It’s been two weeks since the surviving members of Grateful Dead announced that they would be performing a final farewell three-day concert event over Fourth of July weekend at Chicago’s Solider Field. The most important psychedelic rock band in history turned fifty years old this year. Another equally significant anniversary for 2015 is twenty years ago this July were the final performances of the Grateful Dead with lead guitarist and bandleader Jerry Garcia.

The Mimi Fishman Foundation has launched their first on-line auction of 2015.

In addition to signed 2014 tour posters, the auction features some one-of-a-kind gems.  Included are signed drumheads from the “Fuego” recording sessions, signed drumheads and drum sticks used during Phish’s appearance on the Tonight Show as well as a signed drumhead used during their Late Show with David Letterman appearance.

The funds raised from this auction will be divided among various charities the Foundation supports.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Grateful Dead, the four original members — Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir — will reunite at Chicago's Soldier Field, nearly 20 years to the day of the last Grateful Dead concert, which took place at the same venue.

HUKA Entertainment is proud to welcome The Meter Men featuring Page McConnell of Phish to The Joy Theater on April 24th and 25th, 2015. This very special two-night run will take place during the first weekend of New Orleans’ venerable Jazz and Heritage Fest. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, November 14th at 11 am CT.
 

“Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer.”

 Hunter S. Thompson.

Let’s Talk Phish... "The Phish from Burlington Vermont are morphing and evolving and thrusting forward with the momentum of an unstoppable freight train into uncharted realms”. John Baker – WARP Radio

Ever-popular rock poster artist Jim Pollock has designed a limited-edition postcard that the non-profit organization HeadCount will distribute at Phish concerts this summer.To receive a free postcard, fans just need to stop by the HeadCount table and sign a “Pledge to Vote” on the back.

It has been eight months since Phish debuted their new album in its entirety on stage at the Halloween show in Atlantic City, much to the surprise of fans who assumed (quite wrongly) the band would instead cover a classic album as they have done in the past.  Reviews of that performance and the songs have been mixed among their fan base, and now with the album release of Fuego fans can finally hear the finished product that began that fateful night.  And once again, fans are going to be quite surprised.

Memorial Day weekend always produces a number of different and distinct music festivals across the country, however one Midwest festival in particular has proved for countless years that they know how to throw a unique concert experience complete with a diverse music selection, an enthusiastic and experienced crowd, and a little help from the weather gods. This year’s annual Summer Camp Music Festival was one for the ages, providing fans with an unforgettable experience that won’t be outdone anytime soon.

To most of us who really pay attention to the current state of music and journalism, it comes as no surprise when I say that the quality and quantity of genuinely good music news and coverage coming out of the major media outlets has diminished substantially over the last decade or more.  They tend to focus more on pop artists, movie stars, and political discourse rather than covering and featuring truly great music (as they once did).