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Hey all, This is Mik, of The Garcia Project. I've been lurking around the forums and thought I would drop in and say hello. Way back in 2002 (I think?) I was at The Gathering of the vibes and it was the first time I saw Melvin play with John K - as DSO was headlining....They did a Jerry Band set that brought me right back to the old days of Jerry Band tour. I was backstage and met Melvin that night but I also walked John from the stage to his trailer with his guitars. We chatted for a while and I told him that I thought he and Melvin sounded great and would love to hear more of it. He said he loved it too but was very busy with DSO...Then I quipped that I might have to start a "Jerry Band" to keep it going....He said Go for it! He was so kind and nice to talk to. And now he's back playing with Melvin! Love it! Since then, I met up with Kat Walkerson, who subbed in for Cheryl and sang with Shirley for a few shows with Melvin and JGB (Stu Allen was lead at that time). I had just started The Garcia Project (2010) and Kat joined the band for our second show and onward! We both loved how DSO did the GD sets lists and we started doing actual Jerry Band set lists with the same style, arrangement and feel of the original. We built the original gear and were gifted guitars from Andy Logan (Grateful Guitars Foundation) and since then we have played many shows with Melvin Seals, Jacklyn LaBranch, Maria Muldaur and Buzz Buchannon, covering sets from 1976 through 1995! Now in 2025, we have assembled the absolute best band and crew and are out touring again through the USA. We all absolutely love and miss Jerry and the experience that was a Jerry Garcia Band show. We strive to recreate that feeling at every show. We even have a couple of shows on our March tour with the one and only Jackie LaBranch! We love singing with her and her voice brings us right back..... I saw my first GD show back in 1987 at Silver Stadium in Rochester, NY - Right after the show my friend asked me what I thought...I said it was amazing, but what if Jerry sang every song??!! He said to me, Go see Jerry Band.....I sad WHAAAAAT??? There is a Jerry Band? And the following year I saw my first Jerry Band shows at Great Woods. Hooked ever since. Ive always missed that rich beautiful tone of his guitar playing and his soulful voice and presence, Anyway, we've done a lot over that last 15 years (including recording an album of Jerry Garcia spiritual songs called SPIRIT with Maria Muldaur, Jackie LaBranch, Peter Rowan, Jason Crosby and more....) --- and its our mission in life to continue on the musical legacy, keeping true to the original arrangements, feel and style that Jerry laid down from 1976-1995. I hope y'all will give us a shot if we play your neck of the woods and Im happy to answer any questions or tell any fun stories. We absolutely LOVE DSO and sometimes get to see them when our tours cross or we are on the same bill....Cotter has even run sound for a few times. Love the band, the community and the music! We would love to join y'all at the Jubilee or Jamaica some day.....Peace, love and music.... Mik

So good to see you here. You guys truly help carry the torch. Through this world of trouble the music reminds us we got to love one another.

Glad you got this one, IB! Happy place for me. Thanks for the clarifications on the list - I had a tough time pinning it down until the Hey Jude but then the supposed placement of Cosmic Charlie had me a little bewildered - now we got it.

"JK left because Bobby & Phil asked him too." For John it was like playing baseball and getting called up to play center field for the New York Yankees.

Replies from Doc and Chuckvegas warms the heart. Great start to the day. Praise DSO.

About 15 years ago DSO's show at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse was stocked full of songs we rarely hear. Eaton had put together a strange but fun set list. Rob took a lot of heat and complaints on this forum for doing that instead of the usual often heard songs. In those days Rod would join in the conversations in the forum but due to the bitching of folks about that set list he stopped posting here. I wish he would come back. Peace and Love, Doc