Andy Falco and Travis Book — guitarist and bassist of the Grammy-winning Infamous Stringdusters — are stepping out as a duo to celebrate the music of Jerry Garcia. This stripped-down project gives fans a rare chance to hear Garcia’s songs in their most intimate form, guided by two players who know how to balance tradition with fearless improvisation.
This October, they’ll bring the tribute to Colorado for two nights: 10 Mile Music Hall in Frisco on Friday, October 17 and The Fox Theatre in Boulder on Sunday, October 19. Both venues will host evenings of songs drawn from Garcia’s solo work, the Grateful Dead’s catalog, and the traditional Americana tunes Jerry himself loved to reinterpret.
Ahead of the shows, Grateful Web caught up with Andy Falco to talk about the origins of the project, the challenges of playing as a duo, his personal connection to Garcia’s music, and what fans can expect in Colorado.
GW: What can fans expect from your upcoming Colorado shows at the Fox Theatre and 10 Mile Music Hall?
Andy: Well, as you would expect from the name of the show, it’s Falco and Book play Garcia and that’s pretty much what you can expect. We generally tap into songs Garcia had in his repertoire throughout his career whether it’s Grateful Dead, Garcia Band, Garcia/Grisman, or anything in between.
GW: How does the energy differ between playing an intimate duo show and a big Stringdusters gig?
Andy: With the duo Jerry gigs we pretty much only play listening types of rooms rather than party rooms. Not to say that people don’t get up and dance and have a good time, but the Jerry show is generally a listening experience because we try to maintain the proper dynamics for the songs, which means that at times the music can get pretty delicate.
GW: What is it about Colorado audiences that makes these shows special for you?
Andy: Well, the idea really was born in Colorado, and while we have played a few times in Colorado, we have not done a tour or run of shows like this before. So we’re really looking forward to spreading the gospel of Jerry for several nights around different parts of Colorado.
GW: Colorado has a deep history with Garcia and the Dead. Do you feel that legacy in the room when you play here?
Andy: Yeah, you could definitely feel that, and it makes it all the more special to play these shows in Colorado.
GW: How did this project of playing Garcia’s music together first come to life?
Andy: Initially, I was supposed to do a guitar workshop at the Elks Park stage during the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I felt like maybe it would be better to do more of a performance rather than a workshop, and had the idea that maybe it would be fun to play a set of Jerry tunes. I asked Travis if he would join me because we often warm up backstage or just jam some Jerry and we would have so much fun with it.
For that particular Elks Park stage set we also had Jacob Jolliff on mandolin, who was playing with Yonder Mountain String Band at the time. So it was billed that we were gonna play the music of Garcia, and the whole hill was filled up with Deadheads when we showed up. Getting to play that music and experiencing it with a big group of people, all who shared the same love of Garcia as we do, was such a special experience. So we decided to make it something that we could do and bring around to different cities. As I often say to the crowd, we think of it like we are celebrating Jerry Garcia not for the audience, but rather with the audience.
GW: What do you think makes Jerry’s music so timeless and resonant across generations?
Andy: When I was younger, I think there was a lot that attracted me to the Grateful Dead, and oftentimes people think, “oh it’s the long jams,” or the scene at the shows. But as you get older, you realize — it’s the songs. Great songs will last forever, and I think it’s a testament to the quality of the songwriting of why Jerry’s music is so timeless and resonant across generations. We really try to put an emphasis on the songwriting at these shows as much as anything else.
GW: Do you feel a responsibility to stay close to Garcia’s versions, or is the goal to reinterpret and explore?
Andy: I think we try to recreate the feeling of the songs and the dynamics more than the individual specific parts. There are times when I may be playing Jerry’s part on the guitar or I may be playing Bob’s part, or even Brent’s keyboard part. Same with Travis — he may be playing Phil’s part but also might be playing a line that Jerry or Bob played. Between the two of us, we try to have the fundamental parts of the song represented, and we adhere to the dynamics — when things got big, when things got delicate and quiet. That’s very important for this music.
GW: Which Garcia song has surprised you the most once you began performing it?
Andy: Probably Help on the Way > Slipknot! Or maybe Terrapin. There’s something magical that happens playing those songs as a duo, but it was definitely challenging to come up with the right arrangement and parts to make it sound right.
GW: What are a couple of your personal favorite Garcia songs to play in this format, and why?
Andy: I honestly love them all. We don’t write a setlist — we feel the room out and just play what we feel is right for the moment. I do make a short list of songs and try to vary things so that we’re not doing repeats on consecutive nights, but generally, we just get to play all of our favorites.
GW: Jerry blended traditional American music with psychedelia, jazz, and soul. How do you carry that spirit in your duo shows?
Andy: We just try to play from that same approach as best as we can.
GW: What kind of freedom does the duo format give you in terms of improvisation?
Andy: It gives you a lot of freedom because there’s only one other person there that you have to follow or that has to follow you. So the music becomes very malleable, very fluid, and can kind of go anywhere at any time.
GW: What are the biggest challenges of filling space with just guitar and bass?
Andy: We just try to find the best way to represent all the fundamental parts of the song. If those fundamental parts are being played and sung, and you have great songs — which Jerry always had — it works, because the song can carry everything.
GW: Do you find the vulnerability of a duo setting more thrilling or intimidating?
Andy: I actually find it thrilling… and intimidating [laughs]. It’s kind of like riding a roller coaster — you might be terrified at times, but you know you’re gonna be OK.
GW: How has Jerry Garcia personally influenced you as a musician?
Andy: Jerry Garcia influenced me tremendously. I was turned onto the Grateful Dead very early by my older brother Tom, and the influence that Garcia and the Dead had on me cannot be overstated. It’s how I discovered country music, bluegrass, soul, and how to jam. I certainly wouldn’t be the musician I am today without Jerry Garcia — and maybe not even a musician at all.
GW: Were there particular Garcia or Grateful Dead shows/recordings that shaped your path?
Andy: I went to my first Grateful Dead show in 1986 when my older brother Tom signed me out of school and threw me in a car with his friends to the Hartford Civic Center. He had already turned me onto the Dead and I had listened to the tapes, but seeing them for the first time was just mind-blowing — and the rest is history.
GW: Have any fans shared stories with you about how Garcia’s music — or your interpretations — impacted them?
Andy: Yeah, they have. What’s really special about these shows is when older Deadheads connect with what we’re doing. The biggest compliment is when someone comes up and says, “man, thank you very much. I haven’t felt that way listening to this music since the last time I saw Jerry.” I’m not sure I agree with that — maybe they’re just being polite — but it sure is nice to hear.
GW: Do you see this project continuing to evolve?
Andy: A big part of the charm of this project is being a duo and the way that Travis and I can play together. We’ve done well over our 10,000 hours playing music together between the Stringdusters and other things. There’s something unique about it that doesn’t really call for special guests. We did release a live album from our first tour on our Americana Vibes label, and I’m sure Volume Two will be coming in the future.
Don’t Miss These Shows
Falco and Book’s duo tribute to Jerry Garcia is not just a performance — it’s a gathering with the audience to celebrate the songs that shaped a generation and continue to resonate today. Whether you’re a lifelong Deadhead, a Stringdusters fan, or simply someone who loves heartfelt American music, these Colorado shows promise something unforgettable.
Andy Falco & Travis Book Play Garcia
Grab your tickets now and join the celebration.
