Battle of the Bands: Box of Rain

 This month's battle of the bands comes from The Grateful Dead. The song "Box of Rain" chosen due to the passing of bassist and founding member Phil Lesh last month. My tribute post is here.

The song was written and sung by Phil Lesh lyrics by Robert Hunter. The content was about his Dad's passing.

Contender One: Phish

Contender Two: Billy Corgan

In the comments chose which one you like the best. In a week or so I count up the votes and blog a post of the winner.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Grateful

 Thanksgiving is this week! Keeping in that theme today's topic on Monday's Music Moves Me is spelling out GRATEFUL. Well let's get started.

                                                 "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" Bad Company

"Radio Ga Ga" Queen

"All of My Love" Led Zeppelin

"Tears of a Clown" Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 

"Easy Lover" Phillip Bailey, Phil Collins

"Fun, Fun, Fun"  The Beach Boys

"Uncle John's Band"  The Grateful Dead

Love is a Battlefield Pat Benatar

Besides sharing the music feel free to share some of the things you are grateful for in the comments. I'm grateful there is music to share.

Rocktober Birthday Bob Weir

I'm behind on my Rocktober Festival posts and apparently every three years I post to celebrate Bob Weir's birthday. Here is my post from 2013 and 2016.

At least Bob Weir is diverse enough to write multiple posts about. He believes he has probably played the most gigs of any musician out there. It is hard to argue against his statement. Math would probably back him up and it is hard to think of someone who would be close. A founding member of the Grateful Dead which he joined when he was just 16.


                                                The Grateful Dead "My Brother Esau"

                                                 These folks were treated to a solo performance of "Loose Lucy"

Celebrating his non-Dead music as well "Lucky Enough" with Rat Dog

Here he is with Paul McCartney

                                              "Bombs Away" with his Wolf Brothers

Hope you enjoy and I will see you soon!

Rocktober Saturday Night

It is the first Saturday night in Rocktober and I am sitting here blogging so much for the exciting life. Well let's celebrate with some Saturday songs!

                                                      Elton John "Saturday Night's Alright"

The Grateful Dead "One More Saturday Night"

Sam Cooke "Another Saturday Night"

Well that's a good trio of songs for a Saturday!

R.I.P Robert Hunter

Robert Hunter the legendary lyricist best know for his songs written for the Grateful Dead passed away today. He wrote lyrics for others as well including Jerry Garcia, Bruce Hornsby, Little Feat, Bill Payne, David Nelson, Jim Lauderdale,  and even collaborated with Bob Dylan. he has also written several books of poetry.


                                            Robert's version of "Box of Rain"

The Grateful Dead "Ripple"

I interviewed Bill Payne one of the founders of Little Feat on songwriting with Robert Hunter:

"If Robert doesn’t like something he is going to tell me. If lyrically he sends me something I can’t sing then I need to see if we can do something a little differently. Then he goes, ‘BOOM! – try this!” It’s usually not only better but a lot better."

Here is a song they wrote together "Ragtop Down"

He wrote "Cyclone" for Bruce Hornsby

Bob Dylan "Silvio"

Fare thee well!

"Brokedown Palace"

Hunter is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Americana Music Awards presented him a lifetime achievement award,  but his legacy is in the words of so many songs.

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs about Heaven or Hell

Save the last dance for me! Monday's Music Moves Me theme is songs about Heaven or Hell.  If I am going to Heaven then I don't mind being early if I am going to Hell well the devil can wait.

                                                       "Hell in a Bucket"  Grateful Dead

The Cure "Just Like Heaven"

AC/DC "Highway to Hell"

Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven"

Bob Dylan "Knockin'  on Heaven's Door"

Pink Floyd "Run like Hell"

I hope you enjoyed!

Battle of the Bands 100 Result: Fun for me, Fun for you

Hopefully my 100th Battle of the Band was as fun for you as it was for me. Sometimes these battles are about exploring music, a theme, a tribute, or mixing things up. This time around it was the best reason for a Battle. That reason is simply a song I like from a band I like. Then add two great artists and you have a darn good recipe.

Bob Weir on the contest 5 to 3. He would be happy with the results. Bob still performs the song with his various side projects.

Here  he is performing it in October with the Wolf Brothers...

Here Bob Weir joins Little Feat to perform "Tennessee Jed"

                                               "Only A River" a song from his latest solo album..

I hope you enjoyed and I will be back with a new battle in a few days!

Monday's Music Moves Me:Labor Day Songs

Today's theme can do with Labor Day, Last Day of Summer or Freebie. I am going to stay with the Labor Day theme and do work songs. Labor equals work.




"Cumberland Blues" by the Grateful Dead

I think we are all "Workin' for a Livin'" tell us about it Huey Lewis and the News..

I guess I'll call you "The Working Man" or woman..

We could all become musicians. I've heard it is easy as fishing and I like fishing.

"Takin' Care Of Business" B.T.O style..

Lynyrd Skynyrd sings about how it was "Workin' for MCA"

Well I got to work today. So I'm gonna go..."Bang on the Drum All Day"

I hope you enjoy and I will be back with a new post soon!

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs with Male Names Part 2

Last week's theme was so much fun I decided to do it again. 

The music is on, I have 20 songs this go around.

Falco "Rock Me Amadeus"

                                                  The Who "Tommy Can You Hear Me?"
                                                     

Billy Joel "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"

Taylor Swift "Tim McGraw"

Elvis Costello with "Oliver's Army"

"Quinn the Eskimo" Bob Dylan

Doobie Brothers "Jesus is Just Alright"

"Careful with that Axe, Eugene"

Pink Floyd 

Waylon Jennings "Good Time Carlie Has the Blues"

Johnny Cash "A Boy Named Sue"

Grateful Dead "St. Stephen"

The Beatles "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill"

"Vincent" by Don McLean

"Louie, Louie" by the Kingsman

                                                "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" R.E,M

                                                   Townes Van Zandt "Poncho and Lefty"

                                                             Dave Matthews "Jimi Thing"

Black Oak Arkansas "Jim Dandy"

                                                     Joni Mitchell "Michael from the Mountains"

"Jack Straw" from The Grateful Dead

                                             

Monday's Music Moves Me: Songs with Male Names

Last week was so much fun! I'm back for more.



I'm stealing the above switch, because sometimes it is so true. Sometimes you just have to turn the switch on.

Today's theme is songs with male names. I'm not going to try to get them all. I will highlight a few and encourage you to visit the other participants for more.

"Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" Warren Zevon

"Uncle John's Band" The Grateful Dead. So many from that band to use Tennessee Jed, Casey Jones, St. Stephen to name a few...

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" Paul McCartney and Wings

Led Zeppelin "Boogie with Stu"

Led Zeppelin "Poor Tom"

Jimi Hendrix "Hey Joe"

Lynyrd Skynyrd "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" 

 

Eight is enough.."Buddy Holly" Weezer

Stay tunes for tomorrow's Battle of the Bands post for more music!

Monday Music Moves Me: Hopping Aboard the Train (Freebie)

I'm new to this particular blog hop. I've joined one or two here and there so I get the idea. Still I am not exactly sure what I am doing or what I am getting into. However, that has never stopped me before.

I think I am suppose to share a series of songs sharing a common theme. This week being a freebie, I am assuming it could be anything. The host X-mas Dolly had a train theme going on the wording of her blog.

I am going to stick with a train theme, since I am just boarding this "Crazy Train"..

Ozzy Osbourne certainly  has this train rocking but "Casey Jones" is driving this train..

Another ode to Jerry Garcia in this time between his birthday and his death. 

Let's keep it rocking Southern style with this Blackfoot Classic "Train, Train"

                            Maybe this train I too Rocking, maybe I should have taken the "A Train" with Duke                              Ellington?

 
                             Let Steve Goodman sing about the ride on "The City of New Orleans"

                            It's just a "Runaway Train: with Soul Asylum..

 

Dolly it's a "Love Train"

          

 I can't stop this Train..,The Train Kept A Rollin'

Well I hope you enjoyed the ride! I hope to be a regular commuter on this musical train. So stayed tuned. Please visit the others on this hop in the side bar!

75 Years of Jerry Garcia

Today is Jerry Garcia's birthday. It marks 75 years since he was born.  He passed away at 53 and something beautiful has been missing ever since.

I'm going to share songs from throughout his career. Music talks better.

If you want more, I suggest going t o the movies today. They are bringing a vintage concert to the big screen. You can catch Jerry and the Grateful Dead one more time. Information here.


Jerry Garcia with Merl Saunders "Road Runner"..

Yes he was a road runner touring solo and with the Grateful Dead.

A happy Jerry does his take on a Beatles classic..

Here is early Jerry Garcia from 1962 performing some bluegrass. Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers is the group "Run Mountain" the song..

Here is Jerry Garcia performing with The Grateful Dead at the last show..

The Dead unplugged..Jerry Garcia with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh..

I could go on. Of course I will. I hope you enjoyed and come back soon!

Battle of the Bands: Good Lovin' Results

Starting out with a lovin' confession. The reason I picked the Grateful Dead version was because it featured the late great Lowell George on lead vocals. The battle was close to the anniversary of his death. Lowell George was the frontman for Little Feat.

Someone vote for The Rascals. Votes were slow to come in. The Battle was decided on the 11th by a vote from Birgit!

It was a close battle, the results were 3-2-1.  The winner was  Tommy James and the Shondells.

We celebrate winners so here we go...

"I Think We Are Alone Now"

"Mony, Mony"

"Hanky, Panky"

You can vote for my current Battle here! I will see you soon with a new post.

A to Z Challenge: Weir and back to the Deadheads

I was blown away when I went to my first Grateful Dead concert 25 years ago this Summer. The adventure of me working my way to the front row, the Steve Miller Band opening up, the special guests (Bruce Hornsby), the lights, the music and the fans. It was a magical event that happened each summer until Jerry Garcia passed away. I went to Furthur, Phil Lesh & Friends, but they fell short. There were some other versions that might be pretty cool including the current Dead & Company.

We had our separation. Then I heard Bob Weir released an album of Cowboy based songs. My first musical experience was old cowboy songs on vinyl.

I was ready for an evening of escape. I made the drive. There was even a small collection of vendors in the parking lot. Not as cool as I remember for the old Stadium shows, but something. I missed vendors.





The opening with just Bob and his guitar for a few songs was more intimate than any stadium show. His band was good with a strong Americana vibe to it.

Below he performs a couple days later at Wanee covering Little Feat..

Another from Wanee with his touring band "Cassidy"

"Playin' in the Band" a week earlier in Austin..

Yes a member of the Grateful Dead, not quite the same as the old shows, but a touch of magic. Just enough to send me back home.

Battle of the Bands: Box of Rain

Time to get Grateful on the Battle of the Bands. Today is Phil Lesh's 77th birthday. Phil was the bass player for the Grateful Dead. I'm also going to see Grateful Dead alum Bob Weir next month so it all kinda fits.

The Song: Box of Rain

Box of Rain was written by Phil Lesh and contestant one...

Contestant One: Robert Hunter

Contestant Two: Beth Cassidy

Who gets your vote? Robert or Beth? The lyricist or the singer?  Vote for the one you like the best.  I will count up the votes and provide the results around the 21st. Vote in the comments and we will have a winner soon! If you liked this Battle please check out the other Battle links here. That site has the most up to date list.

Well I hope you enjoyed the Battle and come back and visit soon!

Happy Birthday Trey Anastasio!

Today is Trey Anastasio's 51st birthday! Trey is the guitarist, vocalist, songwriter for the popular jam band Phish. Most recently he was tabbed to replace Jerry Garcia in The Grateful Dead Fare Thee Well shows.

Here is Trey with Bruce Hornsby and the surviving core members of the Grateful Dead..

A solo song "Sometime after Sunset"..

My birthday celebration of Trey Anastasio would not be complete without some Phish. Below is Phish with Farm House..

Are you a Phish fan? If so what is your favorite song? Please feel free to share in the comments.
I will be back tomorrow with a new Battle of the Bands so stay tuned.

Remembering Jerry Garcia

It was 20 years ago today when Jerry Garcia passed away. I remember I was in my car driving home from a college course when I heard the news on a classic rock radio station.

This is a taste of my very first Grateful Dead concert...

Needless to say I was hooked after my first show. He was one of the first musicians who passed away that I felt something about. I knew things would change, but I did not know how much until I went to shows of various splinter groups of the band.

Here the Jerry Garcia Band covers The Beatles with "Dear Prudence"..

I recently featured a bluegrass cover Jerry Garcia had done on my recent Battle of the Bands. I will pick another song from that album to spotlight here..."Stealin'" with David Grisman...

I guess in a year that marks 50 years of the Grateful Dead and 20 years of Jerry Garcia being gone. That no matter how you found the music it certainly has been...a long, strange trip..

Thanks for visiting and I will see you soon!

Happy Birthday Bob Weir

The last year I blogged about Bob Weir it was with concern to his health. Today I write to celebrate his 66th birthday. The yen and yang of blogging or just the continuity of a long, strange trip.The longtime Grateful Dead guitarist is a singer, songwriter, and a talented musician. As we celebrate we will look back at his career.

I couldn't pass this up. Warren Haynes was mind blowing this summer paying tribute to Jerry Garcia. If you missed that you can read my review here. Here Warren Haynes trades licks with Bob Weir on the classic "I Know You Rider."

Reflections on the past Bob Weir discusses Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead..

Below Bob Weir performs "Lucky Enough" with his band Ratdog...

Bob solo performing "Artificial Flowers"

A live version of "Hell in a Bucket" with the Grateful Dead..

Happy Birthday Bob Weir..enjoy the ride!

A to Z: Bob Weir

I was in the middle of writing another blog for the challenge today, when I found out about Bob Weir falling on stage last night. Bob Weir was a member, guitarist, and vocalist for The Grateful Dead. Currently he is on tour with Further, with Phil Lesh.

Last night he fell over on stage and was helped to a chair to finish the song...

From what I see he didn't look okay and his playing didn't appear to be that great. After the song Weir was helped off the stage as the band took a break, the band later returned to finish the show without Bob.

According to Rolling Stone "Phil Lesh told the crowd that Weir was suffering from a strained shoulder and that the set would go on without him." Jambands.com explained that the shoulder issue was due to a work out and that Weir had taken "a muscle relaxant which ultimately inhibited his performance."

The tour is supposed to continue on Saturday in Atlantic City. Hopefully he is okay and the tour will continue filling the air with songs that you know. No news on Furthur's site or Bob Weir's site. I wish him a speedy recovery. Please feel free to visit the other sites and read more, they are linked where quoted.

Thanks and I will have a new post tomorrow....

Happy Birthday Bob Weir

 Today October 16 is Bob Weir's birthday. He is one of the guitarists for the Grateful Dead. So let's get truckin' with some songs to celebrate his birthday.

Here Bob Weir and Bruce Hornsby perform "Hell in a Bucket" from March 31, 2012...

Here he is with some Grateful friends in a band called Furthur from Wanee 2012..Not Fade Away

Okay that was more now lets go back a bit...Bob weir and Jerry Garcia in 1982 on David Letterman...

and with the Grateful Dead...Birdsong from 1980..

Thanks for the songs and thanks for keeping the music going. Hope you enjoyed a little music break will be back soon with a new post...