Switchman Sleepin’ is celebrating twelve years as a band, and like most things associated with the music of the Grateful Dead, there is no stopping this magical train. The band formed in typical hippie fashion: a few guys jamming at a backyard party in 2012 set the wheels in motion and laid down the first tracks for the evolutionary journey of one of Colorado’s favorite Grateful Dead tribute bands. The band has endured many challenges, joys, and sorrows along their adventurous escapades of recreating the music of the Grateful Dead.
Founding member, singer, and guitarist Dana Harris was taken from the world far too soon, and on August 6th, 2022, he took his final bow. The band and Dana’s family and friends were in utter shock and disbelief, as his kind smile and poignant guitar playing skills were now a beautiful memory. With the untimely passing of Harris, the band decided to keep the locomotive firmly pushing forward. They had a few different variations of the band and have brought in different players along the way, with each one adding their wonderful musical skills and emotions to the music. Original members Dave Wisbon on keyboards and vocals and Dave Levy on drums are joined by Angelo DeSalvo, also on drums, Steven Wayne Cobb on guitar and vocals, Caleb D’Aleo on guitar and vocals, and Chuck Grewe on bass.
Switchman Sleepin’ has a unique responsibility of being musical historians and preservers of one of the greatest catalogs of music ever created, and it's not something the band takes lightly. They embrace all the music has to offer and embellish its unpredictable shapes, sounds, and colors, bringing it back full circle to the massive fan base that will never fade away. How cool to be in a band playing music you love all while giving younger generations of fans an opportunity to feel the same vibes that started such a long time ago. That feeling is ever present when the band plugs in and turns up the wild musical adventure the Grateful Dead have bestowed upon us all.
Last night’s hometown show at the Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins was special in so many ways. It was a celebration of not only the band's twelve year journey but also a celebration of their devoted fans who have been supporting them along the way. You could feel the love and excitement in the room as friends, family, and music fans gathered. There were hugs and smiles and the anticipation of a wonderful show ahead, and when the band stepped onto the stage, the temperature in the room jumped into the red! Opening the show with the song 'Casey Jones,' a tune that highlights the words ’Switchman Sleepin’ in the lyrics, was a super solid opening number, setting off a great vibe for the fans.
This past year of 2024 brought major change to Switchman Sleepin’. For the first time in the band's history, they brought in a second drummer. Angelo DeSalvo is a perfect fit, joining Dave Levy on drums. Both are well seasoned, accomplished musicians, and their onstage synergy was pushing the sound through the roof. The magic of two drummers has always been a massive appeal to many fans when it comes to the music of the Grateful Dead. This is a big expansion for Switchman Sleepin’, and holy cow did they nail it to the floor. The two drummers worked together in tandem, giving the music room to grow and, and explore many different percussive opportunities. Both having different playing styles and both being students from Grateful Dead University, you could feel and see the emotion in their playing that gave the music so much richness and power. Helping to keep the thick, groovy bottom end tight was Grewe on bass. He had such a smooth playing style that wrapped itself around the percussive offerings, bringing the foundation of the band to a simmering sweet spot.
With the first set weaving back and forth from Garcia and Weir tunes, there were many different vocal opportunities and lots of cool tempos and moods swirling around the tie-died clad audience. On guitars, Cobb and D’Aleo were an unstoppable force of finess meets face melting madness. They fed off of each other’s styles and had that familiar yet original guitar weave and unpredictability we Dead Heads are accustomed to. Their improvisational skills and experimental backbone were fully implemented into a psychedelic landscape that moved freely throughout the band. Wisbon on keyboards has so much fun, you can’t take your eyes off him. His smile is as infectious as his cascading playing style. He gives new meaning to tickling the ivories, I would say it’s more like buttering the bread. His robust organ solos and powerful vocal delivery explode with charm, class, and excitement.
Local legend and Grateful Dead road crew member from 1968 through 1976, Boots Jaffee, joined the band on harmonica for 'Loose Lucy’ and ‘Deal’ during the first set. Boots is rock and roll royalty with a harp in his pocket and a story to tell. It’s always a welcome sight to have Boots in the house, you can’t get any more Grateful Dead vibes then him. Wendy Woo Band opened the show with a blistering set of original Music. Woo is no stranger to the Northern Colorado music scene and has lots of fans who have supported her for decades. Joining Woo on bass was Jason ‘Bas’ Basner, Mitch DeZwarte on keyboards, and Scott Davies on drums. The band played songs from many eras of Woo’s musical career as well as some newer material. Woo’s energy, soulful delivery, and magnificent stage presence lit the room on fire. Woo has mastered a technique called “Slap Tap" that combines percussive hand tapping on both the body and fretboard of the acoustic guitar. The interaction of both hands, six strings, and the natural percussive sound of the hollow body guitar filled the room with magical warmth and innovation, giving the sound of the band something a different and unique.
