THE MOTET
Return to San Francisco!!
Performing “Funk Is Dead”
the music of the Grateful Dead
Funkified and Energized
When: Thursday February 23, 2012 Where: Yoshi’s – 1330 Fillmore Street, San Francisco CA Time: 10:30PM doors / 11PM show time Price: $16.00 advance / $20.00 Ages: all TICKETS: www.yoshis.com STAY TUNED TO DEADHEADLAND for a chance to win a FREE TICKET!!!
Founded and led by drummer Dave Watts, the group began over ten years ago and hasn’t let up since. Featuring complex compositions written and arranged by Watts himself, the music tells a story through syncopated rhythms and melodies. As music and technology evolve at an astounding rate, so too has The Motet pioneered their unique sound while continuing to defy categorization. With roots in Jazz, Afrobeat, Funk, Salsa and Samba, The Motet keeps their audiences in a dancing frenzy by layering House and Techno rhythms into a style that is uniquely their own.
For their first show in San Francisco in more than three years The Motet will be paying tribute to the music of one of the most influential rock bands of the last 40 years: THE GRATEFUL DEAD!
Yes, we know what some of you are thinking: How does the Grateful Dead’s sound fit into the energy and vibe of a Motet show?? Well, with that in mind they are taking the challenge of reworking those epic and timeless songs with the energetic afro-funk grooves that you all come to expect from The Motet…hence the theme “Funk is Dead!”.
In addition to the slamming rhythm section of Dave Watts (drums), Garrett Sayers (bass), Joey Porter (keys), Ryan Jalbert (guitar), and Dan Schwindt (guitar), they will be bringing in three amazing vocalists: Jans Ingber, Paul Creighton, and Kim Dawson. Also, they will be showcasing their fantastic horn players Gabe Mervine (trumpet), Matt Pitts (tenor).
Having sold out every Funk is Dead show they’ve done so far, we are certain that this going to go down as the most exciting and creative Motet performance in San Francisco to date! Make sure to get your tickets soon so you don’t find yourself at the concert with your finger in the air looking for a funky miracle!
>> Take a look: The Motet performing Scarlet Begonia’s LIVE @ the Ogden Theatre 10/29/11
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.
Led Zepplin tribute featuring
Marco Benevento – Keys
Dave Dreiwitz – Bass
Scott Metzger – Guitar
Joe Russo – Drums
January 27, 2012
Brooklyn Bowl
No Quarter
Immigrant Song
Down by The Seaside
Trampled Under Foot
Over the hills and Far Away
The Lemon Song
We’re Gonna Groove
Nobody’s Fault But Mine
All Of My love
This was my first time seeing Melvin Seals and JGB since they’ve started playing wth Dave Hebert (aka Dave A’Bear). Dave has been playing for a long time with Xtra Ticket out of Arizona, and have heard from many of my AZ friends that he is incredible, both in terms of his Jerry Garcia interpertation and sound, and his exuberance and joyful playing.
Of course the centerpiece and connector in the band is Melvin Seals, and it’s always a great pleasure to hear him play. It seems he is everwhere – I’ve seen him recently with Jay Lane and Band Of Brotherz at Yoshi’s and also last December where he played with his bandmates from The Mix (John Kadlecik, Greg Anton) and the Everyone Orchestra at the Rex Foundation Run For the Roses Benefit.
JGB 2012 has a variation in shade, a different touch of Jerry, than the JGB I saw a year and half ago at Las Tortugas Music Festival. Dave A’Bear was brought in late last year to fill in for lead guitarist Stu Allen.
Stu recently married, and was on paterinty leave. In addiiton to nesting, Stu has been playing increasingly frequent close to home gigs with Ghosts of Electricity (a Dylan tribute group also featuring Ratdog’s Mark Karan), and Mars Hotel his mostly weekly Deadhead dances at Ashkenaz in Berkeley; as well as sitting in everywhere at the never ending string of benefits and special shows in the Bay area (Steve Block Memorial for example). Stu is keeping busy enough… and then, earlier this week, Stu posted to his Facebook page that he was officially making his exit from the JGB Band, after 5 years. It seemed there was no animosity or ill feelings, just time to move along…
Upon hearing Dave A’Bear in person live for the first ime, I agree he knocks out a very clean Jerryish sound that respects the original, without cloning it. And it had a nice feel. Enjoyed the jaming reparte with the mighty Melvin Seals on keyboards and the rhythm section of Pete Lavizzoli on drums and Jimmy Tebeau.
Just like no one can really ever replace Jerry Garcia, the same can be said of Stu Allen. There is nothing to not like with the A’Bear JGB, it was quite good, but it is different… can’t quite put my finger on it – then again, it shouldn’t be the same! I really enjoyed what Dave brought, and he was smiling and beaming, and listening in along with all of us. You can tell he is a fan, not of himself, but of Jerry and the music. And he played his heart out… anyone that sweats like that must be all right…
JGB 2012 delivered the goods, a fun night of Jerryesque grooves, great songs like “Forever Young”, and “BreadBox”, and a great crowd of people into the music . A young fan next to me in the first set kept telling me she was hoping for a “Brother Esau”. It would be very intersting to see them stretch beyond just the JGB catalog, maybe throw in a Weir song or two just to surprise expectation? I know they know more than just the JGB songs.
Then again, perhaps that is the distinciton, only play Jerry Garcia Band tunes, since these musicians all play with one another in other configurations, including doing stints in Jimmy’s Tebeau’s other band, The Schwag. JGB – keepers of the flame.
The second set seemed kind of short, thought that had to do with the venue’s curfew; we were expecting 2 or 3 more songs and an encore. It was still a meaty 2nd set, with a really killer jam on “Let’s Spend The Night Together” that was the peak for me musically. It should also be noted, the band always has pristine and kick ass sound, thanks to their Sound Engineers Bo Putnam and Shaun Wilson.
Catch Melvin Seals and the JGB Band tonight at the Arcata Theatre, and next week they play Grass Valley, Chico and Lake Tahoe. And then back to San Francisco on Feb. 17th. In March they play all over the New York area!
Ratdog
Pre-Opening Night Show
Sweetwater Music Hall
Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, Mark Karan, Jay Lane, Kenny Brooks, Dave Ellis, Jeff Chimenti, Steve Kimock
1st Set
Truckin’ >
Brown Eyed Women
Loser
Loose Lucy (with Sammy Hagar singing)
Let It Grow
2nd Set
WHen I Paint My Masterpiece
Deep Elen Blues
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (Jerry Harrison [Talking Heads] joins in)
Take Me to The River (Jerry Harrison [Talking Heads] on keys) >
The Other One >
Playin In the Band >
Stuff (metal space jam) >
Standing on the Moon
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
Bob Weir and RatDog Reunion Setlist January 25th 2012 TRI Studios
1st set:
The Music Never Stopped >
New Minglewood Blues
Money For Gasoline >
Eyes Of the World
Even So
October Queen >
the Deep End >
Mississippi Half Step uptown Toodleloo >
Ashes and Glass
Setbreak – band interview clips, “Loose Lucy” rehearsal with Sammy Hagar; TRI band with Kingpin Rowe, Mike McGinn.
Bobby answered 3 questions from the internet.
2nd set:
Peggy-O (Bob acoustic)
Friend of the Devil (Bob and Mark acoustic)
Corrina (Bob acoustic)
Row Jimmy
Cassidy >
Birdsong
Days Between >
Two Djinn >
Not Fade Away
Bob’s Robin Sylvester Rap – donations to help Robin with medical expenses to www.furthur.org
Mickey Hart Reflects On “Music To Be Born By”
Hart’s Son Taro Holds Record For Youngest Recording Artist
With the recent news of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s newborn daughter “Blue Ivy” grabbing the record for the youngest person to enter the Billboard charts on her Dad’s new single “Glory”, Mickey Hart reflects on his son Taro who holds the record for the youngest recording artist, 6 months in utero, on his father’s album “Music To Be Born By [1989]”, which was just re-released by Smithsonian Folkways as part of “The Mickey Hart Collection”. “The birthing process, one of life’s great mysteries, triggered a musical response in me. The sound from the fetal monitor included among a host of gurglings and bodily noises, the emerging heartbeat of my unborn son Taro. It was the sound of new life, and a startling rhythmic event—the inner orchestra of emerging life, the rhythm world of the body at its most essential. It compelled me to entrain with it, to create new, complementary rhythms. As a father, the repetitive pulsing became symphonic in my mind; it drove me into the studio to create a new composition incorporating my son’s living, developing, hopeful, amazing, unconscious, primordial music: Music To Be Born By.”
This soothing, 70-minute soundscape was intended to transform the coldness of a hospital birthing room into a warm, rhythmic environment for the process of labor and birthing. However, after requests by several friends to use the album for their own birthing processes, Hart decided to release the recording for the general public. The music consists of Taro’s heartbeat (recorded in utero) overdubbed with bass harmonics (provided by Bobby Vega), drums, and wooden shakuhachi flute (played by Steve Douglas). Music to be Born By was issued in 1989 as part of “THE WORLD” series and re-released as part of the Mickey Hart Collection made available by Smithsonian Folkways.
Mickey Hart is currently offering 10 free downloads from The Mickey Hart Collection on his website at http://www.mickeyhart.net/download.
Editor’s Note: In my other reality, I am a massge therapist at human touch massage and also was a massage educator for over a decade, and I can vouch for how healing this music is. I have used it in many sessions, and classes. I also know of many Birth Doula’s who use it in their practices. >^.^<
THE MOTET
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 second set seemed kind of short, thought that had to do with the venue’s curfew; we were expecting 2 or 3 more songs and an encore. It was still a meaty 2nd set, with a really killer jam on “Let’s Spend The Night Together” that was the peak for me musically. It should also be noted, the band always has pristine and kick ass sound, thanks to their Sound Engineers Bo Putnam and Shaun Wilson.
