The Bedford Cultural District’s New Song Music Series will welcome Deadgrass to Bedford Town Hall on November 15. Led by multi-instrumentalist Matt Turk and Grammy Award winner C Lanzhom, the group reimagines the music of Jerry Garcia on the instruments that first inspired him. We recently sat down with Matt Turk to learn more about Deadgrass and their music.
When did you become interested in the music of Jerry Garcia?I discovered the Grateful Dead and
Europe ‘72 when I was about 12 and fell in love with the live album. The themes of the lyrics intrigued me. Garcia was singing about the mystery of life, the passage of time, characters in the fold and the beauty of time fading away mixed with something that's elusive and eternal. These were all themes that enchanted me at that early, younger, more innocent age.
My young adult life changed when I started working with Pete Seeger and traditional music. Folk music came into my life, and Pete became a mentor and friend for 25 years.
How did Deadgrass come together?When Peter Shapiro opened Garcia’s in Port Chester, New York, I played there once a month for a short while to celebrate
Old & In the Way and Jerry’s acoustic music.
I’d invite different musicians to immerse ourselves in the craft. One of the guys I invited was my old friend, the wonderful musician C. Lanzbom. A couple of weeks after he showed up to sit in and jam, he said, “Do you want to make this a band?”
I thought that was a great idea, and we’ve been partners for seven years. Together, we expanded the repertoire beyond
Old & In the Way to include the Jerry Garcia Band, the Grateful Dead, and other acoustic and folk material.
What might surprise audiences at a Deadgrass performance about Jerry Garcia’s music?Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter wrote songs that are like master puzzles we unlock as listeners and participants. It’s a very rich and satisfying experience with a very light touch.
It’s a joyful thing to listen to Deadgrass, experience Jerry Garcia’s music, and go to a little gorgeous place for a while.
Why do you think Jerry Garcia’s music continues to resonate after all these years?I think he was nonjudgmental and also not a know-it-all. He leaves space for the listener. Jerry created, with Robert Hunter, what has become in my opinion the American songbook.
When Deadgrass performs, do you try to replicate Jerry’s sound or make it your own?We definitely make it our own, but we can’t do that without having experienced it in its original form. We’re inspired by the instruments that inspired Jerry. So we include the electric guitar, which is disruptive to the bluegrass canon. We also have mandolin, banjo, upright bass, and fiddle, and multiple singers, like the Grateful Dead.
How would you describe a Deadgrass performance to someone seeing you for the first time?I think it’s a very joyful, satisfying experience for people to come and hear the music. Many are deeply connected to it - it’s the soundtrack of their lives. We bring a unique perspective because the musicians, apart from myself, are extraordinary improvisers and incredible players.
What do you hope audiences take away from a Deadgrass performance?I hope they take away a sense of a new experience with an old friend — a celebration of something they love and enjoy. Something evergreen that puts a smile on their face when they think, “That was a great show. Those are great songs. What a great band — and what great respect for Jerry Garcia and all the people he worked with.”
What would you like readers to know about Deadgrass and the music of Jerry Garcia?For folks who are familiar with
Old & In the Way, Jerry’s Jug Band days, the Grateful Dead, and the Jerry Garcia Band, we celebrate that. Our music is a kind of string band adventure that involves a lot of improvisation while honoring the songcraft and the hallowed nature of a great musician. Jerry really cared about playing and presenting the music — and that’s where we’re coming from.
For folks who know less, or don’t know anything at all, come get exposed to this intergenerational, multi-century experience of what I consider to be the American songbook.
Thank you so much for your time, Matt.It’s been a pleasure — thanks for having me!
Buy tickets for Deadgrass and upcoming performances at newsongbedford.org. New Song is a volunteer initiative of the Bedford Cultural District, made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: Red Heat Tavern, Bedford Florist & Gifts, FYZICAL® Therapy & Balance Centers - Bedford, Prince Street Café & Bakery, and the Mass Cultural Council.
