Clearly, Mickey Hart is taking music making in cosmic directions.
It’s another perfect segue for the legendary drummer of the Grateful Dead.
With his knack for innovation, he’s leaping light years here, from using his son’s in utero heart beat for his album Music to be Born By to this: harnessing the sounds of the universe through the conversion of radio waves, light rays. and electromagnetic vibrations into music. Truly, this is “Music of the Spheres
Recently, he brought his band to La Zona Rosa, a club in downtown Austin, the heart of Austin’s famous music scene. With a talented ensemble, he wove songs from his new album Mysterium Tremendum around Grateful Dead favorites.
They opened with a cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” This was tantamount to really turning things on their head, as the song had always been a popular show closer for the Dead. Other popular Grateful Dead originals included “Bertha,” “West L.A. Fadeway,” and the Hart-Robert Hunter penned “Fire on the Mountain.”
The songs from Mysterium Tremendum transported us to realms we’ve never before been. As a veteran of more than a hundred grateful Dead shows, I can honestly say this brought it all back home. Considering his source for Music to be BornBy, Hart takes a leap from the micro to macro with “Heartbeat Of The Sun.” Other songs from the album included “Time Never Ends,” “Slow Joe Rain,” and “Starlight Starbright.” No doubt Hart intends to hang the sun, the moon, and stars and he delivers.
With lyrics from Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia’s long time writing partner and verily, the VOICE of the Grateful Dead, the music manages to integrate the legacy of the Grateful Dead with new sonic forms and innovative explorations in cosmic creativity never before heard.
The Mickey Hart Band features Crystal Monee Hall on vocals, Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju, Dave Schools, the bassist from Widespread Panic, Ian “Inkx” Herman on drums, Tim Hockenberry on keyboards, and Gawain Mathews on guitar. And of course, you’ve Mickey Hart at the helm of this sonic starship. Make it so, Mickey!
If you’re a Deadhead or even if you’re not, you won’t know what you’re missing until you surfed the cosmic sound waves with the Mickey Hart Band.
Another great show from Mickey Hart and his band. After a week on tour, the band was ready to smoke! The energy was high throughout the show – this band gets better and better. Starting to really mix up the setlist, and throwing in some new things too, like the surprise Sly Stone cover “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”.
Crystal Hall is obviously having a blast, her sweet singing voice embraces the songs, and she’s rocking out on rhythm guitar too. Gawain Matthews takes his solos and realy opens it up sonically into some high places we haven’t been before. And his interactions with bass player Dave Schools are cool, they have a few laughs together while playing.
Tim Hockenberry has a deep rich voice, somewhere between Tom Waits and Peter Gabriel in timbre and expression. Switching between keyboards and trombone, he’s a showman without showing off.
Of course the band keeps on groovin’ along with deep rhythm, Ian INKX Herman at the drum kit. Mickey is the maestro, orchestrating cosmic sounds into songs; “Heartbeat” is created from the sounds of the sun, and while it is Mickey’s standard 2nd set opener, it is never the same twice, as it deeply entrances us into a deep state of awe. It was clear Mickey was having more fun than ever in Healdsburg – his energy was more relaxed than the previous week in Santa Cruz, tuned in, and engaged with the audience at this show. The tour has been going well, he knows the music is good, and he invites us all to come along and “enjoy the ride!” And you know that is what DHL is all about!
It was great to hear talking drum master Sikiru Adepoju step up to the mic on “Who Stole The Show”!
Along with all the new songs, the band still broke out some Grateful Dead tunes; Mickey told me last summer, it is part of who he is. Crysrtal sang “Brokedown Palace” in the middle of set one – nice placement, this song does not have to live as an encore always. And a fun and hot “Franklin’s Tower” closed the first set leaving us all smiling as we migrated out for setbreak.
A nice crowd of mostly locals from Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma county in general. Each town has such a different vibe, and this wasdefinately the wine country crowd, relaxed and chatty, socializing freely durring the break (where as Santa Cruz was more “hippie”, with large portions of the audience doing stretches and yoga between sets, nothing worng with it, but very differnet energy!) This was the closest to Mickey’s hometown show, and it had a very freindly feel to it. Most of the band members had friends and family there, and it felt open to hang out and talk.
Set two included a powerful version of “The Other One” that segued into the new song “Cut The Deck”, which really impressed my friend who had come with me – she is not a Deadhead, by the way. She turned to me and said “I really like this song!” It could actually be a break out, I could see this getting airplay on non-deadhead radio. If you don’t tell people it’s by someone in the Grateful Dead, you might be able to slip it by them!
I spoke with Tim Hockenberry and keyboardist/producer Ben Yonas after the show, and they were both very excited about the new CD. They’re proud of their work, and can’t wait for you to hear it. The CD drops on April 10th, Mysterium Tremendium on Shout! Factory records. DHL will be reviewing it for you shortly. The live versions are great – can’t wait to hear what the studio version sounds like.
Enjoy the great pictures here from my old friend Cheryl Alterman, of Cheryl Alterman Photography. While not a Deadhead, Cheryl’s been going to concerts with me since we were teenagers, and it was fun for me to turn her on to the Mickey Hart Band. I think she had fun… it’s infectous! Mickey and his band have a good thing going here, and the newness of it is exciting. It is so differnet than anythng else in the Dead ‘lands! It’s fresh and fun, danceable, and meaningful.
Keep on rocking Mickey and band, you know our love will not fade away!
GRATE STUFF! Mickey’s new band is fresh from the studio, their album is coming on April 10th. This was the first show of their tour, and they felt a little tentative… for about 45 seconds! Then they kicked it in, opening with a rousing “Not Fade Away”. Then most of the 1st set was filled with their new material, though since they have been playing some of these songs now since August 211, the grooves are deeper and richer than before. The set closed with a “Fire On The Mountain” with some very fresh phrasing from Tim Hockenberry. The band was on fire, and not even a whole pail of water could have cooled them down.
The second set opened with some of Mickey’s outer space sonifications, bringing “the sound of the Sun” to our ears and bodies… the vibes of “Heartbeat” washed over us and into us, and the 2nd set took us all on a deeper voyage. Again, mostly new grooves, with a very different “The Other One” in the middle, with Dave Schools dropping the bombs on us! The set wrapped up with “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” > a sweet sing along “And We Bid You Goodnight”. Gawain Matthews gave us some thrilling lead guitar all night, and his riffs on this last number were gorgeous.
Two debuts (for this band) for the encore, “Franklin’s Tower”, and a touching “Stella Blue” sung by Crystal Hall to close the show.
What I love with this band is that they are doing something different. Mostly new songs, mostly with Robert hunter lyrics. Enough Dead tunes to keep it friendly, but even those have a whole new way of sounding. The Mickey Hart Band is a very fresh and innovative group, shedding some new light, dusting off the rust, and making it shine!
Mickey Hart Band
Mickey Hart, Dave Schools, Gawain Matthews, Tim Hockenberry, Crystal Monee Hall, Ben Yonas, Sikiru Adepoju, Ian “INKX” Herman
Rio Theatre
Santa Cruz, California
March 1, 2012
Opening: Lenka Dusilova
Mickey Hart Band – 1st set:
Not Fade Away
Time Never Ends
Slo Jo Rain
Djinn Djinn >
Let There Be Light >
Fire On The Mountain
2nd set:
Heartbeat >
Supersonic >
I Can Tell You More >
The Other One >
Drumz >
The Other One >
Cut The Deck >Going Down The Road Feeling Bad >
And We Bid You Good Night
Mickey Hart’s long anticipated new album Mysterium Tremendum is due out on April 10, 2012.
It will contain new music from the Mickey Hart Band, including new songs from the ever prolific Robert Hunter. Many of the expected tracks have been performed in recent months as Mickey has been out on the road with this project, including “Let There Be Light”, “Slo Jo Rain” and “Supersonic”.
Mickey Hart Band “Let There Be Light” features lyrics by Robert Hunter
Mickey Hart and his new band has been in the studio with producer Ben Yonas, who also plays in the Mickey Hart Band. Ben is often tucked away further back of the stage, adding his sonifications on keyboards and a Mac.
He is literally upstaged, likely by design, by frontman singer Tim Hockenberry, who also plays keyboards as well as multiple other instruments. Also in front is Crystal Monee Hall, who sings and plays guitar, Gawain Mathews on lead guitar, Ian “INKX” Herman on drums, longtime Mickey Hart player Sikiru Adepoju on talking drum and djembe, and in the bass position Dave Schools from Widespread Panic. Of course Mickey Hart is playing drums, the beam, and RAMU – his computer programmed Random Access Digital Musical Universe gizmo.
The Mickey Hart Band will be on tour in the west during March 2012:
Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Las Vegas NV, Flagstaff AZ, San Luis Obispo, Healdsburg, Sacramento and Chico.
MICKEY HART ABOVE THE CLOUDS TOUR
Then, on the same day as the Mysterium Tremendum album is released, April 10, 2012, the Mickey Hart Band begins it’s ambitious ABOVE THE CLOUDS tour in Louisville Kentucky. Then Cleveland OH, Jim Thorpe PA, Ridgefield CT, Londonderry NH, Washington DC, Carrboro NC, Ashville NC, the Wanee Festival in Live Oak FL, Sweetwater 420 Festival in Atlanta GA, Birmingham AL, Fayetville AR, Dallas TX, and Austin TX.
Quite a tour, and hitting lots of places that need a good show! And that’s just to start… expect a lot more music from mickey this festival season. The Mickey Hart Band also has these great Fan Club Ticket deals and VIP Ticket Packages that include meet and greet and photos with Mickey, and more.
Go see the Mickey Hart Band, and when it comes out, get the album. It is a real treat to get to hear these new Robert Hunter penned tunes with a fresh vibe with Hart. Mickey is coming from a real good place, and he want’s to share it with you. Good energy you can feel.
Mickey Hart Band – 1st night of Winter Tour 2011
Mickey Hart, Gawain Matthews, Tim Hockenberry, Ian INKX Herman
Crystal Monee Hall, Sikiru Adepoju, Ben Yonas, and Dave Schools
Yoshi’s Jazz Club
Oakland, California
November 28, 2011
Let There Be Light
Supersonic
Cut the Deck
Time Never Ends
Starlight
Slow Joe
Endless Skies >
Drums n Dave >
Endless Skies >
Fire On the Mountain
Encore: Brokedown Palace
The band started pretty close to the 8pm time – Yoshi’s does not allow shows to go late so it had to be. I was outside, waiting for my friend Adrienna to arrive – she had one 2 tickets on the radio!
As the door within the club creaked open I could here a few sounds begin, and I made out what sounded like “Let There be Light”, one of the newish Robert Hunter/Mickey Hart tunes. Several people in and out the doors of the club, so I could hear enough to confirm it, and also that the song was jamming. I stepped outside to enjoy some of the local harvest, and there were a handful of ticketless hopefuls, waiting for a miracle, of some sort, for this sold out show. I stepped back in… still LTBL (close to a 15 minute version).
As I waited, it seemed a number of the ticket-less did find a way in.. and when she did arrive, we were only into the beginning of the second song, “Supersonic”. As with all the Mickey Hart band songs, it was lush and dripping with sounds. The band has a very fresh approach, combining the instruments, and voices. It’s the best synthesis of all Mickey has done over the years, groove and rhythm, sound textures and moods, vibration and intention.
Very small club, Yoshi’s, usually for Jazz and other artists, where people politely sit at tables, small dance floor jammed with people! Groovin’ and movin’ this space was gettin’ hot as the band moved into “Cut the Deck” (which I tweeted as “Build this House” -oops! When you hear the song, you’ll know why). This song has Tim Hockenberry singing with a Peter-Gabrielesque flare.
“Time Never End’s” and “Starlight”, “Slow Joe” and “Endless Skies” – the songs all had a cosmic-ness about them, magical lyrics, galactic jams, and spacey moods. And always that groove. Laid down in all nimble heaviness by Dave Schools (from Widespread Panic) on bass, Sikiru Adepoju on talking drum and djembe, Ian INKX Herman at the kit, and of course Mickey Hart on percussion of every sort, including the Beam. The short break during “Slow Joe” I have dubbed “Drumz N Dave” and I hope they expand upon this jam every night of the tour!
Most of the set was new material, I know Mickey wants to share it, and it is all worth sharing. No complaint either, for $20 (okay, my friend won free radio tickets, but still, it woulda been worth the $20…) it’s a great show, worth seeing. Of course, Deadheads would love a escond set, and more Grateful Dead songs, and other Mickey Hart material could fill out the set. The band did have a short time to play at Yoshi’s; hopefully they will explore more at their other dates.
“Endless Skies” goes into “Fire On the Mountain” with Tim singing the leads. Set over, Mickey thanked us. He semmed really happy all night. The band came out for an ancore, a lovely BrokeDown Palace, with Crystal Monee Hall taking the lead, Quite beautiful.
Crystal was sweet after the show, she said she wanted to do well by such a beloved standard, and we told her her version was beautiful (it is!), and we were glad she made it her own. I think most Deadheads will like it, very sweet, and heartfelt rendition of the Grateful Dead’s treasured song.
Fun after the show, hanging out we got to thank and say hello to most of the band (where was Mickey?) Dave is always a great guy, he took a moment for a picture with Andrienna – even though his wife was waiting for him.
So the suggestion from me for most deadheads is… go see the Mickey Hart Band! It’s a great little show, fun to dance too, great musicians (leads from Gawain Matthews were swirling melts of sound!) – and most of the shows are pretty inexpensive.
Clearly, Mickey Hart is taking music making in cosmic directions.
Mickey Hart and his 
This band, creating the sound and finding the right musicians to bring it to life, is something Mickey has been developing behind the scenes for a little while. 
The band started pretty close to the 8pm time – Yoshi’s does not allow shows to go late so it had to be. I was outside, waiting for my friend Adrienna to arrive – she had one 2 tickets on the radio!
Most of the set was new material, I know Mickey wants to share it, and it is all worth sharing. No complaint either, for $20 (okay, my friend won free radio tickets, but still, it woulda been worth the $20…) it’s a great show, worth seeing. Of course, Deadheads would love a escond set, and more Grateful Dead songs, and other Mickey Hart material could fill out the set. The band did have a short time to play at Yoshi’s; hopefully they will explore more at their other dates.
