John K. Band
Touring with Everyone Orchestra, Recording New Material
Announcing John K. Band shows.
Editor’s Update: The first two shows of this run are in the books!
As promised, the John K. Band premiered new material last night.
3-28-2014 John K. Band – The Hamilton – Washington, DC
Setlist:
1: Givin’ Me the Business, TLEO, It’s Allright, Lazy River Rd, Man Smart Woman Smarter, Tin Roof Shack, Riverrun*, Feel Like Dynamite
2: Got To Get Better in a Little While, The Great Vehicle*, Desert Trance, Hey Pocky Way>drums>space+>Rubin & Cherise+>Walking in Your Footsteps>Fast Enough for You>What’s Become of Mary
E: How Sweet It Is
*-new original, first time played
+John Kadlecik solo
“Diane A Perone What a show on Friday! Best John K show to date!” from her Facebook page: Weir Here / Furthur Listening Party.
3-29-2014 John K. Band – Rams Head Live – Baltimore, MD
Setlist:
1: Nobody Told Me, Sister Smiles, Russian Lullaby*, When I Paint My Masterpiece+, Any Road>Fire on the Mountain>Any Road, Seen Love, Hard Highway^, Harder They Come
2: 2001>Cissy Strut>2001, Liquid Silver^, Shakedown St> Complicated> drums> Visions of Johanna%>NFA> Page 43> After Midnight
E: Sisters & Brothers
Bumper Jacksons opened
* – w/ Jess Eliot Myhre on clarinet
+ – w/ Nick Newlin on accordion
^ – new original song, first time played
% – John Kadlecik solo
Check out the second set of Baltimore below as streamed by Bob Jacobson. THANKS BOB!
John Kadlecik is considered by many to be the king of jam guitar here in the new century. John is of an age and generation who cut their teeth on such musical greats as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and the Grateful Dead. It’s no wonder that Rolling Stone Magazine called him “the greatest Jerry Garcia since Jerry Garcia.” This quote, while complimentary, under estimates Kadlecik as John’s music brings so much more to the musical conversation; this comparison may well diminish the musical stature of both men. While Jerry was the foremost guitarist and musician of his era in that genre, John’s music is the 21st century culmination and incarnation of American music that has had a seamless evolution these last 60 years.
There is a lot on his plate in the coming months. At long last he is writing and recording new original music, and Kadlecik promises to unleash the new material on recently announced tour dates with his group, the John K. Band at the end of March. There is work on hopefully a complete album and three songs have already taken shape. Kadlecik promises to unleash at least a pair of them at the end of March at shows, and more in April at the New York City show now at the Highline Ballroom on April 18th.
Before then though, Kadlecik will be heading to the Mountain states on a tour with Everyone Orchestra. His entire Spring in fact as a game of leap frog, with Kadlecik alternating between playing with EO, playing with Phil Lesh and Friends, and performing with his John K. Band.
As a teenager, during the 1980s and living in Chicago, John began teaching himself guitar and mandolin on a quest to understand improvisational music. Playing guitar in several bands, gave him the opportunity to cover a broad spectrum of American and British “guitar rock” as well as write songs and learn the rudiments of multi-track recording. In 1997, after a brief stint in college, John co-founded the group, Dark Star Orchestra, a band exclusively devoted to playing the well-documented actual setlists of the Grateful Dead. Unlike previous bands, playing established material rather than composing original songs was a brand new path for John. Originally started as a side-project house band for some of the best local deadhead musicians, “DSO” rapidly became a nationally touring band, attracting many guests to join them.
While spending the better part of twelve years of his life touring with DSO, John also found time for other musical projects, both live and in the studio. Flitting from a bluegrass band and numerous short-lived original groups John began playing sporadically beginning in 2003 with Melvin Seals in the band The Mix. Sadly, time and scheduling caused them to disband, but not before releasing a full length CD in 2004 titled, American Spring.
While the passing of Jerry Garica saw the sad demise of the Grateful Dead, its surviving members have been playing together and as solo acts for over 15 years. In 2009 Phil Lesh and Bob Weir joined together to form the band Furthur and asked John Kadlecik to hop on board. After 12 years with Dark Star Orchestra, John left to become a permanent fixture in one of the Dead family’s most beloved musical fellowships.
While Furthur is on hiatus for 2014, John Kadlecik is no less busy. Going into the studio armed with new material and a list of touring dates to keep them busy straight through the summer, the John K. Band looks like it will breathe new life into the tunes of the past, while weaving their own voice into the psychedelic tapestry of jam music today.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
06 12 Thu Martin’s Downtown Roanoke VA
06 13 Fri Riverbend Music Festival Chattanooga TN
06 14 Sat Asheville Music Hall Asheville NC
08 01 Fri The Hamilton Washington DC.
09 19 Fri Bergen Performing Arts Center Englewood NJ
