A GREAT DEAL OF GRATEFUL DEAD – Sun., September 2, 2012 – The Majestic Theatre

This Labor Day weekend is time once again for another spectacular evening of Grateful Dead music! This back-to-class edition of Nick’s Picks is being moved from the High Noon Saloon to the Majestic Theatre based on the success of past volumes! The Sandrose Band will once again play host to this much anticipated tribute event to the Grateful Dead. Joining The Sandrose Band will be The Easy Riders from Chicago, IL and New Speedway Players from Madison, WI. ALL DEAD ALL NIGHT! Tickets are only $10 for the whole evening!

THE SANDROSE BAND
The Sandrose Band is a new hat with an old feather floated in off of the wings of the shape-shifted group, Elf Lettuce saying farewell to the old, and looking on brightly to the new sounds and vibrational explorations of now. The Sandrose Band is already coming out with newly written material steeped in a tea of vibrance shining on the music of the historic psychedelic movement.

The band aims to keep their roots deeply trenched in the spirit of american traditional sounds with an open door that invites world wide and universal influences to step forward in both their studio recording endeavors and live performances, which are truly a full on circus of the senses set to “lay your bourdon at the door” and get back to freedom, in any sense of the word, and the kind of peace of mind that invokes the spirit of music and in turn the healing of the earth and beyond.

Members of The Sandrose Band have been playing and working together for years and have accomplished much as a group of musical explorers that are dedicated to bringing you some of their best compositions and performances attainable. Drummer Joe Murray, keys player Pete Baggenstoss, bassist Eli Reichenburger, and guitarist Jacob Lison have been turning on and tuning in their craft from a young age. All grown up on a life and journey of music they have been in school bands, city choirs, jazz outfits, and musical groups of their own.

All of these endeavors have found members of The Sandrose Band both individually and collectively playing with the likes of James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield, Jerry Garcia Band organist Melvin Seals, Shania Twain and with countless other nationally touring bands earning them a level of experience fit to bring you some of the finest back alley-psychedelic reelin’ and rockin’ roots music around.

Band Websites:
www.reverbnation.com/thesandroseband
www.myspace.com/thesandroseband
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sandrose-Band/169580669753854

THE EASY RIDERS
Formed by front man Singer/Songwriter and Lead Guitarist Mike Miller, the Easy Riders come from the heart of the Midwest. Originating as a 3-piece power trio, Easy Riders have come a long way in a short amount of time, forming into a 5-piece youthful Blues/Rock band. Pat Connolly (Bass/Vox) is a Senior Music Business Major at Bradley University, and is studying classical guitar. Pat plays in two Jazz bands and a Classical guitar ensemble. Matthew Fuller (Harmonica/Vox) in 2009 enrolled in The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Ryan Fogerty (Hand Percussion/Vox) is a long time friend and gifted hand drum player. The newest addition is Nick Fairley (Drums), also a music business major, and is in the Illinois Central College Concert & Jazz Band. Nick has also played on Danika Holme’s debut album “Second Chances” and has played with Central Illinois Youth Symphony & Peoria Jazz Allstars!

The Easy Riders guarantee to captivate that vintage, soul-driven music filled with a bold sound, and a hard-driving rhythm section. The Riders successfully played over 100 shows in 2009 and in recent years shared the stage with great acts as E.O.T.O. (percussionist and drummer Jason Hann and Michael Travis from String Cheese Incident), Dark Star Orchestra, Jerry Garcia Band with Melvin Seals, and Great American Taxi featuring Vince Herman from Leftover Salmon, also Rev. Payton Big Damn Band and The Lee Boys. Recently, Easy Riders were spotlighted on 99.9 The Buzz! two weeks in a row, and on Church of Rock & Roll - Home Grown Spotlight, with a live interview, an original song played ON AIR, and T-shirt giveaways. They also were apart of a live in-studio Acoustic Series where they played two original songs ON AIR! It has been a promising year for the guys and they are very excited for their summer events at Summer Camp Music Fesival, the Universal Rhythm Assembly and opening for The Marshall Tucker Band on the CEFCU Center Stage. The Easy Riders have also been hand selected from this region to represent Peoria, IL for The International Blues Challenge, “Road To Memphis,” and will be sharing the line-up with The Johnny Winter Band! New original songs are being written daily, and ancient classics are being resurrected in a new light. The Easy Riders hope to see you on the road!

Band Websites:
www.reverbnation.com/easyriders1
www.myspace.com/EasyRidersMusic
www.facebook.com/pages/Easy-Riders/265201041350
www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=131817

NEW SPEEDWAY PLAYERS
The New Speedway Players (NSP) are a conglomeration of long-time Madison musicians: Chad and Rob from Electric Spanking and
Baghdad Scuba Review; Tim and Sheryl from Chicken Bacon; Rusty Lee formerly of Flame Shark; Matt and Ben from The Gadjo Players, BEEFUS, Charlie Painter and Friends, and more. They were all brought together by the music from one of the greatest bands ever- The Grateful Dead. It’s on this wondrous playground of musical joy you’ll find them jamming and smiling all night long.

New Speedway Players feel that it’s incumbent on them to do their part to preserve the music of The Grateful Dead. They do this not by collecting bootlegs of their shows or finding rare recordings (there are others out there doing that way more effectively), but by playing the music The Dead created. NSP members all have spent a great amount of time learning the ‘rules’ so-to-speak that the music of the Dead adheres to. Much like jazz or classical or bluegrass, their songs (more specifically the jams) follow riffs, motifs, and scale patterns that help make their sound so unique. Other groups try to replicate their sound to the tee with amps, speakers, guitars, and on and on, even to the point of replicating shows to the date. NSP’s approach is a little different in that they play in the spirit of what they feel is one of the greatest bands in the history of music. Their jams were free and expressive while following their ‘rules.’ NSP tries to do the same, just with their own touch. (View Less)

Special Notes
Ages: All Ages
Presented by: Hundredth Monkey Productions