Grateful Dead

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In his nightly band introductions, Phil Lesh often simply labels lead guitarist Larry Campbell “The Master.” And indeed, he is. Not only is he an incredibly versatile electric axeman, moving with seemingly effortless grace from genre to genre—country one moment, blues the next, then riff-heavy rock, followed by delicate string balladry. He also colors Phil & Friends’ sound with spry and mournful fiddle, sweet pedal steel guitar, plinking mandolin, acoustic guitar and even the bouzouki-like Irish instrument called the cittern.

Garcia and Other Top Bay Area Rockers Make This “Debut” Album Memorable

These are exciting days for Phil Lesh & Friends singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist Jackie Greene. Not only does he have a truckload of dates with that group planned for the spring and summer, but he just released his much-anticipated new album, Giving Up the Ghost (on the 429 label, a subsidiary of Savoy) and will also be playing shows all over with his fine solo band.

I don’t know who first coined the nickname “Mount Molo” to describe Phil & Friends drummer John Molo, but I’ve always thought it was very apt. This supremely talented journeyman is capable of drumming that is absolutely volcanic in its power—in fact there was a moment during “Cumberland” at the Greek Theater this fall when I thought his drums were going to explode, he was playing them so hard and so fast.

For most of you, Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay needs no introduction. The grizzled tour veterans among you likely had the pleasure of seeing and hearing her as a member of the Grateful Dead (the only woman ever to achieve that distinction) during some of the band’s peak performing years, from 1972 to early 1979. She also sang with various configurations of the Jerry Garcia Band, and in the Heart Of Gold Band with her late husband Keith after they left the GD.