The Music Plays the Band w/ Rob Koritz of Dark Star Orchestra

Rob is joined by longtime Grateful Dead crew member Steve Parish. Big Steve regales us with stories from his time on the road and his close relationship with Jerry Garcia. Listening to Steve talk really sheds a different light on just how special and unique the Grateful Dead were, Steve shares his feelings about the close-knit road crew, the mutual respect between the band and the crew and some pretty crazy stories, as well.

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Grateful Sweats

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In a tribute to the late luthier and designer of the Grateful Dead's iconic Wall of Sound, Rob goes back into the archive to bring you his conversation with Rick Turner.

Originally aired in edited segments during episodes 16-19, you can now hear the unedited version where Rick speaks about his time as musician, starting in the NYC coffee houses and including playing with Ian and Sylvia, how he gets into guitar building, the founding of both Alembic and Modulus guitars and much more.

Rick also goes into detail about how the Wall of Sound came to be and specifics on its design. Turner was cutting edge in both guitar and sound design circles and shares many details both technical and general, along with some great stories.

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

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Rob gets together with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jackie Greene. Jackie explains how he had to learn the Grateful Dead catalogue in a trial by fire situation, as a member of Phil Lesh's band. He goes deep in explaining how life-changing this music was for him and shares many stories about his time touring with other bands, including The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Derek Trucks others. Rob and Jackie really connected in this conversation, and Jackie is very candid in talking about the influence of not only the Grateful Dead but also the power of songwriters Robert Hunter and John Barlow.

In the Black music moment, we honor the Godfather of Soul, the one and only James Brown.

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

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Rob is joined by 2 time Grammy winning harmonica virtuoso, Howard Levy. They take a deep dive into his love for the Dead and his time recording with Jerry Garcia. Howard is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist who has toured with Bela Fleck, John Prine and Kenny Loggins, just to name a few. He has appeared on over 400 albums with legends across all genres. Today, he shares his journey with us in a soulful and sometimes emotional conversation.

Also joining us is Patrick Higgins of Last Fair deal from Hampton VA and in the Black Music Moment, we spotlight Smokey Robinson.

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

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In this all Texas episode, Rob is joined by 10 time Grammy winner, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. Ray shares his musical upbringing, his early exposure to the Grateful Dead, and how his path crossed with the band on numerous occasions. Ray talks about the differences AND similarities, between Texas Swing music and jambands, in regards to both the music and the fan base. Hear him talk about the important contributions Jerry Garcia made to the world of music, his songwriting inspirations and much much more.

We also talk with Joe Faulhaber of the Austin cover band Deadeye and we feature Texas native Blind Willie Johnson in the Black Music Moment.

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

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Rob brings along his bandmate and drumming partner, Dino English for a casual conversation talking about all things Dead and drumming. Hear them discuss the nuances of double drumming and soling and more. Dino shares his musical journey including his time as a guitar player plus his songwriting talents. Hear about some of the many projects he has done over the years.

ROb also takes a new approach. For the first time, he fielded questions from listeners, that both he and Dino anwer.

Also on the program is Andy Tichenor of Sisters and Brothers.

In the Black Music moment we honor one of Bill Kreutzman's heroes, the legendary drummer Elvin Jones

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Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/themusicplays)

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

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Rob goes in depth with the legendary Peter Rowan. In this lengthy discussion, Peter shares how he got started in music and how a kid from Massachusetts ends up playing with Bluegrass pioneer, Bill Monroe. Peter's evolution is a music history lesson, sprinkled with great stories. He shares with us his journey and how it landed him in California, playing in the seminal bluegrass band Old and in the Way with Jerry Garcia. Peter shares stories about the band, the music and what he felt was the essence of Garcia, both as a person and performer.

While most of this episode is dedicated to the conversation with Peter, we also honor Hank Ballard in the Black Music Moment.

Support the show (https://www.themusicplaystheband.net)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/themusicplays)

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

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In another very special episode recorded in Jamaica, Rob sits down with the one and only Melvin Seals. Melvin shares his experiences working with Jerry Garcia and offers some great insight into their relationship both on and off the stage and the importance of keeping the Garcia band repertoire alive through JGB. We go way back and hear how Melvin first got into music through the church and he explains the adjustments he had to make coming from that background into the world of improvisation, plus much more.

Also on the show is Mark Hitchcock of the Buffalo Dead All Stars and we feature Tampa Red in the Black Music Moment.

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Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/themusicplays)

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

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Rob comes to you from DSO's Jamaican Jam in the Sand featuring a deep dive with Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz. You might think that a every musician growing up in San Francisco would be familiar with the Grateful Dead but that is not always the case. In this conversation find out how Dan got into the Dead, was totally enamored and came to start playing with Phil while he was still learning the music. Lebo and Rob discuss the spiritual side of music and how the heart is just as important as the hands and feet when it comes to musical expression. They also touch on subjects ranging from the art of collaboration and sitting in, to the music that inspired the Grateful Dead.

In a longer version of the Black Music Moment we spotlight the mysterious and legendary Robert Johnson.

Support the show (https://www.themusicplaystheband.net)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/themusicplays)

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

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This week Rob has a lengthy conversation with guitarist, Al Schnier. Al is a dyed in the wool Deadhead and shares his journey with us and how it has influenced his experience with longtime jamband stalwarts, moe.

Amongst other things, we learn how starting your musical journey at a young age can impact you forever, how the songwriting of Hunter and Garcia influence Schnier plus how 2 Dead fans in a band can influence the rest of their bandmates. We spend some time talking about the genesis of scene at the Wetlands, bands curating their own festivals and the ever changing covid landscape and its effect on the music industry.

Also on the program is Jonathan Sherred from the Bay area band Aardvark. In the Black Music MOment, we honor Sonny Boy WIlliamson I.

Support the show (https://www.themusicplaystheband.net)

Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/themusicplays)

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Grateful Sweats

Subtle and Unique Dead Inspired Gear

Sarno Music Solutions

Producing the finest musical instrument audio gear, designed and hand-built in St. Louis, Missouri

Blue Jade Audio Mastering

St louis’s primary audio mastering service since 1999

The Authenticity Academy

Get in touch with your authentic self. Offering you online courses and private coaching.

CLEAN Store Software driven solutions and concierge service for all of your branding and apparel needs

https://www.cleanuniform.com/branding-apparel-store/

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices