Meet the Band: Tim Askin (guitar and vocals), Bob Gerhard (keyboards), Bill Horschke (sound wizard), Tim Lane (drums and vocals), Steve Masek (keyboards and vocals), Dan Shramo (guitar and vocals), Darren Thompson (bass and vocals)
Organic Beginnings: "We had this gig opportunity, and we had been watching other folks do this for a long time," singer-guitarist Dan Shramo says. "We're all just old deadheads and we figured, 'Hell, why don't we give this a shot?'" The 11 a.m. show at Nelson Ledges paid off: The chemistry onstage was undeniable.
Across Time: The Grateful Dead's tenure spans 30 years, and much of that time is divided into various "eras" (different musicians, different modalities, etc.). "Everyone in the band is into different eras. I'm totally a '70s junkie," Shramo says. "We kinda mix and match. And we'll even do that in the middle of jams. So here we are in 1990s territory, and then we drift off into the 1970s."
Come Together: With long breaks between shows, events like this weekend's Beachland gig take on a more prominent shine for all the musicians involved. And as a bonus, there will be two keyboard players this time around. Every time the guys in Into The Blue perform, they're trying to do things a little bit differently and add at least a handful of new tunes to the catalog. "Each of these songs is such a journey," Shramo says. "There's a certain energy that takes over."
Why You Should Hear Them: Regardless of your take on the Dead, the band maintains a damn important stature in the rock 'n' roll canon. Into The Blue revives that spirit and lends it the respect Jerry and Co. rightfully deserve. Anyone interesting in hearing — and seeing — great music flow from the stage should check out what these guys are doing. Fellow musicians and artists will glean inspiration.
Where You Can Hear Them: facebook.com/ITBGDR
Where You Can See Them: Into the Blue performs at 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Beachland Ballroom.
