Nation Getting a Taste Of Great Caesar’s Ghost
The Southampton Press 8/16/08
By Gavin Menu
The vibe surrounding Larry Schmid’s home music studio in Bridgehampton during the late 1990s was not quite Haight-Ashbury of late 1960s San Francisco, but the birthplace of the local band Great Caesar’s Ghost did once epitomize the seemingly forgotten idea of an impromptu, community-oriented jam session.
Mr. Schmid opened his doors to regional and local talent for recording purposes, and soon began playing informally with some of the musicians, notably guitarist Ray Penney, drummers Ed DiCapua and Shawn Murray, keyboardist Keith Hill and bassist Larry Hunter, along with his friend and well-known local guitarist, Peter “Bosco” Michne.
The casual jam sessions continued for months, and before long it became clear that something special had developed in the small but state-of-the-art studio at Mr. Schmid’s home off Scuttlehole Road.
“It just clicked, and before you knew it we were doing it for awhile,” Mr. Hunter said last Wednesday night before Great Caesar’s Ghost played the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett. “Eventually we said, ‘Gee, this is starting to feel a lot like a band.’”
Stony Brook University, April 2007 Mr. Hunter knew the feeling well, having come of age on the San Francisco music scene with the likes of Merl Saunders, Jerry Miller, Steve Marriott and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. Mr. Hunter said he spent time at Mr. Weir’s recording studio in Marin County, north of San Francisco, where jam sessions often turned to recordings, and where coincidental meetings often evolved into lifelong friendships.
And, as Mr. Hunter pointed out last week, something similar happened with the seven-member band that became Great Caesar’s Ghost (GCG).
“It’s still the original seven people,” Mr. Hunter said, sounding somewhat surprised. “And everyone still gets along, and makes decisions together. It’s like a brotherhood—it’s an amazing thing, and it doesn’t happen all that often.”
The band’s performance on August 8 was to benefit the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a grassroots, nonprofit, environmental organization that works to protect the ocean beaches. The show was also billed as GCG’s only performance of the summer.
Mr. Schmid said Mr. Michne, who normally plays relentlessly during the busy season, decided to take the summer off. Second drummer, Shawn Murray, an accomplished drummer who is currently touring in Europe with singer/songwriter Willy DeVille was also absent on Saturday, as was Mr. Hill, the band’s regular Hammond B-3 player.
Standing in for Mr. Hill was keyboardist Jimmy Yaeger, and according to Mr. Schmid, the band has been able to explore different styles of music with the temporarily stripped down sound. Also joining the band at last week’s show was Mario Cruz, who plays saxophone and flute, and the band covered a wide variety of music by the Marshall Tucker Band, Elmore James, Elvin Bishop, Steve Miller, ZZ Top and Buddy Holly, among others.
“Great Caesar’s Ghost is this huge elephant,” Mr. Schmid said while sitting on a bench in Amagansett before the show. “And it’s a really special elephant. If you just look at the caliber of musicians, you will realize that it’s hard to get everyone together.”
The band recorded two critically acclaimed albums over the past three years, “Live at Berkner Hall with G.E. Smith” in 2005 and “One More Ride” in 2006, both of which emphasize the band’s uncanny ability to channel two legendary groups, the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead. GCG has also received national recognition over the past year with airtime on XM satellite radio, which has featured GCG as part of the 1960s rock revolution station, Deep Tracks. In July alone, the band’s music was played 15 times on one of the nation’s most popular stations.
“For a long time I thought (XM) was the coolest idea, and I sent an album to the two DJs at Deep Tracks,” Mr. Schmid said. “And according to Earle Bailey, the station’s music director and one of the DJs, they keep getting feedback from people saying, ‘Who are these guys?’”
The band has also been recognized on the Allman Brothers website, Hittin’ The Note, which sells GCG albums and lists the group as “One of the hottest bands in the New York area.” In an e-mail message last week, Robert Paul Johnson III, who works on the site, said that GCG record sales have far exceeded his expectations.
“They’re a great live band who show absolute respect for bands like the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead, and they do justice to their songs,” Mr. Johnson wrote. “It’s not easy to play a song like ‘Whipping Post’ or ‘Franklin’s Tower’ and have it sound worthy, but GCG stays true to the spirit of the song, without just doing a blatant imitation.” Mr. Schmid said that his band has always paid the necessary royalty fees when recording another band’s music. After obtaining the right to record the Rolling Stones’ classic tune, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”—on which Mr. Schmid does an incredible imitation of Stones lead singer Mick Jagger—GCG was repaid when producers from NBC decided to feature the song on their hit TV show, “My Name is Earl.”
But the real joy for GCG these days comes from producing more and more original music—often the product of early-morning brainstorming as well as late-night jam sessions by the seven members of the band. Their original, “Seeds and Stems” has gotten radio playtime on XM, and is currently featured on a compilation CD for the Grateful Deadbased Relix magazine.
Mr. Schmid said GCG is always looking to gain entry into some of the larger music festivals, but he pointed out that he does not expect the band to hit the road anytime soon, and sort of laughed at the idea of he and his six friends and bandmates tearing down the road in a van together across the Midwest.
“While we are all professionsal musicians, we have lives and families and regular gigs, so I don’t see that happening,” he said when asked about a tour.
Mr. Hunter agreed that long road trips are not in the GCG’s future, but said that he expects much more to come from the local jam band that was born off a farm field on Scuttlehole Road.
“We’ve all had the chance to mature and grow up and now we realize how lucky we are to be able to discuss and play music together,” Mr. Hunter said. “And the music is still getting better.”
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Great Caesar's Ghost - "ONE MORE RIDE". This double live CD shows one of the hottest bands in the New York area playing songs you know and love. Red hot versions of "Mountain Jam"and"Whipping Post" show that the band knows their Allmans, while their Dead influence shows through on covers of "China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider" and "Franklin's Tower." They also dig down for excellent versions of deep cuts by the Rolling Stones --"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and (the original) "Wait Until Tomorrow." Good stuff!
- Hittin The Note Magazine
Great Caesar's Ghost ONE MORE RIDE *****1/2 (out of six). New York ,7 man, southern/jam band with 3 guitarists and two drummers, who on this phenomenal double live album masterfully interpret songs of the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead. Anybody who thinks of this band as a cover band knows better after listening to the first song. What these musicians, all of them professionals and partially active for 20 years, make out of the original songs, glows with intricate knowledge of playing and an enthusiasm today sometimes missed by those bands that mostly wrote these songs (ABB,Dead,Stones). Borderline pure magic. This is the Southern/Jam band CD of the year 2006, if not of the decade, this live-concert is hard to match up to.
- CD Review on Southern Rock Radio, Germany www.southern-rock.de
"LIVE AT BERKNER HALL"
average reader rating: 5 STARS *****
- Rolling Stone.com
"A Top Shelf Jam Band"
-Earle Bailey
XM Satellite Radio, Deep Tracks, XM 40
INTERVIEW WITH GREAT CAESAR'S GHOSTS' LARRY SCHMID
"The whole band experience is a process" says Larry Schmid, bandleader for the Bridgehampton, Long Island, New York based jamband, Great Caesar’s Ghost. "At times things are very frustrating and other times seem to just work out. It’s certainly an up and down sort of thing."
Mr. Schmid sits on the porch of his Bridgehampton home and discusses the ups and downs of having a seven piece rock and roll band who has just released it’s second CD. "One More Ride", a two disc set that was recorded live in 2005, was released in late June of this year.
SP: How is the CD doing?
LS: The CD is doing really well. We have sold copies throughout the United States and Europe and have been getting national airplay on XM Satellite Radio.
The internet and satellite radio have been a big help in having Great Caesar’s Ghost reach a national audience. It is really interesting to track sales around the US through our online distributor and it is directly related to airplay on XM Radio and networking through myspace.com. The first CD "Live at Berkner Hall with G.E. Smith" caught a lot of peoples attention but the double live CD, "One More Ride" has seemed to confirm that we are what we represent ourselves to be
SP: Which is?
LS: A real band, a band’s band. Does that make sense? A few years ago I wanted to put together a group of musicians that really loved to play, especially improvisational music. In the beginning the intent was not to start a working band but rather to have a weekly jam session. Having had a recording studio for a number of years, I got to know many of the players on Long Island and I made some calls. Some of the guys I had known for years, like Bosco (Michne) and Ray
(Penney) and others I had worked with at one time or another.
SP: When did you decide to start playing live?
LS: I think it became clear after the first month or so that we were on to something. When Keith (Hill) joined on B3 and Ed (DiCapua) came in with a second drum kit, I think that sealed the deal. We realized that we had something special musically and there was also a certain chemistry between the players. Improvisational playing is similar to having a conversation, albeit a seven way conversation. The boys all have a real sense of humor, and they generally like each other. It’s more important than you might think.
SP: I notice a great deal of cover material on both CD’s including heavy doses of the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead. Why would a band of your caliber play cover material as opposed to writing and releasing original music?
LS: That’s a good question, one we get asked a lot. A simple answer is because we love that particular music and we don’t have a problem playing songs that, in some cases, are over 40 years old. If we were covering tunes that were currently on the radio I think that would certainly challenge our credibility. Like many jazz artists, we enjoy finding classic pieces and putting our own twist on them. We may alter the arrangement and the solos are certainly always our own. The Allmans did the same thing with classic blues songs like "Statesboro Blues", "One Way Out", "Hoochie Coochie Man" as well as others. The Grateful Dead has done the same. I also think, to a certain degree, that playing time tested songs is a great indicator of what your band is capable of. I would put our recorded versions of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (The Allman Brothers Band), "Franklin’s Tower" (The Grateful Dead) or "Afro Blue" (Mongo Santamaria) next to anyone else’s and feel confident that we had made a positive contribution to that song’s legacy..
SP: What do you think the originators of those works have to say about you receiving such accolades for their music?
LS: I often wondered about it and always assumed that it was a type of flattery. I think that the bands would dig hearing their music being played. We’ve also been really careful to make sure that all the royalties have been paid. If we make money, the writers are making money too. I had a chance to talk to Butch Trucks from the Allman Brothers and he generally confirmed that belief.
SP: What was it like to meet Butch Trucks, seeing as you play so much of The Allmans material?
LS: It was awesome. He actually stopped by the house having heard "One More Ride". He was very complimentary about the playing and the fact that we had captured the spirit of The Allmans without playing the tunes note for note.
Sort of like, the Allmans canvas and some of GCG’s own fresh paint. We also joked about the fact that the tracks had been licenced. I do think that they appreciate it. He was very gracious as well as smart. You could see why the Allman’s have been successful for so long. He is very computer literate and understands where the music business is headed.
SP: What can you tell us about the new CD "One More Ride"?
LS: The CD was recorded in December of 2005 at a theater in Upton, NY.
We had a good night performance wise and were lucky enough to have tape rolling. We decided to make the CD a two disc set and include many of our longer jams. "Mountain Jam" is almost twenty five minutes long as is the old Coltrane standard, "Afro Blue". "Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?" is also pretty long with an extended sax solo. There are ten tracks. Mostly covers with one original that I wrote with Bosco Michne a few years ago.
SP: I noticed the saxophone on a number of tracks. Is the sax a regular instrument for Great Caesar’s Ghost?
LS: That’s Mario Cruz playing sax. He’s plays with us on some of our theater gigs but is not a regular member. He is a great player. I believe he played with Bruce Springsteen’s E street Band as well Jaco Pastorius. Not to drop names but a lot of the boys have had some big time experience.
SP: Can you drop a few?
LS: Moby Grape, Steve Marriot, Kingfish, Bob Weir, Merl Saunders, Roy Buchanan, Muddy Waters, Chris Duarte, Brian Setzer, Willie DeVille. I forgot a bunch, it’s on the website.
SP: How about G.E. Smith from Saturday Night Live. I see he appears on both CD’s
LS: Yes, G.E. has been a friend of the band for some time. Like Mario, he sits in for some of the bigger shows. He’s been very generous to myself and the band and he’s a great player. He always seems to lift the bar a notch when he’s onstage. He has that instant stage presence not to mention incredible guitar tone.
SP: So what’s next for Great Caesar’s Ghost. You have a new album that is selling well. Any shows coming up? Will you be playing locally? The band has played The Stephen Talkhouse in the past.
LS: Yes, we will be making a short run of Fall shows and then again in the late Spring. We are working on dates with The Boulton Center for the Perfoming Arts, The Patchogue Theater, The Tilles Center, The Count Basie Theater in New Jersey, and The Sherman Theater in Pennsylvania. We have just been contacted by Princeton University and Stony Brook University for fall shows and I know we are headling a gig at The Martha Clara Winery on October 1st.
The Talkhouse is a great venue and we've had some great shows there in the past. We'll be there in November, the day before thanksgiving, the 22nd I think.
SP: We appreciate your time, thank you.
LS: Thank you!
CONCERT REVIEW
On Friday, Nov.18, 2005, I had the pleasure of enjoying two great acts – Toby Walker and Great Caesar’s Ghost, featuring G. E. Smith, at the Patchogue Theater, who will be appearing at BNL’s Berkner Hall on Saturday, 12/3/05, at 7:30PM.
If you enjoy the blues played by a true master of the traditional style, you should not miss Toby Walker. His finger style wizardry delivers sizzling solos, while simultaneously saturating the space with bass and chordal accompaniment. His repertoire included the classic blues standards, “It Hurts Me Too” and “Know You Rider,” as well as originals, such as “Looking at the World Through a Windshield” and “Weak Willed.” His story-telling ability and irrepressible humor complement his instrumental artistry; his act is definitely a must-see for blues afficianados.
GCG –Featuring selections from the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, and the Stones, and joined by G. E. Smith, legendary band leader of SNL fame, this is an ensemble of seasoned professionals, combining smooth precision with a sense of dynamic, yet controlled, energy and power. Their balance and tone demonstrated a finesse rarely achieved in a live performance. Friday night’s show included: “Hot ‘Lanta,” “Mr. Charlie,” “Whipping’ Post,” “Not Fade Away,” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’?”.
The rhythm section is like a well-oiled machine, consisting of two skilled percussionists, ala the Allmans and the Dead, and a gifted bassist whose tone and presence filled the room like a tangible force. With the addition of G. E. Smith, the band is fronted by four accomplished guitarists, and a talented keyboardist. The virtuosity of all the soloists pays true homage to the intensity of the music, without the restricted note-for-note reproductions of many “tribute” groups. The technical ability, intensity, and tonality of the lead players must be heard to be believed. “Done Somebody Wrong” and “Franklin's Tower” were highlighted by solos showcasing G. E.’s consummate musicianship. Mario Cruz provided smokin’ sax solos, sitting in with GCG on “Afro Blue” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’?”.
If you appreciate rock, blues, or the music of the Allman Bros., the Dead, and the Stones, don’t miss Great Caesar’s Ghost. - Phil Hayde
" Great Caesar’s Ghost performed at Berkner Hall with special guest G. E. Smith, displaying an electrifying guitar onslaught.........The addition of G. E. Smith added a bit more spice to an, already, very hot repast.......They served up two sets of cover tunes, mixing in the Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones and Santana and topped off the evening with a blazing, encore’, rendition of the Allman brothers "Southbound.".....This is a "must see" band".
John Mulvaney, JAMDAD Reviews
"When it comes to skill, style, and excitement, this band will have you raising the cry "Encore, Encore", over and over again."
WPKN Radio, Bridgeport, CT
".....Judging by the crowds reaction at The Stephen Talkhouse on Friday, the group's well rounded sound went over well.........With the groups two expert percussionists providing a solid backbeat to the back and fourth exchanges of four guitars punctuated by a Hammond B-3 organ, one could have easily mistaken the music as part of a performance from one of the groups' (that they cover) national tours. People danced madly..........Great Caesar's Ghost came out strong and opened the second set with The Rolling Stones "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" The highlight was clearly the playing of G.E. Smith, who wowed the crowd with a smoking solo and finger picking that was sheer joy to hear."
- Pat Rogers, The Southampton Press, November 25, 2004
".....For an ensemble that plays a couple of original tunes, Great Caesar's Ghost is stacked with accomplished musicians......this bands chops were cut long ago, a reason their authenticity rings through, and Great Caesar's Ghost does not sound like your average band.......
- Kathryn Georgette, The Independent, November 17, 2004
"Chill out to the smooth sounds of G.E. Smith, former band leader of the Saturday Night Live Band, and the seven other musicians who make up this sexy blues/rock effort".
Cristina Kinon, Hamptons Magazine, Juune 9, 2005
"Thank you for your gift of $4,130.00 received with a postmark date of January 18, 2005 in support of American Red Cross emergency relief efforts to the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami devastation. Your contribution will assist those throughout ravaged areas to gain stability by providing immediate relief assistance and long term development assistance for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this tragic event."
Letter from the American Red Cross, March 9, 2005
(Great Caesar's Ghost held tsunami benefit at Stephen Talkhouse)
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