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Jam -2010-04-28 – Carroll’s

29 Apr 2010 9 Comments

by deadstein in Jams Tags: Jam, Kevin, Larry, LLBrent, Rich, Scott, Trister

This was like an old timers jam for former Deadstein lead guitarists. While we were expecting to jam with Andy Trister, as he was scheduled to play with us on this Wednesday night, but the real big surprise was the return of Larry Brent, the original Deadstein lead guitarist. From my research, it appears as if early 2001 was the last time Larry had played with us. This if after his long “Ihateus” or should I say “hiatus?” It was quite an unexpected surprise and our four or five songs we played with Larry were all pretty good, especially considering he was playing with us for the last 45 minutes of the night, traditionally Deadstein’s weakest time.

With Alan playing rhythm over the past several months and me taking over the lead guitar role, I haven’t stepped into Bob’s shoes for quite some time. I spent all night, with the exception of one or two leads, playing Bob guitar and to be honest with you, as much fun as the Jerry stuff has been, it was very refreshing to relax and do what I do best. Playing last night seemed effortless to me as I was relaxed and confident in my approach. Not only was the playing good with Larry B, it was also good during the Trister moments. What’s not to like about the Deadstein experience?

Scott felt like the music was a bit stale and sterile at the beginning of the night and he felt it wasn’t until we played the Help->Slip-> Franklins that we seemed to gel. We were a bit tentative early on and pretty quiet throughout the evening but it wasn’t bad at all. I thought the Shakedown opener was fairly solid for a Deadstein Shakedown Street, especially the final jam, which felt authentic as opposed to the traditional Deadstein jam we gravitate to during a Shakedown Street. We did the Run for the Roses to celebrate the Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby which occurs this weekend. Also with Andy we played the Let Spend the Night Together which is in the new supplement book which gave us the ability to play the song.

We also were straying from our Deadstein/Grateful Dead roots as Trister was all Steely Danned out for some gigs he was preparing for. We were hearing Steely Dan teases throughout the night from his guitar. In addition to toying with some Steely Dead jams, we also played a nice Time/Breathe medley and finished up this Pink Floyd segment with a Comfortably Numb. We also got a Beatle song in or two during the Trsiter portions.

While our only guest MB arrived toward the end of the Trsiter part of the night, he was able to enjoy a nice formidable Playing -> Uncle John’s à Playing combo that was fairly extensive. After hearing the quality of this piece of music Michael asked Andy how he doesn’t show up to every Deadstein jam just so he could be part of this musical experience. We finished Trister’s jam with a hot Music Never Stopped and bid him a good-night. He left hauling his guitar, water bottle, effects tray and his banjo on his body, hoping his car would be in the illegal spot he left it in. The cool thing is, on his way out he held the door for Larry who was just heading in, and no one got hurt.

LLB and MB in Elevator Short on the Way Out.

During the transition between Andy and Larry I decided to start up a very short Garband segment. Scott called for the Crazy Love and I began playing and singing it. We haven’t done this since the Terez days and it was a stretch for me. Speaking of which, halfway through it Larry entered the room and made a grand entrance by singing a few of the verses to close out the song. Wow! After this, the playing got a bit more serious with Larry as we did a pretty good Birdsong. This was followed by a Looks Like Rain that blew Michael away as he thought my life’s experience of listening to Bob and the band helped my take on the role of Bobby for that song. I think he exaggerated quite a bit, but nevertheless, his exuberance towards it all was uplifting. We did the infamous Crack of My Ass (Wharf Rat) with Larry, which is something we haven’t heard in a decade and closed out with the Brokedown Palace where we all shared verses and leads.

‘Twas a very interesting night for Deadstein, once again showing why you need to go to every jam. Until we jam again, Freak Out.

To hear the MP3s of the night go to:

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/04-28-10/

Jam – 2010-04-20 – Carroll’s

21 Apr 2010 7 Comments

by deadstein in Jams Tags: Carroll's, Jam, Kevin, Larry, Rich, Scott, Wikler

Give me 5, we’re still alive.
It ain’t no luck, we live to suck.

On a Tuesday night Deadstein got together in the larger studio and enjoyed a new configuration, room setup wise, and had a few good songs to put under its belt. On this night we only had the five of us without any guests whatsoever. The bongos were there, ready to be played, but there was no one there to play them.

We opened with the Aiko-Aiko, Jack Straw and played big meaningful songs, as Kevin likes to describe them, throughout most of the night. This included Ramble on Rose, Loser and a Birdsong, Let It Grow, Deal to end the first set at 10:00.

After 10:00 Kevin made his quick phone call home and we were ready for a set 2 which also included some big combinations including a Here Comes Sunshine –> Wheel –> I Need a Miracle –> Bertha. We played another few songs in the middle there and ended the night strongly with a Uncle John’s Band –> Morning Dew. While we botched the intro to the 1st lead of the Morning Dew, the rest of the song was pretty good.

If nothing else, we got lots of good playing in with lots of big songs. I think we did well for the most part. An altering tempo on the Dark Hollow in the first set was no good and the first lead of the Morning Dew was a total mess but short of that we had more good moments that bad ones. Alan was having gremlins electronically throughout the night. Scott started of not liking his drum kit but it grew on him by the end of the night. Kevin, Rich and I were pretty much status quo.

The real question is what happens next week when we be playing in a much different circumstance. Until then, Freak Out if you can.

Jam – 2010-04-14 – Carroll’s

15 Apr 2010 1 Comment

by deadstein in Jams Tags: Carroll's, Jam, Kevin, Larry, Rich, Scott, Wikler

Seemed like it would be a typical Wednesday night jam with me on lead , Alan on rhythm, Kev on bass, Scott and Rich … In many respects, it was such a night… In many more it, it wasn’t. The night was bracketed by a slow fade in and a slow fade out.

Rich was unusually late as he didn’t come with Scott to the Studio. He was frantically trying to get a DVD project done for some Brazilian woman who ended up showing up at midnight to see Deadstein at its most lethargic. With Rich late and Alan also running behind, Kevin, Scott and I started the night with a trio of music. After midnight and maybe another odd song or two. Unless Scott or Kevin chime in with whatever else we played, we will never know because there was no recording.

As everyone got there the five of us opened the jamming with an Alabama Getaway. It was around that time that Ken showed up with a box of cookies tied with bakers string. Then Miriam, Rob and a new friend of theirs came and hung for a song or two. For a little while we had a little freakfest going for a while.It was too cool but the scene couldn’t sustain itself.

After playing a good set of songs, lots of good jams and moments Alan was called to home duties. I guess that is why they call them home duties. Rob and Miriam had enough and Ken had to get home and do his taxes. We were down to Core-4. Before I knew it Kevin was making love to the floor and we were back to a trio. We spent this time playing songs from the supplemental book including a Boxer, Beatles assortment and the end of Dark Side of the Moon. Hey at least most of us survived. Till next Tuesday Freak Out. Not.

Below are the first 10 songs Rich recorded from the night. We payed many songs thereafter but it was after people started falling out. The Don’t Let Go and Dear Prudence was a Core-4 the rest was the full band.

Jam – 2010-04-07 – Carroll’s

08 Apr 2010 Leave a comment

by deadstein in Jams Tags: Carroll's, Jam, Kevin, Larry, Rich, Scott, Wikler

After a week off, Deadstein assembled again on this Wednesday night. The weather has been hot outside for an early April jam and we were all in our summer digs. We were a little rusty as was Carroll’s equipment, but we al did the best with the hand we were dealt and made some good music. I could have as truthfully said we made some bad music, but there was of course way more good than bad. Alan had amp problems, Rich had piano microphone issues and the PA was Jerry-rigged to get both channels working. Did we let it bother us, nah, it’s Deadstein, and that the most important thing to be working and we did. I had a great Super Reverb, so who was I to complain.

Stranger was the opener and it was pretty good. I think it was pretty impressive for our first song after being off for a week. I know I hardly practiced in the past 14 day. We played the mellow Peggy-O thereafter which Alan showed us the ending line which is A–C#m–F#M–C#m-D—A. The Queen Jane was also good so I don’t know why I’m thinking so negatively. As should be expected we peaked early and staggered through the 12 o’clock finishline. Actually, I think I played drums for the last song Box of Rain while Scott sang it. That gave me lots of energy to take with me on the way home.

Scott Bayer was our only guest of the night. I recall him Bongoing away during the Woman are Smarter and a few more songs thereafter. I pulled a Jack Straw out of my ass when everyone thought I was going into Looks Like Rain, it took a little while to wipe that one clean but once it was, it was ok. The Other One we played was probably the best one we have payed with me on the lead, so that was good. We made it to the end of the Lost Sailor / Saint of Circumstance and there was nothing good about it but the ending. When we see and hear the MP3s, I guess I will see the entire setlist so until then there will be. Freak Out.

Jam – 2010-03-23 – Carroll’s

25 Mar 2010 1 Comment

by deadstein in Jams Tags: Carroll's, Jam, Kevin, Larry, Rich, Scott, Wikler

Tuesday night and we are back at Carroll’s in our standard configuration. We were in the rare other large studio. Scott had the nice 2-tone drums, it took the second Twin to find one that worked well and Alan had to do something to his to get it to work. The PA used some other type of microphone other than the Shure SM-58. I think the room sounded pretty good.

Deadstein is not free and Carrolls is not cheap but there is no where I would rather be.

As far as song selection, it was the week of Kevin’s birthday so he had veto power over the songs but no legislation to offer. We used the random spin-o-matic and it steered us down a variety of paths we otherwise would not have chosen. This included a solo I Know You Rider without the Chinacat and it was one of our most energetic Riders. I made lots of bad decisions like trying to shoe-horn a Gloria in a Note Fade away jam, I was just sick of playing that Not Fade, seems like we’ve been doing a lot recently. The Picasso also never reached it conclusion, or it reached it too soon.

The Dancin’ was good as well as the Come a Time. Followed by the Uncle Johns and Tom Thumb, this may have been one of the better segments of the night. The Beatles portion was on and off.

To hear what we played go to:

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/03-23-10/

It looks as though we are likely to miss a week so everyone have a peaceful journey and we shall see you all on the rebound.

Jam – 2010-03-18 – Ultrasound

19 Mar 2010 2 Comments

by deadstein in Jams Tags: Jam, Kevin, Larry, Rich, Scott, Ultrasound, Wikler

Lang is in for the Allmans and Deadstein

We were ousted from our comfortable home at Carroll’s this week as acts from Carnegie Hall needed additional practice at Carroll’s in hopes of one day getting the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall. Their gain was our loss as we were on the road this week, playing at Ultrasound on 30th Street. We have played there before and it is usually a dry and unfulfilling experience. Fortunately this week proved different.

It’s tougher to park around Ultrasound, 30th Street between 7th and 8th, than Carroll’s, 55th Street and West Side Highway, and the diminutive size of my Honda Fit really helped me out as I snugged into a tight little spot on 7th Ave. As I approached the building I noticed the neighborhood was filled with guitar toting freaks. Kevin met me in the lobby and we went up to the 5th floor, studio 7 of Ultrasound. There we walked into the studio to find Lang, from St. Louis. The Allmans were in town so Lang packed up the stage coached and headed east to see them and us. He ended up playing a casual conga through the night as well as relieving Scott on drums for 3 or 4 songs.

In the end we started 30 minutes late but played pretty solidly through the night and went through lots of songs. We had a big trio of the Estimated –> Eyes –> Come Together. That may have been the highlight of the night. We did both the Promised Land and the Brothers and Sisters. We did the Brothers and Sisters for all the wrong reasons as Lang was referencing it in a story but he was really meaning Midnight Moonlight. The Brothers and Sisters ended up being pretty good. The Shakedown opener of the night got us going and felt pretty good. I was lucky that I selected the Mesa Boogie amp they had in there and it sounded great and was a pleasure to operate. I enjoyed using it for the night. Alan wasn’t that lucky as the first amp he tried expressed a squealing noise that made him switch to a Marshall he didn’t seem to happy about. Rich also seemed to battle his electronic instrument. I thought it all sounded pretty good though. The dryness and intimacy of the room really helped.

Early on in the night we were tight and comfortable. The CC Rider that followed the Shakedown gave us a foundation of comfort from which to work. This early part of the night was highlighted by a long and winding Birdsong. We challenged ourselves later on with the Cats Down Under the Stars and ended the night with a One More Saturday Night.

Next week we are back in our home a Carroll’s but the week off at Ultrasound proved to be lots of fun. To listen to this week’s MP3s, go to the links below:

http://www.deadstein.com/audio/03-18-10/