^ Here's a tip: If you are driving home northbound after seeing Fri & Sat bluegrass and passing thru Cincinatti, Dark Star Orch is playing (right across the river in Kentucky) on Sunday night.
The downstairs covered the history of bluegrass. The upstairs featured Jerry and his years pre-Warlocks (Hunter, Nelson and his first wife Sara figured prominently), the New Riders era, the Old and In The Way era, the Garcia Acoustic Band (that went to Broadway), and the 4 or 5 David Grisman years.
There were instruments, great photos, and video interviews.
In addition, a few of the the musicians who played acoustic music with Jerry in the 80s and 90s, most notably Joe Craven, Jim Kerwin, and Kenny Kosek, spoke and performed (the first two along with Stu Allen and Ronnie McCoury). The Sam Grisman Band and Keller's Gospel Grass also performed. They all played in a 400 seat theater in the museum. Each night ended with a big jam finale.
On the way home we stopped in Newport, Ky directly across from Cincinnati to catch a Dark Star Orch show as it was on the way, and in retrospect it was a big mistake.
First off, they played in the most dystopian venue imaginable -- called the MegaCorp. It could be used as an ICE detention center --- painted black, chain link fences, gross sticky concrete floors and walls, lack of seating, crappy sounding, etc etc. Avoid this place.
Secondly, they played one of their "made up" shows. Note to band - stick to your schtick and recreate a show. Otherwise you are just another Dead cover band with a good sound system.
Third, it was Phil's birthday and they didn't really play homage to the man.
I've heard that the folks in the band are all real nice guys/gal, and the Dead Co crowd loves them, and they tour constantly, and they turn on new fans to the scene, and have created their own community, and are probably getting rich, and I've paid to see them more than once myself........but honestly, I felt embarrassed for them -- grown adults whoring out their musical talents to serve a bunch of drunk, drug addled Deadheads. I hope they don't take themselves too seriously.
Joe Craven told a story at the museum about a time when he asked Jerry what he (Jerry) thought of Dead cover bands. Jerry said something to the effect (re-quoting Bill Monroe), "They should make their own music."
^ correction: Keller's Grateful Grass -- his Gospel is his other band.
(And even though technically the bluegrass players at the museum were there to play Jerry tunes, it was not the same kind of (semi-contrived?) cover band experience as Dark Star. The bluegrass seemed fresh and inspiring. Not redundant and insipid. I don't know how to explain it, but that was my experience.)
Note the flyer below that says Jerry Kaukonen not Jorma --- he apparently changed it to Jorma cause there couldn't be two Jerrys playing on the Peninsula in the early folk music days.
^ I literally had a negative visceral reaction when I entered -- I tried to escape from this covid hellhole upstairs to the few General Admission seats in the balcony, but they wanted a $100 more for two upgrades! It was the kind of place the metal railings were intentionally slanted (and seemingly sharpened) so you couldn't even lean up against them. The woman next to me described it as "designed to be cruel".
I grabbed this Yelp photo off the web -- the only thing missing is barbed wire surrounding the "pen".
One of the Jerry-related interviews playing in the Museum featured David Nelson and a bunch of others, including Billy Strings.
During Nelson's informative and entertaining segment he looked so disheveled with his shirt mis-buttoned and his hair flying all over... then he started drinking from a big glass of red wine... funny.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
An interesting interview with
An interesting interview with the exhibit manager:
Interview: “Jerry Garcia: A Bluegrass Journey” at the Bluegrass Museum
https://americanahighways.org/2024/04/16/interview-jerry-garcia-a-bluegr...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
^ Here's a tip: If you are
^ Here's a tip: If you are driving home northbound after seeing Fri & Sat bluegrass and passing thru Cincinatti, Dark Star Orch is playing (right across the river in Kentucky) on Sunday night.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
What an extraordinary event.
What an extraordinary event. In all senses of the word. Educational, entertaining, musically satisfying, and a hellva lot of fun.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
The downstairs covered the
The downstairs covered the history of bluegrass. The upstairs featured Jerry and his years pre-Warlocks (Hunter, Nelson and his first wife Sara figured prominently), the New Riders era, the Old and In The Way era, the Garcia Acoustic Band (that went to Broadway), and the 4 or 5 David Grisman years.
There were instruments, great photos, and video interviews.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
In addition, a few of the the
In addition, a few of the the musicians who played acoustic music with Jerry in the 80s and 90s, most notably Joe Craven, Jim Kerwin, and Kenny Kosek, spoke and performed (the first two along with Stu Allen and Ronnie McCoury). The Sam Grisman Band and Keller's Gospel Grass also performed. They all played in a 400 seat theater in the museum. Each night ended with a big jam finale.
If ya ask me, Linsay Lou stole the shows.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
On the way home we stopped in
On the way home we stopped in Newport, Ky directly across from Cincinnati to catch a Dark Star Orch show as it was on the way, and in retrospect it was a big mistake.
First off, they played in the most dystopian venue imaginable -- called the MegaCorp. It could be used as an ICE detention center --- painted black, chain link fences, gross sticky concrete floors and walls, lack of seating, crappy sounding, etc etc. Avoid this place.
Secondly, they played one of their "made up" shows. Note to band - stick to your schtick and recreate a show. Otherwise you are just another Dead cover band with a good sound system.
Third, it was Phil's birthday and they didn't really play homage to the man.
I've heard that the folks in the band are all real nice guys/gal, and the Dead Co crowd loves them, and they tour constantly, and they turn on new fans to the scene, and have created their own community, and are probably getting rich, and I've paid to see them more than once myself........but honestly, I felt embarrassed for them -- grown adults whoring out their musical talents to serve a bunch of drunk, drug addled Deadheads. I hope they don't take themselves too seriously.
Joe Craven told a story at the museum about a time when he asked Jerry what he (Jerry) thought of Dead cover bands. Jerry said something to the effect (re-quoting Bill Monroe), "They should make their own music."
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
correction: Keller's Grateful
^ correction: Keller's Grateful Grass -- his Gospel is his other band.
(And even though technically the bluegrass players at the museum were there to play Jerry tunes, it was not the same kind of (semi-contrived?) cover band experience as Dark Star. The bluegrass seemed fresh and inspiring. Not redundant and insipid. I don't know how to explain it, but that was my experience.)
Note the flyer below that says Jerry Kaukonen not Jorma --- he apparently changed it to Jorma cause there couldn't be two Jerrys playing on the Peninsula in the early folk music days.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Some other random shots:
Some other random shots:
The bridge outside the Museum changed colors throughout the night. (A lot more than depicted in this photo):
Another bridge on the way out of town:
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Looks like a fine roadtrip.
Looks like a fine roadtrip. The exhibit alone looks great, and you got music and other side trips.
Too bad about your DSO experience. That venue sounds brutal.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank
> MegaCorp
> MegaCorp
The name itself makes it sound pretty awful.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
^ I literally had a negative
^ I literally had a negative visceral reaction when I entered -- I tried to escape from this covid hellhole upstairs to the few General Admission seats in the balcony, but they wanted a $100 more for two upgrades! It was the kind of place the metal railings were intentionally slanted (and seemingly sharpened) so you couldn't even lean up against them. The woman next to me described it as "designed to be cruel".
I grabbed this Yelp photo off the web -- the only thing missing is barbed wire surrounding the "pen".
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MarkD
Thanks Alan!
Thanks Alan!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
One of the Jerry-related
One of the Jerry-related interviews playing in the Museum featured David Nelson and a bunch of others, including Billy Strings.
During Nelson's informative and entertaining segment he looked so disheveled with his shirt mis-buttoned and his hair flying all over... then he started drinking from a big glass of red wine... funny.
preview clip: https://youtu.be/_5KAJIHwSqE