elements of an ethereal nature, yet their power to move both body and mind know no bounds.  Flowing throughout the in-between like gravity and wind, these forces are foundational and creative to the many worlds that arise out of the relationship of things, out of the happenings originated by togetherness; a place born betwixt seed and light, lung and tree, heart and rhythm, a place where all things come together to form each thing (each moment) throughout all size and time.  And where all things come together—so too, does mood and muse.<

Bozeman-based bluegrass phenomena Kitchen Dwellers have been sweeping the nation with their high energy, fast-paced style, and unique tone. It’s a style that’s earned them the title “Galaxy Grass,” and one that comes with high expectations that they certainly live up to.

In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shapeshifting is the ability of a being or creature to completely transform its physical form or shape. In the world of music, the verb can be applied in a similar context, particularly to one New York powerhouse funk quartet. Enter TAUK, a mind-melting, constantly moving, an ever-evolving force of nature that has taken the jam community by storm with their complex time signatures and catchy, melodic grooves.

Spring has arrived in Southern California and with the new season comes the beginning of music festival season. The West coasts most prestigious musical gathering, the Coachella Music and Arts Festival is set to take place over the weekends of April 13-15 and 20-22. The festival is celebrating its 19th year, with a claim of being bigger and better than ever. Last year ticket sales were increased to 125,00 per year versus 90,000 the year before. The festival also added an eighth stage as well, the Sonora stage.

The Infamous Stringdusters—mid-stride a strong driving, country-wide, Grammy inspired tour—came rolling through Portland’s Crystal Ballroom breathing fire March 9th, and smoked the house.  With the Stringdusters receiving well-deserved coverage from news media, music magazines, professional writers and PR firms, Grateful Web looked to the fan for the “real story.”  I recently contacted Gail Lordi, whom attended the show with her husband, Kliff Hopson, an

Every once in a while, an extraordinary being comes along who recognizes the obvious where no one else does.  Working with a Nobel Prize winning astrophysicist and a cutting-edge neuroscientist, Mickey Hart continues to be an undeniable force within the human mind.  Just as Newton brought gravity to sight, Hart brings sound to light; and while his achievements are mind-blowing, they’re not nearly as magnificent as the vision that drives them.

Multifarious guitar player Stephen Inglis is no stranger to the music of the Grateful Dead. A life-long Deadhead through and through, Stephen took his native Hawaiian guitar playing roots and mingled it with the band that changed his life. In conversation with Grateful Web, Stephen opened up about his ambitious solo Slack Key Guitar-centered album Cut The Dead Some Slack.

GW: Can you talk about your musical beginnings? Who are your influences?

Grateful Web recently spoke with Spafford keyboardist Red Johnson between soundcheck and dinner at Terrapin Crossroads on March 4th, 2017 (review).  Red offered plenty of Spafford insights and motivations.

Grateful Web: Have you played the Bay Area before?

Spafford, the improvisational musical wizards from down Phoenix way, swept through Marin County, California, on their latest tour, touching down for a weekend of songs and jamming at Terrapin Crossroads.

Something really remarkable happened at the Fare Thee Well shows in 2015.  Instead of being a goodbye, it was a re-ignition, a passing of the torch in some ways.  Although Jerry was always quick to point out that it was Dead Heads who created themselves, the phenomenon of Dead Head-ism was focused on the band for the first 30 years.  And it was fairly fractured for the next twenty, with some liking some iterations, and others, not.  And the musicians aren’t done, whether it’s Dead & Co. or Phil and Bobby’s recent duo, or the future outings of Billy and Mickey.