Jammed with Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead) last nite!!!

ultrabass6 · #1 05-07-2009, 10:29 AM

So..I've been a Deadhead for 25 years and last night was one of the highlights of my musical career. The Dead are here in Denver tonight and Billy Kreutzmann, one of the drummers, wanted to put a band together for a jam at a local club. Totally last minute. I got the call at 6:30 and was out the door at 6:32. Two guitarists, percussion, me, and Bill. Played original tunes (guitarist songs) that I had never heard before. Kinda rough!! Played "Turn on Your Lovelight" with Bill Kreutzmann!!! Totally Cool!! We played for about an hour then he played with JGB for a set. Pics coming soon.

zac2944 · #2 05-07-2009, 11:04 AM

Wow. That's huge man! Congrats on landing such a cool gig. I bet you were pumped. Sounds like a right-place-right-time sort of thing. Rock on.

John C. Reilly · #3 05-07-2009, 11:22 AM

awesome! would love to see some pics. I hope one day to amass the musical ability to get called for gig like that.\

Im a closet dead head. have you checked out phil lesh autobiography get the version on itunes that phil reads.

RCCollins · #4 05-07-2009, 11:26 AM

very cool. he's a darn good drummer and probably gets less credit than anybody in that band. My favorite stuff of theirs is the single drummer era from 72-74, nuthin' but Billy

ultrabass6 · #5 05-07-2009, 11:44 AM

It was totally a right place right time sorta thing. I feel very lucky. In the last three months I've had the opportunity to jam with JoJo Hermann (Widespread Panic keyboardist), Bill McKay (Leftover Salmon keys) and now Bill Kreutzmann!! As a bassist in a hippie jam band I could not ask for anything more. Phil's book is awesome. There is a version on iTunes that Phil reads?

varunkapahi · #6 05-07-2009, 12:07 PM

woah!

guitar ed · #7 05-07-2009, 01:46 PM

OK. I be officially jealous.

Seriously, that is way cool.

edg

cymbop · #8 05-07-2009, 03:21 PM

Outstanding, Ultra! Give us some details! What kinds of things did you notice about Bill's playing and interaction with the other guys? Did you find it easy to lock with him? Give us a book chapter, man!

ultrabass6 · #9 05-07-2009, 04:17 PM

He actually was a hard drummer to play with. He was celebrating his birthday and I think he celebrated alot. I kept trying to lock in with the percussionist who was trying his hardest to keep everyone together. After the first song Billy turns to me and says "you can rush me if you want. Don't worry about time. Lets play out of time tonight and let it get crazy" or something to that effect. Well...playing out of time kinda goes against the fiber of my soul so it was very difficult. Phil Lesh has the strangest sense of timing and I've tried for 25 years to get a handle on it. Phil plays around time. Toys with it like a cat with a mouse but still somehow in perfect time. Still..playing "Lovelight" with Bill Freakin Kruetzmann made this old deadhead very happy. Well, I'm off the see The Dead at the Pepsi Center but I'll get pics up tomorrow.

mmmmberger · #10 05-08-2009, 08:12 PM

I saw Billy with Brent years ago in a group they billed themselves as "Kokomo" - he was celebrating that night too...I got to see him lose his lunch center stage! Still wish I could been onstage! Waiting for pics!

kesslari · #11 05-08-2009, 08:32 PM

Man, that is awesome. Congrats to you, big time!

ultrabass6 · #12 05-08-2009, 11:52 PM

More pics coming as soon but here's one. Billy played hand drum for first half of set before moving to kit.

Quick review of Dead show at Pepsi Center: I've always been inpressed with their ability (willingness) to create in the moment but this tour it seems like they really go out on a limb with jams and solo sections. It seems like they make a conscious effort to step out of bounds and bring it back around. I really admire that in a band. They played alot of slow songs but nobody plays slow songs better that The Dead. They have so much patience. To be able to play that relaxed in front of 17,000 people and just let the song develop without rushing takes guts. Awesome show!! They can do things that no other band can do. Lots of well rehearsed improvisation. Phil always plays such interesting bass lines. It's like a good book that you just can't put down. I can't wait to hear what he plays next.

DblG · #13 05-10-2009, 07:48 AM

Awesome. I would have jumped at the oppurtunity as well. How often does a chance like that come around?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

very cool. he's a darn good drummer and probably gets less credit than anybody in that band. My favorite stuff of theirs is the single drummer era from 72-74, nuthin' but Billy

Agreed, I love the single drummer era too. But I never gave Mickey Hart enough credit until I had the chance to see him last year with his band from about 35' away off the side of the stage. I have a totally new respect for what he brings to the table and a new look on what a great tandem these two are together!