Carroll's 55th Street

3/12/2025

Big Band Means Big Jam

I am always grateful to be able to get the whole bad together for a jam and to let it all go loose. I don't know if we achieved the forget about life and just be with the music moments too much this week, but we did play well and generate so really good music. I had a new guitar in tow, my black Fesley Telecaster wanna-be for $290 delivered from Amazon, crazy world and an admirable guitar to add to my cache of worthless guitars. I did get it to play and feel good though. I had never had a guitar configured as a true Telecaster, so here it is. Andy had his Ibanaez Artist so you know we were in for some ripping leads. I think it was highlighted during the Uncle John's jam where it went a little haywire in a good way.

Deadstein Jams on March 12 - Historical Synopsis

Below is a compilation of all the Deadstein jams that occurred on March 12, as documented on the jams listings from Deadstein.com, along with a synopsis for each based on available details from the site. Deadstein, a Grateful Dead tribute band with a rich history since October 9, 1990, has left a legacy of performances, and here we revisit their March 12 moments across the years.

Deadstein Jams on March 12

  • March 12, 1996 - Location Not Specified

    Synopsis: This jam falls within the "Classic Deadstein Jams 1996 - 2006" era, as noted on the jams database. While specific details like setlists or venue aren't explicitly listed for this exact date, this period reflects Deadstein's early years of consistent jamming, often at venues like Carroll's 55th Street or earlier spots like 162 Perry Street. The band was likely honing their Grateful Dead-inspired sound, with a lineup featuring core members like Larry Gindoff and Kevin, focusing on staples from the Dead's catalog. The lack of a detailed entry suggests it was a typical rehearsal jam, rich with improvisation and camaraderie, emblematic of their formative phase.

  • March 12, 2002 - Location Not Specified

    Synopsis: Another entry from the classic era, this jam is referenced in the jams database covering 1996-2006. By 2002, Deadstein had solidified their reputation as a dedicated Dead cover band, likely playing at a familiar haunt like Carroll's. The absence of a specific setlist or guest notes implies a standard night of jamming, possibly featuring songs like "Scarlet Begonias" or "Franklin's Tower" (seen in other jams around this time, e.g., 9/27/99). The band's focus would have been on capturing the Dead's exploratory spirit, with members like Scott driving the rhythm section.

  • March 12, 2013 - Carroll's 55th Street

    Synopsis: Documented in the modern jams listing, this session occurred at Carroll's 55th Street, a mainstay venue for Deadstein by 2013. The band was in a phase of multi-track recording (as detailed in the August 2013 weblog entry), suggesting this jam might have been captured with heightened attention to sound quality. With Alan possibly absent (a recurring theme in some 2013 jams), others might have stepped in on lead guitar, joining Larry, Kevin, Scott, and Rich. The night likely featured a mix of Dead classics and spontaneous jams, reflecting their evolved sound after over two decades together. The weblog hints at a strong, focused performance, possibly with guests like Steve adding to the vibe.

  • March 12, 2019 - Carroll's 55th Street

    Synopsis: From the jams page, this session at Carroll's included regulars Lee, Scott, Rennie, John, and Paul. The description notes a "Weekly Jam with Lee, Scott Rennie, John and Paul and the Rest," indicating a full-band effort with no major absences or guest stars highlighted. This suggests a solid, cohesive night of music, likely sticking to the "Standard Dead Format" (as seen in 1/19/2022), with songs like "Help on the Way" or "Terrapin Station" (recurring in other jams, e.g., 4/12/01). The focus was probably on maintaining their groove, with the band in good spirits as they approached their 30-year milestone.

Overview and Reflection

Across these four documented March 12 jams (1996, 2002, 2013, and 2019), Deadstein showcases their enduring commitment to the Grateful Dead's legacy. From the raw, exploratory days of the mid-90s to the polished, multi-tracked sessions of the 2010s, each jam reflects a blend of consistency and evolution. Venues like Carroll's 55th Street became their home base, hosting nights of both routine brilliance and occasional surprises (e.g., guest players or new gear like Larry's 2016 Gibson SG with P90s from 2016 jams). The March 12 anniversary highlights their longevity-spanning 23 years across these dates-and their ability to keep the "freaky family" spirit alive, as noted in the Deadstein.net weblog.

In total we played a lot of music. Though there were only 13 files created there were some big one that resulted in a total playtime of the night being @ hours and 52 minutes. That's a lot and we are trying to get our money's worth out of Carroll's. The tone was set when we played Shakedown Street for 14 minutes never seeming to want to end a jam that was going so well. Walkin' Blues was a good was to see how the Telecaster would work with some Blues and some slide. This version was respectable

Also extending the time play of the night was Andy's decision to hit us with 3 big world sale Bob Dylan songs started with the Positively 4th Street then goin to Visions of Johanna and ending with a Tangled Up in Blue. That's a lot of emotional relationship poetry to to sing in one night. I had to fill the voids with some simpler stuff to keep the energy levels dynamics we did the Deadstein styled Dancin' in the Streets and a Greatest Story. We ended Andy's night with a great adventure into and Uncle John's Band and Playing in the Band. This was a nice 23 and a half minute adventure into lots of places and it was a very interesting melody of music.

With Andy gone for the second set we kicked things off innocently enough with the Way You Do the Things You Do and Followed it with a launch into a 51-minute medley of The Wheel --> Mountains of the Moon --> The Other One --> Truckin' --> The Other One Morning --> Dew --> Sugar Magnolia. That was also quite a journey into lots of exploratory places. We had a nice encore closer to get our feet back onto to terra-forma with the U.S. Blues and Black Muddy River. It was another fulfilling evening with tremendous music which shows why it is a shame we do not get together more fothen to pull off this magic, but you take and enjoy what you get and make the best of it. It costs a lot to win and even more to looe.

Freak Out!