The John K. Band
Thursday Aug. 1
The Howard Theater
Today Deadheads across the world celebrate the birthday of the Grateful Dead’s original lead guitarist, Jerry Garcia. Garcia passed away on August. 10, 1995, but his legacy continues to inspire artists and fans alike. For those of you in D.C. tonight the John Kadlecik band will be celebrating the life of Jerry live at the Howard Theatre. This is a Jerry Bash in the truest sense with Potomac Region’s finest Grateful Dead tribute acts uniting under one roof.
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The John K. Band
John Kadlecik, well known for his work with Chicago’s Dark Star Orchestra & Furthur featuring Bob Weir & Phil Lesh, formed a new outlet for showcasing his musicianship in 2010 with the John Kadleick band.
John’s passion for music began in high school with a classical background in violin studies; soon thereafter he began applying that knowledge to the guitar. He played in rock bands throughout high school and while attending William Rainey Harper College a friend turned him onto the music of the Grateful Dead. A turning point in his self-search in music, John pushed forward with guitar full time and quickly became a regular on the Chicago music scene with Hairball Willie, Uncle John’s Band, and a host of regional acts.
In 2007, a regular local jam slot to perform the music of the Dead quickly progressed from a side project into a full-time endeavor, spawning the creation of the Dark Star Orchestra (DSO). DSO really set the standard for covering the music of the Dead to new levels with the group picking a specific Grateful Dead setlist to recreate. The group not only plays the exact set from a particular show of their choosing, they adjust their style & sound specifically to capture the Dead’s sound that particular year, on that specific tour, on that specific night. The group went on to gain national attention having original members of the Grateful Dead sit-in with them including Tom Constanten, Vince Welnick, Donna Jean Godchaux-Mackay, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir.
In 2003, while continuing his career with DSO John began collaborating with Melvin Seals best known for his time playing keys in the Jerry Garcia Band. Six years later Kadlecik was asked to join Bob Weir & Phil Lesh’s most recent large-scale Dead project, Furthur, which has been hailed as one of the best lineups of the Dead family since Jerry’s passing. In 2010, John formed the John Kadlecik band, which is gearing up for a weekend run in D.C., Philly, & Portchester, NY.
Sources: Official Bio, Wikipedia
The U-Liners
Also, bringing in support are the U-Liners who were voted a in the top 3 bands by the Washington Area Music Association in 2008. The group’s rock n roll style grasps elements of genres ranging from bluegrass to funk to blues and other genres in between, giving fans what they self-describe as “songs of our time”. The U-Liners have performed at venues across the region including Jammin Java in Vienna, VA to the Black Cat in D.C. & have opened for Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Pete Seeger, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage among others.
On the Bus
On The Bus is the premier Grateful Dead tribute band in the Washington, D.C area, known for its faithful recreation of the music, vibe and experience of a Grateful Dead show The group was formed in early 2002 and performed in the area as a three-piece band for the first 4 years. The late Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead commented on the trio saying “They’re something you gotta see!” As the band’s mission grew to embrace the idea of being as “Dead-like” as possible, the band expanded to the current 5 members. On The Bus plays clubs, parties and regional festivals, and has shared the stage with Jefferson Starship, Vince Welnick, John Kadlecik, Cornmeal, Ekoostic Hookah, and many other regional and national acts. –Official Band Bio
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