Grateful Dead: “Dick’s Picks Volume 25” (2013 re-issue) CD Review

Dick’s Picks Volume 25 contains most of two concerts the Grateful Dead performed on May 10^th and May 11^th, 1978. This four-disc set is missing only two songs from the first show (“It Must Have Been The Roses” and the encore, “U.S. Blues”) and three songs from the second show (“Mexicali Blues,” “Mama Tried” and “Peggy-O,” all of which were in the first set).

The two concerts contained in this set find the band in top form. The song selections are excellent, and there are some incredible jams, as well as some seriously good vocal performances.

This was an interesting year for the Grateful Dead. A few months after these shows the band would play in Egypt, near the pyramids. That year saw the release of Shakedown Street, which some folks dismissed as disco, while others loved it. This is also the year that saw the closing of Winterland, one of the Dead’s favorite venues. And this would be Keith and Donna Godchaux’s final year with the band.

Disc One

 “Jack Straw” was always a nice opener, and this is a really sweet version, particularly in the vocals. Then the song gains a tremendous energy, and they really belt out the lines, “Jack Straw from Witchita cut his buddy down/And dug for him a shallow grave and laid his body down.” Bob even shouts “Yeah.” The crowd understandably goes nuts. What a fantastic way to kick off the concert. The band was really on, straight out of the gate.

There’s some good stage banter on this CD, which is always appreciated. Bob tells the crowd, “We’re all patiently waiting for Jerry to get his act together, decide what he’s going to do next and all that.” Jerry decides on “They Love Each Other,” and this rendition has a nice easy, sweet jam. Bob then says, “We’re carefully weeding out all those tiny little bothersome technical imperfections that we just can’t stand. Real soon everything will be just exactly perfect.” Oh yes.

Bob then goes into one of my favorites, “Cassidy.” This song always lifts my spirits, and this is an excellent rendition. A few years ago I met John Barlow, the song’s lyricist, and this is the one song I had to mention to him. He said it’s one of his favorites too. “Let your life proceed by its own design.”

The first set also includes a fun “Ramble On Rose” (though Donna’s yell sort of comes out of nowhere) and a version of “Big River” that’s seriously fun, as well as a sweet “Peggy O.” A pretty intense “Let It Grow” leading into a cool, high-energy “Deal” round out the first set.

The first disc also contains the first two songs from the second set – the always-fun “Bertha” straight into “Good Lovin’.”

Disc Two

The second disc opens with one of my favorite pairings – “Estimated Prophet” into “Eyes Of The World.” And I love the versions of “Estimated Prophet” from this time, with Donna’s vocals on “Fire wheel burning in the air” sounding so sweet. Bob’s vocals have a great energy on lines like, “Might and glory gonna be my name.” Jerry’s playing is fantastic, reaching some great peaks, and then becoming deliciously sprightly once the song has settled into a good groove. This is one of the best versions of “Estimated Prophet” I’ve heard.

The transition into “Eyes Of The World” isn’t quite as smooth as at other shows, but it’s always wonderful to hear those first notes. “Eyes Of The World” always gets me dancing – this song has such a palpable joy. “Sometimes we live no particular way but our own.” Even through this version is more than twelve minutes, the jam after the final verse is quite short, and it soon leads into a drum solo. And what a drum solo! Eighteen minutes, giving Bill and Mickey plenty of time to explore several avenues. There are actually some pretty moments, as well as some tense moments.

And the way it slides into “The Other One” is great, with starts and hints from various band members – but no hurry, man. I love Phil’s bass playing, just bits of that intro, finding new things to do with it, a new groove. And even then, they’re skirting around the song, until finally with a great burst of energy the song begins. And then, holy moly! (Okay, seriously, is there a bit of The Monkees’ “Steppin’ Stone” just before the vocals come in? I think there is.)

And then a moving and powerful rendition of “Wharf Rat” and a good, energetic “Sugar Magnolia” finish up the second set.

Disc Three

The second show opens with “Cold Rain And Snow.” “Well I married me a wife, she’s been trouble all my life.” There is a nice slow, sweet “Friend Of The Devil” with a pretty jam (featuring some nice stuff on keys by Keith Godchaux). Bob then goes into “Looks Like Rain,” his vocals blending well with Donna’s on this beautiful rendition. “I only want to hold you/I don’t want to tie you down/Or fence you in the lines I might have drawn.”

The first set also includes a seriously good version of “Loser.” And the jam in “Tennessee Jed” is wonderful. The first set concludes with “Lazy Lightnin’” into “Supplication,” and that jam too has some great stuff.

The third disc includes the first two songs from the second set, and they are that great combination of “Scarlet Begonias” into “Fire On The Mountain.” I always enjoy these two songs, but this is particularly good “Fire On The Mountain.” And there is some playful stuff in the vocals toward the end that I don’t recall hearing in any other version of this song.

Disc Four

A vocal miscue on Bob Weir’s part at the beginning of “Dancing In The Streets” leads to lots of wonderful silliness. Donna even cracks up while singing. As a result, this is a ridiculously fun rendition of the song. You can hear the crowd having a great time. And the energy during the jam is fantastic. And there is some more playfulness toward the end of the song. I love it.

And it leads into “Drums.” How do you try to beat that great eighteen-minute “Drums” segment from the night before? With a twenty-minute drum solo, of course. Toward the end, they play around with the “Not Fade Away” beat.

And then the band goes into a pretty wild rendition of that song. You’d think a transition from “Not Fade Away” to the beautiful “Stella Blue” would be difficult, but the band is totally on, and do it with ease. This is a really good “Stella Blue,” by the way.

The first set ends with Chuck Berry’s “Around And Around,” in which at one point Bob Weir does some silly faux-stuttering. Folks that night got two encores: “Werewolves Of London” and “Johnny B. Goode.” This was an early “Werewolves” for the band, as they introduced it into the set lists just a month earlier. And there is more delightful silliness in the vocals toward the end of the song. Wonderful!

CD Track List

CD One

1. Jack Straw
2. They Love Each Other
3. Cassidy
4. Ramble On Rose
5. Me And My Uncle >
6. Big River
7. Peggy-O
8. Let It Grow >
9. Deal
10. Bertha >
11. Good Lovin’

CD Two

1. Estimated Prophet >
2. Eyes Of The World >
3. Drums >
4. The Other One >
5. Wharf Rat >
6. Sugar Magnolia

CD Three

1. Cold Rain And Snow
2. Beat It On Down The Line
3. Friend Of The Devil
4. Looks Like Rain
5. Loser
6. New Minglewood Blues
7. Tennessee Jed
8. Lazy Lightnin’ >
9. Supplication
10. Scarlet Begonias >
11. Fire On The Mountain 

CD Four

1. Dancing In The Streets >
2. Drums >
3. Not Fade Away >
4. Stella Blue >
5. Around And Around
6. Werewolves Of London
7. Johnny B. Goode

Dick’s Picks Volume 25 is scheduled to be released on 12 through Real Gone Music.

Keller Williams: “Keys” (2013) CD Review

The first time I saw Keller Williams in concert, he opened for RatDog, so I’ve always loosely associated him with the Grateful Dead. And now, appropriately, he has released a collection of Grateful Dead covers.

Titled Keys, this album is quite a bit different from other releases by Keller Williams. It is just vocals and piano.  Interestingly, all of the tracks are songs that Jerry Garcia sang lead on. Bob Weir is not represented in these song choices; nor are Pigpen, Phil, Brent or Vince.  Keller picks mostly the slower Grateful Dead tunes, and those seem to work best with this sort of arrangement.

The full title is Keys: A Collection Of Grateful Dead Covers On Piano To Benefit The Rex Foundation, and as the extended title suggests, all of the proceeds from this album will benefit the Rex Foundation. Named after Rex Jackson, a Grateful Dead roadie and later road manager, the Rex Foundation was established in 1983 as a non-profit charitable organization by members of the Grateful Dead and their friends.

The title Keys is also a reference to a jam the Grateful Dead did for a while in the early nineties when Bruce Hornsby played with the band. “Keys” was played along with the “Drums/Space” segment of the show. I’m not sure if “Keys” was the official title, but it’s how we all labeled our tapes.

This collection opens with a really interesting version of “He’s Gone.” Being done on piano rather than guitar gives it a very different feel. Oddly, Keller sings, “A fact is a fact, and more of the same” (instead of “A knife in the back, and more of the same”). Keller does the vocal part at the end, but of course it’s just him, so you lose that great interaction of the multiple parts.

“Terrapin Station” is one of my favorite Grateful Dead tunes, and the piano really works on this one. Of course, there isn’t as big a build leading to “Inspiration,” as there is with a full band. But the beauty of this song is here. And he pronounces “cicadas” correctly, something Jerry Garcia never did for some reason. Of course with no other vocalists, Keller has to back himself on the repetition of “Terrapin!” toward the end.

Keller chooses two beautiful songs from my favorite album, American Beauty. The first is “Attics Of My Life,” which works really well with just piano and vocals. It’s totally gorgeous. And it’s always been the lyrics that really drive this one. “In the attics of my life, full of cloudy dreams unreal/Full of tastes no tongue can know, and lights no eyes can see.” The other is “Brokedown Palace,” another excellent choice for this album, as it’s a sweet tune that lends itself well to this arrangement. Keller does add a bit of a groove to his vocal performance on lines like “Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul.”

Also included on this album is “Althea,” a gorgeous song with a reference to Hamlet in the lines, “You may meet the fate of Ophelia, sleeping and perchance to dream.” This one might be my favorite from this collection. Keller Williams really nails it, his voice smooth, and the piano sounding just exactly right.

“Wharf Rat” is another of my favorite Grateful Dead songs. On this one, I did sort of miss other instruments, because that great build before “I’ll get up and fly away” is my favorite moment of the song, and it’s absent from this version, as it’s impossible to do without a full band. Still, it’s an interesting take on the song.

Keller does a piano solo on “Bird Song” (in place of the jam), and it’s really nice. On “Row Jimmy,” Keller does a silly thing with his voice, as if imitating other instruments, just after the line, “Don’t you run off no more.” It’s off-putting, actually sounding a bit like a chicken. That silliness is out of place in a song like this. Other than that, this is a nice version.

“Can’t Come Down” is probably the most interesting and unusual choice on this album. It’s an early song the Grateful Dead did before they ever recorded an album. Also, it’s more of a rock song, and it’s odd to hear this one with just piano and vocals. The title is obviously a reference to tripping, and Keller does add an effect to a portion of his vocal performance, to give a trippy feel to the lines, “They say I've begun to lose my grip/My hold on reality is starting to slip/They tell me to get off this trip,” but it doesn’t quite work.

“Touch Of Grey,” the collection’s concluding track, is another interesting choice, as it’s one of the more upbeat tunes. But Keller takes it down a few notches, the results being that the song seems more thoughtful, more directly comforting in a way. Certainly it’s an interesting take. It is odd to hear only a single voice on “We will get by” at the end.

Track List

1. He’s Gone
2. Can’t Come Down
3. Terrapin Station
4. Attics Of My Life
5. Althea
6. Brokedown Palace
7. Wharf Rat
8. Bird Song
9. Row Jimmy
10. Touch Of Grey

Keys is available only as a download. It was released on February 12, 2013.

By the way, there have been other Grateful Dead cover albums in recent years that benefited the Rex Foundation. In 2010, a compilation titled Jerry Jams For Rex was released (featuring bands like Yonder Mountain String Band, The String Cheese Incident and Phish), and in 2011 Jerry Jams For Rex II was released. Then last year, Run For The Roses: Celebrating The Music Of Jerry Garcia,Robert Hunter And The Jerry Garcia Band  was released in April. All of those releases were benefits for the Rex Foundation.

Nakia: “Drown In The Crimson Tide” (2013) CD Review

These days when folks mention R&B, I usually cringe, because most of what is called R&B has neither R nor B. So it was with a great joy and surprise that my ears greeted Drown In The Crimson Tide, the new EP by singer and songwriter Nakia. This six-track CD features some actual R&B. I’m so happy to learn that people are still making music like this.

Nakia Reynoso, who was raised in Alabama, certainly has the right voice for it. He is able to sound both smooth and raw, able to easily convey emotions without getting bogged down in sentiment. It’s a voice with power.

This EP features all original tunes, each written with a collaborator.

Drown In The Crimson Tide opens with “Tight,” which begins with a very brief acoustic moment, before the fun R&B beat begins. And then the song is this great throwback to the heyday of Stax. It has that kind of sound.  Here are the first several lines: “I was an outsider kid/Picked on at school for the things that I did/Mama, she was crazy/Daddy was gone/Same old story, same old song/My whole life’s been a shame/It’s been tough being this way.” The song then builds from there, and shows what Nakia can do vocally.  I would cut that little acoustic intro, as it sort of gives you the wrong impression of where this song is going, and it’s too short to accomplish anything on its own.

“Tight” was written by Nakia and Chris Seefried.

“Make Up With A Gun” is one of my two favorite tracks from this release. This too has an excellent early R&B feel, and a great (and catchy) groove.  Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Meet me at the station/Just keep out of sight/Cash your check at the dollar store/And let’s go chase the night/Tell me that you love me/Look me in the eyes/Inside every shadow is a beautiful surprise.” There are also some pretty backing vocals by Ainjel Emme in that section, which add a certain depth to the sound. There is a sort of false ending, and the song returns briefly in a more folk – or even country – vein. I dig the whistling in that last section, and actually wish the song were a bit longer. 

“Make Up With A Gun” was written by Nakia and Aris Archontis.

“Dream Big” is a slower, bluesy song that reminds me a bit of 1980s blues, particularly in the vocals during the chorus. The EP’s title comes from this song’s opening lines:  “Alabama is so hot in the summertime/It’s so easy to drown in the crimson tide/Mama told me there’s more to life than this/She gave me a penny and said, Boy, don’t you waste your wish.” This song has some of the mandatory elements of the blues, such poverty, heard in lines like, “When I got to Chicago, I couldn’t even pay the toll/Working two jobs, barely had time to sleep/No, you can’t get started if you can’t even make ends meet.” 

“Dream Big” was written by Nakia and Bleu.

Nakia veers more toward rock with the energetic “Pieces And Castles,” which reminds me at times of Joe Cocker in the mid-1980s. It’s actually an interesting song, in that he sings of a strange sort of dedication to someone, with the repeated lines, “I just can’t get along without you/I just can’t make it on my own.”  But it’s not like he wishes to be dedicated to this person, for their relationship didn’t work before. And yet he still needs this person, as he sings, “And I just can’t help thinking that I’m worthless without you and I’ll die with a broken heart.”

“Pieces And Castles” was written by Nakia and Barry Goldberg. (You might recall Barry Goldberg as one of the founding members of The Electric Flag. He also played with Bob Dylan at that famous 1965 Newport Folk Festival gig.)

“When I Found You” is my other favorite from this EP. This slower and gorgeous ode has an older feel, which I love, and it’s due in part to Barry Goldberg’s work on piano and Hammond organ. Goldberg also co-wrote this song. The horns are a wonderful touch, and also work to give the song a convincingly authentic R&B sound. And then there are those great backing vocals. This is just an all-round great tune. And there is a nice change toward the end, when Nakia sings, “You believed in me/You believed in my song/All along, when no one would listen to me/You were there with a smile and a shoulder so strong.”  He delivers such an earnest vocal performance.

“Walking On A Slant,” the EP’s final track, is a fun, bluesy rock number. The horns really make this one work. “Walking On A Slant” was written by Nakia and Brian West.

CD Track List

1. Tight
2. Make Up With A Gun
3. Dream Big
4. Pieces And Castles
5. When I Found You
6. Walking On A Slant

Drown In The Crimson Tide was released on March 5, 2013 on Something-Music.

March 2013 Concert Calendar

Here is a list of concerts you might be interested in for the month of March. Most of these are bands that I've reviewed, though some are some bands that I haven't yet written about, but really like. If you can, try to check out at least a few of these shows. I will try to add to this calendar as much as I can throughout the month.

March 1, 2013  (Friday)
Samantha Crain  -  Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
Gaelic Storm  -  Strand Capitol Theatre, York, PA
Mary Gauthier  -  Mexicali Live, Teaneck, NJ
The Greencards  -  Kessler Theatre, Dallas, TX
Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks  -  McCabe's, Santa Monica, CA
The Highballers  -  Acre 121, Washington, D.C.
I See Hawks In L.A.  -  Cinema Bar, Culver City, CA
James McMurtry  -  The Hamilton, Washington, D.C.
Peter Mulvey  -  Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA
Martin Sexton  -  Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ
Wagons  -  Black-Eyed Sally's, Hartford, CT
Brooks Williams  -  British Wildlife Centre, Lingfield Surrey, UK
Christopher Williams  -  Private house concert, Salt Lake City, UT
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Granada Theater, Dallas, TX

March 2, 2013  (Saturday)
Leonard Cohen  -  Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA
The Dunwells  -  Bardot, Miami, FL
Antje Duvekot  -  The Roundhouse, Beacon, NY
Entrain  -  The Grog, Newburyport, MA
Gaelic Storm  -  The Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
Mary Gauthier  -  Common Ground, South Presbyterian Church, Dobbs Ferry, NY
The Greencards  -  Dosey Doe Music Cafe, Conroe, TX
The Howlin' Brothers  -  The Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN
James McMurtry  -  City Winery, New York, NY
Peter Mulvey  -  Private event,  Sidney, NY
Ellis Paul  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Martin Sexton  -  Plush Tucson, Tucson, AZ
Wagons  -  Joe's Pub, New York, NY
The Whooligans  -  The Auld Dubliner, Long Beach, CA
Brooks Williams  -  British Wildlife Centre, Lingfield Surrey, UK
Christopher Williams  -  House Concert, Salt Lake City, UT
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Stubb's BBQ, Austin, TX

March 3, 2013  (Sunday)
Leonard Cohen  -  Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA
Samantha Crain  -  The Parlour, Providence, RI
The Dunwells  -  Crowbar, Ybor City, FL
Gaelic Storm  -  The Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA
Susie Glaze & The Hilonesome Band  -  McCabe's, Santa Monica, CA
(CD release show)
James McMurtry  -  Club Helsinki, Hudson, NY
Peter Mulvey  -  Private event,  Niskayuna, NY
Ellis Paul  -  The Linda, 339 Central Ave., Albany, NY
Christopher Williams  -  Velour Music Lounge, Provo, UT
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  George's Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville, AR

March 4, 2013  (Monday)
Wishbone Ash  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA

March 5, 2013  (Tuesday)
The Dunwells  -  Pour House, Charleston, SC
Mary Gauthier  -  Higher Ground, S. Burlington, VT
The Howlin' Brothers  -  The High Watt, Nashville, TN
James McMurtry  -  Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA
Peter Mulvey  -  Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
Martin Sexton  -  Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK

March 6, 2013  (Wednesday)
Leonard Cohen  -   Save-On-Foods Memorial Center, Victoria, British Columbia
The Dunwells  -   Double Door, Charlotte, NC
Gaelic Storm  -  Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI
Mary Gauthier  -   Deb's Chesham House Concerts, Harrisville, NH
The Howlin' Brothers  -  WDVX Blueplate Special, Knoxville, TN
James McMurtry  -  The Haunt, Ithaca, NY
Martin Sexton  -   George's Majestic, Fayetteville, AZ
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, OK

March 7, 2013  (Thursday)
The Dunwells  -   Savannah Stopover Festival, Savannah, GA
Gaelic Storm  -  Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
Mary Gauthier  -   One Longfellow Square, Portland, ME
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Layla's Bluegrass Inn, Nashville, TN
Lavender Diamond  -  The Echoplex, Echo Park, CA
James McMurtry  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Peter Mulvey  -  Private event, Syracuse, NY
Ellis Paul  -  Hezekiah Stone's Coffeehouse, 1089 Stafford St, Leicester, MA - 7:30 p.m.
Martin Sexton  -   Hal & Mal's, Jackson, MS
Chris Trapper  -  Columbus Theatre, Providence, RI
Wagons  -  The High Watt, Nashville, TN
Brooks Williams  -  The Parlor Room, Northampton, MA
Dar Williams  -  Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago, IL
Stephane Wrembel  -  The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Canopy Club, Urbana, IL

March 8, 2013  (Friday)
Bombadil  -  Krankies Coffee, Winston-Salem, NC
Jonathan Edwards  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Steve Forbert  -  Druid Hills Golf Club, Atlanta, GA
Gaelic Storm  -  Barrymore Theatre, Madison, WI
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Uncle Slayton's, Louisville, KY
James McMurtry  -  Tupelo Hall, White River Junction, VT
Moe  -  Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Peter Mulvey  -  Nelson Odeon, Nelson, NY
Ellis Paul  -   Palace Theater, 75 Main Street, Stafford Springs, CT
Martin Sexton  -   Tipitinas, New Orleans, LA
Chris Trapper  -  Port City Blue, Portland, ME
Brooks Williams  -  Rose Theatre, Ormskirk, UK 
Dar Williams  -  Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI
Keller Williams  -  The Laird Room, University Of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI 
Stephane Wrembel  -  Suffolk Theater, Riverhead, NY 
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  The Pageant, St. Louis, MO

March 9, 2013  (Saturday)
Bombadil  -  The Whiskey, Wilmington, NC
Peter Case  -  McCabe's, Santa Monica, CA
Leonard Cohen  -  Brandt Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
The Dunwells  -   The Prophet Bar, Dallas, TX
Antje Duvekot  -  Fox Run House Concert, Sudbury, MA
Entrain  -  Cotuit Center For The Arts, Cotuit, MA
Steve Forbert  -  Relix Variety Theatre, Knoxville, TN
Gaelic Storm  -  Fitzgerald Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Mary Gauthier  -   The Rosendale Cafe, Rosendale, NY
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Grimey's Record Store, Nashville, TN
James McMurtry  -  Tupelo Hall, Londonderry, NH
Moe  -  Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Peter Mulvey  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
The Nields  -  Voices Cafe, Westport, CT
Willie Nile  -  Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
Martin Sexton  -   Vinyl Music Hall, Pensacola, FL
Chris Trapper  -  Portsmouth Music Hall, Portsmouth, NH
Wagons  -  Savannah Stopover, Savannah, GA
The Whooligans  -  Saint Nicholas Parish Hall, Laguna Woods, CA
Dar Williams  -  Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
Keller Williams  -  Pearl Street Brewery, LaCrosse, WI
Stephane Wrembel  -  The Van Dyck, Schenectady, NY
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  The Pageant, St. Louis, MO

March 10, 2013  (Sunday)
The Dunwells  -  Continental Club, Houston, TX
Gaelic Storm  -  Englert Theatre, Iowa City, IA
Mary Gauthier  - Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY
James McMurtry  -  Jay Peak Ski Resort, Jay, VT
Peter Mulvey  -  University Cafe, Stony Brook, NY
Ellis Paul  -   Godfrey Daniels, 7 East Fourth St, Bethlehem, PA
Martin Sexton  -   Natural Life Festival, Jacksonville, FL
Wagons  -  Natural Life Festival, Jacksonville, FL
Brooks Williams  -  The Green Note, London, UK
Stephane Wrembel  -  Hoboken Pilsner Haus Kolo Club, Hoboken, NJ
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Bluegrass Underground, McMinnville, TN

March 11, 2013  (Monday)
Leonard Cohen  -   MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba

March 12, 2013  (Tuesday)
The Howlin' Brothers  -  The Continental Club, Austin, TX
Marley's Ghost  -  Ashkenaz, Berkeley, CA

March 13, 2013  (Wednesday)
Leonard Cohen  -   Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
Samantha Crain  -  512 Rooftop, Austin, TX
Gaelic Storm  -  State Theater, Eau Claire, WI
Mary Gauthier  -  Turning Point, Piermont, NY
The Howlin' Brothers  -  The Dogwood, Austin, TX  -  2:00 p.m.
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Saxon Pub, Austin, TX  -  8:00 p.m.
Willie Nile  -  The Dogwood, Austin, TX
Brooks Williams  -  The Trades Club, Hebdon Bridge, West Yorkshire, UK
Stephane Wrembel  -   The Southern, Charlottesville, VA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, NM

March 14, 2013  (Thursday)
Fur Dixon  -  The Talking Stick, Venice, CA
The Dunwells  -  Blue Rock Texas, Wimberley, TX
Gaelic Storm  -  Meyer Theatre,  Green Bay, WI
Mary Gauthier  -  Cafe Nine, New Haven, CT
The Howlin' Brothers  -  Lone Star Music Street Party, Austin, TX
Keller Williams  -  The Met, Pawtucket, RI
Stephane Wrembel  -   Emerald Lounge, Asheville, NC
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Orpheum Theater, Flagstaff, AZ

March 15, 2013  (Friday)
Leonard Cohen  -  Milwaukee Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
Entrain  -  The Green Parrot, Key West, FL
Gaelic Storm  -  House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
Mary Gauthier  -   Narrows Center For The Arts, Fall River, MA
The Nields  -  Princeton Folk Music Society, Princeton, NJ
Ellis Paul  -   Strand Center for the Arts, 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, NJ
Martin Sexton  -   Pour House, Charleston, SC
Brooks Williams  -  Project Trust, St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK 
Dar Williams  -  The Opera House, Boothbay Harbor, ME
Keller Williams  -  Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA 
Stephane Wrembel  -   Rivas Theater, Martinsville, VA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT

March 16, 2013  (Saturday)
Samantha Crain  -  Bungalow, Austin, TX
Entrain  -  The Green Parrot, Key West, FL
Gaelic Storm  -  House Of Blues, Chicago, IL
Mary Gauthier  -  Circle Of Friends Coffeehouse, Franklin, MA
I See Hawks In L.A.  -  Claremont Folk Music Center, Claremont, CA
The Nields  -  Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
Willie Nile  -  Maria's Tacos, Austin, TX
Martin Sexton  -   Jefferson Theatre, Charlottesville, VA
Brooks Williams  -  The Blues Road Concerts, Montgomery, Wales, UK
Christopher Williams  -  House Concert, Key Largo, FL
Dar Williams  -  The Flying Monkey, Plymouth, NH
Keller Williams  -  Higher Ground, S. Burlington, VT
Stephane Wrembel  -   Community Arts Cafe, Winston-Salem, NC
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Belly Up, Aspen, CO

March 17, 2013  (St. Patrick's Day, Sunday)
Anita And The Yanks  -  The Irish Times, Los Angeles, CA  -  9:00 p.m.
Entrain  -  The Green Parrot, Key West, FL
Gaelic Storm  -  Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
Willie Nile  -  The Continental Club, Austin, TX
The Whooligans  -  Nadine's Irish Mist, Sunset Beach, CA
Christopher Williams  -  House Concert, Key Largo, FL
Stephane Wrembel  -   Preservation Pub, Knoxville, TN
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Belly Up, Aspen, CO

March 18, 2013  (Monday)
Leonard Cohen  -   David A. Straz Jr. Center For The Performing Arts, Tampa, FL

March 19, 2013  (Tuesday)

March 20, 2013  (Wednesday)
Leonard Cohen  -   James L. Knight Center, Miami, FL
Chris Trapper  -  Livy Lou's, Prescott, AZ
Stephane Wrembel   -  Douglas's Corner, Nashville, TN
Yonder Mountain String Band  -  Babcock Theater, Billings, MT

March 21, 2013  (Thursday)
Bombadil  -  Legends, Boone, NC
The Dunwells  -  Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO
Entrain  -  The Schooner Wharf, Key West, FL
Gaelic Storm  -  Center For Arts, Natick, MA
Michael Nesmith  -  Franklin Theater, Franklin, TN
Chris Trapper  -  Rancho Solano Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
Brooks Williams  -  Rothbury Roots, Northumberland, UK
Stephane Wrembel  -  Barking Leg Theater, Chattanooga, TN
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Emerson Cultural Center, Bozeman, MT

March 22, 2013  (Friday)
Leonard Cohen  -  Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
The Dunwells  -  Pike's Peak Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Entrain  -  The Schooner Wharf, Key West, FL
Steve Forbert  -   Colonial Theater, Phoenixville, PA
Gaelic Storm  -  Calvin Theater, Northampton, MA
The Greencards  -  The Soiled Dove Underground, Denver, CO  -  8:00 p.m.
Willie Nile  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Chris Trapper  -  Lestats, San Diego, CA
Umphrey's McGee  -  House Of Blues, West Hollywood, CA
The Whooligans  -  The Auld Dubliner, Long Beach, CA
Christopher Williams  -  House Concert, Washington, D.C.
Dar Williams  -  Newburyport City Hall Auditorium, Newburyport, MA
Keller Williams  -  Suwannee Springfest, Live Oak, FL
Stephane Wrembel  -   Heartwood, Abingdon, VA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Wilma Theater, Missoula, MT

March 23, 2013  (Saturday)
The Dunwells  -   Gondola Plaza, Steamboat Springs, CO
Entrain  -  The Schooner Wharf, Key West, FL
Steve Forbert  -  Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA
Gaelic Storm  -  The Flying Monkey, Plymouth, NH
Mary Gauthier  -  Harmony House Concerts, Sisters, OR
The Greencards  -  Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO
I See Hawks In L.A.  -  The Palms, Winters, CA
Willie Nile  -   Live From Freehold, Freehold, NJ
Ellis Paul  -  Congress Hall, 251 Beach Ave, Cape May, NJ
Michelle Shocked  -  McCabe's, Santa Monica, CA
Chris Trapper  -  Genghis Cohen, Los Angeles, CA
Umphrey's McGee  -  House Of Blues, West Hollywood, CA
Dar Williams  -  Wellfleet Preservation Hall, Wellfleet, MA 
Stephane Wrembel  -   Kingdom, Richmond, VA
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   Wilma Theater, Missoula, MT

March 24, 2013  (Sunday)
Leonard Cohen  -  Orpheum Theatre, Memphis, TN
The Dunwells  -   Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
Gaelic Storm  -  Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield, ME
Mary Gauthier  -  Tsunami Books, Eugene, OR
I See Hawks In L.A.  -  The Palms, Winters, CA
Michael Nesmith  -  The Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA
Chris Trapper  -  Shine, Sacramento, CA
Christopher Williams  -  New Life Baptist, New Wilmington, PA
Stephane Wrembel  -   Sixth And I Historic Synagogue, Washington, D.C.
Yonder Mountain String Band  -   McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Phoenix, AZ

March 25, 2013  (Monday)

March 26, 2013  (Tuesday)
The Dunwells  -  Belly Up, Aspen, CO
Michael Nesmith  -  Rio Theater, Santa Cruz, CA

March 27, 2013  (Wednesday)
Diana Jones  -  Tales From The Tavern, Santa Ynez, CA
Michael Nesmith  -  Palace Of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA

March 28, 2013  (Thursday)
Billy Bragg  -  El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Leonard Cohen  -   Mahalia Jackson Theater For The Performing Arts, New Orleans, LA
Diana Jones  -  The Tower Theater, Fresno, CA
Keller Williams  -   Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC

March 29, 2013  (Friday)
Cake  -  The Jockey Club, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Steve Forbert  -  Thumbs Up, Yokohama, Japan
Mary Gauthier  -  Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
Diana Jones  -  Freight And Salvage, Berkeley, CA
James McMurtry  -  George's Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville, AR
Michael Nesmith  -  Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
Martin Sexton  - City Winery, New York, NY
Wagons  -  Boogie 7, Tallarook, Australia
Keller Williams  -  Ziggy's, Winston Salem, NC

March 30, 2013  (Saturday)
Leonard Cohen  -   Louisville Palace Theatre, Louisville, KY
Antje Duvekot  -  Jonathan's Restaurant, Ogunquit, ME
Vance Gilbert  -  Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, MA
Diana Jones  -  Carol Friedman Hall, Point Reyes, CA
James McMurtry  -  Dan's Silverleaf, Denton, TX
Michael Nesmith  -  Neptune Theater, Seattle, WA
Patrolled By Radar  -  The Foundry, Hollywood, CA
Ellis Paul  -  The Southern Cafe and Music Hall, 103 South 1st St. , Charlottesville, VA
Martin Sexton  -  City Winery, New York, NY 
Keller Williams  -  Savannah Music Festival at Trustees Theater, Savannah, GA

March 31, 2013  (Sunday)
The Highballers  -  Iota Club & Cafe, Arlington, VA
Diana Jones  -  Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA