The world’s most beloved heiress is back in the news again.  This time it’s for the harder stuff.  At least harder than what she was, excuse me “her friend” was caught with during the World Cup this past summer in South Africa.  Miss Hilton might be the most unfazed of them all – jet-setting through life with her lucky number thirteen pieces of  Louis Vuitton luggage in tow as pianos fall from the sky directly behind her.  It wasn’t too long ago that I was almost decimated by one of those pianos in the form of a feature length film starring Miss Hilton called “The Hottie and the Nottie.”

I received a call in the Summer of 2007 after the release of “You Can’t Win” from a friend’s brother who somehow, after making an award winning documentary film about World War II, was chosen to direct Miss Hilton’s potential breakout film “The Hottie and the Nottie.”  He sent me the script and said his angle with the lead actress, maybe his best and only chance, was to encourage her to search her soul and channel the Audrey Hepburn deep inside.  This meant that if the “The Hottie and  the Nottie” was Hilton’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” they needed a “Moon River” for the film.  I was asked to write it so I penned a Chet Baker-inspired balled called “How Could I Have Guessed?”.  We recorded a demo and sent it to the director.  The feedback was positive and it was slated to be re-recorded with a full band and used at the turning point of the film – when the two main characters realize mid-dance that they had been denying their feelings of love for each other all along. There was even talk of flying me down to Los Angeles to appear in the film, performing the song live.

My dreams of staying at Chateau Marmont, however, were immediately shattered.   As shooting started in L.A. the picture completely imploded.  I never really inquired as to what happened, I just understood that the train had quickly gone completely off the tracks.  The song was scrapped and the film was unceremoniously finished and edited.  At the box office it was one of the worst openings of all time and was deservedly brutalized by critics.  While every musician’s life has it’s share of “what-if” moments, this is surely the most bizarre of my short songwriting career.

“The Hottie and the Nottie” Trailer (Not for the faint of heart)

It seems that the Grateful Dead have been getting a lot of run these days.  While underground music pushed hard against The Dead and their followers throughout much of the ’90s, their stock has been slowly rising over the last few years with lots of bands citing Jerry and Co. as a major influence.  Heck, even Timberlake was spotted in a Dead shirt a few weeks back.  A lot of cautious music fans flat out reject The Grateful Dead, unwilling to wade through the tie dye, dancing bears, and college keg parties to get to the music. I’m by no means an expert, but am happy to offer a short list of Dead albums to serve as a starting point for those that have tried to dodge these guys for the last four decades.

GRATEFUL DEAD – RECKONING (1981)

This Dead album easily gets the most plays at Chateau Unfazed.  It’s a live, mostly acoustic, double LP of traditional tunes like “Deep Elem Blues” and “Jack-A-Roe” mixed with extremely laid back versions of classics like “Ripple,” “Dire Wolf,” and “China Doll.”   Garcia sings the majority of these tunes pulled from performances in 1980 at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall and The Warfield Theater in San Francisco.  It’s mellow and sprawling with just enough loose jamming to feel like they’ve set up on your front porch.

GRATEFUL DEAD – FROM THE MARS HOTEL (1974)

My favorite studio album by far.  “Scarlet Begonias” and “U.S. Blues” are standout tracks, but the apex is the recently Animal Collective sampled, Phil Lesh penned “Unbroken Chain.”  This track has to be heard to believed – an incredibly tight groove, beautiful piano chords, and a ring modulator that floats down from the heavens.  Top to bottom this is a fantastic collection worth seeking out.

GRATEFUL DEAD – EUROPE ‘72  (1972)

This is an iconic live 3X LP collection from The Dead’s first complete European Tour in 1972.  It’s chock full of classic hits stretched to the point of nearly breaking. Fantastic versions of “Jackstraw,” “China Cat Sunflower,” “Truckin’,” and “Ramblin’ Rose” are all here – top rate material played with electricity and joy.  While the band’s live shows would continue to get better, this may well be the definitive peak for Ron “Pigpen” McKernan who was starting to lose his grip.  If you want to dip your toe into a quintessential live Dead album without diving into the massive ocean of archival tapes, this is the perfect trip.

Grateful Dead on Last FM

“Unbroken Chain” on You Tube

Grateful Dead’s “Ripple” on “Freaks and Geeks” final episode

Grateful Dead Archive

Blue Giant & Dolorean

Tuesday, August 10th

Mississippi Studios

8PM Doors / 9PM Show

No Cover