Jerry Garcia would’ve turned 70 on August 1st, and his fellow guitarist in the Grateful Dead,
Bob Weir, is throwing a musical bash of sorts. Called "Move Me
Brightly," the event brings together an all-star group of musicians from
varied backgrounds who, under Weir's stewardship, will perform a couple
hours' worth of Garcia material tonight for a free webcast.
The songs will range from Grateful Dead classics to cuts Garcia
performed with his solo band. While nobody in the large ensemble of
musicians – a rotating cast (including members of Phish, the Hold
Steady, Vampire Weekend and more) that will number near 20 by the
night's end – will attempt to replicate Garcia's solos or fill his
space, Weir says that Garcia's voice will be represented by the music
itself.
"You find Jerry in the songs," Weir told Rolling Stone
during a break in rehearsals on Thursday. "And he's amply there." Since
Garcia was known never to play a song the exact same way twice, Weir
says that any new interpretation is just as valid as the original: "The
beauty of it is how Jerry manifests himself, how he reveals himself, to
the individuals."
For "Move Me Brightly," in addition to Grateful Dead members Weir and
Donna Jean Godchaux, those individuals will include Phish's Mike
Gordon, Furthur's Joe Russo and Jeff Chimenti, the Hold Steady's Craig
Finn and Tad Kubler, Vampire Weekend's Chris Tomson, the Yellowbirds'
Sam Cohen and Josh Kaufman, Ryan Adams & the Cardinals' Neal Casal
and Jon Graboff and the Black Crowes' Adam MacDougall, as well as
singer-songwriters Jim Lauderdale, Jonathan Wilson, Cass McCombs and
Harper Simon.
During rehearsals, actor Luke Wilson was on hand interviewing members
of Garcia's family for a documentary directed by Justin Kreutzmann, son
of Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. The footage will air during a
break in the live performance tonight.
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