While the world celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11, I made the best selection I could to fit the vibe and that is a track off of the Grateful Dead’s 1989 release Built To Last titled Standing On The Moon.
Many in the Grateful Dead community have hypothesized that the outro lyrics, “A lovely view of heaven but I’d rather be with you” indicated a feeling from Jerry that while he appreciated the band’s success and fans, a part of him wanted to just be out in the crowd with everyone else. Makes sense.
The Contestants:
Big Frog: You may recognize this band from their spot opening for Phish back in 2000 during their Japan tour. The ever-elusive Phish opening act spot. Source: 8-1-2007
[audio:https://glidemag.wpengine.com/hiddentrack/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/bigfrogmoon.mp3]READ ON for the rest of this week’s Cover Wars contestants…
Navigating traffic on the way to Phish at Jones Beach last Friday, myself and four friends in the car started naming a bunch of great “rain” related Phish songs that could be played in honor of the impending weather. They didn’t play any of our ideas. Though I did take away my next selection for CW and that is this song off of the 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.
Every webpage out there supplying information on this song is quick to point out that the structure of the lyrics is based upon an old Scottish ballad titled Lord Randall. Have a look at the first verse…
O where hae you been, Lord Randall, my son?
O where hae you been, my handsome young man?
I hae been at the greenwoods, mother, make my bed soon.
For I’m wearied wi’ hunting, and fain would lie down.
The Contestants:
Bill Frisell: Leading off this week we’ve got our only instrumental rendition and it’s from one of the greatest living guitarists, Bill Frisell. Bill has got a lot of great folk/rock instrumental covers out there, I am particularly fond of his performances of I Heard It Through The Grapevine and Have A Little Faith. Source: East/West
[audio:https://glidemag.wpengine.com/hiddentrack/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/hardrainbill.mp3]READ ON for the rest of this week’s Cover Wars contestants…
What could be more American than seeing two of the most iconic American musicians playing minor baseball stadiums this summer? Well, how about you throw in a third to make
Back in 1996, Ken Hays of Terrapin Tapes started a festival called Deadhead Heaven in an attempt to bring all of Jerry’s kids together to enjoy a weekend of fantastic
Opening a two-night stand at this curious Long Island theater in-the-round, Weir and his crew were in satisfaction delivery mode, going for the familiar—Dylan chestnuts, Bob-sung favorites, a few fuzzy psyche-out moments—without taking too many chances until the end. Their opening run from "Shakedown" on was fun, but cursory; it wouldn't be until a slow-burning, wholly dramatic "Loser" that they'd really lock in. Steve Kimock too, was a colorist up until that point, and only keyboardist Jeff Chimenti—absolutely this band's undersung hero—had really grabbed the limelight, leaning barrelhouse for "Minglewood Blues."
With Steve Kimock continuing to fill in for Mark Karan on guitar, RatDog kicked off a northeast tour first at the Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, Conn, followed the next night by this special Jack Kerouac-themed stop in Lowell to recognize the 50th anniversary of On The Road’s release.
Bob Weir and RatDog and Keller Williams will cross the country this summer, sharing a stage both separately and together, making music and doing what they do best. The
Fireside Live is loads of fun, as if Joey DeFrancesco or Jimmy Scott traded in the more academic jazz aesthetic (but retained same chops and improvisational proclivities) to front a boozy gospel-rock outfit Ginty’s taken to calling “outlaw gospel.”
Once again the folks at Terrapin Presents have upped the ante on keeping the spirit of the Grateful Dead alive by providing genre bending music that keeps the adventure of improvisation and collaboration alive.
Photos by Norman Sands of Ratdog, String Cheese Incident and Keller Williams performing at Summerfest, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 6th, 2006.
