deadheads unite!

Guest blogger time!

Pocono Record part-timer, Sharp contributor and resident Deadhead Cynthia Hoza headed up to Penn’s Peak on the company dime Friday night to review the Mickey Hart Band, the latest side project from former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.

Here’s her review:

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If you thought the Grateful Dead was left in the 60’s with the hippies, you’d be wrong.

On Friday, Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe possessed Deadheads and percussion lovers alike with the Mickey Hart Band, a powerful mix of various drums, guitar, bass and keyboard.

If you like 13 minute drum and bass solos and you just can’t get enough of Dead covers like “Sugaree”, “Eyes of the World” and “Good Lovin’” than I’ve discovered the band that can contagiously make you dance till dawn – the Mickey Hart Band.

Why are they so infectious? Mickey Hart and friends are no strangers to the ambiance of the jam band. In fact, they’re practically the founding fathers.

Lead percussionist, Mikey Hart, notorious for his participation in the Grateful Dead for nearly three decades, clearly mesmerizes crowds with his undeniable devotion for the drums. His love of world music shows through in his performance with his drum tangents consisting of masterful beats and solos. If a legendary drummer wasn’t enough, Mickey enlists the help of drummer Walfredo Reyes Jr. and talking drum master Sikiru Adepoju to create a unique mix of beats, all yielding distinct sounds. Together, their individual talents for percussion become an unparalleled blend that is no match for any ordinary musician’s drum set.

It’s the imperial dream every drummer strives for.

Also joining Mikey Hart is guitarist Steve Kimock, a Bethlehem native, who has been noted as one of the most accomplished guitarists to grace a stage. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch Kimock play a small solo on a string instrument similar to the zither. George Porter, bassist, complemented Kimock’s guitar with his R&B style. Porter’s solo during “Eyes of the World” is captivating, something that should not be missed by any deadhead. Keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth, formerly of the String Cheese Incident, adds a surprising touch of emotion. Vocalist, Jen Durkin brings her deep, jazzy vocals as the cherry on top of a jam band masterpiece.

As a proud deadhead, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the Mickey Hart Band. Especially because they were going to be playing at Penn’s Peak, one of my favorite venues. I have yet to have a tainted experience at Penn’s Peak, and I knew Mickey Hart would be no different. It didn’t surprise me to be overwhelmed by their performance. By the looks on the band members faces, I would say they were even caught off-guard by their talent to take a jam and run with it. Not to mention how appreciative a Penn’s Peak crowd can be, we just want an encore.