2010

It’s been 28 years since the members of the Tombstone Blues Band graced the Fairbanks High School Gymnasium with their ambitious covers and crackling 15-year old voices. Most folks probably associate the Tombstone Blues Band with that funny picture of Mike Gordon and his band mates – Kerry Keefe (vocals, bass, harmonica), Dan McBride (lead/rhythm guitar, vocals) and  Bruce Diehl (drums) – but they were a pretty progressive band for a bunch high school kids, tackling Johnny B. Goode, Johnny Winter’s version of Bony Moronie, Riders on the Storm and Won’t Get Fooled Again.

Obviously, everybody knows what happened to that goofy guy who played bass and keyboards as he became a founding member of Phish, but Mike’s band mate Reverend B. Kerry Keefe has also kept with his playing as well, albeit in a different context. For Reverend Kerry, it’s been a windy road since high school, but after some tough times, he found his way to gospel music.  Just recently, he finished off a three-year long project called Glory To His Name, which features Keefe on guitar as well as Florence Knight and Pastor Thurman Hargrove, combines black gospel with classic rock and funk to form a powerful spiritual sound. Make no mistake about it, 28 years later “The Rev” still tears it up.

Hidden Track: So, let’s start at the beginning, can you talk about what you’ve been up to since high school and what drove you to become a reverend?

Rev. Kerry: Since high school, we all went on to college. I made it to Clark University, where I not only earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and English, but also a man-eating drinking habit. Everyone else kind of went on with their lives, and I proceeded to party like it was 1986 for about twelve years. Fast forward to 1996, a ruined marriage and me staring at my tired face in the mirror saying, “There’s got to be something better than this.” I stumbled upon prayer in my desperation, and I believed, and began a new life.

Ultimately, I was lead to the church where in addition to my sobriety, I learned I had gifts in the Word and ministry. God gave me my music gift back. I was lucky if I picked up the guitar a dozen times in the last five years of my drinking. Lots of folks picture rock stars partying and drinking, but it doesn’t seem to work too well. Long story short, I got my life back, my music back and God is still in the process of returning me to where I should have been: beautiful marriage, children and gainful employment as a counselor in the State Prison system in addition to my role as associate minister at the church.

READ ON for more of Ryan’s chat with Reverend Kerry…

Fourmile Canyon Revival featuring String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Vince Herman & Drew Emmittt and Very Special Guests Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio – October 9, 2010 @ 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO

I woke up a little bit late on September 6, Labor Day, and walked out to my backyard to drink a cup of coffee. My roommate pointed out that in the distance smoke was rising behind the mountains. Until I got to a TV, I had no idea the magnitude of what was happening only a few miles away. Driving through the town of Boulder, half of the sky was clear, but the other was completely covered in reddish-brown smoke. I had barely gotten out of the car before a fleck of ash landed in my eye, and then another and another.

[Photos by Brendan Flanagan]

The fire had started that morning in Fourmile Canyon, and spread quickly to surrounding areas including the historic Gold Hill, Sunshine Canyon, and parts of Bald Mountain. Firefighters from 20 states came to battle the blaze as 3,500 people were evacuated from their homes, but within a matter of days the most destructive fire in Colorado state history destroyed 6,400 acres and 169 homes.

One of the many families displaced by the fire was that of String Cheese Incident bass player Keith Moseley. As he began to realize the destruction that occurred, and the effect that it had on his immediate community, he and bandmate Bill Nershi started to organize a benefit concert. With the help of local radio station KBCO, Yonder Mountain String Band, Big Head Todd & The Monsters and Vince Herman & Drew Emmitt – all of whom hold close ties to the area – a benefit concert was planned for October 9, 2010.

READ ON for more on the Fourmile Canyon Revival…

For the encore of their 2007 performance at the quirky home of the London Symphony Orchestra, St. Lukes, Gillian Welch and long-time musical partner, David Rawlings, brought out the members

We welcome our newest Featured Columnist – Brian Bavosa – to the Hidden Track family, where he will bring his bi-weekly diatribes about life, liberty and the pursuit of Gamehendge. Take it away, Brian…

First off, let me welcome you to my new home. So, please wipe your shoes – or take them off all together if you please – for this is my humble, plush and shaggy electronically carpeted confines, affectionately dubbed Postcards From Page Side. My name is Brian Bavosa, music fan and journalist, whom some of you may have met at some of our favorite shows over the years.

[Photo by Pete Tschudy]

The rules of “Page Side” will be simply, or all together non-existent. It will be imperfect, like me, but with every intention to tell it like it is, from the perspective a a boy who grew up rocking out to the same tunes that have kept me in this scene right up until today. The column will include lots of stuff: from history lessons and live reviews, to interviews and I’m sure a few black-and-blues. PFPS promises to have a little bit for everyone, including the long-winded, tongue-twirling malarkey that I’ve been know to spout from my musical pulpit on occasion. Just try and debate me on Jagger vs. Bowie’s wardrobe of the 1970’s or the best Harry Hood ever and I’ll talk your ear off until it bleeds. My girlfriend can attest to that.

Think of me as Hidden Track’s utility ballplayer, who sometimes will go deep for a walk-off homer, play all nine positions if needed and always will be the first with a shaving-cream-pie-to-the-face after a big win during the post-game, TV interview.  But whatever the case, I invite you to stop by and peruse, have a cup of coffee and make this column a regular read, as all things Page Side shall focus on the reason we are all here: the mighty, transcendent power of MUSIC and all of the trimmings that go along with it.

Sure, I’ll go on tangents about Phish – my all-time favorite and a band I spent time being a beat-writer of sorts for on the road for certain publications – but will not be my only focus, despite the column’s name, but more of an inspiration, or jumping off point, and also aim to give you some of my insights into what else makes the world of music so special and meaningful.

READ ON for more of Postcards From Page Side…

Music Today has started sending out notices of regret and confirmation to those who entered the lottery for tickets to Phish’s New Year’s Run. How did you fare? Let us know