Phil Lesh - Big Plans for 2014 after Free Show in Central Park

Phil Lesh

It is old news that the latest Grateful Dead formation, Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, is taking a 2014 hiatus after their sold-out four-night event in January called Paradise Waits at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico.  After their bash on the beach, Weir and Lesh both intend to keep playing music, focusing on their solo projects.  This is understandable considering Furthur’s intense touring schedule over the past four years.  It was just announced that Lesh, 73, is teaming up with heavyweight music promoter and Relix Magazine publisher Peter Shapiro to pursue an easier way to keep the music going after 46 years on the road.

Thick As Theives - Brooklyn Bowl 3.19.13

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Fuzz driven, greasy garage rock is a sound that sort of disappeared at some time between the depressing days of disco and its variant offspring.  Thankfully, strong musical styles survive time and turmoil, as demonstrated by Thick As Theives, an emerging band that played a strong set at Brooklyn Bowl last Wednesday night.  

Umphrey's McGee Closes Out Four Nights At Brooklyn Bowl - By Bill Kelly

Umphrey's McGee at Brooklyn Bowl

 Musicianship was on display in Williamsburg Friday night as Umphrey's McGee completed a sold out four night run.  Led by the dual guitar team of Brendan Baylis and Jake Cinninger, the band and crowd traded energy all night.  Like a louder, jazz inflected offspring of the Grateful Dead (Bob Weir joined that band during Tuesday night's second set) the band used songs as framework for improvisation, touching on classic jazz (Davis' "So What") and classic Rock, covering Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" and The Who.  The audience and band communicated regularly, moving in unison.  Rounded out by Ryan Stasik's booming base darting in between the two guitarist,  percussionist Kris Myers and Andy Farig and Joel Cummins' keyboard and synth, the band displayed a veteran jams band sense of exploration; pushing, leaving and returning to themes.  It was clear from the reaction of the crowd that that was exactly what they came for.

Brendan Bayliss relaxes with a glass of his favorite red