 Return to Lonely Goat Features ArchivesFirst published in Lonely Goat Print Magazine Volume III - #5 Who the Hell
Opens with Shakedown?: The band
Caution So, who the hell does open with 'Shakedown'? It's Caution, gaining popularity as the southeast's most comprehensive Grateful Dead cover band. If you haven't seen these guys, you're missing out on an incredible performance. On August 11th, I had the opportunity to travel to the Be Here Now in Asheville to see them for the second time. Again, I was amazed by the astonishing similarity between Jerry Garcia and Shane Meyers, lead guitarist and vocals, along with the riveting bass and heart pounding drums of Chris Towser and Bruce Javorsky, respectively. I also had the pleasure of meeting Steve Holder, known in common circles as Schroeder, due to his unique style of keyboard playing. From talking to the band, I learned that they cover over 200 songs, each as intriguing as the last. The most appetizing ingredient Caution adds to their show to spice it up, is the set list. They have the incomparable ability to mix the songs in a way you're not used to hearing The Dead do it. After warming up the crowd with the opening, they maintained the glow with a soothing 'Peggy-O' and an energetic 'Tough Mama' (JGB). Shane then delivered the audience an appeasing 'Sugaree', which exploded into a 'Blue Indian' (Widespread Panic) jam and never did stop until it stretched through 'Help On The Way'>'Slipknot'>'Eleanor Rigby'(Beatles)>'Franklin's Tower'>'Tangled Up In Blue'(Dylan) and back into 'Franklin's' to close the set, and thank God 'cause I don't think I could have taken any more without a stop! During the break I was invited into the 'band quarters' where we were able to compose ourselves. We were having such a good time that the club management had to inform us that the band should start the second set immediately unless they wanted to cut it short. No one, especially Caution, was going to let that happen! They promptly took the stage, teased us with a small instrumental of 'Scarlet Begonias' into another awesome jam with 'Fire On The Mountain' leading through 'Uncle Johnís Band', and then without giving it a break treating us to a very well done and emotional 'Terrapin Station'. You don't hear THAT live very often anymore! Well they still didn't stop. It was during an amazing chest hammering 'Drums' that Bruce decided that he just couldn't sit down anymore and felt the need to stand on the drum stool to complete his solo, never missing a beat! Then it was Chris' turn. The steady pounding of the bass came stampeding through the club followed by Steve's earth shattering keyboards with what was unmistakably 'The Other One'. Please stop! But no! They were going to make sure that I didn't leave without shedding a tear. 'Stella Blue'. Shane, there aren't many that have the courage to cover that one, but you did, and did it well. Thank You! It was time to get the crowd dancing again, so what better way than 'GDTRFB'>'Not Fade Away'>A medley of tunes The Dead never did for me, 'Lovelight'>'Caution'>'Alligator'. Then it was back into 'NFA'. During the medley and the return of 'NFA', Shane tried several times to get the band to stop, but their enthusiasm would not allow it. Later on, he admitted to me that he had no idea where the medley came from. 'We've never done that before' he said. Let me tell you folks you wouldn't have known it! After the show, we all went back to a hotel room and partied 'til the sun came up and beyond. Thanks for a great time guys! So people, in parting, when you're going out to see a really 'grateful' cover band, use Caution. But most of all go see and hear Caution. Peace. |