“You got to listen to the heavens, you got to try to understand. The greatness of their movement is just as small as it is grand”. – Grateful Dead, “Walk In The Sunshine”
As music enthusiasts, we are on the never ending search for the truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime concerts. It’s our driving force, fueled by the stories of early Grateful Dead San Francisco shows in the 60s, stories of Phish playing in small bars in Vermont for a dozen people in the 80s, and brothers Ween playing a Halloween set while jumping on trampolines for the duration of the show in the 90s. As music lovers we live for the intimate shows, the concerts where you see a band in its genesis, young and raw and full of potential.
Photo by Scott Harris
John Kadlecik (Furthur, Dark Star Orchestra, Phil and Friends) designed a new side project focused around creating those nostalgic moments, but with a group of seasoned artists among the jam community. Each member has played major roles in some of the best Grateful Dead side projects. Kadlecik’s first choice was band mate and longtime keyboardist friend Jeff Chimenti (Dead and Company, Furthur, Ratdog). He holds under his belt over 19 years of original Dead member collaborations. The next choice was drummer Jay Lane (Furthur, Ratdog), a diverse drummer who also played outside the reaches of jam with bands like Primus and Alphabet Soup. The final piece of the puzzle had to be bassist Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green, Billy and the Kids). His recent work with Bill Kreutzmann has officially initiated him into the Grateful Dead family spotlight. He adds a unique variant to the band, taking lead in both vocals and jaw-dropping bass solos. Thus, the Golden Gate Wingmen was born. With this well-formulated collaboration of musical veterans, we are guaranteed the once-in-a-lifetime show that breathes new air into Jerry and Dead tunes, as well as covers that range from Bob Dylan rarities to John Hiatt covers.
“I didn’t even know if it would be anything more than one show,” Kadlecik said when asked about the formulation of Golden Gate Wingmen last year. Now, several tours later, and with the new addition of originals like “Golden Wings” this band is beginning to gain even more momentum.
Their latest tour has taken them through several cities on the East Coast, where they have stuck to some of the better small scale venues, providing an intimate shared experience as the boys push their own musical boundaries. Coming fresh out of a show in Kadlecik’s hometown of Washington, D.C., they will be in Asheville, North Carolina at the Grey Eagle this Wednesday. The Grey Eagle is known as one of Asheville’s best small venues, particularly for its unique concerts, pulling in big names in a small setting (and they’ve got an impressive taco and beer selection as well).
Check out the Golden Gate Wingmen’s performance earlier this year for a sneak peak!
Setlist: 8-13-2016 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
Set 1: Nobody Told Me, Brown Eyed Woman, Seen Love, Just Like a Woman, Lazy River Road, The Business, Loser, Feel Like Dynamite
Set 2: She Belongs to Me, Golden Wings, Dark Star> Join Together> Dark Star> Estimated Prophet> Eyes of the World> Touch of Grey
Encore: Liberty
Article by William Crowell