dcoleman@vlnvax.DEC (06/21/85)
SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING was played with vocals in Worcester last fall, 10-8 or 9-84. Apparently it was the first time they had sang it in ? years. COMES A TIME was thrown in during the real mellow tour in the middle of '76. (Has it been played since?) Every tour I've been hoping to see this done live, maybe they'll start playing it more often, it should fit in real nice in the place of CHINA DOLL. Now, THAT'S IT FOR THE OTHER ONE!!! Great new old things! Howsabout VIOLA LEE or SITTIN' ON TOP OF THE WORLD!? I came home the other day and received the July '85 issue of FRETS magazine. It's nice enough getting this mag once a month, I lost it when I saw who was on the cover - Jerry! The interview with Jerry is different than your usual Jerry interview; he is approached as a musician, as opposed to "Jerry Garcia, Captain Trips, leader of the Grateful Dead." FRETS magazine is all about acoustic string instruments and the music they ooze. It's geared mainly towards musicians, and most of the material is bluegrass, newgrass/"new acoustic music". The interview was done by two staff members of GUITAR PLAYER, a magazine which is related to FRETS. In the interview, Jerry talks a lot about his approach to and technique on guitar, both acoustic and electric, and a bit about banjo. He raves about some of the great musicians he was and is influenced by and about his music collection. He tells about who he likes to play music with, what he likes to play, what he wants to play. Since the music is devoted to acoustic music, much of the discussion is about his playing acoustic music solo, with John Kahn, or with the Dead. He said that he'd really like to do more acoustic shows with the Dead, but ~"Weir doesn't seem as comfortable playing on acoustic instruments, and if there isn't total agreement with the band about doing something, we won't do it."~ There are plenty of other interesting riffs of Jerry musicology, but you'll have to get FRETS and see for yourself. Check out FRETS, you'll enjoy it at least this month. "That's the way it's been in town Ever since they tore the jukebox down"