I was hanging outside the Masonic Hall in Mill Valley, CA on a cold January night in 2010. Inside the hall Furthur was jamming, a rehearsal with a live audience. Myself, caught without a ticket, and leaning against a truck, listening to the show from outside, sound a bit muffled by the wall, still worth the listen. Along with some folks on the street, a few vendors, some local kids, a couple other hardcore revelers, and the event security, who were not bothering us much at all. Maybe a dozen or so people outside at the peak of crowdedness.
It was a friendly little scene on the streets of Mill Valley. That was where I met the Starburst Commander. This really nice guy who told me about this book he wrote: Confessions of a Dead Head. Deadheads are always creating things, art, clothing, music, all sorts of stuff. And I know a few start out to write a book, but that is no easy task (it took me three months to write a review!) The Commander, or Bob, was genuine in his enthusiasm for what he had done, and he also assured me the book would detail the origins of his name! I was looking forward to exploring this book. Well, all good things in all good time, I read it a month later.
It’s not a long book, and it is fun to read – it flows like talking to a new friend in the lot or a campground, and hearing some good old show stories. There are a lot of good memories packed into this book, do not let it’s size deceive you. Meaty detailed confessions!!! The Starburst Commander leads you on his journey, and it’s like you are on tour together.
His early exposure to Grateful Dead music, his first show experiences, hanging out with his friends. Fun to ride along, you are in his van, the “Orange Barrel”! Without going into detail of each and every show he was ever at, he shares enough of his personal long strange trip, from shows in the 1970’s through Jerry’s passing, and on into the modern milieu, to give us a full vista of the journey. The moments he does magnify are perfect little glimpses at the magical accidents that many of us have enjoyed at shows, or on the way there and back again. And the koan like lessons available in those moments.
His confessions allow us to be part of his group of friends, and to share in their adventures, and enjoy travelling to shows with them. We see the role the music, the musicians, and the shows have in their lives, and if you are a dead head yourself, easy to relate to your own experiences with the band. I want to tell you all the stories, and tell you about my new friends Dentist and Donntist and Starbutt! And the one where Starbutt met Mickey Hart and… but I’d rather encourage you to get a copy of the book, and read it for yourself! To be a bit cliché, but truthful here: I laughed, I cried, and it was a feel good read. Really!
An honest book, with plenty of insight into the land of the Dead Head. I imagine it would be a good primer for a non-head to read, to get an idea of the culture and history; it is coherent and broad enough, without being dauntingly overburdened with set lists and statistics. Dating someone that doesn’t quite get “it”? Give them this book, and Europe ‘72. And maybe something to get them molecular…
Dark Star Orchestra will continue their touring Spring and Summer, including a few festival appearances, with Jeff Mattson taking the leads. East coast and middle shows for late Spring, starting May 20th in Philly, and then winding up at the Mountain Jam Festival in June 5th.
Summer’s Here and the Time is Right…
The first leg of our summer tour is locked in and we are excited to share our plans with you. Kicking off in Minnesota and cruising through the mid-west with stops in Iowa and Illinois before hitting Summerfest for the annual street fest where there will be plenty of dancin’ in the streets. From there we head to our annual celebration at Nelson’s Ledges where we will celebrate 4th of July weekend (July 2-3-4) with Gratefulfest 11 and will be joined by Keller Williams, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Peter Rowan’s Bluegrass Band, JGB, Emmit-Nershi Band and more! Follow that up with a headlining spot at All Good’s Thursday Throwdown and a return to the annual Gathering of the Vibes. Summer is looking pretty sweet.
Dark Star Orchestra going further west with Stu Allen taking the leads on their “On Way or Another Tour” – beginning April 7th in Aspen CO, and ending up in Solana Beach, CA on May 1st.
One Way Or Another
April brings the band back to the mountains for another great run out west. The tour begins with stops in Aspen and Avon before holding down the Boulder Theater for Friday and Saturday night. From there its off to Northern California for two nights at the Mystic Theater before heading to the northwest for shows in Portland, Seattle, Olympia and Ashland. 4/20 finds the band back in CA at the Eureka Theater. Then its off to Reno before swinging into San Fran for a weekend at the Regency Ballroom. The last leg of the tour winds south through California stopping off in Modesto, Los Angeles, Santa Ana before wrapping up with 2 nights at the Belly Up in Solona Beach.
Our friend Stu Allen will be joining us for this tour starting April 7th. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Stu joined Melvin Seals & JGB in June 2004 and appears on the ‘Keepers of the Flame’ album. In the early 1990’s, he co-founded the Minnesota-based acoustic-electric jam band, Blue Man Jive. In addition, he is a founding member of The Jones Gang, Minneapolis’ premier Grateful Dead tribute band, to which he still lends his talents. A resident of San Francisco, Stu continues to explore, experiment, create, and recreate, within a variety of musical styles. He can’t wait to join us on the road and come and play for you folks.
Ticket info and more details available on our Tour Dates Page.
One Way Or Another Tour Dates – Dark Star Orchestra
04/07 Belly Up Aspen, CO
04/08 Vilar Center Avon, CO
04/09 Boulder Theater Denver, CO
04/10 Boulder Theater Denver, CO
04/13 Mystic Theatre Petaluma, CA
04/14 Mystic Theatre Petaluma, CA
04/16 Crystal Ballroom Portland, OR
04/17 The Showbox Seattle, WA
04/18 Capitol Theater Olympia, WA
04/19 Ashland Armory Ashland, OR
04/20 Eureka Theater Eureka, CA
04/22 Knitting Factory Reno, NV
04/23 Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA
04/24 Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA
04/25 State Theatre Modesto, CA
04/28 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA
04/29 Galaxy Theatre Santa Ana, CA
04/30 Belly Up Solona Beach, CA
05/01 Belly Up Solona Beach, CA
Stu Allen joins on lead guitar for the above dates
Hello Deadheadland – got some new music, from what might be an unexpected source for many: Greg Ginn, leader of the iconic punk band Black Flag. Many of you know Greg has always been on the bus, even when he and Henry Rollinswe’re getting in the van! Well his current music is infused with psychedelic roots, while still coming at you from a new direction. He is touring extensively – go see him when he is near you! Tonight his band plays in Huntington Beach, California, and tommorow (4/1) in L.A. at Molly Malones. Their tour continues across the country, into the middle and then the east coast. See all the dates at the end of this post, and on www.gregginn.com or myspace.com/txcorrugators.
Greg Ginn’s music today is right in line with bands/artists from the roots as in Grateful Dead, Tea Leaf Green, Delta Nove’, Railroad Earth, etc. Ginn began in 1976 and hasn’t stopped since! Over the past two years, Ginn has performed 200+ dates while steadily touring across the US promoting both groups and last year’s CD release of JAMBANG’s “Connecting” and Greg Ginn & The Taylor Texas Corrugators’ “The Goof Off Experts.”
Greg Ginn & the Taylor Texas Corrugators are an instrumental group that incorporates many styles into their music. Rock/jazz/country/blues/latin/psychedelia all find their way into the mix. On the two studio recordings (Bent Edge released in 2007, and Goof Off Experts released in 2008), Greg plays all of the instruments except drums. Live, the Corrugators are quite a different proposition. Playing about 150 shows (most of them opening for JAMBANG) in the last year, the group played 100% improvised sets. On this tour, look for the Corrugators to introduce some sound loops into a portion of the set at times. For the tours Ginn is playing bass/guitar and has enlisted JAMBANG member Gary Piazza on guitar, and New Moonson’s Sean Hutchinson on drums.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byh1evFvXaE
Recently in the press: “The sound of guitarist Greg Ginn, for those who have heard him, is instantly familiar. That is, unless you can find another guitarist who manages to meld a nasty, gutbucket blues tone with rock edge and jazz thoughtfulness. We won’t wait while you look. ”
– Kevin Williams, Chicago Tribune (Mar 27, 2009)
“When most people think of Greg Ginn, bands like The Grateful Dead, Disco Biscuits or Eoto aren’t necessarily the first things that come to mind…”
– Daily Gazette in Albany (Apr 06, 2009)
Not much media has shown up from theBK3 Feburary run of show’s on Y‘Tube – though these few clips are very enjoyable! Looks like it was a very fun night. BK3 or Bill Kreutsmann Trio features Bill Kreutzmann on drums, Scott Murawski lead guitar and Oteil Burbridge on bass.
These clips are from a private party on 2/27 in Oakland. Damn… Wish I knew more… Does anyone have a full setlist from this night, or the previous nights in San Francisco (2/25) and Santa Cruz (2/26)? Any Pictures? Please share ‘em! *
Billy is doing some cool stuff musically, keeping it fresh! Lots of different musicians to jam with. He did these BK3 gigs in Feb, then played a few shows in March with Chris Berry, Steve Kimock and Michael Kang back on the islands. Coming up this Spring is Seven Walkers with Papa Mali , and new songs byRobert Hunter .
And then come Summer… The Rhythm Devils at GOTV ! Rumors say… a fall Rhythm Devils tour? Hope so!
Phil and Bobby aren’t the only one’s taking things further. Billy and Mickey will drive it to another level soon!
*Deadheadlandneeds you: If anyone is at these shows, we need these setlists reported too! BK3, Seven Walkers, Rhythm Devils, any random appearances at private parties. Share in the groove!
Call or text the Deadheadland hotline: (AKA) FUR-THUR /(252)387-8487
or email happycat@deadheadland.com if you’d like to share a setlist, pictures, or even do a write up of one of the shows.
here is more video that has surfaced from 3/20/2010 at the 2AM Club. After we first reported this gig, members of The Healer Trio, Michael Healy, Patrick Mundy, and Jim Talley, checked in and left comments; reprinted here in case you missed them the first time around…. (more…)
Dark Star Orchestra going further west with Stu Allen taking the leads on their “On Way or Another Tour” – beginning April 7th in Aspen CO, and ending up in Solana Beach, CA on May 1st. 
Not much media has shown up from the