When Shira isn’t blowing minds on stage with Turkuaz, she’s keeping real busy! Shira sat down with CLB to spill the deets on her new solo EP, the nuts and bolts of what it’s like to be a professional vocalist and tells about some of her biggest musical influences … not to mention the world famous Lightening Round!

In her musical career, Shira has recorded six records and played shows at legendary venues like The Fillmore, Red Rocks, The Blue Note in Tokyo and Terminal 5. She has opened for George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, and worked with Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew of The Talking Heads. Her two EP releases, GOODS and SERVICES together will prove a striking and heartfelt introduction to the artist and songwriter that is Shira Elias.

Bob starting photographing the Dead in the 70’s and hasn’t stopped since! A candid interview, Bob tells stories of hanging out with Jerry, gives some new music recommendations and tells how he got started as one of the most recognized photographers in the scene. If you like this episode, please tell your friends about it and make sure to check out Bob’s website and his Instagram and Facebook.

Tony Saunders is a musician’s musician. Tony’s father, Merl Saunders exposed him to world class musicianship from a young age. Tony learned bass directly from John Kahn, was taught licks by Jerry and has been playing his ‘pocket bass’ style in jazz, R&B, and rock, since he was given his first bass by John Fogerty from CCR. Tony sat with Chasing Light Beams Podcast a few months back before a gig that he played, covering some of his father’s and Jerry’s material called Keystone Revisited.

We hope that you enjoy this candid interview. Tony is a good man and it was truly enjoyable to speak with him. He’s constantly playing music so make sure to check him out of you get the chance. You won’t be disappointed!

Marco is on tour now. Check out these dates whilst you feast your ears on the multi symphonic experience that is MB! You’ve heard JRAD, now hear ye – Mr. Marco Benevento!

THU, OCT 10 – BUFFALO IRON WORKS – BUFFALO, NY

SUN, OCT 20 – GATEWAY CITY ARTS – H

OLYOKE, MA

THU, DEC 5 – CASBAH – SAN DIEGO, CA

JAN 24 – THE CHARLESTON POUR HOUSE – CHARLESTON, SC

The Higgs are making serious moves in the jam scene. We sat down with them just before their set, to hear all about said moves. They are on tour now:

FRI 4 OCTOBER

SAT 5 OCTOBER

SUN 6 OCTOBER

TUE 8 OCTOBER

WED 9 OCTOBER

THU 10 OCTOBER

FRI 11 OCTOBER

SAT 12 OCTOBER

SUN 13 OCTOBER

TUE 15 OCTOBER

FRI 18 OCTOBER

SUN 20 OCTOBER

WED 23 OCTOBER

THU 24 OCTOBER – SUN 27 OCTOBER

SAT 16 NOVEMBER

Through their constant touring and enthusiastic fan base, The Higgs have become one of the fastest-growing, original jam bands. Named after the elusive Higgs-Boson particle – which provides for “mass” of all things in the Universe – The Higgs blur musical boundaries and unify the different sounds of jam, jazz, rock, prog, reggae and blues into an new musical fusion.

Based out of Missoula, The Lil Smokies bring both a crisp sound & high energy to their shows that I can’t stop dancing to! Andy and Jake sat with Chasing Light Beams to discuss their songwriting process, life on the road and their new album that they are set to record. Have a listen!

Thanks to photographer Dave Vann for the awesome photos that he took!

We love you more than words can tell

Song List: Hunter performing Terrapin Station (1:36); To Lay Me Down (16:36) from 9/20/70 with Jerry on piano; Happiness is Drumming (Fire on the Mountain) (23:00) by Mickey Hart 1976; Brokedown Palace (26:17) from 10/3/80; China Doll (31:48) from 5/7/77; Liberty (39:18) from 3/30/94.

Fortunately, I was in the presence of another Deadhead who had done many tours when I learned of Hunter’s passing. Rough day. I guess this episode is my little way of saying Thank You to a man who has been such an inspiration in my life. Big love.

Link to John’s new album

John’s facebook page

John’s Website

Lockn’ was a downright musical baptism this year! Courtesy of taper Steve Baker, here’s the funky fresh official Chasing Light Beams … Choice Cuts!

Enjoy

Photo © Jay Blakesburg

Chasing Light Beams had the honor of speaking with Bear from The Owsley Stanley Foundation at Lockn’ 2019. Have a listen

The Owsley Stanley Foundation is a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of “Bear’s Sonic Journals,” Owsley’s archive of more than 1,300 live concert soundboard recordings from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including recordings by Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Janis Joplin, and more than 80 other artists across nearly every musical idiom. These analog reel-to-reel recordings are nearing the end of their expected shelf lives and will deteriorate and be lost forever if they are not preserved. The effort to preserve these historically vital recordings is estimated to cost between $300,000 – $400,000. All donations and proceeds from the development of the recordings flow back into the effort to preserve more of Bear’s Sonic Journals and perpetuate Owsley’s legacy, including patronage of the arts in all of its forms. Our staff is entirely comprised of volunteers, and many of the support services necessary to run the organization have been donated by generous contributors that believe in the mission to save this music before it is lost forever.