#oteil & friends

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Oteil & Friends - “Love and War” (Live from Mexico)

A blended band melded elements of well-worn Led Zeppelin and Grateful Dead songs and twisted them into a new number.

The band is Oteil & Friends, which features members of the Dead’s extended family (bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Melvin Seals); second-generation Allmans in singer Lamar Williams Jr. and Duane Betts; the Trey Anastasio Band horns; and others. The borrowed melodies come from “The Ocean” and “The Other One.” And the new(ish) cut is titled “Love and War.”

A Burbridge-Williams co-write, the song was recorded live at the 2024 Dead Ahead fest in Mexico. Williams sings it; Jason Crosby tosses in violin and piano solos; and the horns play and their players sing backgrounds as the 10-piece band explores the contours of the root songs and Williams sings:

Time, do we have what it takes/when it all comes down to love and war/will we pretend we don’t care anymore

Given the firepower and the antecedents behind “Love and War,” it has monster potential. It is, however, more like a mouse.

Grade card: Oteil & Friends - “Love and War” (Live from Mexico) - C

5/10/24

[singeratlarge]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ukraine (independence day 1991), Anne Archer, Alseny Bah, Bedders Bedford (Madness), Ronee Blakely, Jorge Luis Borges, Oteil Burbridge, Joe Chambers (Chambers Brothers), Dave Chappelle, trail-blazing guitar legend John Cipollina, Paulo Coelho, John Cowan, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Molly Duncan (Average White Band), Órla Fallon, Jimmy Fox (James Gang), David Freiberg, Warren Gradus (Dion & The Belmonts), Rupert Grint, Wynonie Harris, Ken Hensley, Steve Holley, Claude Hopkins, Duke Kahanamoku, The Monkees (under-rated and unfairly maligned) 1987 POOL IT album, Bartolomé "Beny" Moré, The Movie Camera (patented 1891), Pebbles, my friend and San Francisco guitarist Bill Phillips, The 1979 film ROCK’N’ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, Fred Rose, Tony Secunda, Buster Smith, my friend Jackie Stump, Louis Teicher, abolitionist & evangelist William Wilberforce, Mason Williams, Willie Winfield (The Harptones), Ernest Wright Jr. (The Imperials), Howard Zinn, and my friend and musical colleague, a great singer-songwriter, guitarist, and band leader Samuel Bowen. Sam and I connected in the late 80s after I heard his excellent recordings. Currently he’s busy with solo projects and with his award-winning band Blue Cat Groove. We’ve done shows together around New England, and somehow found time to make some recordings:  https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/the-sky-cries-sam-bowen-jjb-full-band-version-2011  Also check out his Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@samuelbowen8521 ...Meanwhile, HB SB and thank you for your passionate and spiriti-filled music-making.

#samuelbowen #sambowen #skycries #singersongwriter #guitarist #johnnyjblair #birthday #massachusetts #bluecatgroove

[theloniousbach]

PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS (Oteill Burbridge, Jason Crosby, Dan Lebowitz, and Grahame Lesh), DARKSTARATHON Episode 2

Let’s see if these become like Jorma Kaukonen’s Quarantine Concerts, a bit of serious whimsy from a revered senior figure in the music, an intimate chance to see the magic at close range. PHIL LESH calls it a Dark Star that pauses but never ends.

Indeed this one began with the final notes of episode one to launch a warmly gentle but no less exploratory jam. They got to Dark Star proper by about ten minutes in. I heard a Spanish Jam tease before it settled into a full blown Stella Blue instrumental jam.

Lesh just isn’t as energetic as he was even fairly recently, but he has to be supervising the wizardry from solid but not exceptional musicians. Grahame Lesh and Jason Crosby are capable familiars. So is Dan Lebowitz but it was interesting to see how he contribute with a full pedal/effects rig for an acoustic/electric guitar. That though probably did contribute to the mellower mood. So too the drummer—Oteill Burbridge who does regularly joins Mickey Hart and Jay Lane for Drumz at Dead and Company gigs, but he plays bass in that band as he did for the Allman Brothers Band. He had a nice subtle bit at the end, but he too was capable enough keeping a light shuffle going without big cymbals or such.

But it all worked and was more than the sum of these parts. It was not just another jam band exercise; it was fully Grateful Dead music.

https://youtu.be/53cBXaDfcZs?si=XwWZzlIpV4WoBPqB

[suchananewsblog]

Foo Fighters, the Killers to Hit the Beach for 2023 Sea. Hear. Now Festival

The Foo Fighters and the Killers will head to Asbury Park, New Jersey, later this year for the Sea. Hear. Now festival taking place on Sept. 17 and 18. The Killers will headline the festival’s first day, which will also feature performances from Greta Van Fleet, Sheryl Crow, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Royal Blood, Tash Sultana, Bob Moses, Living Colour, Oteil and Friends, and…

[deadheadland]

LIVE STREAM: Skull & Roses Festival - One More Saturday: Oteil & Friends, Ass Bites From Hell, Melvin Seals & JGB, Circles Around The Sun, Cubensis, The Alligators, Roots Of Creation, Marcus Rezak Shred Is Dead, Extra Ticket, David Gans

LIVE STREAM: Skull & Roses Festival - One More Saturday: Oteil & Friends, Ass Bites From Hell, Melvin Seals & JGB, Circles Around The Sun, Cubensis, The Alligators, Roots Of Creation, Marcus Rezak Shred Is Dead, Extra Ticket, David Gans

LIVE STREAM: Skull & Roses Festival – One More Saturday: Oteil & Friends, Ass Bites From Hell, Melvin Seals & JGB, Circles Around The Sun, Cubensis, The Alligators, Roots Of Creation, Marcus Rezak Shred Is Dead, Extra Ticket, David Gans The stream is courtesy of Fans.Live and Skull & Roses Festival. And please donate to the Rex Foundation! Tickets are still available, including single day…

[rgray34]

3/12/22 @ The Capitol Theater

[gratefulfrog]

[music-never-stopped]

American keyboardist Jeff Chimenti is best known for his ongoing work with the former members of the Grateful Dead, and in April, he joins the entire VooDoo Dead crew (Steve Kimock, Eric Krasno, Jason Crosby, John Morgan Kimock, Tom Guarna, Alfreda Gerald & Lamar Williams Jr.) to shake the stage in Ventura at Skull & Roses 👉👉 @skullandrosesventura 💀🌹⠀ ⠀ Since May 1997, Chimenti has played with Bob Weir & Ratdog, every tour of The Dead (including the Fare Thee Well Tour), Further and has made occasional appearances with Phil Lesh and Friends. In 2015, he joined John Kadlecik, Reed Mathis and Jay Lane in Golden Gate Wingmen.⠀ ⠀ Following the success of the Fare Thee Well shows, he continues to tour with Dead & Company, along with former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, as well as John Mayer and former Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge. 🎹⠀ . . 👉 Visit @skullandrosesventura for ticket info!!! . . 👉 https://skullandroses.com/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7wTDtrADH3/?igshid=ml8zddntv15f

[nealcasal]

Oteil And Friends at Lockn’ / August 24, 2019

[pennylane85]

Dead & Co - 2 Night Wrigley Field Run

June 14th & 15th, 2019

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Dead & Company played the infamous Wrigley Field over the weekend. A mixture of songs between the two nights featured a tour debut, fan favorites and additions to the set list last minute. Here are some of highlights of my favorites from the weekend. I wasn’t able to take notes due to the rain. So I’m going off memory here and it’s mostly Mayer related b/c I can’t for the life of me remember anything else.

Night 1

The debut of “To Lay Me Down” featured Mayer on the steel guitar. You could tell he was a little nervous, but he did a wonderful job. I haven’t seen him play that before, as I know in the past on his 2013 Born & Raised Tour Doug Pettibone played it during a song, can’t tell you which one off the top of my head at the moment, but I do recall taking a photo of Doug. All the Deadheads kept asking me if this was something of the norm for him and I told them that I can’t recall ever seeing him play it, but doesn’t mean he hasn’t.

“Brown Eyed Women” is one of my favorites and I know they’ve played it already this tour, but I just love that tune.

The bluesy “It Hurts Me Too” was killer, Chicago Blues at its finest. It paid homage to the town and Mayer’s guitar solo was phenomenal. It reminded me of the first time I saw him play with the John Mayer Trio at the House of Blues in Chicago back in 2005. The kid was just getting his feet wet.

I’m a huge fan of “Althea” so I was happy to hear that, Mayer’s vocals shine on that song as well. During “St. Stephen” the flood gates opened from above, as the rain fell from the sky. The band fed off the energy of the crowd, especially Mayer and Jeff’s chemistry during “The Eleven.” We were getting soaked, but didn’t care, we sang, we danced the night away. Dead & Company ended Night 1 at Wrigley with “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

Night 2

Everyone loves a good “Terrapin Station,” I myself adore “Sugar Magnolia.” It’s my favorite Dead song. I knew they’d return at the end with “Sunshine Daydream.” I hadn’t heard “Mr. Charlie” live yet, so that was a treat. Oteil and Bobby shared vocals on “High Time,” “Friend of the Devil” another fave of my sounded a little off, the tempo couldn’t get figure out or something, in between fast and slow. It was a little weird. To be honest when I listen to the Dead I listen to the Grateful Dead, not Dead & Company.

“Bertha” was added last minute, which got the vibe of the show back on track and everyone dancing. I was excited to finally heard Dead & Co play Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried.”

The second set opened with “Spanish Jam” then another fan fave “Scarlett Begonias” was next.” I really enjoyed the “Help on the Way > Slipnot > Franklin’s Tower” segment. The great thing about jam bands is the way they transition to each song like it’s a part of the next song. I don’t know if the whole band has a say in what the set’s going to be like, but it all has to flow together. Sometimes I don’t notice the transition has even taken place until Mayer or Bobby start singing.

After “Drums > Space” I couldn’t see Mayer on stage as everyone came back out, turns out he was on the piano with Jeff playing “The Other One v.2.” I’m not sure if that’s happened before either. Mayer’s skill set has just sky rocketed since played with Dead & Company. He dabbles on the piano on Instagram Live (which to be honest I don’t watch the videos) and he has a few songs he plays piano on; but in the last two years or so since “The Search for Everything” he’s really taken that leap. I know he plays piano on “I’ll Be Found (Lost At Sea)” off “Paradise Valley” but he didn’t play it that much on the Born & Raised Tour, although I was able to catch one of the performances.

“Sunshine Daydream” ended the set with the encore of “Ripple” and “One More Saturday Night.”

I apologize to Jeff, Bill, Mickey, Bobby and Oteil. I know Jeff had a few times where he killed it on the keys and if I had a notebook I would have written it down, I still want a Jeff and Mayer collaboration. Oteil was jamming and getting lost in the music Saturday night, I was in front of him and really love his energy. Bobby’s been working out, sounding better than ever, this band is going to be here for years to come. Bill and Mickey do a great job as well, I just can’t see them from the pit and I wish I could b/c I feel like I’d have more of a connection with them if I could see what they were doing.

Sorry for the rambles of my review. There’s so much I want to say, express and attempt to describe that sometimes words fail me so just go listen to the shows. I hope you can feel what I felt this weekend. Thanks to Dead & Company for a few nights that healed my soul.

See you kids in Boulder!

[krispyweiss]

Dead Ahead to Mexico

- Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, et. al to join most of Dead & Company to “celebrate the Grateful Dead songbook” Jan. 12-15, 2024

Dead Ahead invites Dead Heads to Mexico.

The event, slated for Jan. 12-15, 2024, in Mexico, will pair all of Dead & Company - sans John Mayer - with Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Don Was, Rick Mitarotonda, Margo Price and Sturgill Simpson for Dead sets.

This Frankenstein band will play two nights of “curated collaborations;” Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros Featuring the Wolf Pack will headline one night; and Oteil & Friends and Lettuce will celebrate the Jerry Garcia Band on the other. Mickey Hart’s Noche de Ondas will play a late-night set.

Orebolo, LP Giobbi, Sierra Hull, Brittney Spencer and Jaime Wyatt will support.

Ain’t no time to wait; tickets go on sale Sept. 15.

9/11/23

[beenwaytoolongatsea]

Oteil Burbridge Plots Oteil & Friends Fall Tour 2023

[singeratlarge]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Anne Archer, Alseny Bah, Bedders Bedford (Madness), Ronee Blakely, Jorge Luis Borges, Oteil Burbridge, Joe Chambers (Chambers Brothers), Dave Chappelle, trail-blazing guitar legend John Cipollina, Paulo Coelho, John Cowan, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Molly Duncan (Average White Band), Órla Fallon, Jimmy Fox (James Gang), David Freiberg, Rupert Grint, Wynonie Harris, Ken Hensley, Steve Holley, Claude Hopkins, Duke Kahanamoku, Bartolomé "Beny" Moré, The Movie Camera (patented 1891), Pebbles, my friend and San Francisco guitarist Bill Phillips, The 1979 film ROCK’N’ROLL HIGH SCHOOL, Fred Rose, Tony Secunda, Buster Smith, my friend Jackie Stump, Louis Teicher, abolitionist & evangelist William Wilberforce, Mason Williams, Willie Winfield (The Harptones), Ernest Wright Jr. (The Imperials), Howard Zinn, and my friend and musical colleague, a great singer-songwriter, guitarist, and band leader Samuel Bowen. Sam and I connected in the late 80s after I heard his excellent recordings. Currently he’s busy with solo projects and with his award-winning band Blue Cat Groove. We’ve done shows together around New England, and somehow found time to make some recordings:  https://johnnyjblairsingeratlarge.bandcamp.com/track/the-sky-cries-sam-bowen-jjb-full-band-version-2011  ...Meanwhile, HB SB and thank you for your passionate catalogue of music.

#samuelbowen #sambowen #skycries #singersongwriter #guitarist #johnnyjblair #birthday #massachusetts #bluecatgroove

[theloniousbach]

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, The Pageant, 15 February 2019

We should probably acknowledge and be clear that all Grateful Dead music performed since 1995 has been from cover bands, including The Other Ones, The Dead, Fare Thee Well, Furthur, Dead and Company, Phil Lesh and Friends, Ratdog, and others.  I have seen those cover bands (and the local Jake’s Leg, though I guess that was before 1995 actually) quite happily but until this one not others second generation ones like Dark Star Orchestra.  

I do like hearing the good old songs explored but what makes Joe Russo’s Almost Dead an exception.  Russo was in Furthur so he played with Lesh and Weir, but that’s not it.  Early publicity for this tour suggested that Oteil Burbridge from D&C was going to be the bass player, but his contact with Weir, Hart, and Kreutzmann wouldn’t be it either.  Instead, I think it’s because JRAD isn’t just a Grateful Dead cover band, they are a Phil Lesh and Friends cover band in that any song in the canon is a potential launching pad for a deep jam and many of the GD conventions/ruts/rituals are avoided.  Like most PL&F ensembles, JRAD has one lithe drummer (Mr. Russo himself) and two lead guitarists with their own voices and senses of adventure.  Tom Hamilton and  Scott Metzger are capable and interesting. Okay, there is no other bass player like Phil Lesh so Dave Drewitz is relieved of those expectations but he comes across stronger in person than on some of the tapes I heard.  He is more tied to chords and bass conventions, certainly than Lesh who simply isn’t period but also others (Oteil Burbridge, Alfonso Johnson, Dave Schools, say) who have played in this universe.  But he has a power similar to Jorgen Carlsson of Gov’t Mule.

The most compelling musician in the band is Marco Benevento on keyboards who is inventive, robust, and claims space in the face of the guitarists.  He is a force in the same way that Bill Payne carried his own weight in Little Feat.  He and Russo go back a long way and together they also reset this band as not quite as guitar-centric.  Note that Lesh’s take on the canon comes from his perspective as a bassist and we benefit from bringing that vision stronger into the mix.  Benevento often got the first solo in most jams and sometimes the last one too and if it was only one and in the middle it still grabbed attention.  He took an extended breakdown with bits of Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train”  in “Tennessee Jed,” the second set closer.  It had some Garth Hudson eclecticism to it. He had fun there (at the end of the solo, he rolled back on his bench and kicked his legs in the air) and throughout, locking eyes, grinning, and goading the others.  Russo was his best, most sympathetic audience in the way that good friends celebrate and build their friendship in common appreciated work.  He bounced between piano and organ mostly but there was tasty clavinet/synthesizer/keyboard even from the very start with the “Cats Under the Stars” opener.  Besides the “Tennessee Jed” interlude, he barrelhoused “I Need a Miracle” very hard and then took a later solo mostly on organ.  But again figure that the most compelling, energetic, and fun work in most tunes came from him.

I don’t mean to diss the guitarists.  They are strong and individualistic, resisting the pull of Garcia-isms and they are the singers (Tom Hamilton a little thin though), but they, particularly Scott Metzger, just didn’t seem to be having fun.  I like how spare the show is--no special lights, no Oriental rug on the stage, just an amplifier each and not even guitar stands.  It’s the music that matters, but that puts the onus on the musicians.  Again, these guys are important contributors but they aren’t comparable in effect to the band dynamic as Warren Haynes/Jimmy Herring were in the PLQ.

But, besides Benevento, there’s Joe Russo himself and this is definitely his band.  Sitting house right, front row of the balcony, besides a clear look at the keyboards we could see Russo signaling the band as well as just driving things.  Take the acceleration in “Viola Lee Blues” which cranked up five times from an already powerhouse false ending.  That was the most powerful, but he also soloed underneath the band in “Let It Grow” and drove “Jack Straw” hard.

The setlist is not completely revelatory though there’s a taste of things in this bare accounting:

Set 1: Jam>Cats Under the Stars>Gonesville>Cumberland Blues>Viola Lee Blues>Crazy Fingers>Let It Grow

Set 2: Althea>I Need a Miracle>Ramble On Rose.  Jack Straw>Estimated Prophet>Tennessee Jed

Encore: Never Been To Spain (a Hoyt Axton/Three Dog Night cover)

The list misses the way the genetic similarity of Cumberland and Viola comes through with the same locomotive driving it OR the nifty insertion of Miracle riffs as Ramble On Rose is coming on OR the way they got Prophet and Jed to transition so smoothly.  And, given curfews and such, it was the second set that was shorter and more song driven whereas that first set was entirely jammed out and expansive.

This is quite a band and an exciting fresh take on the canon.  At some point, the founders will be finished but I’ll be happy if these folks can keep it going.

Long live the Dead!

[nepascene]

Former Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge & Friends with legendary saxophonist Ron Halloway and former Primus drummer Jay Lane playing one of the last main stage sets of the day at the Peach Music Festival at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton! #ThePeach #PeachMusicFestival #PeachFest #Scranton #ScrantonPA #Moosic #MoosicPA #WilkesBarre #WilkesBarrePA #NEPA #Pennsylvania #NEPAScene #music #livemusic #musicscene #musicfestival #festival #fest #band #rock #rockmusic #jam #jamband #AllmanBrothers #OteilBurbridge #stage #show #supportlocal #arts #entertainment (at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain)