Posts by Ross Warner

The Mule never disappoints. The first set of the April 25th show at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury seemed like it might be a mellow one. Sure, Warren Haynes showed his usual guitar brilliance on “Railroad Boy” and “Thorazine Shuffle,” but once the instrumental “Sco-Mule” began, it seemed like this might be the usual raging […]

When writing about As The Crow Flies a few weeks back, the author found no predictions or expectations for what this band might sound like. No matter what Chris Robinson says or feels about the band he created these songs with, it is his voice that is synonymous with this music.  The Magpie Salute has become […]

When the Black Crowes first officially reunited with their “classic” lineup in 2005 following a four-year hiatus, it included guitar virtuoso Marc Ford. After a little over a year of touring, Ford left again in fall of 2006, along with keyboardist Eddie Harsch. Paul Stacey, Luther Dickinson, and Jackie Greene have all since been used […]

The Nor’easter that hit the East Coast Friday night March 2nd made what was already an unprecedented evening at Radio City Music Hall even weirder. This was the first time that Bob Weir and Phil Lesh would ever play as a duo and no one knew what to expect. The concept had obviously attracted a […]

John Perry Barlow, (who passed away 2/6/18) was many things besides Bob Weir’s lyricist for the Grateful Dead – a free speech champion and the builder of the influential Electronic Frontier Foundation. Making a top ten list of his greatest lyrical compositions seems almost unfair, but while fellow Dead lyricist Robert Hunter typically took a […]

Gov’t Mule made their return to Atlantic City with a batch of “old school” Mule. And even though they were playing at the Borgata Events Center, the carpeted floors made it feel like the show was in a hotel ballroom. Needless to say, it gave the proceedings a cozy feel. “Thorazine Shuffle” hit some nice […]

It’s hard to believe that this was the Magpie Salute’s third trip to New York this year. After all, they just started playing as a bad at the Gramercy Theatre in January.  By their summer tour, they’d gelled and opened up their setlists. Now, as they finish off a year of touring, they returned to […]

“Never miss a Sunday show.” Somehow, that’s become a thing over the last couple of years. The logic holds up. You could always count on the Grateful Dead (still the source of the entire “jamband” scene) to play strongest on the “off nights.” Friday and Saturday was usually for the masses, but if you wanted […]

Brent Mydland always saw himself as the new guy on keyboards for the Grateful Dead. He held that keyboard position longer than anyone before or since, but could never rid himself of the feeling of not completely belonging in the group.  He cut his teeth in the LA-based band Silver and then with Bob Weir’s “Midnites.” […]

The Black Crowes never got enough credit for their guitar work. The Robinsons wrote some great songs and their performances continually kicked ass. But the chemistry that Rich and Marc Ford had during his two tours of duty in the Crowes were Allmanesque. With so many Crowes shows from that period available (both as bootlegs […]

It was almost exactly a year ago that this reviewer wrote a glowing account of how John Mayer and the remaining touring members of the Grateful Dead found each other at the perfect time. But no one really knew what to expect when Dead and Company took their act to the summer sheds and stadiums. […]

There’s a lot going on in the Deadhead universe right now. Last month, The Grateful Dead Movie celebrated its 40th anniversary with a one-night return to cinemas. Last week, the Get Shown The Light boxed set was released just in time for 40th anniversary of those shows (New Haven, Boston, Cornell, Buffalo). Later this month, […]

By Saturday’s show at the Gramercy, The Magpie Salute had a couple of shows under their belt as an official band. Starting with a touching tribute to late keyboardist Eddie Harsch during Thursday’s “Descending,” the group kept its promise of trying to rekindle the magic between former Black Crowes members Sven Pipien, Marc Ford, and […]

Marc Ford has always seemed like a guy you can’t help but root for. His wicked guitar tone appears to be in complete contrast to his humble demeanor. When he asked his fans to help fund his latest studio album The Vulture, it was one of the few instances where a Kickstarter Campaign wasn’t met […]

The last time this reviewer was Dark Star Orchestra was for their amazing recreation of the last Europe ’72 show. That performance, which kicked off “Jerry Week” in style, was their first appearance at the Ford Amphitheater on Coney Island’s boardwalk. The Paramount, on the other hand, has become Dark Star’s second home during their […]

“I like to have a good time, and I don’t care who gets hurt.”—“Mr. Bad Example,” 1991 If you mention the name Warren Zevon to someone, they usually give you a look that indicates that they have no idea whatsoever who he is or that they know him as the “Werewolves Of London” guy. His […]

To call the period between August 1 and August 9 “The Days Between” seems a more than a little depressing. “Jerry Week” sounds like the celebration it truly is. With Dead and Company’s triumphant summer tour ending on Saturday, Warren Haynes’ orchestral Garcia tribute tour starting up, and a glut of official archival releases, it’s […]

With the soundboard from Saturday’s show Dead & Company show playing through the speakers, the magnificence of the first show at Citi Field is confirmed. Guitarist John Mayer has made no secret of the fact that he found the Dead’s music at a time where he hit rock bottom. He was a bona fide pop […]

Expectations ran high for Saturday night’s Capitol Theatre show in Port Chester as this was the first time former Jerry Garcia Band keyboardist Melvin Seals sat in with Phil Lesh and Friends. Unfortunately, this was not the show to be at. Before assuming that the following review is overly harsh, I urge you to check […]

This reviewer last covered Dark Star Orchestra in 2011 when they covered the Grateful Dead’s final Fillmore East show from 1971. Since that time, Furthur disbanded after Bob Weir’s back problems forced him off the road and then last summer’s “Fare Thee Well,” shows commemorating the band’s 50th anniversary, which led to Weir and Phil […]