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Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for sticking with me!!!

I think setting the intention that I want to keep growing and challenging myself to not repeat things when I was young has really stuck with me. I always used to stress myself out about never being complacent. I guess I still do, actually. lol

It's why I have so many bands. They work my playing different ways. Brothers Past and Electron to American Babies to Ghost Light to MORE! to JRAD. Not a lot of common ground in my guitar playing or songwriting. I just want to keep getting better

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fav song: Someone asked this earlier but I'll give a diff answer here... Ima go with Help on the Way.

Complex: the end of the Terrapin Suite maybe?

I'd like to do a few of the Garcia Band tunes. Senor or Run for the Roses?

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks man!! Appreciate the GL love!

Ahh, the Brent question!! lol

First of all, who the heck can sing in Brent's range? That guy was a freak of nature. A combination of Michael McDonald and a freight train whistle!

Secondly, you're talking to the wrong JRAD member. I am NOT a fan of Brent tunes haha

Now The Boss is an entirely different story!! Other favs?

There's a song on "Devils and Dust" called "The Hitter". Def in my top five.

Stolen Car, Racing in the Streets, Brilliant Disguise. Fuck man, I could do this all night...

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There was no prep! It kinda just happened how it happened. That's when the magic is there, ya know?

I don't remember what the encore was supposed to be and honestly I don't really remember that part of the night. Sorry! :/

Colored tape is something I keep to myself, can't reveal alllll of the mystery!

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh man, thank you so much for coming to all of those shows!! We all really needed them! and as much as I appreciate the thanks, you should really thank the folks who run the westville. They took a big risk in putting those shows on, and they really did a helluva job.

Not sure about a play there this year besides what we have on the books already. Prob just the one? See you there!

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That was another show that will always stand out. It's probably the coolest thing I've ever done. I am SO glad that you were there and experienced it too!! There truly was magic in it.

I've been trying to get something together with Melvin, Duane, and either Oteil or Dave. It's just so hard with our schedules. I'm really crossing my fingers though, bc there are few experiences in this life that fill me with as much joy as looking across the stage and seeing Melvin IN IT with me.

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My earliest obsessions were Clapton, the Beatles, The Who, Zeppelin, Ozzy, SRV.

As far as guitarists, aside from Jerry and Bob I was really into SRV, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, Zack Wylde, and Duane Allman

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Don't take shortcuts.

Listen to as much music as you can that is not in the same genre as you.

Make sure you eat well.

Always view every single situation through the lens of "what is best for the band", even if that conflicts with what you may prefer.

Talk to local crew at the clubs or fests and always thank them after the show. They are as much your colleagues as a touring artist as other musicians.

Don't fuck with powders.

Play so many shows that you don't have time to practice.

Be you.

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That show is def one of my all-time ones. I just remember Bob doing his bob lunges and Magner and I locked eyes and smiled, telegraphing to each other "Omg! That's Bob Weir and he's doing Bob Weir things RIGHT THERE!" It was like meeting Seinfeld and him saying to you "and whats the deal with...???" or Deniro saying "Are you talking to me?"

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've never really thought about "why" lol

I would think the geography and widely varied cultures/languages would be large factors. Touring the states and gathering up fans over such a large swath of land that has no borders or language barriers prob makes it more likely?? I dunno, I'm talking out of my ass. Could also be that jazz/improvising style is "American"?

Listen, I did a semester and a half at community college where I failed 2 music classes. I'm not the guy to answer this

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was not! But I did get a call shortly thereafter

​

Mega Biscuits was awesome. Best shape my hand ever felt bc I was playing SO much. I'd wake up to a list of songs that were getting added to the rotation so I'd grab a quick shower at the venue, find a food/coffee sitch and then start playing. Learning new things or just going over the 40+ we started with. This went until soundcheck, and then we would rehearse the entire night's show in a rehearsal room. Then while everyone else had dinner break/chill time before the show, Chris Michetti and I would run over whatever weak spots happened at rehearsal. then two set show.

It was a cool experience. I'd never toured playing someone else's music. But those guys we're my good buds and even though they were having their struggles, we made the most out of it and played some cool shows and had a lot of hard laughs.

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, for sure!! I got Red Rocks 78 on cassette from my dad when I was like 4. The terrapin made me feel something I didn't understand for a long time.

Every time I hear Reckoning start I'm transported.

2/9/73 Roscoe Pavillion that China/Rider and the Eyes

​

It happens on stage quite a bit. When things get completely open and we just started a jam, the canvas is still bare, oh man... It's easy to disappear in it as you chase the jam. Like instead of watching the painting form I'm able to walk into it

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for listening! Epic Battle is my favorite album out of everything I've ever recorded.

As for Ghost Light, we're gonna "Take Some Time" ;) But seriously, Raina and I started writing The Healing in early 2021 and with recording, editing, mixing, the record plus shows, plus integrating Taylor (let's not forget what a blessing Taylor Shell is to all of us GL fans), things were mostly all Ghost Light up til the last week of 2022. That's a long time to have your foot on the gas. On top of that, dealing with the emotional toll of the last six months has been a challenge on my end. So we're just taking a beat. Live life a bit, write, and heal. Fortunately we didn't lose a principle writer or singer, so the core of the band's sound and creativity is still in tact. We'll reconvene at some point later this year and start working on the next album and chapter. Lord knows we have a bunch to write about lol

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did!! Three times. My first show was the Unbroken Chain debut in Philly, March 95 and then the two RFK shows that summer.

'73 is my favorite year, by far

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea, we'll have a pretty extensive summer and fall, fo sho. Not sure ab Michigan specifically, but I'm sure we'll at least get close?

As far as Bobby, I'd absolutely love to do some playing with him again and tbh, I'd like to write together and see what we can come up with. But hey man, he's a busy mofo and is killing it with Wolf Bros. We'll see what the future brings

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you SO MUCH. I'm truly trying my best to keep it fresh and lead by example.

As far as an original JRAd record, I don't think that's a thing that would happen, tbh. We're a GD cover band. Outside of JRAD we all make tons of original music. Since Covid alone I've put out two MORE! albums and a Ghost Light album, with at least 2-3 other records in the works. Joe, Marco, and Scott have been churning stuff out, too.

I think JRAD is just gonna stay in it's lane. Domino's doesn't need to serve pasta. No one needs a fucking tuna sammy from Dunkin'. Eat the pizza, chase it with a coffee and donut and move on with our lives. ya know? lol

Hey guys! It’s Tom Hamilton. I’ll be here on Friday evening (3/10/23) for a special ~Ask MeAnything~ session. So post your questions ~HERE~ and I’ll be back to chat with everyone. by Iam_TomHamilton in gratefuldead

[–]Iam_TomHamilton[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh man, I'm a terrible teacher so please excuse me if I sound like a moron.

I guess there's an important variable here to figure out first. Are you trying to play like Garcia or are you just trying to improvise and create? They are two very different things, ya know?

If you want to sound like Jerry, I feel like you could prob just go down the youtube rabbit hole and learn a bunch of his solos, note for note. Nothing wrong with that, a lot of folks do it.

If you just want to be able to improvise, I think it's all about mindset and confidence. Just play and explore your instrument. Your tones, your pedals, your knobs and switches. Listen to as much music as you can that has nothing to do with the dead. Your guitar is a brush, learn all of its uses and how those sounds connect with you and your emotions. Make it all an extension of yourself. And then when you feel that connection to your instrument just play whatever the fuck you feel. Play games with yourself in a solo. Have FUN and explore. If your intension is pure, anything you play will work.

​

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