The Music Plays the Band is a podcast from Dark Star Orchestra Drummer Rob Koritz about the influence of the Grateful Dead on the life and career of professional musicians from the jamband world and beyond. With the premise being musicians who like the Grateful Dead really love talking about the Grateful Dead, Rob has long form conversations with some of your favorite musicians about how they got turned on to the band and the impact it had on their life, music and careers. In addition to the feature interview, each episode will have three mini-segments:The Black Music Moment, highlighting the monumental influence of Black Music on the sound of the Grateful Dead. The Sarno Music Solutions Breakdown with audio guru Brad Sarno about ideas and techniques that shed light on the sonic secrets from the Grateful Dead audio world. There's a Grateful Dead Cover Band in Every Town features conversations with local Grateful Dead bands from around the country, discussing different approaches to covering the music and the communities that have developed around these scenes. With Dark Star Orchestra unable to tour due to the Pandemic, like many touring musicians Rob found himself in the unusual place of having lots of time at home. Not being able to bring the music to the people, Rob began engaging with fans online doing question and answer sessions, as well as some live interviews. As is often the case when dealing in all things Grateful Dead, events started taking on a life of their own and Rob was approached by old friends and St. Louis songwriting/production team Brothers Lazaroff about wanting to help Rob take these conversations further and create a formal podcast. After a few Zoom calls the plan was hatched. Pulling from his lifetime as a professional touring musician specializing in the music of the Grateful Dead, Rob is excited to bring conversations he feels are largely missing from the cannon of Grateful Dead inspired content. The Music Plays the Band is generously supported bySarno Music Solutions, Blue Jade Audio, The Authenticity Academy, Grateful Sweats and the Clean Store. Learn more and support the show at https://www.themusicplaystheband.net/
37 Available Episodes (37 Total)Average duration: 01:14:47
May 19, 2022
Ep 35 Steve Parish
01:17:30
Rob is joined by longtime Grateful Dead crew member Steve Parish. Big Steve regales us with stories from his time on the road and his close relationship with Jerry Garcia. Listening to Steve talk really sheds a different light on just how special and unique the Grateful Dead were, Steve shares his feelings about the close-knit road crew, the mutual respect between the band and the crew and some pretty crazy stories, as well.
In a tribute to the late luthier and designer of the Grateful Dead's iconic Wall of Sound, Rob goes back into the archive to bring you his conversation with Rick Turner.
Originally aired in edited segments during episodes 16-19, you can now hear the unedited version where Rick speaks about his time as musician, starting in the NYC coffee houses and including playing with Ian and Sylvia, how he gets into guitar building, the founding of both Alembic and Modulus guitars and much more.
Rick also goes into detail about how the Wall of Sound came to be and specifics on its design. Turner was cutting edge in both guitar and sound design circles and shares many details both technical and general, along with some great stories.
Rob gets together with singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jackie Greene. Jackie explains how he had to learn the Grateful Dead catalogue in a trial by fire situation, as a member of Phil Lesh's band. He goes deep in explaining how life-changing this music was for him and shares many stories about his time touring with other bands, including The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Derek Trucks others. Rob and Jackie really connected in this conversation, and Jackie is very candid in talking about the influence of not only the Grateful Dead but also the power of songwriters Robert Hunter and John Barlow.
In the Black music moment, we honor the Godfather of Soul, the one and only James Brown.
Ep 32 Howard Levy (Harmonica virtuoso, Bela Fleck, John Prine, Kenny Logins and more)
01:29:22
Rob is joined by 2 time Grammy winning harmonica virtuoso, Howard Levy. They take a deep dive into his love for the Dead and his time recording with Jerry Garcia. Howard is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist who has toured with Bela Fleck, John Prine and Kenny Loggins, just to name a few. He has appeared on over 400 albums with legends across all genres. Today, he shares his journey with us in a soulful and sometimes emotional conversation.
Also joining us is Patrick Higgins of Last Fair deal from Hampton VA and in the Black Music Moment, we spotlight Smokey Robinson.
In this all Texas episode, Rob is joined by 10 time Grammy winner, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. Ray shares his musical upbringing, his early exposure to the Grateful Dead, and how his path crossed with the band on numerous occasions. Ray talks about the differences AND similarities, between Texas Swing music and jambands, in regards to both the music and the fan base. Hear him talk about the important contributions Jerry Garcia made to the world of music, his songwriting inspirations and much much more.
We also talk with Joe Faulhaber of the Austin cover band Deadeye and we feature Texas native Blind Willie Johnson in the Black Music Moment.
Rob brings along his bandmate and drumming partner, Dino English for a casual conversation talking about all things Dead and drumming. Hear them discuss the nuances of double drumming and soling and more. Dino shares his musical journey including his time as a guitar player plus his songwriting talents. Hear about some of the many projects he has done over the years.
ROb also takes a new approach. For the first time, he fielded questions from listeners, that both he and Dino anwer.
Also on the program is Andy Tichenor of Sisters and Brothers.
In the Black Music moment we honor one of Bill Kreutzman's heroes, the legendary drummer Elvin Jones
Rob goes in depth with the legendary Peter Rowan. In this lengthy discussion, Peter shares how he got started in music and how a kid from Massachusetts ends up playing with Bluegrass pioneer, Bill Monroe. Peter's evolution is a music history lesson, sprinkled with great stories. He shares with us his journey and how it landed him in California, playing in the seminal bluegrass band Old and in the Way with Jerry Garcia. Peter shares stories about the band, the music and what he felt was the essence of Garcia, both as a person and performer.
While most of this episode is dedicated to the conversation with Peter, we also honor Hank Ballard in the Black Music Moment.
Ep 28 Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band, Melvin Seals and JGB)
01:14:43
In another very special episode recorded in Jamaica, Rob sits down with the one and only Melvin Seals. Melvin shares his experiences working with Jerry Garcia and offers some great insight into their relationship both on and off the stage and the importance of keeping the Garcia band repertoire alive through JGB. We go way back and hear how Melvin first got into music through the church and he explains the adjustments he had to make coming from that background into the world of improvisation, plus much more.
Also on the show is Mark Hitchcock of the Buffalo Dead All Stars and we feature Tampa Red in the Black Music Moment.
Ep 27 Dan Lebowitz (ALO, Phil Lesh, Fog City Holdouts and more)
01:24:39
Rob comes to you from DSO's Jamaican Jam in the Sand featuring a deep dive with Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz. You might think that a every musician growing up in San Francisco would be familiar with the Grateful Dead but that is not always the case. In this conversation find out how Dan got into the Dead, was totally enamored and came to start playing with Phil while he was still learning the music. Lebo and Rob discuss the spiritual side of music and how the heart is just as important as the hands and feet when it comes to musical expression. They also touch on subjects ranging from the art of collaboration and sitting in, to the music that inspired the Grateful Dead.
In a longer version of the Black Music Moment we spotlight the mysterious and legendary Robert Johnson.
This week Rob has a lengthy conversation with guitarist, Al Schnier. Al is a dyed in the wool Deadhead and shares his journey with us and how it has influenced his experience with longtime jamband stalwarts, moe.
Amongst other things, we learn how starting your musical journey at a young age can impact you forever, how the songwriting of Hunter and Garcia influence Schnier plus how 2 Dead fans in a band can influence the rest of their bandmates. We spend some time talking about the genesis of scene at the Wetlands, bands curating their own festivals and the ever changing covid landscape and its effect on the music industry.
Also on the program is Jonathan Sherred from the Bay area band Aardvark. In the Black Music MOment, we honor Sonny Boy WIlliamson I.