Are you on or off the bus? Thanks to constant touring by Phil Lesh and erstwhile Grateful Dead bandmate Bob Weir, generation after generation of music fans gets the opportunity to take a ride. Their newest Dead offshoot, Furthur, kicks off its latest outing Friday in Miami, at the beautifully redone Bayfront Park Amphitheatre.
Named after LSD pioneer Ken Kesey's bus, this group boasts one of the most eclectic lineups yet to support bassist Lesh and guitarist Weir. The driving force of this ensemble will definitely be drumming duo Jay Lane (of Weir's Ratdog, as well as Primus) and Joe Russo (of Benevento/Russo Duo, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, American Babies). Then there's longtime collaborator Jeff Chimenti, who's played in Ratdog and the Dead and will again man the keyboards.
Providing his own version of the late Jerry Garcia's vocals and guitar work is John Kadlecik, a professional Garcia imitator who's put in years helming his own Grateful Dead cover band, Dark Star Orchestra. Expect a good mix of Grateful Dead classics and rarities, along with some fitting covers and maybe a new tune or two. Come join the merry pranksters and enjoy some psychedelic rock, but beware of the electric Kool-Aid. All aboard!
