contact. Those two are a big influence for a guy and a gal singing together, and they definitely are for us, Lesh says. Lesh's high tenor voice contributed to the Grateful Dead's three-part harmony sections in their group vocals in the early days of the band, until he largely relinquished singing high parts to Donna Godchaux (and thence Brent Mydland and Vince Welnick) in 1976 due to vocal cord damage from improper singing technique. Advance tickets from just $25. Maybe I still havent wrapped my brain around it. Not really memories as much as flashes that go by. Theres more of us than I expected when my wife and I moved back here, he says. On this evening, hes wearing a Midnight North T-shirt, the creation of a fan. I mostly think I was just listening to Mars Hotel, and I really liked that song, and talking about how good the songs are; that crazy composition, great lyrics and melodies. Lesh credits his mother, Jill, with being the driving organizing force behind that aggregation. A crossroads is like a place where you continue a journey. Santanas 1001 Rainbows Tour North American Dates: May 4 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest New Orleans. My dads still going and hes almost 80, he says. Thats when they went from playing arenas to playing stadiums. I grew up in San Rafael, and you discover there are still plenty of younger folks moving to or living in Marin. Hopefully, theres a community of people who like to see live music and will appreciate it., Contact Paul Liberatore at [email protected], Where: Terrapin Crossroads, 100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael, Grahame Lesh continues familys musical, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, Grahame Lesh continues familys musical tradition with his band. Its a cool song, theres no reason not to play it. Lesh, the son of the Dead bassist Phil Lesh, grew up on the road with the band, bouncing from show to show in the mid 1990s, when the group was at its commercial peak. I mean, its nice we ended up here. Its cool to be part of a special moment. What does the new name mean to you? Reflecting on the time since their origin, Midnight North is ready to tell the world its story. Weve actively discussed that. Why do you think the Deads music has remained so popular 50 years down the road? At Stanford, Lesh dabbled in various bands, gaining practical experience recording in the universitys studio and performing the occasional frat party gig. As the world shut down in March and the band quarantined separately around the country, the album was finished remotely in California and Pennsylvania. TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE. Alex asked me to share a little bit about my tour wife life, so here goes. Grahame & Elliott both I listened to a ton of Grateful Dead and all the songs that they covered and played, like the Beatles, Dylan and the Rolling Stones. copyright 2018. all rights reserved. One recent and especially fun trip was over the week of Thanksgiving for a three-show run with the Terrapin Family Band. Weve had this opportunity at Terrapin to really hone our skills., Since then, hes been recording and touring with his own band, Midnight North, a rootsy quartet that kicks off the new year with a show Jan. 18 in Terrapins Grate Room concert hall. P: Yes, thats definitely part of the program. Elliott and I are songwriters first. It was kind of a coincidence that it all happened at the same time. Hes kind of always been secretly an amazing player. Inside the Musicians Brain is brought to you by Osiris Media. How often do you anticipate performing at Terrapin Crossroads? Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? They were playing these huge stadiums then, he says. Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. Were more of a band now than a collection of musicians. I started playing music with two folks and sort of informally jamming with Connor and our original drummer Eric, and Conor brought in Elliott, whos our other singer. All rights reserved. Do you remember any of that? Oh yes! My brother and I would just run around from area to area, and eventually wed run into everyone.. When this place opened up, they needed local musicians to fill time in the bar, he says. A month later Nathan sat in with the band for a show, eventually joining the band for their longest tour to date in the Spring of 2017. Its great. In Midnight North, he shares songwriting and lead vocal duties with Elliott Peck, a transplanted Midwesterner regarded as one of the top female singer-songwriters on the Bay Area music scene. Ive already started that with my sons, so musicians their age will come in and play with musicians my age. In fact, many of them lately like to show off, 40/ 40Cardi Bs dream mansion in Atlanta rap-up.com After two years of house hunting Cardi B, 55/ 55Sean Penn $70,000,000 via bz-berlin.de Sean is a dinosaur in Hollywood, but he manages. P: Im ecstatic. He is facing a long period of rehab, and his insurance will only pay a portion of this. Lesh, who earned a bachelors degree in communications and a masters in music science technology, both from Stanford University, chatted with Highway 81 Always focused on the song and the groove, whether it be his or another's, Grahame's music stays rooted in the present while touching on all aspects of rock, folk, blues, soul, and more. I think thats pretty typical of a teenager in certain places. 2021 and beyond is a new beginning, and while Midnight North longingly looks ahead, hand-in-hand with the rest of the world, Theres Always a Story will serve as a collective and reflective narrative. His father didnt play publicly for a couple of years after Garcias death, eventually enjoying renewed success with Phil and Friends, an ever-changing group that featured him with members of various name bands, including the Allman Brothers, Phish and Government Mule. In Midnight North, he shares songwriting and lead vocal duties with Elliott Peck, a transplanted Midwesterner regarded as one of the top female singer-songwriters on the Bay Area music scene. Hope you enjoy and. Plus, bonus points, we got to stay in a. Alexandra Dempsey, I am 31years old and live in Stowe, Vermont. Lesh took piano lessons as a boy and got into the guitar as a teenager, learning the rudiments pretty much on his own. I was growing up at their biggest point. Includes a special guest appearance to be announced, stay tuned! We started dating in college ten (?!) Join Grahame Lesh & Friends in the Foeger Ballroom for a woven tapestry of roots, rock, and Americana. J: Theyve been working on the Sweetwater for a long time. The next morning we set off in a tour bus for Mobile, Alabama, where the band played two benefit shows put on by the Jake Peavy Foundation. It was the first time someone I knew was on the news for something like that.. Thats the secret to this place. In 2021 the band released "There's Always a Story", their most successful studio album to date, and toured throughout the country in support in 2021 and 2022 as the music industry recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jake and his awesome team (shoutout to Sarah Lauren and Ben!) Featuring The Devil Makes Three, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, and many more. As a member of Phil Lesh's Terrapin Family Band and Phil Lesh & Friends, he has traveled the world, performing Phil's updated version of the Grateful Dead's sound everywhere from the famed Fuji Rock Festival in Japan to London to Newport Folk Fest to New York city. Its a whole different attitude when you get a chance to meet all these different musicians who have similar goals, want the same things and are willing to work together instead of competing against each other.. It was then revealed on his official Facebook page that the 79-year-old has contracted COVID-19. are making huge strides to revitalize Mobile and the Gulf Coast, especially in the wake of this year's terrible hurricanes. Hosted and Produced by Chris Pandolfi. Bobby & In late 2012 the band went into the studio for the first time, tracking the entirety of their debut album End of the Night in just 2 days. P: I mean, Its my sandbox. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, Grahame has joined such luminaries as The Mother Hips, Chris Robinson, Twiddle, Amy Helm, The North Mississippi All Stars, Neal Casal, Jackie Greene, Eric Krasno, ALO, and many more in singing, playing, and interpreting the American songbook. I still love it. Grahame and I never pass up an opportunity to visit our friends in Alabama so of course we had to go and support their event! And so, here at Terrapin, all of us, including Midnight North, are trying to play music as much as we can. Its a really nice balance to have more than one front person, Peck says. Midnight Norths new album Theres Always a Story is available to buy or stream now! As a little kid, he would position himself behind the charismatic guitarist on stage, perching on a Grateful Dead road case with his noise-canceling headphones on, while he watched the rock icon from the best seat in the house. And they can sell out football stadiums for five shows?. It wasnt really much of an issue.. I think thats something thats more timeless than a single show. Were trying to create whats cool to us, going back to the roots of what we like, blending it all together in our own way.. For Phil Lesh, 30 years with one of popular musics most celebrated groups was just the beginning. In 2021 the band released "There's Always a Story", their most successful studio album to date, and toured throughout the country in support in 2021 and 2022 as the music industry recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a high school kid, he was more into Metallica than the Grateful Dead, but now sees the Deads classic albums American Beauty and Workingmans Dead as influential in the country rock sound of Midnight North. Following an ill-fated attempt to open a venue in Fairfax, he and wife Jill, who live in Ross, bought the former He is dealing with a myriad of very serious health issues: a major infection in his ears and skull that may take six months of intravenous IVs, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hearing loss as a result of the infection, and the list goes on. They are facing mounting long-term medical-related bills. After graduating from Stanford University in 2010 with a masters degree in music, Grahame Lesh, 33-year-old scion of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, wasnt sure if he wanted to follow in his famous fathers footsteps, trying to make a career for himself as a professional rock musician. Something like the Fare Thee Well concerts last year, that blew my mind. Were trying to create whats cool to us, going back to the roots of what we like, blending it all together in our own way.. J: We wouldnt have done this if we hadnt done Fairfax first. We tried again in the 80s; we were thinking about trying that approach at Rancho Nicasio, but that didnt work out. I was 8, and my dad was driving me to a summer science camp, he says. And thats working out pretty well, I think. So the issues in Fairfax were ultimately for the better? He also has an indelible memory of Garcias 1995 death, which shocked the music world and ended the 30-year run of the Grateful Dead. Were not the kind of band thats going to go off on a crazy jam like the Grateful Dead, but were still living on the edge in a different way.. Executive Producers are Christina Collins and RJ Bee. We had to pull over. How has Midnight North changed since the band initially got together? He made his 50 million dollar fortune with Grateful Dead & Phil Lesh and Friends. We had to pull over. It was pretty classic rock-focused, and then you just sort of open up. Across all of the tracks, when you think you have the band pegged for a style or a genre, all of a sudden a chorus, or a new solo or new instrument altogether, diverts the music boldly but smartly to a new sound and feel, said The Poke Around in their review of Under the Lights. Jake and his awesome team (shoutout to Sarah Lauren and Ben!) Luckily I love traveling so tour life suits me well. Ive always been an incredibly big Ryan Adams fan and all 6,000 songs hes written or whatever (laughs). The musician his starsign is Pisces and he is now 82 years of age. I want to have multigenerational bands. My name is Claire, and I had the pleasure of meeting Alex when she and Ryan came out to visit San Francisco. Grahame Lesh is a Bay Area musician most well known for being a part of Midnight North, The Terrapin Family Band, and Phil Lesh and Friends. I was 8 when Jerry passed. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. But then, 30 years later, we have Bob doing the Sweetwater and this came up for us. Popup Player. All rights reserved. I think the easiest answer is just that the songs are so good. years ago, when he was just growing into the great musician he is today. Wayne has lost 45 pounds in the last three weeks. They wrote many of the songs on their last album, Under the Lights, about their experiences touring for the first time as a fledgling band. The harmony Elliott sings back to me is never what I expect, and hopefully its the same for her. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Grahame and I never pass up an opportunity to visit our friends in Alabama so of course we had to go and support their event! tour wife tour life. Then it became more singer-songwriter than any kind of jam bands and Grateful Dead influence that you would think of. When this place opened up, they needed local musicians to fill time in the bar, he says. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Lesh and Peck, bassist Connor OSullivan and drummer Nathan Graham spent a great deal of 2019 on the road, nurturing a growing fan base in New York and the Northeast, and making forays into the South and southwest, hoping to establish a national footprint. And Im excited about having young musicians come in and play. For music licensing and all other inquires please contact: [email protected]. He also has an indelible memory of Garcias 1995 death, which shocked the music world and ended the 30-year run of the Grateful Dead. We want it to be multigenerational. But obviously thats another influence. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? "Friends, Wayne (Billy) has had a very rough run lately," the page reads. There is a community here with a lot of young people who used to be based in San Francisco and are now centered on Terrapin.. Im not gonna talk shit about anybody, but there are a lot of people in the jam band scene that arent songwriter first, I think, and the Grateful Dead were amazing players and amazing at jamming, but those songsMy God, all of Bobbys songs, the Jerry songs, the few that my dad wrote, theyre stunning compositions. Its Marin, and there are so many people who are the kids of parents who were in music or other entertainment or were super-wealthy bankers, he says. I was 8, and my dad was driving me to a summer science camp, he says. We were on Highway 101 and had just passed Blithedale on the way to Sausalito when he got a call. Phil Lesh is married to his wife Jill Lesh, and the couple has two children namely Grahame Lesh and Brian Lesh. A group of multi-instrumentalists with songwriting roots in Folk and Americana, Midnight North is a mainstay on the stages of the national touring circuit. P: Crossroads is a meeting place, of minds, of ideas, of people. Listen on all streaming services or check it out on Bandcamp where you can get a physical copy on CD. (Check out the story of the Malaga Inn at the link!). Ryan was sitting in with Midnight North, so of course during sound check Alex and I struck out into the city for pedicures and cocktails. Share us you, I could not be more excited about the opportuni, Mention New Orleans to anyone whos been and wat, Valentine's Day is tomorrow, and if you don't have, "Across the county, the region, the state and the, Thank you everyone for coming out + @perryssf for, Marin is known for its vast open spaces, health-co, Whats New in Town in This February: Graham's wife, Valerie, gave an update on his health status and Bringing on the well seasoned drummer as a full-time member of the band (and learning about his banjo playing, singing, and song-writing skills) represented the next step forward as plans were made to record their fourth studio album. Time: Doors 8:30p | Show 9:00p Tickets: $20 Adult (18+) | Junior (7-17) $10 Get Tickets Your idea of creating a clubhouse like this goes back pretty far, doesnt it? On this evening, hes wearing a Midnight North T-shirt, the creation of a fan. Grahame wasnt the only Lesh to join in on the fun, however. Attended his recent Columbus concert, glad I did, You should at least have given Marla Hunt a shout- TOM GRAHAM ON PERFORMING WITH CABINET, FINALLY PLAYING THE KIRBY CENTER & THE MAGIC OF HOUSE SHOWS, WEEK 2: ST. LOUIS, FT. COLLINS & BOULDER, COLORADO, WES ANDERSONS HOTEL A LOVE LETTER TO LOST TIMES, GEORGE HARRISON COMPLETE VINYL COLLECTION COMING, FUNKY TROMBONE SHORTY HORNS IN ON KIRBY CENTER, IMMEDIATE FAMILY RIFFS ON PLAYING WITH JAMES TAYLOR, KEITH RICHARDS and WARREN ZEVON, GRATEFUL DEAD NEWS: BOB WEIR SOLO ALBUM, WARREN & TIGER AT CENTRAL PARK, JERRY GARCIA CATALOG HITS STREAMING SERVICES, 50TH PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED, GOOD BISON, GOOSEBUMPS AND THE GHOST ON MULHOLLAND, WINERY DOGS RICHIE KOTZEN: YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A MUSICIAN TO CONNECT TO IT, BRENDAN BRISK BAND: FROM BLUES ROOTS TO INDIE JAM, ZOLITA DELIGHTS CROWD AT BABYS ALL RIGHT WITH NEW EP IN TOW. Grahame shares how it has served as the perfect place for his band Midnight North to play and rehearse. And I love (Jeff) Chimenti. That all changes too, similar to our influences. Its called Selections from Levon Helm Studios. Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Tickets: $20 Adult (18+) | Junior (7-17) $10. P: If we can get the three of these entities [including Weirs nearby TRI Studios, featured in the July issue of Marin Magazine] working together, well have quite a little scene here. Dabbled in various bands, gaining practical experience recording in the last Three weeks awesome team shoutout! Of minds, of ideas, of minds, of people Grahame shares how it served... And Ryan came out to visit San Francisco didnt work out do think! His starsign is Pisces and he is facing a long time but then, he says back,. Is ready to tell the world its story his band Midnight North to play and.! Was driving me to a summer science camp, he says and performing the occasional frat party.... 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Dates: May 4 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest New Orleans Jazz and Fest! A long time to playing stadiums mother, Jill, with being the driving organizing force behind that.! Big influence for a three-show run with the Terrapin Family band he was growing... Pay a portion of this back here, he says join Grahame Lesh and Brian Lesh call because phone... Peck says life, so musicians their age will come in and play credits his,. Thee well concerts last year, that blew my mind ideas, of minds of...