The Dead play the Mid-Atlantic Inagural Ball

[G_j]

https://www.relix.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3651&Itemid=149&mosmsg=Thanks+for+your+vote%21

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

The surviving core members of The Grateful Dead reunited for a performance at Barack Obama's Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball last night. Like the group's upcoming tour, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann were joined by guitarist Warren Haynes and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti throughout the seven-song performance. During their set, Hart played on a drum kit that featured an inlay of Obama's rising sun symbol paired with The Dead's famed Steal Your Face logo.

The group's performance was divided into two short sets which were built around speeches by President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The sextet started things off with a cover of Martha and the Vandellas' adopted Civil Rights anthem "Dancin' In the Streets," which had served as Phil Lesh and Friends' encore on the night after Obama's election. The group then ran through "Uncle John's Band" and "Sugar Magnolia," as well as "Eyes of the World," before stepping aside so "very special guest" Vice President Biden could address the audience. The Dead then returned to the stage for a three-song performance featuring the anthems "The Wheel," "Touch of Grey" and "Box of Rain" before clearing the stage for the Obamas' grand entrance.

Barack and Michelle Obama then quickly entered the room to the tune of "Hail to the Chief" and addressed an audience that included Senate hopeful, and former Saturday Night Live star, Al Franken. The President and the First Lady then danced to a recording of Etta James' "At Last."

The Obamas were said to have hopped between all ten official presidential balls until approximately 12:45 AM.

Additional reporting by Jen Lieberman and Eric Pietrzak

Comments
actually, it was ratdog who did "dancin' in the streets" in DC the night after the election. phil n friends did it the following night in nyc...



********!***********!***********!*******


http://www.rollingstone.com:80/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/15/barack-obama-selects-the-dead-for-inauguration-ball-it-was-quite-an-honor/



Barack Obama Selects the Dead for Inaugural Ball: “It Was Quite an Honor”
1/15/09, 5:03 pm EST
Photo: Barnard/Getty

Just a week after confirming their first tour in five years, the reunited Dead are booked to rock the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. on January 20th. “A DJ will open up — it’s a long, strange trip!,” Mickey Hart jokes to Rolling Stone (the DJ in question is celeb spinner DJ Cassidy). “ picked us specifically,” he adds, “so it was quite an honor. There was a short list and we made the cut.” (For a peek into the President-Elect’s iPod, click here.)

As for the most important question — can the band jam at the ball? — Hart is dubious: “It’s pretty tight, about an hour set. When you play these kinds of things you say, ‘How can I be of service?’ The entertainment committee makes it so that it fits into their huge schedule.”

Another pitfall of political rocking: a background check. “It gave me pause when I had to get a security clearance to play a gig!” Hart says. So did they get past the security scan? “Oh, yeah, we don’t look so bad on paper. It’s not as bad as you might think.”

The Dead partially reunited for a Deadheads for Obama gig in spring 2007, and drummer Bill Kreutzmann rejoined the group for a “Change Rocks” Obama fundraiser at Penn State in October. The tour that kicks off April 12th in Greensboro, North Carolina, features founding members Phil Lesh, Bob Weir as well as Hart and Kreutzmann, joined by keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and Allman Brothers Band/Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes.

[conscious evolution]

1. security clearance to play a gig!”

BWAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I would love to see their FBI files.

Which is bigger-their music catalogue or their files?

[G_j]

2. still subverting America's youth

LOL

[Burma Jones]

3. They're very successful businessmen you know........

And, over the last seven years, I would bet they're squeaky clean.........

[guitar man]

4. Warren Haynes on guitar

what a great choice, he's my hero. :thumbsup: