Remembering Phil Lesh

With a blend of sadness for loss and joy for the music and memories that we will always cherish, we pay tribute to Phil Lesh. A number of friends sent in their own remembrances and musings on the man and what he meant to them. I have included them along with a substantial dose of music for an epic episode, befitting this beast of a bass player and singular musician. 

I'd like to thank the following for their contributions (in order of appearance):

Ike Turner (Wowza In Kalamazoo)
Stefan Beck (Golden Brown, Prairiewolf)
Andrew Hitz (AndrewHitz.com)
Jake Lyons (NYCTaper)
Jeffrey Alexander (Heavy Lidders)
Josh Moss (The Modern Folk)

Once again, let me remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris podcast network. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. To stay up to date on what we’re up to, visit OsirisPod.com and sign up for our newsletter. Osiris works in partnership with JamBase, which connects music fans with the music they love and empowers them to go see live music.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can also listen in the player below.

ragenap

 

Greetings, Dead Freaks!

We're back with a great conversation with guitarist and deep improv musiv head, Joel Berk. Berk releases deep guitar-based zones under the name ragenap. We talk about his work and its origins before diving into a bit of a discussion about Chicago's improv music scene and, of course Grateful Dead. in and around the interview, we sample some ragenap and one of his more recent releases leads of a deep mix of Dead jams and songs.

You can find Berk's music at the easy to recall link, ragenap.bandcamp.com. I strongly recommend the albums, Thankruptcy, No Ear To Hear (a split with Prana Crafter), and the most recent: Thriving Culture. You'll also find a wide array of "covers" tracks inspired by various songs, many of which may be familiar. I haven't found one that I didn't like but I will recommend a couple favorites: "shenandoah", "piper (intro)", and "days between".

The Brokedown Podcast is also part of Osiris Media. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. As I mentioned, I will be co-hosting an evening of conversation and music with Taper's Choice on Wednesday, August 31, in Denver, CO at the Larimer Lounge. Check out OsirisPod.com/osirislive for details!

If you would like a BrokedownPod t-shirt or sticker or other merch in that vein, please head over to

my Redbubble virtual merch table. All proceeds go straight toward hosting costs and are much appreciated.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use Apple Podcasts, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or over at Osiris! You can also listen in the player below.

April Mix

 

Greetings Dead Freaks!

This episode is simple. A quick word from me to you with some album recommendations and other business and then it's straight into a big old mix of Grateful Dead music. Spring is here and the time is right for relaxing on the porch in the cool evening sun with some tunes. Here's hoping you can do just that.

You can find the album "Seafarin' & Backporchin'" from Sky Burrow Tales on the Feathered Coyote Bandcamp page. You can find John Andrews  and The Yawns' album, "Cookbook" on John Andrews' Bandcamp page.

Allow me to remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Media. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. Check out OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop.

Also, if you would like a BrokedownPod t-shirt or sticker or other merch in that vein, please head over to my Redbubble virtual merch table. All proceeds go straight toward hosting costs and are much appreciated.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use Apple Podcasts, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or over at Osiris! You can also listen in the player below.

Time Travel

 

Greetings Dead Freaks!

We've reached a new year and what better way to mark the coming of a new year than to toss away our calendars and journey back in time. My guest this episode is Brad Tenbrook, co-founder of the Helping Friendly Podcast and my co-host there and on the upcoming Osiris Media podcast, Undermine. Brad and I take several trips through time to visit a mess of terrific shows from the first twenty years of Grateful Dead. Come for the great jams and stay for the time travel jokes. Brad and I have selected a bunch of songs for your listening pleasure.

Allow me to remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Media. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. Sign up for the newsletter at OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop. Also, Osiris Media works in partnership with JamBase, which connects music fans with the music they love and empowers them to go see live music. Check them out at JamBase.com.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or over at Osiris! You can also listen in the player below.

Robert Hunter

Greetings, friends.
This episode is a bit sadder of purpose but, nonetheless, a celebration. Robert Hunter has passed on and we celebrate him with some memories, music, and poetry. His lyrics fueled the mythology of the Grateful Dead and Deadheads for more than fifty years and, as we carry on, his words will ride with us forever.

Friends from fellow Osiris podcasts join in to share some thoughts. We have Rob Turner of Inside Out with Turner & Seth, Aaron & Apple from No Simple Road, and Casey Rae of Dead To Me. Each offer personal thoughts on the legacy of Robert Hunter. I'd like to thank them all, once again, for their contributions.

In the course of the show, I mentioned Jesse Jarnow's excellent deep dive into Giant's Harp and other writings by Hunter. You can find it at Aquarium Drunkard, right here.

Included in this episode is an excerpt from a newly transferred tape of an uncirculated Robert Hunter poetry reading. This tape could benefit from a superior transfer. Please reach out if you are interested in taking care of this.

Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. Sign up for the newsletter at OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop. Also,  Osiris works in partnership with JamBase, which connects music fans with the music they love and empowers them to go see live music. Check them out at JamBase.com.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can also listen in the player below.

Ryan Jewell

Greetings, Dead Freaks! We are back in the nick of time with your second July episode. This time around we are joined by drummer, Ryan Jewell, who has graced a number of terrific albums over recent years. We talk about his work, his recent and upcoming releases and, of course, The Grateful Dead.

Also in this episode, we say farewell to Garcia/Saunders drummer, Bill Vitt who passed away earlier this month.

Ryan Jewell has a lot to say and some great music coming out. Early in July, he released a record as the Ryan Jewell Quintet entitled "Vibration!". Somewhere between post-bop, free jazz, and the modern era, this collection of Ryan's compositions pushes and pulls at its boundaries, entertaining all the while. You can find that at https://ryanjewellquintet.bandcamp.com/.

Not content to do any one thing, his next release is under the name Mosses and is entitled, "T.V. Sun". This is more an experimental indie group which covers a lot of ground. Ryan plays dulcimer, guitar, synthesizers, and (of course) drums on this release. He tells us all about it and we get listen to a track after the interview. "T.V. Sun" is out on September 20. Keep an eye on https://mosses.bandcamp.com as well as Ryan's website, https://www.ryanjewell.com.

Ryan Jewell Quintet - Vibration!

As always, allow me to remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. Sign up for the newsletter at OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop. Also,  Osiris works in partnership with JamBase, which connects music fans with the music they love and empowers them to go see live music. Check them out at JamBase.com.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can also listen in the player below.

Cy Dune

Greetings Dead Freaks! Our guest this time is Seth Olinsky who joins us to talk about the latest release from Cy Dune. Seth has released several Cy Dune records since his days in Akron/Family and this one is an archival release of material dating back a number of years. You can acquire "Desert", via Bandcamp at this link. We get into that, his history as a guitar player, his broad range of influences, the origins and possible future of Akron/Family, and, of course Grateful Dead.

You can get more information on Seth's releases and possible touring plans via his website https://www.cydune.com as well as via Facebook.

This episode comes a little late because I spent last weekend at DelFest. I've a lot to tell and share from that weekend and look forward to putting it all into the next episode.

In the meantime, allow me to remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. Sign up for the newsletter at OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop. Also,  Osiris works in partnership with JamBase, which connects music fans with the music they love and empowers them to go see live music. Check them out at JamBase.com.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can also listen in the player below.

041 - Elkhorn

Greetings, Dead Freaks! This go-round we present to you Drew Gardner and Jesse Sheppard who make up the group, Elkhorn. These guys make terrific, improvisational, instrumental music that I think will be well worth your time. They come on and chat at length about their two new albums, Sun Cycle and Elk Jam (both to be released on April 12 via Feeding Tube Records). The conversation inevitably steers toward Grateful Dead and we discuss some of their favorite Dead jams.

Along with the conversation, we get to hear a taste from each of their new records, and then we spin some killer Grateful Dead jams.

In support of their new records, Elkhorn is hitting the road in April. They're playing a few dates as the head out to the Milwaukee Psych Fest (where they'll join previous Brokedown Pod guests, Dire Wolves and Garcia Peoples) followed by a few more back East.

Wednesday 4/10 - Bloomington IL - Reverberation Vinyl 

Thursday 4/11 - Minneapolis MN - Assembly 

Saturday 4/13 - Milwaukee WI at Milwaukee Psych Fest and Acme Records 

Sunday 4/14 - Chicago IL - Elastic Arts 

Monday 4/15 - Cleveland OH - Maple Lanes 

Tuesday 4/16 - Philadelphia PA - The Rotunda 

Wednesday 4/17 - Washington DC - Right Proper Brewery 

Thursday 4/18 - New York NY - Nublu

Once again, let me remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. Sign up for the newsletter at OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop. Also,  Osiris works in partnership with JamBase, which connects music fans with the music they love and empowers them to go see live music. Check them out at JamBase.com.

Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account with the same handle. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.

Also, please keep sending your metaphorical cards and letters. Leave a comment on the blog or hit me up on any of the above social media. Let me know what I'm doing right, wrong, or horribly wrong.

Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can also listen in the player below.

024 - Tom Constanten & Prana Crafter

Folks, we have a packed episode for you this go-round. First up, you'll hear a brief chat that I was privileged to have with Grateful Dead keyboardist, Tom Constanten. Tom is currently in the group Live Dead '69 who are embarking on a short East Coast tour to mark the Days Between. In addition to T.C., the band features Mark Karan, Robin Sylvester, Slick Aguilar, and Michal Falzarano. They're billing it as Live Dead & Riders '69 this time as they'll be including a New Riders set at the beginning of each show! This looks to be a blast so have a look at the tour dates below. If they're anywhere near you, be sure to check them out. I'll be at the D.C. show on 8/2.

8/1 - The Foundry At The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA
8/2 - The Hamilton, Washington, D.C.
8/3 - 13th Annual Bear’s Picnic Family Reunion, Blain Picnic Grounds, Blaine, PA
8/4 - Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
8/5 - The Space At Westbury, Westbury, NY

After that, we've got a great chat with guitarist Will Soll who, under the name Prana Crafter, has a new album called Enter The Stream coming out on July 31. Prana Crafter is terrific psychedelic music touching on mystical folk sounds that are better heard than written about so we'll play you a cut from the new album before we get into some good old Grateful Dead. When you like what you hear, you can grip a physical copy of the album from Sunrise Ocean Bender Records or grab a digital version straight from Bandcamp.


Let me remind you that the Brokedown Podcast is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. Osiris is creating a community that connects people like you with podcasts and live experiences about artists and topics you love. We'll be doing many live events this Summer around the country, which will include artist interviews, contests, and more. Sign up for the newsletter at OsirisPod.com to stay in the loop. Relix Magazine is a media partner of Osiris -- for music news go to Relix.com.
Don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also have an Instagram account. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.


Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, or in the player below.

018 - 50, 40, & 30 Years Ago

It's late April, the rains are here (on the East Coast, at least) the trees are blooming and the coldest days seem like they might be behind us. As such, I thought I might put together something to accompany the gradual warming, a little mix to go along with the first open-window days of the season. Plus, I did promise you kind and patient listeners a shot of good old Grateful Dead.

Wait no more.

This mix reaches back 50, 40, and 30 years to 1968, '78, and '88 for material. The tracks range from jams to cowboy songs and it hangs together despite the disparate eras represented. After the music, I do spend a few minutes detailing where the cuts come from so as to provide a little bit of context. So pull back the curtains, throw up the sash, crank the stereo and get on down.

We'll be back in May with a guest some more Grateful Dead. In the meantime, please, don't forget to follow the @BrokedownPod twitter account for regular news, live tweetstorms of shows as I listen, and other minutiae. We also now have an Instagram account. If you like pictures of things, you can find that here: BrokedownPod Instagram. Also, if you use iTunes, please consider posting a review as it really help get the word out.


Listen via iTunes, GooglePlay, Stitcher, or in the player below.

001 - Spring Tour

It's springtime (or very nearly.) 

Here at Brokedown Podcasting Central, Spring came early this year. Whether we've got snow on the ground, flowers in the trees, or both on the same day; this time of year makes me itch to get out on the road for tour. Yes, it's been a long time since Grateful Dead played a Spring tour but, every time I see a 3x5 card, it seems like yesterday.

For our first episode, we begin with a sampler from the Spring. Each selection comes from a show within the first ten years of the band with one basic requirement… a Springtime date. We hope you enjoy this little trip.