Dead Tour Tales

In part 2 of our double episode with David Gans, he retraces his steps along the Golden Road  while gaining the trust, respect and friendship of the Grateful Dead, including a shared bachelorhood with Bobby; lessons from “Professor” Phil and illuminating one on one conversations with Jerry. We even get a deep dive into the differences in the band’s sound in the ‘70s with Keith on the keys and the...

What a pleasure it was to rap with Jereemy Hoenig of JGB this week. I think you'll find Jeremy to be incredibly thoughtful, insightful, intelligent, genuine and incredibly talented. In this episode we discuss his growing up in the East Bay (Fremont) Area of California in the '70s & how the influences of time and place shaped both his musical and life path (one and the same). We cover t...

"Welcome to The Gold Zone” - This week I had the great fortune to chat with my friend, The Professor - Jon Gold of Jerry’s Middle Finger. We discussed the origins of the supergroup (JMF) and the deep, genuine connection and camaraderie they share that serves as the foundation for the band and their friendships with each other as well as how that carries over into the greater LA Grateful Dead...

Jill Simmons is the lead singer of Pittsburgh jam band the CAUSE and all-female Dead Tribute band Browned Eyed Women. This week, we talk about her discovery of the dead, formation of her bands, and other adventures. Check out her bands below and get ready to see her at Skull and Roses this April. Browneyedwomen.com https://thecausejams.com/

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Wall of Sound, today we chat with Jason Scheuner, board member of Grateful Guitars Foundation and current owner of Phil Lesh's legendary bass guitar, Mission Control (played from 1974-1979 and with the Wall of Sound in 1974) as well as 3 of Phil's other iconic bass guitars played throughout Phil's tenure with the Grateful Dead. We get a deep dive...

Jack Shure is a surrealist painter who got his start selling posters on Dead tour. He’s known for his vibrant and surrealist paintings that mix psychedelic culture with fine art. His works often evoke a sense of wonder, magic, and mystery. Jack’s artwork has been featured in galleries and publications around the world. He has also been invited to show his work in several international solo shows....

Liz Jezorski and Erin Cadigan of Grateful Dead Tarot join us this week to share the origins of their custom Grateful Dead Tarot cards, as well as their experiences giving live tarot readings on tour.  We also discuss the overlap between tarot archetypes and the archetype of the Grateful Dead fan.  Find out more about the Grateful Dead Tarot below: https://www.gratefuldeadtarot.com/ Go Join Us  ⁠ ⁠...

Mother, friend and artist, Jenny Shuman is known to many as Beadwork by Jenny, THE bead artist who creates living artifacts through her intricately beautiful works, most notably as guitar straps for many of the finest players in our musical sphere, including Bob Weir, Oteil Burbridge, Duane Betts, Neal Casal, Anders Osobrne and WILLIE NELSON, as well as for some of our favorite musical instruments...

Pete Sawyer is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and producer based in Santa Cruz, Ca. Sawyer is known for his kinetic songwriting, distinctive electric guitar style and soulful vocals that have been prominently featured in bands Seconds On End , Echo Street , Brightshine and Pete Sawyer and The Left Hand Monkey Wrench Gang .  Pete saw his first Grateful Dead show during his senior year of college...

In 1974 at the age of 15, Bob brought his camera to a New Riders of the Purple Sage show at the Academy of Music in NYC and never looked back. As Senior Photographer for Relix magazine from the 1970s to 1990s, and later, Chief Package Designer for Grateful Dead Productions, Bob has enjoyed unique access to the Grateful Dead world. He has photographed thousands of concerts and countless musical art...

This week, we welcome David Manheim of the Dopey Podcast back to show for round 2.  We loved David so much we had him back and he’s still not a fan of Bobby.  Our conversation started with the challenges of getting out to shows because of our busy lives with our families, work and sobriety.  David shines light on how many sober people may feel at shows and that is boredom.  What do you do with all...

This week, we welcome Salem Ofa of Eye of the Tiger Tattoo to the show.  Salem grew up in LA for most of his childhood but then traveled north to San Francisco when he turned 18.  Haight Street became his choice place to hang out with the street kids and those in between tours. Dropping acid and running around a little thugish writing graffiti, Salem soon found his tribe with some of the kids head...

This week, we welcome the artist and tattooist, Elsa Rose Mountain to the show.  Elisa currently resides in Boulder, CO where you’ll find her tattooing in her studio, painting and soon to be taking on a tattoo apprentice (Jack Shure).  Chicago was her hometown but lived in Virginia for a while, where she met Jennifer, who turned on to music!  She heard Friend of the Devil and was hooked.  It was j...

This week,  we welcome Nordy (Tom Nordwall), author of the book, Tour Head and long time road runner!  Nordy was first introduced to The Grateful Dead in 1978, with their appearance on SNL.  It just happened to be the first time he smoked weed!  These events would help shape the next 40 years of Nordy’s extensive Dead tour experience, all through the 80’s and picking up again in the later years wi...

This week, we welcome Heather June of Aunty’s a Dead Head to the show.  Heather is known as the “Lot Mom” a name she really doesn’t like but is willing to accept because it comes from a place of love and respect for her loving spirit.  While she has seen The Grateful Dead with Jerry at least 50 times she also loves that she got to see Cliff Burton (original badass bass player of Metallica) as she...

This week, we welcome Dylan Carlson, of the band Earth, to the show.  Dylan was raised in a home that was really into music.  This may explain why Dylan’s first Grateful Dead show was in utero at the Eagle’s Auditorium 1/27/68. He still feels today, this may have contributed to his love for the Grateful Dead.  We discuss Dylan’s love for heavy metal and how these two worlds collided while living i...

In Part 2 of our in-depth conversation with Mitch Stein, we discuss what it’s like playing onstage with Bobby, Phil, Mickey & Billy (all separately); partnering with the masterminds behind Deadbase to develop the amazing Grateful Dead concert reference app - DEADSHOWZ; the genius of Betty Cantor-Jackson and the value she brought to the sound of the GD from the early 70’s to early 80’s; the gre...

This week, we welcome Hilary Clarkson of Old School Farms to the Show. Hilary was raised in New York City, being that NYC was almost a second home for the Grateful Dead; it was only a matter of time until these two worlds collided! She got into her first show at Foxborough 7/2/89 and her life has been on the golden road ever since. Hilary relocated to California, finally landing in Santa Cruz in t...

In part 2 of our double episode with David Gans, he retraces his steps along the Golden Road  while gaining the trust, respect and friendship of the Grateful Dead, including a shared bachelorhood with Bobby; lessons from “Professor” Phil and illuminating one on one conversations with Jerry. We even get a deep dive into the differences in the band’s sound in the ‘70s with Keith on the keys and the...

This week, we welcome Madhu Zugsmith, of the Dead Commandments, to the show. Madhu discusses his transformative first show, Irvine Meadows ‘84, as a young teenager.  An early psychonaut, Madhu experimented heavily with psychedelics starting at age 14. A really intense experience led him to live substance free for many ensuing years. He has recently circled back to psychedelics and now uses them in...

This week’s guest is Sunshine Powers, the owner, magic maker & glitter queen of the iconic retail store & artist collective, Love on Haight, in the famed Haight Asbury district of San Francisco. Not only is Sunny a magical human being but she has quite the story, having lived a classic country song, she lost everything in the market crash of 2008 (even her dog!), wrote an internationally a...

This week, we welcome David Manheim, known to most as just Dave. He is the co-creator and host of the Dopey Podcast, the show about drugs, addiction and dumb shit. We discuss his life growing up a Deadhead in Manhattan and his strong dislike of Bob Weir (WTF?!...), as well as some of his good and poor life choices. While not hosting his show, Dave is a dedicated father and husband, as well as the...

This week, we welcome Melrose (Melissa Rose) of Art by Melrose Tie Dye to the show.  Originally from Charleston, SC, she discusses her introduction to the Grateful Dead, which started around 2007 and eventually brought her to the west coast where she has lived for the past 10 years.  We delve into her passion for art and how tie dyeing became her current favorite medium to work in. &nbsp...

This week, we welcome Dane Mentzer, founder of Save Your Face to the show. Save Your Face focuses on raising awareness around mental health, addiction and suicide prevention. We hold nothing back and get down to it in the episode. Dane discusses the loss of his younger brother from suicide and personal struggles with mental health and addiction.  James and Brandon share their experience with...

In part 2 of our conversation with Randy Freedman, we delve deeper into Wovenfree’s mission to create small-batch, American made, quality crafted products with his partner, Rachel Rainwater and his plan to branch out into non-Grateful Dead specific items; the importance of using his platform and resources to give back and do some good in the community; the personal evolution of Tony Alva and the g...