The Grapes (band)
Encyclopedia
The Grapes were an American rock band from Atlanta
, who performed from 1986-1997. They have been classified as both a jam band
. and a southern rock
band
to introduce The Grateful Dead at a show they played in Oregon
in the seventies. Early influences for The Grapes and a large share of the early covers they played were songs by The Dead, Bob Dylan
, and assorted other groups from the sixties and seventies.
After Tessavarie left the group, he was replaced by guitarist/songwriter Romin Dawson. At this point, the band dropped the Dreadful from their name and went through more line-up changes, eventually picking up lead guitarist Mike 'Ted' Norton along the way, as well as a second drummer/percussionist Steve Baird. Faced with rising popularity and being under legal age to play in clubs, they found theaters and warehouses to rent, distributed flyers, hired security, and put on shows at venues such as The Arts Exchange, The Trinity Gallery and the East Point Theater and many house parties in Atlanta including several shows at the Ned Shed and The HELL HOUSE.
The band began branching out in 1987, and 1988] playing dates around the southeast and nearby towns such as Athens, Georgia
, where they traded off Monday shows at the Uptown Lounge with jam band Widespread Panic
.
(Indigo Girls
, Widespread Panic
, R.E.M.
) to begin work on their debut album 'Water To Wine', on their own Earwise label. At this point, percussionist Rick Welsh took over the second drummer duties.
With the success of their second album in 1992,'High Or Low', as well as being included on the Aware compilation album, the band toured constantly, averaging 250 dates a year, sharing the stage with acts such as Phish
, who opened for the Grapes in Atlanta during this time.
They were the only band to play all seven of the Great Atlanta Pot Festivals, including the 1992 show at Piedmont Park with The Black Crowes
. With 60,000 attending, that show stands as the largest hemp rally to date. In 1993 the band signed with Intersound Records, releasing their 3rd album 'Private Stock'. Tensions and personal matters saw the exit of Dawson and Holcomb around this time. For a year (1995), the band toured as a four piece before adding Brooks Smith in 1996.
They released their final album, 'Juice
' in 1997, and broke up in May of that year. Their breakup was attributed by Lonsdorf to "the band running out of steam".
at the Variety Playhouse
on November 28, 2008.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, who performed from 1986-1997. They have been classified as both a jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
. and a southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band
1980s
The band was formed by bassist/vocalist Charlie Lonsdorf along with drummer Preston Holcomb. Early guitarists included Danny Simmons, Katie Moore (of Deep Blue Sun), Johnny Tessavarie who suggested the band be called The Dreadful Grapes. This name was used by Ken KeseyKen Kesey
Kenneth Elton "Ken" Kesey was an American author, best known for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , and as a counter-cultural figure who considered himself a link between the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s. "I was too young to be a beatnik, and too old to be a...
to introduce The Grateful Dead at a show they played in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the seventies. Early influences for The Grapes and a large share of the early covers they played were songs by The Dead, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, and assorted other groups from the sixties and seventies.
After Tessavarie left the group, he was replaced by guitarist/songwriter Romin Dawson. At this point, the band dropped the Dreadful from their name and went through more line-up changes, eventually picking up lead guitarist Mike 'Ted' Norton along the way, as well as a second drummer/percussionist Steve Baird. Faced with rising popularity and being under legal age to play in clubs, they found theaters and warehouses to rent, distributed flyers, hired security, and put on shows at venues such as The Arts Exchange, The Trinity Gallery and the East Point Theater and many house parties in Atlanta including several shows at the Ned Shed and The HELL HOUSE.
The band began branching out in 1987, and 1988] playing dates around the southeast and nearby towns such as Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, where they traded off Monday shows at the Uptown Lounge with jam band Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
.
1990s
At the end of 1990, the band added Steven Fink, keyboards/vocals, and immediately went in the studio with John KeaneJohn Keane (record producer)
John Keane is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, which opened in 1981....
(Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
) to begin work on their debut album 'Water To Wine', on their own Earwise label. At this point, percussionist Rick Welsh took over the second drummer duties.
With the success of their second album in 1992,'High Or Low', as well as being included on the Aware compilation album, the band toured constantly, averaging 250 dates a year, sharing the stage with acts such as Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, who opened for the Grapes in Atlanta during this time.
They were the only band to play all seven of the Great Atlanta Pot Festivals, including the 1992 show at Piedmont Park with The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
. With 60,000 attending, that show stands as the largest hemp rally to date. In 1993 the band signed with Intersound Records, releasing their 3rd album 'Private Stock'. Tensions and personal matters saw the exit of Dawson and Holcomb around this time. For a year (1995), the band toured as a four piece before adding Brooks Smith in 1996.
They released their final album, 'Juice
Juice (The Grapes album)
Juice is a live album from Atlanta, Georgia band The Grapes. Released August 12, 1997, it was the group's final album.-Credits:#Sweet Angeline#May It Roll#Junkyard Blues#1/2 Past 10#Year in Hell#Water to Wine#Pick the Lock...
' in 1997, and broke up in May of that year. Their breakup was attributed by Lonsdorf to "the band running out of steam".
2008 Reunion
The Grapes will reunite in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
at the Variety Playhouse
Variety Playhouse
Variety Playhouse is a music venue in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is located on Euclid Avenue and features a variety of music acts including rock, country, folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues and world music as well as other live shows.-Details:The building...
on November 28, 2008.
Discography
- Water To Wine (1991) Earwise Records
- High or Low (1992) Earwise Records
- Private StockPrivate Stock (album)Private Stock is the 1995 album by Atlanta, Georgia-based band The Grapes.-Track listing:#Been Gone Too Long#If You Got A Gun#Salvation#Someday#Jozetta#Somewhere New#New Song#One Of These Days#Walking Under Ladders#Mama Flew#Above The Moon...
(1994) Intersound - JuiceJuice (The Grapes album)Juice is a live album from Atlanta, Georgia band The Grapes. Released August 12, 1997, it was the group's final album.-Credits:#Sweet Angeline#May It Roll#Junkyard Blues#1/2 Past 10#Year in Hell#Water to Wine#Pick the Lock...
(1997) Deep South Records
External links
- The Grapes downloads at JamRadio.org
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri8pbtYo5fc The Grapes - Live at Variety Playhouse 11-28-08