Interviews

Grown from the heartstrings of the Bay Area, The Brothers Comatose have been delivering a beautiful combination of folk, Americana and bluegrass that has grown with the masses. Brothers Ben and Alex Morrison created the epic folk group after discovering a banjo in their mother’s living room. After that, the group has taken off and played with legendary groups such as Yonder Mountain String Band and Devil Makes Three.

Sitting in your favorite outdoor chair, contemplating which is sweeter: The valley breeze lifting off the river to cool your brow, or the soul soothing sounds of an epic summer festival line up. Either way, you’ve decided that you feel more at home than you ever have…”

That’s the sensation I felt last year while doing all of my favorite things, together at once, while also being a good steward of the earth. To me, that’s what Homegrown on the River is all about.

Hot Tuna, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, perform with a well-honed and solid power – always in the groove from their years of experience and mutual inspiration.  From their days playing together as teenagers in the Washington, DC area, through years of inventive Psychedelic rock in San Francisco (1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, 2016 GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients), to their acoustic and electric blues sound, no one has more consistently led American music for the last 50 years than Jorma Ka

Ian Anderson, once and always front man of the legendary Jethro Tull is embarking on two major projects: a new album in which he and a British string quartet created of reworked Tull classics, as well as some major U.S. touring of a program dubbed, “Jethro Tull, performed by Ian Anderson.” Anderson took time recently to speak to Grateful Web via telephone.

GW: To help set the scene, from where are you speaking to me today? 

IA: My office in Southwest England.

The Nashville-based Wood Brothers are adroit practitioners of a timeless, exhilarating art. Like the mythical F.S. Walcott Rabbit’s Foot Minstrels, the Wood Brothers travel backroads and alleyways, opening hidden doors to magic places where music cures any disquieting ailment. Their authentic, American blend of blues, country, rock, gospel and R&B serves a satisfying account of the nation’s complex twisting of cultural roots.

There was a multitude of high profile musical gatherings taking place across Hollywood this weekend of the Grammys. Meanwhile, a fascinating musical discussion happened in front of a small, lucky crowd of fans and journalists on Thursday evening, February 9 at the Record Parlour in Hollywood.

Just over a year old and riding on the wave of their self-titled release, Cycles have discovered their role as a breathe of fresh air in the world of Jambands. Michael Wood, Patrick Harvey, and Tucker McClung meld to form one single powerful sonic force that’s been thrilling people around the country. Relentless touring has sharpened their skills and strengthened the musical bond between them.

Grateful Web recently had an enlightening chat with Don Strasburg. He’s a veteran promoter, talent-buyer and co-owner of Boulder’s Z2 Entertainment. Strasburg along with a group of other young entrepreneurs opened The Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado in 1992. Ambitiously booking New Orleans funk-founders The Meters as their first gig, the rest is history and The Fox is one of America’s top intimate venue spaces.

Holly Bowling's latest release from Royal Potato Family titled 'Better Left Unsung' is a collection of classical solo piano improvisations and arrangements of the music of The Grateful Dead.

Bowling possesses a devotion to improvisational rock music and the vision to painstakingly transcribe “jam” masterworks note-for-note, arranging them for solo piano and improvising upon what was already written.

Still in her early twenties, there’s a sophisticated elegance that radiates around singer, songwriter and brass connoisseur Natalie Cressman. This rare aura can be felt not only through her demanding stage presence, or incredibly complex and layered compositions, but also through her kind, gentle tone and easy-going demeanor.