Rhythm Devils Ramped Up

For Gathering Of The Vibes

By John Voket

BRIDGEPORT — The 15th anniversary of The Gathering of the Vibes, scheduled for July 29 through August 1 at Bridgeport’s picturesque Seaside Park, remains true to its roots by honoring former Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia with four days of classic rock and jam band fun. And this year, every surviving member of that iconic Bay Area group will grace the Vibes’ stages — albeit during different sets.

Donna Jean Godchaux, who was a backing singer with The Dead for most of the ‘70s, will return to help open the 2010 festival with a late afternoon set Thursday at 5:30 pm. And the much-anticipated group FURTHUR, featuring the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, is scheduled to go on around 9 pm to close out Friday’s main stage festivities.

But the set many Deadheads and psychedelic music fans are buzzing about is the latest configuration of Rhythm Devils featuring Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, along with Vibes alumnus Keller Williams, Sikiru Adepoju on talking drum, Davy Knowles backing on guitar and vocals, and Andy Hess rounding out the ensemble on bass.

During recent interviews with The Newtown Bee, Hart and Kreutzmann were both exuberant about their latest Rhythm Devils project, and the prospect of showing off the band’s new lineup to one of the largest gatherings of Deadheads and fans anywhere this year.

“This is not drums and space,” Hart said, referring to the solo spot during Grateful Dead concerts when the drummers solo within an envelope of cosmic guitar feedback and synthesizer noodling. “This is a dance band and a trance band, and its got these influences from West Africa. There’s a lot of rhythm in this band — it’s going to be an interesting combination.”

Hart said the Rhythm Devils lineup has obviously changed since its first inception, when the pair of Grateful Dead drummers were recruited to provide soundtrack ambiance to Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed film Apocalypse Now.

“We see the band as a work in progress,” Hart said. “But this is a most interesting [version] because I’ve created a whole layer of electronics that I think will be irresistible – devilicious electronics!”

Hart said he will be using a “sound droid” into which he’s compiled thousands of ambient, drum and natural sounds that he and Kreutzmann can call on in the moment.

“I can become anything – whatever is in its brain – I can call up in any combination in any tempo,” Hart said. “It’s become a musical instrument you can interact with, but it can maintain repetition which is the basis of trance. It’s one of these great experiments where you can dance with the machines and actually win.”%

“Joyful Devils”

Kreutzmann recalled the inception of the Rhythm Devils and the name he said was applied to Hart and himself by Coppola, contrary to the rumor that it came from Jerry Garcia. He described the sessions in which the two drummers were the lead performers as magical.

“It was insanely wonderful – we could do anything we wanted,” Kreutzmann said. “He’d ask us something like, ‘what’s the sound of napalm?’ and Mickey came up with the sound they used in the movie.”

Kreutzmann said the image of the pair as devils was further cemented years later during a taping of the Grateful Dead video for “Hell in a Bucket,” when the director outfitted them in Devil costumes and filmed them driving around San Rafael, Calif., in a convertible.

“Devils are mischievous, they like to have a lot of fun,” Kreutzmann said. “These aren’t bad devils. I don’t know if I could say we’re joyful devils, but why not?”

Recalling his first meeting with Hart at a Bay Area Count Basie concert, Kreutzmann said he helped recruit his rhythmic partner into The Grateful Dead. He said as the two began exploring the possibilities two drummers could bring to the mix, Kreutzmann discovered Hart made him feel like “I grew two more hands, no matter which side they were on.”

Promising the latest incarnation of the Rhythm Devils will provide a “new adventure” for longtime fans and newcomers alike, Kreutzmann said he was thrilled to be in the presence of all his new bandmates.

“I knew Keller was into the Grateful Dead, so it was almost a no-brainer [to recruit him],” he said. “And the first time Andy Hess and I played together with we jammed for six hours. We heard about Davy Knowles and I thought that guy will be able to nail the Pigpen stuff. And Sikiru is a master talking drummer. You can’t go wrong with a guy like that.”

Kreutzmann said all of the Rhy% thm Devils songs they will be performing this tour are written by Robert Hunter, a mainstay collaborator with Garcia and the Dead throughout its history.

“You know, the older ones — we’re picking out the ones we really like. And some of the Rhythm Devils songs Hunter wrote we haven’t done yet,” he said. “I’m a real proponent of doing new material and it’s really fun to have new Hunter songs to do. And since we have a 5brand new band we’ll be able to approach them with a whole new attitude.

“We will not let you down, my friend,” Kreutzmann concluded.

This year marks the fifth time the Vibes festival will be hosted in Bridgeport. In 2009, the festival was attended by 20,000 revelers per day at the 370-acre waterfront venue.

The Vibes is an all-ages, family-friendly event that caters to both weekend campers and single-day guests; both have access to the park’s shaded groves, manicured fields and more than a mile of Long Island Sound beachfront.

Diverse Performers

Besides Friday’s two-set, headlining performance by FURTHUR, Thursday’s set by Godchaux and Saturday’s show from the Rhythm Devils, Gathering of the Vibes 2010 spotlights more than 40 other acts performing on three stages. Other highlights include a reunited Les Claypool and Primus; reggae legend and 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Cliff; Reggae sensation Damian Marley with special guest hip-hop icon Nas, pedal steel guitar master Robert Randolph & The Family Band; New Orleans funk superstars Galactic; Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings; and from New Orleans, The Radiators.

Additional main stage and “late night” stage performers include Steve Kimock’s Crazy Engine, Umphrey’s McGee, Beastie Boys’ DJ “Mix Master Mike,” Jackie Greene Band, Little Feat, Martin Sexton featuring The Ryan Montbleau Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dark Star Orchestra, Zach Deputy, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and Connecticut’s own Max Creek and Deep Banana Blackout.

The Green Vibes stage offers an eclectic lineup of up-and-comers, as well as festival mainstays, in a more personal and intimate atmosphere.

Green Stage artists include David Gans, King For A Day, Lubriphonic, Turbine, Kung Fu, Caravan of Thieves, Quinn Sullivan, McLovins, Waylon Speed, Macpodz, Hot Day at the Zoo, Kicking Daisies, Jamie McLean Band, Leroy Justice, The Trapps, Billy Simons, Bronze Radio Return, Band Together, Christopher Robin Band, and Andy The Music Man. All weekend long The Primate Fiasco will be wandering the festival site serenading the attendees.

Since its inception, Gathering of the Vibes and its fans have made giving back a priority through their support of numerous social causes. In 2008 and 2009 combined, festival organizers have donated more than $125,000 to local Bridgeport charities, the Connecticut Special Olympics and many worthy not-for-profit organizations.

In 2009, festival attendees donated 5,500 pounds of non-perishable items to local and state food banks. The festival’s bold Green Vibes environmental initiative ranges from an aggressive on-site recycling campaign to educating fans on the current research and development being done, and the progress being made in the field of alternative energy solutions.

Initially named Deadhead Heaven, the festival, which premiered in 1996, provides an annual forum for fans from across the country to remember the countercultural icon. In each of its past 14 years, Gathering of the Vibes has paired legendary artists with emerging acts to appeal to a wide cross-section of live-music enthusiasts.

Any remaining Weekend Camping Passes are $197.50; VIP Passes are $420. Friday and Saturday single-day tickets are available for $65 per day when purchased in advance; and Sunday tickets are $50. For all information go to www.GatheringoftheVibes.com or call Vibes HQ at 203-908-3030.