Honoring Dawg music, along with David Grisman and Jerry Garcia's legacy, is at the heart of the Sam Grisman Project. The group was founded by Grisman's incredibly gifted son, Sam, who is a chip off the old block with seamless transitions between electric and upright bass. It helped that he was in the room when some of these timeless compositions were penned, but Sam put in the time to hone his craft. His band performed at the iconic Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY, on October 13, 2024. Their show included a mix of Dawg, Dead, originals, and other vibrant covers spread out between two acoustic and two electric sets.
The show began with a burst of electric tunes, with Sam on electric bass. Drummer Chris English was behind the drum kit, while guitarist Max Flanders played electric guitar and banjoist Victor Furtado played banjo. "Waiting for a Miracle," which gained popularity through the Jerry Garcia Band, opened the show. The music quickly flowed into "Dawg," followed by "Jackaroo" from Shady Grove. Next came "Dawg Funk," an acoustic song that was electrified and a real treat. "St. Annie Marie," written by Flanders, accompanied the set. This quartet demonstrated their ability to electrify the performance when they transitioned into "The Harder They Come" by Jimmy Cliff, another Jerry Garcia Band favorite. The mini set ended with another original, "We Share As One," written by English.
The band swapped out their instruments for a mini acoustic set. Sam switched to the upright bass, with Flanders on acoustic guitar and English on percussion. Furtado continued on banjo. The band members gathered closely together next to a wooden microphone and played in a very traditional bluegrass style. They dove headfirst into "Grateful Dawg," which led into a pair of Grateful Dead covers, starting with the layered "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo." Flanders delighted the audience with his guitar during the inspired "So Many Roads" that followed.
The music rolled on during a very mild early October evening. Animals were a big theme in the set, though only canines had been the focus thus far. The band added avians to the animal list with "Bird Song." The classic "Say Old Man" hopped into the set next. This extended double set ended on a high note with Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds," sung by the impressive English. Overall, the band skillfully electrified bluegrass songs and played rock and reggae songs acoustically masterfully. There was still another set to go.
After a much-needed break, the band reassembled on stage by the wooden microphone for another acoustic set. Garcia's "Rubin and Cherise" had the opening honors, which was cool to hear acoustically. Two classic bluegrass tunes followed: "Hy Patillion" and "Streamline Cannonball." John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" kept the songs fresh. The band dove into two Grisman folk tunes with "Opus 38," which eloquently segued into the quintessential "Shady Grove." Furtado crushed these tunes with a smile on his face. The recognizable "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" brought some Bob Dylan into the mix. The set ended with a heartfelt "Steam Powered Aeroplane" by John Hartford. Check out an audience-recorded version of this rare tune.
The band was not done just yet and pulled the cord to switch back into their electrified personas. English moved back to the kit, while the other three regained space on the stage. As they had done all evening, they began with a traditional bluegrass song, "Red Rocking Chair," in an electrified format. A well-executed transition led into Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." This tune was sung by English, who demonstrated incredible vocal range and skill. The very upbeat "EMD" ended this sequence.
English's second tune of the evening, "Right to Know," flowed next and exemplified his skills as a songwriter. "Sisters and Brothers" slid into the set following that. Afterwards, Sam recognized that they had been giving a lot of attention to dogs and felt the need to show some love for cats. As a result, a memorable version of the lovable "Cats Down Under the Stars" was performed. The set ended with an affirmative bang as English belted out "Why Don't We Do It in the Road" by the Beatles. The band returned for a final tune, "Walkin' Down the Line" by Bob Dylan.
The Sam Grisman Project not only showcased the talents of all four band members but also presented a stellar show that playfully honored Grisman and Garcia's legacy. This band kept the music fresh and thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the process. They are up next on October 25 in Bristol, VA, at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Tickets are available here. Afterwards, they take their act to Live Oak, Florida, to play at the ghost-and-goblin-filled festival, Hulaween. Head over to their tour page for more dates in your region.
Check out more photos from the show!
Band: Sam Grisman Project
Venue: Brooklyn Bowl
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Date: October 13, 2024
Set One (electric): Waiting for a Miracle, Jackaroo, Dawg Funk, St. Annie Marie1, The Harder They Come, We Share As One2
Set One (acoustic): Grateful Dawg, Mississippi Half Step Uptown Todeloo, So Many Roads, Birdses > Birdsong, Say Old Man, Three Little Birds2
Set Two (acoustic): Rubin and Cherise, Hy Patillion, Streamline Cannonball, Jealous Guy, Opus 38 > Shady Grove, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Steam Powered Aeroplane
Set Two (electric): Red Rocking Chair > Superstition > EMD, Right to Know2, Sisters and Brothers, Cats Down Under the Stars, Why Don't We Do It In the Road
Encore: Walkin' Down the Line Notes: 1. Max Flansburg, 2. Chris J English
