Well, it’s safe to say I’m ready to accept any offers to perform with anyone that needs a drummer! a couple weeks ago right after finishing the first gig from the last blast from the past who called me out of the blue, I received another call from a different guitarist that I had played only one gig with 2 or 3 years ago. He asked if I was familiar with playing Grateful Dead material. And as I always say, regardless of depth of knowledge or previous performances. “YES!”
After which I found out that we’d be performing at a private party for a 2 hour gig of Grateful Dead songs.
Now I must confess that I’m not that familiar with The Grateful Dead, I never saw them in concert (not even Dead and Company.) The only GD album I owned was a greatest hits CD and I have to say the songs on that CD were not their best material. I honestly had a hard time listening to it, and for its being a greatest hits CD, we’re not playing even one song from that compilation.
Jumping forward to our first rehearsal, it was just me and the two vocalists/guitarists (the bassist wasn’t available that day.) We just jumped right in and started jamming and it felt really easy and fun to play this material. I enjoyed every song even the ones I’d never heard before. I also gained a huge respect for Bill Kreutzmann as a prolific drummer. What he played, how he played it, with the steadiness that he did while under the potential influence of many psychedelics is astonishing to me. I’m glad I don’t have to play these songs in that state of mind tomorrow. Although, it might be fun to try it sometime, but maybe in more of a rehearsal setting, rather than a show setting. Well, I’ll let you know how it goes.
Later!