Interviews

For The String Cheese Incident’s Michael Kang, another fall tour is on the horizon and things are looking brighter than ever for the nearly 20-year veteran. After all, the eclectic six-piece jam band just finished up yet another action-packed stretch filled with headlining spots at some of the summer’s biggest festivals, a spectacular three-night Red Rocks run, as well as purchasing a brand-new studio space to master some of their upcoming tracks.

This is Dylan Muhlberg of Grateful Web. I am joined by veteran photographer, author, and anthropologist Jay Blakesberg, His presence has been pivotal in American rock music scene since 1980s, particularly rooted in the Grateful Dead community. His iconic photography is regularly featured through publications like Relix, Rolling Stone, and Guitar Player. He is granted a rare trust and inclusivity from legendary rock musicians. His tenth photographic volume of rock anthropology is his finest to date.

In anticipation of TAUK's upcoming shows, Grateful Web picked the brain of keyboard magician, Alric “A.C.” Carter.

Grateful Web: Hi Alric, Thanks for taking some time to talk with me. I really appreciate it.

GW: First off you just dropped a new live album on 1320 records titled “HEADROOM.” Can you talk a little bit about why you decided to put out a live record vs. a studio album?

Leftover Salmon doesn’t have a lot of troubles. They’re a strong, long-lasting band that knows what it is to be professional, traveling musicians. Playing in Eureka Springs, Ark. during Hillberry 2, Leftover Salmon will surely bring the bluegrass…and the funk, and the Cajun, and the vast talent that’s been building over the last 26 years, including banjo player Andy Thorn.

 

“The Ballad of Black Bart” inspired by an Oregon outlaw on Blue Lotus latest album Across The Canyon.  Blue Lotus singer and songwriter Brandelyn Rose chats with Grateful Web on this release, while in tour in Colorado.

GW:  How is Denver treating you?

Brandelyn:  It’s good.  It’s my first time here.  We don’t know anyone out here. 

Childhood friends and bandmates of Brothers Gow are increasing their tour dates and broadening their live show reach.  Amid the bands busy schedule, Brothers Gow finds time to support their foundation which provides musical instruments to surrounding grade schools in the local San Diego school district.  Kyle Merrill and Ethan Wade of Brothers Gow talks with Grateful Web before sound check at their show in Boulder,

Over the Riot Fest Denver 2015 weekend I had the opportunity to meet with cult mystery and alien overlords GWAR. A 30 year touring satirical metal band famous for depraved costumes, wild onstage performance art and gallons of fake blood sprayed from severed heads, babies asses and slayed celebrity puppets. In full costume and character for this interview I kept it brief and as loose as possible.

Grateful Web was humbled and honored to have an extended conversation with jazz-fusion guitarist and bandleader John McLaughlin. He began recording and composing groundbreaking music in the 1960s before joining forces with Miles Davis on his landmark albums “In A Silent Way” and “Bitches Brew”. His band Mahavishnu Orchestra was the fundamental jazz-fusion originator. His illustrious career since has been continually remarkable.

Many thoughts come to mind when one hears the phrase ‘Elephant Revival.’ For some, it’s a completely abstract concept. For others, the name rings true – although the many truths Elephant Revival listeners happen upon through their music are many, there’s a connection we all feel written within each song Elephant Revival brings to the stage.

One of the finest tribute projects honoring the work of Grateful Dead is the instrumental ensemble of Jazz is Dead. Formed in the late 1990s after the passing of Dead guitarist and bandleader Jerry Garcia, Jazz is Dead featured the best cats out there including drummer Billy Cobham and the late keyboardist T. Lavitz. As the project evolved other tremendously talented players entered the picture to continue this strikingly singular idea.