It was 46 years ago today that one of the most notable Grateful Dead shows ever was performed at Barton Hall at Cornell University on May 8, 1977. One of the most revered and traded shows in the band’s history, the Barton Hall show is a thing of legend, a perfect way to introduce new fans to the band and a performance for the ages with stand out versions of numerous Dead songs.
The band played its first of three shows at Cornell (1977, 1980, and 1981) on May 8, 1977, and were booked by the Cornell Concert Commission after some troubles with booking live acts in the years prior. However, this was not the first live campus appearance from the Grateful Dead members. Jerry Garcia Band had performed at Cornell’s Bailey Hall less than two years prior on October 27, 1975. The lineup for the May 1977 show included the core of Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, as well as Donna and Keith Godcheaux.
Cornell ’77 Poster designed by Cornell alumnus Jay Maybrey
In past years, the Cornell Chimes have commemorated the day with a performance of Grateful Dead tunes on a set of bells housed in historic McGraw Tower. One of the university’s oldest musical traditions, the 21-bells are played primarily by student chimesmasters.
Grateful Dead at Barton Hall, Cornell University, May 8, 1977
Set 1: New Minglewood Blues, Loser, El Paso, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Deal, Lazy Lightnin’, Supplication Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried, Row Jimmy, Dancin’ in the Streets
Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Estimated Prophet, St. Stephen > Not Fade Away > St. Stephen, Morning Dew
To conclude the 67th season of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, they’ll go back, a long time ago, to a galaxy far far away. “May the Fourth Be With You” will be performed at the Anderson Center for the Performing Arts in Vestal on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30pm.
Maestro Daniel Hege will lead the Philharmonic in performing the music of John Williams, including themes from The Force Awakens, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, and of course, the original Star Wars Suite. Additionally, there will be live narration by Joshua Sedelmeyer, who will weave together the epic story of Star Wars with the music.
Joshua Sedelmeyer is an alumni of the Ithaca College BFA Acting program and studied abroad at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia (National Theatre Institute’s Mats program) and the IC London Center in England. Josh is based in Upstate New York, between Binghamton and Ithaca, and works regularly with many companies throughout the region. He is often sought for his physical acting approach (Edgar, King Lear), his playfulness and vivacity within ensembles (Clown, The 39 Steps), and for his comfort with adapting to a wide range of theatrical styles (Puppeteer in The Snow Queen, Austin in True West, Edmund in Long Day’s Journey into Night).
Josh also has developed an ease at creating rapport with audiences during interactive performances, such as “Pops” concerts with the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra (The Magical Music of Harry Potter, A Night at the Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet, and Star Wars, May the Fourth).
Founded by Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg in 1955, the Binghamton Philharmonic was founded by David Agard and Russell Hawkes, presenting an annual series of classical, pops, and chamber music concerts in Downtown Binghamton and throughout Broome County. The professional musicians of the Philharmonic, represented by Local 380 of the American Federation of Musicians, hail from the Southern Tier, New York City, and surrounding states.
For tickets and more information, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic box office at 607-723-3931 or visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.
Jazz is PHSH will be heading out on a late spring tour covering the Northeast and Midwest from May 31 to June 11. The instrumental group bring electrifying interpretations of the Phish song book for Phish phans and Jazz fans to dive into, including shows at Buffalo Iron Works and Nublu in NYC.
Don’t let the name of the band fool you – while the arrangements for Jazz is PHSH are steeped in jazz, the funky, rocking fusion interpretations of the music will bring you to your feet.
A rare treat, Jazz Is PHSH creates an exhilarating experience, journeying through the catalogue of Phish while seamlessly weaving the songs together with the music of jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius and Herbie Hancock.
Figuring out the songs as they are rearranged and reimagined is equally as fun an aspect of Jazz Is PHSH that Phish phans enjoy as much sharing in the groove of the music. For jazz fans and those unfamiliar with the music of Phish, the deep dives into the history books of jazz as well as the references to current artists like Robert Glasper and Nate Smith provide a never ending stream of auditory pleasure.
The upcoming Spring Tour includes a mix of sit down jazz clubs like the Bop Stop in Cleveland on June 1 and famous rock club venues like Nectars in Burlington on June 8.
The mix of rooms will give fans an opportunity to catch a few different shows on the tour to have a range of experiences with the band. While their catalogue is not quite as big as Phish’s hundreds of songs spanning over 40 years, Jazz Is PHSH has been touring since 2015 and has created an impressive catalgoue of their own.
With mashups of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” with Nate Smith’s “Bounce” and Phish’s “Divided Sky” with the John Coltrane masterpiece “A Love Supreme” along with a plethora of other mashups of Phish songs, the band is able to craft unique setlists each night so that fans that travel with the band can have unique experiences each night.
JAZZ is PHSH Spring Tour 2023
May 31 – Cincinnati OH – Fretboard Brewing
June 1 – Cleveland OH – Bop Stop June 2 – Baltimore MD – 8×10 (w/ The Chase Brothers) June 3 – Toronto ON – Adelaide Hall June 7 – Buffalo NY – Buffalo Iron Works June 8 – Burlington VT – Nectars June 9 – New Market NH – Stone Church June 10 – Manchester CT – Main Pub June 11 – New York, NY – Nublu
The historic Royal Albert Hall in London is Eric Clapton’s home away from home. Since his debut at the historic venue with the Yardbirds in 1964, Clapton has performed there more than any other artist, over 200 times, and counting.
photo by Carl Studna
Clapton also holds the record for the longest run of concerts at the venue, set in 1990 with 18 shows, then breaking that record the following year with 24 concerts. These were some of the most ambitious shows of Clapton’s career, with each night featuring him performing a career-spanning set with one of three lineups – a rock band, a blues band, or an orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen. Kamen previously worked with Clapton on the Lethal Weapon soundtracks, plus the TV show Edge of Darkness. Before his untimely passing in 2003, Kamen had become a leading film & TV composer, with X-Men, Die Hard & Band of Brothers among his many credits.
Clapton surrounded himself with superlative musicians for the performances on during the 1991 residency, with a roster of legends including Johnnie Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Chuck Leavell, Phil Collins, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, Steve Ferrone, Ray Cooper, and Jerry Portnoy.
Clapton released 24 Nights in October 1991, commemorating that record-setting run. The double live album and home video delivered great performances but only covered a fraction of what was filmed and recorded. Now, Warner Records is giving the concerts the release they deserve this summer with a limited edition box set, Eric Clapton:The Definitive 24 Nights. Featuring nearly six hours of live music and 35 unreleased performances, the collection distills Clapton’s 1990-91 Royal Albert Hall residencies using the best performances from the rock, blues, and orchestral nights to create full concerts for each genre.
All the audio and video included in The Definitive 24 Nights was painstakingly restored and upgraded by Clapton’s team of Simon Climie (audio production and mixing), producer Peter Worsley (Slowhand at 70 and The Lady In The Balcony), and director David Barnard (The Lady In The Balcony).
For the rock concert, Clapton played many of his classic songs including “Sunshine Of Your Love,” “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Layla,” and “Wonderful Tonight.” Covers of “Crossroads”, and a reggae version of “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” with Phil Collins on drums are highlights. Clapton also featured several tracks from his most recent studio album (1989’s Journeyman), including the hits “Pretending,” “Running On Faith,” and “Bad Love.”
With Eric Clapton aided by special guests Buddy Guy, Albert Colins and Robert Cray, the blues concert delivered a master class in the genre with ripping versions of standards like “Key To The Highway,” “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Black Cat Bone,” and “Reconsider Baby.”
The orchestral concert is the most unique of the collection. For those performances, Clapton’s nine-piece band was joined by the National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by legendary composer Michael Kamen. The collaboration resulted in stunning arrangements for “Layla,” “White Room,” “Bell Bottom Blues,” “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Lay Down Sally,” and more.
The biggest highlight from the orchestral concert – and possibly the entire box set – is the previously unreleased 30-minute epic, “Concerto For Guitar.” Kamen composed the piece especially for Clapton, which made its live debut at Albert Hall. In the set’s liner notes, music journalist David Fricke writes about the version included in the collection: “Near the halfway mark in this 1991 reading, [Clapton] takes off on guitar as if he has the rest of Cream at his heels – at once precisely melodic and jubilantly unhinged – as Kamen echoes that ferment in the strings and brass.”
The Definitive 24 Nights will be available on limited edition box sets as either 6-CDs ($139.98) or 8-LPs ($199.98) on June 23. Both versions come with three Blu-ray discs for the video content, a hardbound book, and an individually numbered lithograph featuring a photograph of Clapton by Carl Studna. Each are limited edition versions and available now to pre-order HERE.
Standalone versions of the individual concerts – 24 Nights: Rock, 24 Nights: Blues, and 24 Nights: Orchestral – will be released the same day in 2-CD/DVD ($29.98) and 3-LP (Rock and Orchestral) ($49.98) and 2-LP (Blues) ($39.98) configurations.
Eric Clapton fans will also now have the opportunity to experience the excitement of the legendary Royal Albert Hall concerts on the big screen as Unique X and Iconic Events present the Across 24 Nights cinema event globally on May 17th, with encore screenings from May 21st. Edited from the original footage and remastered in Dolby ATMOS and 5.1 Surround Sound, Across 24 Nights will bring fans together to celebrate the ultimate musical event cinema experience. For further information & tickets, please visit ericclaptoncinema.com
The Definitive 24 Nights Track Listing
24 Nights: Rock
“Pretending”
“Running On Faith”
“Breaking Point” *
“I Shot The Sheriff” *
“White Room”
“Can’t Find My Way Home” *(Feat. Nathan East on lead vocals)
“Bad Love”
“Before You Accuse Me” *
“Lay Down Sally” *
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” *
“Old Love” *
“No Alibis” *
“Tearing Us Apart” *
“Cocaine” *
“Wonderful Tonight”
“Layla” *
“Crossroads” *
“Sunshine Of Your Love” *
24 Nights: Blues
“Key To The Highway” *
“Worried Life Blues”
“Watch Yourself”
“Have You Ever Loved A Woman”
“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” *
“Something On Your Mind” *
“All Your Love (I Miss Loving)” *
“It’s My Life Baby” *
“Johnnie’s Boogie” *
“Black Cat Bone” *
“Reconsider Baby” *
“My Time After A While” *
“Sweet Home Chicago” *
“Watch Yourself” (Reprise) *
24 Nights: Orchestral
“Crossroads” *
“Bell Bottom Blues”
“Lay Down Sally” *
“Holy Mother” *
“I Shot The Sheriff” *
“Hard Times”
“Can’t Find My Way Home” * (Feat. Nathan East on lead vocals)
“Edge Of Darkness”
“Old Love” *
“Wonderful Tonight” *
“White Room” *
“Concerto For Electric Guitar” *(composed by Michael Kamen)
“A Remark You Made” *(A tribute to Jaco Pastorius)
Higher Ground has served, for more than a quarter centry, as Burlington’s premiere indoor music venue, a checkmark for bands looking to make their park in the Green Mountain State. Fans who have been able enough to catch a Higher Ground show know to stay until the show is over, where concert posters are sometimes handed out to lucky fans.
ECHO: A Survey at 25 Years of Sound, Art, and Ink on Paper, a unique art book featuring a collection of concert posters spanning the history of Higher Ground, the legendary music venue located just outside Burlington, VT, was released on April 1st. ECHO is a site to behold for concert poster collectors across the country.
This meticulously designed coffee table book, appearing like a stack of bound silkscreened posters, features the concert posters that have been a staple of Higher Ground and their partnership with acclaimed design firm and nonprofit, Solidarity of Unbridled Labour and Iskra Print Collective.
The book’s intro, written by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, taps into the project quickly.
What coheres in these images is the work of the music and art communities intertwined and invested in each other…Concert posters are as close as one can get to the solid evidence that we all crave—proof that what happens when we create is beyond the scope of the individual work.
Jeff Tweedy
With more than 350 original concert posters, all taking place in Vermont – mostly at Higher Ground – the book is snapshot of music history in the Northeast, tracking bands as they progressed around the country, growing in size in many cases, with some moving from the smaller Showcase Lounge to the larger Ballroom space.
The artwork is inviting for any music lover, those who appreciate the art of concert posters, and others who appreciate variety in graphic design.
Ween / 07.23.99 / Edition of 350 / 22 x 26 / Design • Todd Wender
There are dozens of artists you’ll find inside the pages of ECHO, among them Neil Young, Ice Cube, Norah Jones, My Morning Jacket, Wu Tang Clan, Ween, Sturgill Simpson, Phish, Willie Nelson, Anderson .Paak, and many more. There are also the obscure artists you’ll come across in the pages of the book, those who fit a niche, faded out or otherwise never crossed your radar; the artwork in Echo will have you discovering new music.
Iskra Print Collective, a community space in Burlington that is dedicated to the practice, understanding, and appreciation of the printmaking arts, has held the task of creating silkscreen posters for certain shows at Higher Ground, which are uniquely not available for purchase. These prints evoke the spirit of each artist and band are embodied with bold creativity, and the deep dive into screenprinting found in ECHO is remarkable.
Michael Jager, co-Founder and Creative Director of Solidarity of Unbridled Labour and Co-Founder of Iskra Print Collective, works to conceptualize and realize ideas that help guide and create culture and positive change from within. Working with Ezra Pound’s principle, “Make it new,” through his multi-disciplinary collaboration, Jager has created work for brands including Burton Snowboards, Microsoft’s Xbox, Nike, Levi’s, Phish, MTV, Virgin, Lululemon, Yara, Tomra, Seventh Generation, MasterClass, and Patagonia.
Making the project even more special is all proceeds going directly to Iskra Print Collective.
Sturgill Simpson / 02.18.15 / Edition of 345 / 15 x 15 / Design • Andrew Lakata
Nestled inside the pages and pages of artwork inside ECHO are interviews with Alex Crothers, founder and co-owner of Higher Ground.
Crothers shares his unique insight from the past 25 years in his interview, which is echoed in his initial correspondence with Jager, outlining his vision for a partnership between the two.
Crothers opened the venue in 1998 and has produced more than 10,000 events in that span of time. By attracting rising stars as well as legendary musicians, Crothers pushes Higher Ground with core values to create bigger and better things while embracing community, storytelling, and the creative process. Through working with Iskra Print Collective, Higher Ground meets this mission.
Wu-Tang Clan / 12.21.10 / Edition of 275 / 15 x 15 / Design • Chris Partelow
ECHO is a must own book for any music-lover or Vermonter, and a must for any concert poster collector. The incredible design of the coffee table book is also the perfect addition to your library. Purchase ECHOhere.
Twiddle frontman and reggae singer/songwriter Mihali has announced three shows in the New York metro area this May, presented by Relix.
Over May 12-14, Mihali will perform solo looping sets at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, then at Brooklyn Bowl the next night. On Sunday, May 14, he’ll return to Port Chester for a full live band performance at Garcia’s.
The appearances follow Twiddle announcing they will go on hiatus following their touring plans this year.
The Easter weekend episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL) featured longtime cast member Molly Shannon, alongside musical guests Jonas Brothers.
The cold open featured James Austin Johnson as indicted former President Trump, interrupting The Last Supper to compare himself to Jesus, and pointing out where he would have done better.
Molly Shannon, who has been on a roll with The White Lotus and I Love That for You, in addition to her biography Hello, Molly! available in paperback starting April 11, opened the show with a song alongside featured players.
If you were looking for references to classic Shannon characters, you were in luck. Jeannie ‘Don’t get me Started’ Darcy was featured in her own “Selective Startage” Netflix special, bringing back the super dry humor.
Please Don’t Destroy played Molly 2K23, a video game series based on Shannon’s life, and hidden within the only Mary Catherine Gallagher reference of the night.
Nick Jonas joined the 5-timers club this week, having hosted and performed sans brothers, both of whom have played Studio 8H three times. Nick would stop by during “The Play” and the trio would appear in the final skit of the night, featuring Sally O’Malley, who can kick, stretch and kick.
The latest single from Jonas Brothers, “Waffle House” – featured a dozen backup singers plus a five-piece band for the pure pop tune that is no doubt catchy.
The second song had a far more animated use of the performance space, with “Walls” had backup singers getting enthuasiastically down, a surprise banger to close the night.
Troy band Adequate Phil has shared a unique new single, “Mystery Jam,” the band’s first live recording, which is accompanied by a multi-cam video of the performance filmed at the Jive Hive in Albany.
The single showcases the band’s signature sound, blending catchy, experimental hooks, dreamy jams, and intricate rhythms to create a captivating listening experience.
Adequate Phil is an indie rock band, drawing influences from Radiohead, Animal Collective, The Beatles, and The Shins, with a sound blending experimental rock, psychedelic pop, and alternative folk.
Since forming in 2021, Adequate Phil has been making waves in the local music scene, earning plays on WEQX and performing at local festivals such as Bacchanalia and at various venues, including Rare Form, No Fun, and the Troy Speakeasy. They have also performed in Massachusetts at venues such as Greylock Works in North Adams, where they have an upcoming 3-show residency, dubbed as the “Doritos Daze” Residency.
Monday April 10 is “Cool Ranch” night with special guests Boss Crowley, and Monday May 8 is “Spicy Nacho” with special guests Headless Relatives.
With a growing fan base and a reputation for delivering unforgettable live performances, Adequate Phil is poised to become a force to be reckoned with in the indie rock scene.
Bushwick’s Dead, a new series launching in May at Brooklyn Made in Bushwick, features a rotating roster of local jam bands on the first Sunday of the month. The first three shows have been announced and include bands covering The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beatles and Steely Dan.
Bushwick’s Dead is produced by Brooklyn-based production company Loop Troupe, which has a history of producing series and residencies. Loop Troupe launched Walrus with a six-month long weekly residency at The Delancey before Walrus started playing larger venues like Brooklyn Bowl and Brooklyn Made.
The first show of the series, on Sunday, May 7th, features Walrus and Near Dead Experience. Walrus is a Brooklyn based jam band playing the music of the Beatles and Near Dead Experience brings a fresh and dynamic energy to the Grateful Dead catalog. The two groups have previously performed shows together at Brooklyn Bowl.
Walrus is Chris Mackin (Guitar/Vocals), Josh Santiago (Guitar/Vocals), Dan Shein (Drums), Satoko Mori (Keyboard/Vocals), Jason Figueredo (Vocals), & Will Corona (Bass/Vocals). The members of Walrus have previously performed together in Loop Troupe Family Band, an original funk band.
On Sunday, June 4th, Dead Meat, an electrifying tribute to The Grateful Dead, is supported by Steely Jams, a one time only experiment to jam on songs from the Steely Dan catalog. Dead Meat has become a fan favorite known for their moving harmonies, high-energy blocks of music and routinely pushing the limits of Dead’s vast catalog. The band’s unique renditions of timeless classics make them a must see, whether you’re a lifelong Dead head or a casual listener.
On Sunday, July 2nd, Uncle Ebenezer and Strangers Stopping Stopping play the music of the worlds two most iconic jam bands, Phish and The Grateful Dead. Uncle Ebenezer are four musicians and Phish fans who are dedicated to spreading the joy and excitement of the live Phish experience. Strangers Stopping Strangers bring a youthful energy to the music of the Grateful Dead. The band approaches the songs with a folk and bluegrass influence, much like the original members of the Dead.
Brooklyn Made is located at 428 Troutman St. Doors open at 6pm, with 7pm showtime. Tickets are $15 advance / $15 day of show and available here
Stay tuned for future show announcements and never miss a sunday show!
Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL) this week, with genre-blending musical guest Lil Yachty. Brunson used her monologue to talk Abbott Elementary and praised teachers, mentioning her Philadelphia upbringing and mother who was an educator. Brunson used her first SNL hosting gig to call for better pay for teachers, reminding parents to not take teachers for granted.
A trio of solid sketches followed, with a “Drug Dealer” sketch with bathroom dealers trying to one-up each other, a Netflix Bridesmaids cult documentary that sends up the cult doc Wild Wild Country, and a gameshow ‘Couple Goals.’
The first song from Lil Yachty, “The BLACK seminole.,” found an all-female band in a starlit field/swamp, the moon backlighting them. The first track off Let’s Start Here, “The BLACK seminole.” offered rap merging with psychedelic rock and hip hop, including autotuned Yachty singing, the guitarist dropping a solo that would make Slash smile, and singer Diana Gordon taking the spotlight as LED wall projections intensified. Lil Yachty put the band front and center, with a Pink Floyd influence clear in Gordon’s singing and samples of “One of these Days” and “Speak to Me.”
https://youtu.be/XYdE4HAsXpI
On Weekend Update, Michael Che pulled “the meanest thing you’ve ever done” on Colin Jost, by getting the audience to not laugh during the first few jokes Colin told. Someone could then be heard shouting ‘you suck’, and Jost breaking his ever-stiff persona on Update, laughing at the lack of laughs, wondering if his mic was on, and Che admitting it was his April Fools. Jost replied with “You are evil!” laughing all the while, sweating too. Meanwhile, Che’s couple of early jokes got big laughs to stoke the flame.
Having set the tone for the rest of Update, the guests that joined the desk made this the funniest Update of the season so far. Michaelangelo’s David (Michael Longfellow) and featured player Marcelo Hernandez praised Short Kings, dragging Jost again, this time for being short (he’s really 6’0″).
Lil Yachty’s second song “drive ME crazy!” dropped a Disco beat thanks to an even-handed drummer and Diana Gordon taking the lead this time, singing about finding her perfect match. At first, the song is minimalist, with the stage becoming lighter as the song progressed, with Yachty joining in, wearing a hat that Shock G would have loved.
https://youtu.be/lrF32zOszgg
Tune into Saturday Night Live next week with host Molly Shannon and musical guest Jonas Brothers
