Fans of the Dead were treated to something special this past week in NYC. The week started off with a Dark Star Orchestra show on Friday followed by a moving Phil and Friends show at Jones Beach on Sunday and finishing off with an upbeat Mickey Hart Band at Irving Plaza on Tuesday, there was something for everyone.

This year’s incarnation of the Mickey Hart Band adds SCI’s Kyle Hollingsworth to the keys, good friends Steve Kimock on guitar and George Porter on the bass, Jen Durkin on vocals, and Walfredo Reyes Jr., Sikiru Adepoju, and of course Mickey Hart on drums and percussion. Playing old favorites and new Robert Hunter songs, the band tore through the material, moving from the disco of Shakedown Street to African inspired beats and chants to the old school soul of Motown. Grateful Dead classics such as Eyes of the World, Sugaree, Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain took center stage and Good Lovin’ had the floor jumping to end the first set.

READ ON for more from Tuesday night’s Mickey Hart Band show…

I have to say there’s always a bit of trepidation going in to see an All-Star band, especially with performers not fluent in the material (and yes Chris Robinson I’m looking at you) but when you consider the time Hollingsworth and Kimock have put into the old Phil and Friends lineup and Jen Durkin with the Rhythm Devils, that never becomes an issue. Kimock and Porter are constantly in sync playing monthly at Mexicali Blues (rumor has it they’ll be adding a “can’t miss” keyboardist to their next gig) and the enjoyment that all the artists have for each other and the material clearly shows through. Fans spent most of the night dancing hard and cheering on their favorite soloists while high fiving Durkin in the front rows. One of my favorite moments of the night was when George Porter ambled over to Mickey, Kimock rose from his stool and the three just locked together in a wonderful creation of music…

The Mickey Hart Band next moves on to Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Omaha, before finishing up at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota. If you live in the New York City area and haven’t seen any Grateful Dead music lately, well then you probably haven’t left your apartment. With Phil Lesh and Friends, Bob Weir and Rat Dog, Bill Kreutzmann trio, Mickey Hart Band, and hell even DSO making appearances in the area, this has to be one of the most prolific touring summers for the members of the band since their heyday. Go and See It.

Jeremy Gordon

Jeremy Gordon is a photographer, registered architect, and current Jersey City resident. Beginning in a small bar in Teaneck, he started photographing local bands and eventually built up to such legendary artists as, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Etta James, Furthur, Phish, and Snoop Dogg. Jeremy has stated that live music photography at its best, is about capturing the split second of sweat and emotions shared between an artist and their audience and that the honor of standing in front of the creators of Rock and Roll and 20,000 of their loyal fans is one of the greatest thrills in the world. Jeremy can be contacted at gordonjer@gmail.com

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