Furthur Tickets

Bob Weir is joining with Phil Lesh "on the Road Again." Further Tickets for the two ex-members of the Grateful Dead have been released, along with an extended series of concerts.

Joining Weir and Lesh are several great musicians who are experts of the music of the Grateful Dead. Guitarist John Kadlecik from Dark Star Orchestra and Wingnut so closely resembles the late Jerry Garcia in playing and appearance that it creates a hauntingly odd replication of sight and sound. Drummers Jay Lane from Ratdog and Joe Russo of A Big Yes and a Small No are pushing the envelope of "madness" and keeping the tempo steadily filled with ghost strokes and grooves. Keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, also of Ratdog, is the best keyboardist Mr. Weir has had. His ability to augment and not "step-on" Weirs intricate rhythm arpeggios and jazz dyslexia chords has gone along way to further the overall Dead process of ringing-out during riffing and using counter-harmony scales to add power to the musical signature, directed usually by Weir's inexhaustible knowledge of the material. Although known for the most beautiful vocal on any Grateful Dead album track, American Beauty's "Box of Rain," Phil Lesh's road-weary voice is less called upon with the aid of John Kadlecik's voice. And, Weir who has a much debated propensity to sing more old Jerry tunes than his own also seems in stronger singing voice due to the vocal help of Kadlecik.

The last New Year's show the band pulled out several surprise tunes: Viola Lee Blues, The Golden Road, That's It for the Other One, Born Cross-Eyed, and The Faster We Go The Rounder We Get. This was after pulling out several surprises on the prior concert: Here Comes Sunshine, Deep Ellum Blues, Lost Sailor / Saint of Circumstance, Cosmic Charlie, Unbroken Chain, and the entire suite of Terrapin Station. No matter where Further shows go or who is on stage, it is basically a celebration of the Grateful Dead catalog. Every fan has their opinion of the band's song choices. Some fans hate when they play "Not Fade Away." Some fans think "Black Peter" is too spooky. Some fans take a nap during "Drums / Space," some stand in cosmic reverence. If you have never seen a Grateful Dead Concert, going to Further is nothing like one. Some argue that around the time Brent Mydland died, the Dead ceased to be vital. Some argue that pre-Touch of Grey was the Grateful Dead and post-Touch of Grey was the Grateful Rich Guys. Those exchanges of views come from fans who take the band seriously. This band is worth taking seriously. The writing of Robert Hunter put-to-song is the closest thing America has had to a Homer or a Shakespeare. Odes and poems are meant to be sung. The fact that Hunter's lyricism found a home with a band of earnest, musically honest troubadours is just plain lucky. This concert tour is called Further. It is a reflection of something that is long gone in America, namely the spirit of Ken Kessey. ("Further" was Kessey's mantra.) The world is full of churches, institutions, and causes that are based on something that died. This is another example. One that will hopefully garner new breeds of creativity, poems, and rock bands. Further is still going because nothing has taken its place (and Bob Weir is still vital). Hopefully, it will continue, until a new band truly takes over where the Dead left off. Phish comes no where close. Government Mule: nope. Widespread Panic: sorry. So "further" we must go. All the songs of the Grateful Dead seem to come from some dead miners union, a place where Woody Guthrie directs traffic and Robert Johnson drinks whiskey.

No other band in American History has the proof of exposition of the Grateful Dead. To judge something grand on the basis of its lowest common denominators whether it's fans, albums, or latter day touring is to miss out on something special, something worth saying yes to: "Pay for your ticket and don't complain."