Two of the Grateful Dead‘s 1960s-era albums, Aoxomoxoa and Live Dead, celebrate 50 years since their respective releases in 1969 this year. Thankfully, some of the current players within the California jam scene are getting together to help fans and Deadheads celebrate the two seminal albums in San Francisco later this month.
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Announced on Friday, guitarist Ethan Miller of California Bay Area bands Howlin Rain and Heron Oblivion has recruited a mix of musicians including Adam MacDougall (Circles Around The Sun, Chris Robinson Brotherhood), Dan Horne (Circles Around The Sun, Grateful Shred) and Austin Beede (Grateful Shred), and Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless) to perform the two albums in full with two separate shows at The Chapel in San Francisco. The band will recreate Aoxomoxoa at the San Francisco venue on Monday, October 28th, and the songs featured on Live Dead on Tuesday, October 29th.
More participating artists will be announced closer to the event.
“Myself, the four other incredible musicians in the band and a number of exceptional guest performers are coming together to bring these records to life again and to celebrate their vast and undying energy,” Miller said of the upcoming anniversary performances in a statement to go with the announcement. “In the performance of ‘Aoxomoxoa’ it gives folks a chance to see, hear and feel something live that I’m not sure even the Dead ever fully committed to the stage in its entirety. As for ‘Live Dead’, we’re just gonna set it loose and see what happens. It’s the only way to really honor the spirit, energy, and exploration of what that record accomplished. The sound and spirit of these historic albums are going to be there and then some. It’s all gonna be a party!”
Tickets for the two all-ages anniversary shows are on sale now here for 10/28, and here for 10/29. A portion of all proceeds will go to the Grateful Dead’s Rex Foundation.