Thursday, December 19, 2013

Jerry Band & Acoustic Bobby

Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound - is what they are calling the new 6 CD box of JGB and acoustic Bobby Weir. "This new archival release features two complete performances with over 5 1/2 hours of previously unreleased music from September 5th, 1989 at the Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT and September 6th, 1989 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY." Click RIGHT ON! for details. 

Saturday, December 7, 2013

December Dead

It's December Dead time. The 50 state theme is on hold, for now, as we enter the deep dark zone this month (depending on where you live in this Universe). Our feature show this week on Shakedown Stream™ embraces a good 'ole crusty December '68 show. This one is for all the misfits, troublemakers, degenerates, social outcasts, crazies and lovers of colorful dancing, its time!

The spirit of Mandela will be in the studio. 
Join me for another gyrating odyssey of Dead. 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

This week in the Stream

This week in the Stream we close out the three night stand of the Grateful Dead's run of shows in Anchorage, Alaska.  The Dead played a set of shows in June of 1980 at a local high school that had 1000 seats. The new songs from the "Go To Heaven" album were featured throughout the three shows. This week we are treated to a Feel Like a Stranger 1st set closer. 

Also in the Stream, is a classic down on Shakedown Street story of "two best friends who shared a passion for fashion and the Grateful Dead." The story tells of Grateful Girls who design Jerry scarfs and hair accessories. They have the look of Jerry ties - the colors and design - yet, they are scarfs. Visit GratefulGirls.com

Plus, if you wondering what is happening with John Kadlecik, the lead guitar of Furthur and formerly of Dark Star Orchrestra, I can report that he is still playing and jamming. The John K Band will be at The State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia on December 5th & 6th.

John K. Band 2013-3-23 It Don't Come Easy

Saturday, November 23, 2013

The Dead Scene

"We did some of our best networking over grilled cheese sandwiches and lines at the port-o-potties." The Shakedown Stream podcast on mvyradio.com is primarily focused on the music of the Grateful Dead. We feature specific Dead shows from a specific venue and specific date and year.  However, the Dead scene was just as important, if not more, as the music. The parking lot was where deadheads communicated with each other, sold t-shirts, held drum circles, bought tickets and developed social skills that could not be found in other place in our society. Dare I say, it was an early form of Facebook or Twitter. We learned how to connect with people we did not know, but shared an interest in the same band.

An article in "socialtext" speaks to the Dead scene …  http://www.socialtext.com/blog/2013/11/social-sharing-at-a-grateful-dead-show/#sthash.g8HiTKjh.dpuf

Friday, November 15, 2013

Garcia's Guitar is For Sale


The guitar Jerry Garcia used in the late 70's is for sale. The white Travis Bean that all diehard deadheads know so well  will be up for auction. Steve Parish - Garcia's right hand man and protector of Jerry's guitars - reports it was the 3rd most played guitar by Garcia. Juliens Auctions will be held December 6th & 7th. 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Jerry on Acid

Last week's episode of Shakedown Stream featured the Grateful Dead at the Acid Tests. Interestingly enough, Rolling Stone's Nov 5th article by Kiran Herbert writes about this very topic. In it is a YouTube animated video (which is kinda weird) set to a Jerry Garcia interview about the Dead and the Acid Tests. The interviewer is Joe Smith, the guy who was the president of Warner Brother records when the Dead were making albums on their label. Check it out, it's kinda interesting in lieu of our recent Shakedown Stream on mvyradio.com.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/jerry-garcia-gets-animated-over-acid-tests-20131105

Saturday, November 9, 2013

MVY Radio Springs Back !

Hey Now! MVY Radio is coming back to the Island airwaves this Spring. After a brief hiatus, some foundational reorganization, a tweaking of the model and time for inner reflection, MVY announced earlier this week its' plan to be back on the FM dial. Read More

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Acid Tests

The death of Lou Reed last week has prompted a comparison of the Grateful Dead and the Velvet Underground. Both bands called themselves The Warlocks in 1965, but both bands changed their names upon learning that another band had already recorded under that name. The Dead were the house band for Ken Kesey and the Marry Pranksters Acid Tests in San Francisco. Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground were the house band for Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable in New York City. These two bands were the pioneers in the extended jam as well as performing electrical feedback on stage. 




Join us this week on Shakedown Stream as we present a live performance of the Dead at an Acid Test in San Francisco in 1966. It is one of the LSD experimental sounds that contributed to the cultural revolution in America during  the 1960s. Can You Pass the Acid Test?

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Sans Souci

For just a under $4 million, you can buy Jerry Garcia's Stinson Beach house. It has a nice view and a pool. You may have read about this place in various books about the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia. READ ARTICLE


Saturday, October 19, 2013

Bobby Interview

High Times magazine posted a 1990 interview with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. Bobby celebrated another birthday on October 16th. In the article, Bobby is asked how long will the Grateful Dead continue, "I Know that as long as I have strength in my limbs to do it, I want to do it, because it's all I ever considered doing," says Weir. I suppose since Bobby first met Jerry Garcia when he was 14 years old in 1963, this very well may be an accurate statement. Complete Article

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

GarciaLIVE Vol. 3

The new Jerry Garcia Live release has been shipped. This latest release is of the Legion of Mary band with Garcia from 1974. For the Deadheads who are forever looking for new material that they have yet to collect or never listened to- this GarciaLive Vol. 3 is it. Find out how you can get your hands on this Jerry - click here

Sunday, October 13, 2013

October Streamin'

Shakedown Stream features the Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden, NYCity this week. We will check out 2 shows from a 2 night stand from October 1983. The fans have been asking for more live DEAD from the early 80s. 

In Dead News, a new video release "Move Me Brightly" of a Jerry tribute show features Phish, Jane's Addiction and Vampire Weekend. Click

Friday, October 4, 2013

Electric Kool-Aid being Auctioned




A very unique copy of Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is being auctioned along with a signed copy of Kerouac's On The Road by the main character Neal Cassady, the driver of the Bus. Click for Complete Article. 

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Robert Hunter on Tour

Robert Hunter, the famous lyricists of the Grateful Dead, is on tour right here on the East Coast. He is playing classic Dead tunes such as Jack Straw, Stella Blue and Scarlet Begonias as well as others. Click on link to read more and see a video of Hunter on tour right now. Click Link.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Interlocken Festival

Last night, I paid for access to watch a video stream of Phil Lesh, Bobby Weir and Furthur play at the Interlocken Festival. They played the complete Workingman's Dead album, though, it was kinda different. Then, for the last song of the album, they played Casey Jones with Trey Anastasio of Phish. It was pretty cool. As you know, I am a big fan of internet streaming and this was just what I needed on a late Saturday Night. There is still one more night - you can do it too. Go to NugsTV.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Dead Fly Fishing

I can not remember a time when I read an article in Field & Stream that pertained to the Grateful Dead. Yet, this article will steal your face right off your head. It is a ... yep, that's right, a Fly Reel of a Stealie. You have to check this out ... Complete Article.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Furthur to Mexico

The Grateful Dead toured Europe in '72. They returned in 1974 as well as in the early 80s and in 1990 too. They played quite few gigs in Canada throughout the years. Of course, we all know they played the Pyramids in Egypt in 1978. They talked about playing in China, but that never happened. However, check this out, Phil and Bobby & Furthur have announced a 4 night gig in Mexico in January. A first for our fellow north america hemisphere country to the south. 
Click here for more details. 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Sunshine Daydream

The famed Grateful Dead concert from Veneta, Oregon (1972) is being officially released on DVD and/or Blu Ray. This is easily one of the top 10 Dead shows of all time. Official scholars have written their theses on the exact moment Jerry Garcia started to peak. Some say it was 3:43 into Dark Star or some say it was during the tuning before Bird Song. Who knows? Maybe Garcia never stopped peaking since the Acid Tests with Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. 

The so-called boot-leg video of this show has been in circulation between fans for years, however, the quality was not very good (too much over modulation and sunshine). Yes, there is nudity, but so what. It was literally a hot show and the time period along with location lended itself to a "hang out, it is not a big deal" type of attitude. Oh, how I yearn for the days of yore. 

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Forgotten Rock Fest

We shall never forget one of the biggest - ever - outdoor rockfest to happen back in 1973. It was bigger than Woodstock and ... the music was even more fantastic- Watkins Glens, NY. The rain and the clean muddy mud was perfect to dance deep within - all apart of gestalt of group mind experience, I suppose. The Grateful Dead, The Band and The Allman Brothers played - jamming some long ass sets in the rain. There was even a famous all jam set of  members from the three bands jamming as one on stage - it shall never be forgotten - forever one with the mud and the group mind. 


Thursday, July 18, 2013

Anthem of the Sun

 “These guys came along … went in the studio, experimenting with sound like kids in a candy store. Whatever was state-of-the-art, they were availing themselves of it.” Producer and engineer Dave Hassinger, who had worked on the Dead’s debut, was brought in for ‘Anthem,’ but as Smith pointed out, there was a new “element of chemicals involved. These guys were stoned part of the time, living in a fantasy world and looking for sounds that may not even be possible.” More of Article ...

Friday, July 12, 2013

Furthur

It's Official - Bobby Weir is back! Furthur kicked off their Summer Tour last night in Brooklyn, NY. Phil Lesh and Bobby Weir were in good form as they jammed with Furthur. This band is the longest running post Jerry configuration since Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Check out some videos from last night, the set-list and Furthur's tour schedule. Right On

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Playing in the Band

It is good news to read that Bobby Weir is playing again, ... and even better news to hear that he is playing with other bands such as Wilco. Maybe Bobby will get a chance to play with Bob Dylan this summer, we'll have to see what tomorrow brings. Read complete article for a full account of the show and for the set lists too.


Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Panic the Dead


"Every jam band worth its hemp has covered the Dead at some point. Phish, moe., Umphrey's McGee and others all admit to plucking away Grateful Dead songs in their early days. Even mainstream acts like Sublime and Counting Crowes have laid down studio versions of their favorite tie-dyed tunes.

But this undated jam has to be one of the most earnest Grateful Dead covers I've ever heard. Widespread Panic does it right." Click for Video and Article 


Widespread Panic Fire On The Mountain



Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Family Streaming

Jer Bear,
 

My family loves the Stream. Living in Washington state gives us many opportunities to spend endless hours driving in the car with our two young children. The Stream makes hours of driving go by like a dream. We love the shows, vignettes, the tidbits of trivia and most of all the euphemisms. It is the consciousness that flows from the Stream that keeps us truckin'. Thanks for the many good times, good tunes, and good laughs and for injecting "right on" into our families lexicon!
 

The Korn Family

Saturday, May 25, 2013

May 1977 BoxSet

"If you're a Dead Head, chances are you've spent many an hour expounding upon the distinction of May 8, 1977, Cornell University, Barton Hall. Well, at the risk of preaching to the choir, we'd like to reintroduce you to a series of shows that matches said greatness from that same gloriously fertile season. While Barton Hall is well known, the astounding tour that surrounded it has occasionally flown under the radar due to the uneven quality of tapes in circulation. May 1977 is set to change all of that with a boxed set that zeroes in on this high-water mark in the Grateful Dead's long strange trip." (Complete Article)

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Drummer Mickey Hart is Touring

Mickey Hart doesn't want to talk about the Grateful Dead.

Though he will forever be thankful for the band that earned him a berth in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and solidified his status as a music legend, he's more interested in discussing what he's up to these days.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

McNally - the Scribe

"For most authors, holding the attention of an audience of jam-band fans who want to rock out might be a formidable challenge. But McNally comes armed with enough fascinating, real-life stories (and a rare gift of gab) that quieting a nightclub audience shouldn’t be a problem for the man Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia fondly called “Scribe.”" Read Complete Article

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Lost Tapes

Inside last week's Shakedown Stream, we got a taste of the newest Dave's Picks release. We heard one of the earliest versions of Direwolf and Mason's Children from 1969.  This release is being considered the "Lost Tapes." Read this article and find out why:


Grateful Dead
"Dave's Picks Volume 6"
David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead archivist and the Dave behind "Dave's Picks 6," calls this three-CD set "the lost tapes." That's because they were missing for more than 40 years, surfacing in July when the ex-wife of a former Dead roadie found them when she was packing up her house in North Carolina. Complete article

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Jerry was my Teacher


"It was March 1962 when I invested in a hundred-dollar banjo and began lessons on Tuesday nights at Dana Morgan Studio Music Shop in downtown Palo Alto. A young guy with a shock of black hair, a goatee, and black horn-rimmed glasses on his nose came out to meet me when I checked in for my first lesson.
"Are you my seven o'clock?"
"Yeah."
"What's your name?"
"Andy Bernstein"
"I'm Jerry Garcia. Follow me."
©California Slim: The Music, the Magic, and the Madness

Read Complete Article 

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Furthur Cancelled

"Furthur have canceled their headline appearance at the inaugural BottleRock Napa Valley on May 9th, news that comes less than a week after singer and guitarist Bob Weir fell down mid-song onstage while the Grateful Dead offshoot performed April 25th at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York."
Read more:

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Bobby's Back !!

WE all certainly had a little scare the other night seeing Bobby Weir fall down, but, no worries, because he's BACK!! Like I said, he is a bright light in the Dead world, burning that big ole candle for all of US. Furthur played in Atlantic City, NJ this Saturday night - everything looks good. Check out Relix's brief report and video footage of Bobby and the boys. "Make good money $5 a day."

"Bob Weir returned to the stage with Furthur last night in Atlantic City, NJ and by all accounts he was in fine form. Following Thursday night’s show at the Capitol Theatre when he was forced to leave the stage late in the second set, reportedly due to complications associated with medicating a sore shoulder, Weir appeared to the resounding cheers of the audience at Boardwalk Hall. He then took a an active role from start as the show opened with “Jack Straw,” in which he shared vocals. He remained an active presence throughout the night, as if to demonstrate his health and vitality." (Relix Article)

Friday, April 26, 2013

Bob Weir Fell Down

"Easy to Slip - Easy to fall" - by now, we have all heard throughout the deadhead community, that Bob Weir fell down on stage during last night's show. Yes, it is true. Bobby fell down while Furthur was playing Unbroken Chain in the 2nd set at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. It was the last night of a multiple run of shows at the famed theatre. Apparently, Bobby was not doing too well from the beginning of the show, however, it was not clear what was up. Sometimes the guys have off nights, but in the 2nd set, as the YouTube video indicates, Bobby starting slumping, getting wobbly, falling into Johnny K and then he hit the ground. He was helped up by stage hands and placed into a chair. Quite frankly, it did not look good. Kinda scary. 

The rumor is that he took some Ambien - a sleeping pill - for a shoulder injury
that happened earlier in the day. Who knows? I just hope he is okay and it is not serious. We may never know what what really happened - the details or facts. It may not be any of our business. Yet, more importantly, he is our guy, our comrade, the rhythm guitar player and singer of so many of the Grateful Dead songs that we all love. He has been keeping the candle burning for a long time, way past Jerry's death in '95. My thoughts and prayers are with Bobby Weir. Get well and stay well brother - Jer Bear

Rolling Stone article.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The Cap Theatre shows

Furthur's "One More Saturday Night" kicked off the Grateful Dead band's fifth show at The Capitol Theatre last week and delighted the thousands of fans there to soak up the music on that chilly Saturday night.
Click for complete article

Friday, April 12, 2013

This Must Be Heaven

We are moving ahead "a little bit furthur" on Shakedown Stream™. Our next episode this month continues to stream the theme - Grateful Dead from 1987. We will join up with the boys on the West Coast this coming week. There will also be extra treats - JGB from '87 and Dylan & the Dead from the summer of '87. "This must be Heaven ..."

Shakedown Stream
http://www.mvyradio.com/
Tuesday @ 5pm EST
"If not, I'll Cross the Line"

Sunday, April 7, 2013

1987 - We Will Get By!

The year is 1987. The band is the Grateful Dead. The vehicle is Shakedown Stream™. This week we pick up from where we started last week - the Meadowlands, April 1987. We will travel a little bit furthur down the Stream to another time and place - to another venue representing the featured year of 1987. "Touch of Gray" was climbing the top 40 charts; the band was hitting the commercial big time. Other songs like "Black Muddy River," "Push Come to Shove" and "West LA Fadeaway" were being played and played. 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Join us once again for another journey down the Stream. 

Shakedown Stream™
http://www.mvyradio.com
Tuesday @ 5pm EST
We Will Survive
We Will Get By

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Just Gotta Poke Around

Shakedown Stream™ devotes the entire month of April to the entire year of 1987. It is time to poke around and see what we can discover with the music of Grateful Dead. We have 5 weeks to explore 5 different Live Dead shows from '87, a year yet to be fully featured on Shakedown Stream. Here it comes, get ready and stream on in.

Shakedown Stream
Every Tuesday @ 5pm EST
"Just Gotta Poke Around"

Saturday, March 23, 2013

All You Need

"Just a Touch, that's all you gotta have." The second half of our doubleheader this week on Shakedown Stream™ finishes up with the Grateful Dead in London, England. We'll get treated to a serious, grown-up version of Dark Star (not for the faint of heart). This kind of Grateful Dead jamming is for deadheads who enjoy a long, hearty cup of organic dark roast, freshly ground, cradled ina  properly warmed ceramic filter holder before the just-bel ow-boiling temperature water poured over it. Perfection!

Shakedown Stream™
Tuesday @ 5pm EST
"All You Need
All You Gotta Have"

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, founding members of the Dead, announced on Friday that their band, Furthur, will do a series of eight concerts at the theater starting on April 16.



In the early 1970s, the Capitol Theater, which at the time was a crumbling movie house, was one of the the Dead’s favorite concert halls because of its unusually good acoustics. The group played 18 concerts there in 1970 and 1971

Read NY Times Blog Article

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Netanyahu & Jerry Garcia

"Scholars of Middle East politics and students of the San Francisco–centered psychedelic-rock movement of the 1960s have for years asked the same vexing question: Just how many degrees of separation exist between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia?"

Click Here for Complete Article

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Weir Walks off Stage


"In a move the Sweetwater Music Hall's manager called "heartbreaking," Grateful Dead legend and Mill Valley resident Bob Weir walked off the stage at the venue Monday night in the face of unrelenting crowd chatter.
Weir, who was playing a solo acoustic set prior to a performance by his new Ratdog Quartet, walked off angrily in the middle of a rendition of Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall.” The walk-off was preceded by a number of indications that Weir was growing irritated with the chatter, and he asked those engaged in extended conversation if he was interrupting them (5:20 in the video above)."  Read More and See Video

Sunday, March 3, 2013

To Lay Me Down


"You are bringing a lot of joy to the ears of my family and me. I'm a longtime fan of the Dead and appreciate Shakedown Stream. My wife and kids love it too. Started going to shows a year after you. I'm emailing because I had never heard the great to lay me down from the New Haven show you recently streamed. I've searched for good versions of that song and they are hard to come by. I'm listening to it now as I work through the late night. I had thought Lake Placid 1983 was the best post-Jai-alai (and post Reckoning) TLMD, but New Haven rivals it. Thank you! "    John and family

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Bob Weir

Bob Weir just finished a solo acoustic tour accompanied by Jonathan Wilson. Together they played Santa Fe, Tuscon, Vegas and Ventura, CA. His new friend Jonathan Wilson is awesome - really fun to watch with Bobby. Probably because he is a new face to me, but he just has the phrasing down, especially on "Mission in the Rain". Check out Bobby  Weir and Jonathan Wilson joined by their other friend on violin on a Dead classic.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Mickey on iPad

"The Grateful Dead Expansion Pack is broken into three categories: ensemble, percussion and vocal sounds. In each case the timbres were extracted from individual vocal performances, percussion hits or instrument riffs performed during the Grateful Dead’s concert at the Carousel Ballroom 44 years ago. The pack allows musicians today to create dynamic soundscapes from the Dead’s rare and complex source harmonic content originally performed decades ago."

Monday, February 18, 2013

Coming Together

On Wednesday, the studio hosted an all-star collaboration featuring Weir, Sammy Hagar, Lukas Nelson (Willie’s son) and the Talking Heads/Modern Lovers' Jerry Harrison running through songs such as the Dead's "Friend of the Devil" and "Loose Lucy," as well as the Beatles' "Come Together," Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime" and Nelson's "Boner" – in front of an audience of invited suits.

Saturday, February 9, 2013


"If you missed the Grateful Dead in their heyday at the Capitol Theatre, where they performed 18 times in 1970-71 alone, The Cap is giving you another chance to experience an all-out Dead dance party. On Saturday Feb 16, the rock palace will present a complete, unreleased concert recorded live at the theatre in 1971, played in its entirety through the Cap’s state-of-the-art D&B sound system at full-concert-volume and accompanied by visual effects from the theatre’s concert lighting rig." 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Once You Go Dead ...

How true it is. Whenever any musician plays with the Dead, they should not be surprised to find deadheads following them around and entering their world. For example, ...

"Two of the many musicians who impressed Deadheads during August’s Move Me Brightly webcast were psych-folk artist Jonathan Wilson and rocker Lukas Nelson. The pair learned that once you enter the Dead’s world you stay in the Dead World as they both performed with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s Furthur outfit on Friday night at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles." 

Click for more

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Yes We Did


Join us this week on Shakedown Stream™ as we celebrate the success of the SAVE MVY campaign. This week's episode will be an array of various selections of Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, Bobby Weir and, of course, Furthur. It is a gratitude show to display my appreciation for the dedication, enthusiasm, brilliance, fun-loving and bright-light support from the Streamers week after week. 

http://www.mvyradio.com
Shakedown Stream™
Tuesdays @ 5pm EST

IN the Stream, every time and all the time. 

Friday, January 25, 2013

We've Made It !!



As of 4:15pm on Friday, we reached our goal!

Over 3,716 folks like you made pledges to Save mvyradio. Thank You.

If you didn't make a pledge, but want to, you
still can.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Dead Quilt for Friend

Here is a recent story that caught my attention about the kind efforts of some deadheads helping another deadhead - 
"Today, Brian's wife, Sherri, sent me a note asking if I had any old Deadhead T-shirts, as she was going to turn them into a healing quilt for Brian.
And that's where you come in.
I want your old Dead T-shirts. Or, rather, Sherri wants them.
Any old tour shirts would be fine, but we're specifically looking for Grateful Dead shirts.
Here's my oldest and most favorite Grateful Dead tee, one of the ones I'll be sending up to them:" Read more 





Coming Coming Coming Coming ARouNd

It seems like a good a time as any to bring this Blog page back around. So here it goes, after a hiatus from maintaining this Shakedown ...