Nashville, TN
It was Jesse McReynolds CD release party at the Station Inn, Nashville’s cool Bluegrass music venue.He has followed up Jim and Jessie’s earlier success at adapting Rock N Roll to his unique style ( “Berry Picking” covering the music of Chuck Berry) with “The Songs of the Grateful Dead”, A tribute to Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. The crowd was a mixture of old Jim and Jessie fans from the Grand Ole Opry years mixed with deadheads there to hear him cover their favorite Dead tunes. He didn’t disappoint either crowd, playing 2 full sets of his original songs, his Chuck Berry covers, and of course his Dead covers. Backed up with a talented band including 3 of his Grandchildren, he showed the crowd that he still has the master’s touch with the Mandolin. Excited about his upcoming appearance at the Rex benefit in San Francisco he explained that he was married to a Deadhead and the CD was also a gift to her. He also talked about the old days in the Virginia mountains, including the story about the corn crop that made 45 gallons an acre. But mainly he and the Virginia boys band showed just how hot Bluegrass could be. What an incredible night of music.
