David Gans and the Broken Angels w/ Another One

David Gans and the Broken Angels began in 1997 as a weekly jam in Berkeley, California. Gans assembled a different lineup of Dead-lovin’ players every week for a set of live music followed by a DJ set by “Dark Star Dan” McGonagle.

The weekly gig lasted through most of 1997 and led to performances in many other venues. Guests included Vince Welnick, Bob Bralove, Henry Kaiser, and other luminaries. Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh joined the Broken Angels for a few benefit shows in the fall and winter of 1997-1998, after which he started doing a similar thing on a national scale as Phil Lesh and Friends. 

For this June tour in the midwest, David will be joined by Chicago favorites Joe Day (keyboards and vocals), Janis Wallin (bass), and Brett Baxter (drums). “I met Joe and Janis in the summer of 2018 and we had a great time playing together,” Gans recalls. “We played as the Broken Angels at Garcia’s in Chicago last fall, and we’ve been invited back this summer."

David Gans is more than a musician. With his older brother’s encouragement (and guitar), Gans wrote his first song in 1969, at the age of 15 – “and everything in my life has proceeded in a musical way from that moment.” He was performing regularly in public by the time he was 18. 

Hearing the Grateful Dead the first time in 1972 was another “before and after” moment. “I didn’t know what was going on in the jams yet, but the songs were just amazing to me – and that’s what drew me into that world.” He found some sympathetic players in Berkeley, some of whom he still jams with occasionally to this day.

Gans considers himself a direct descendant of the Grateful Dead. “I do what they did, combining original material with interpretations of music from other composers, all strung together with a highly democratic form of collective, conversational improvisation.” (In his solo performances, Gans uses a looping device so he can perform a version of that “conversation” with multiple voices from his own guitar.)

Gans got into music journalism in the mid-1970s, joining the staff of BAM: The California Music Magazine and later moving on to Mix: The Recording Industry Magazine and a Rolling Stone subsidiary called Record. “I got into it for the free records and concert tickets, and I wound up getting a priceless education from the musicians, producers, engineers, and executives I talked with.” He interviewed countless musicians, producers, engineers, luthiers, etc.

Magazine work led to books; his first was Playing in the Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead (with Peter Simon); he has published one book about Talking Heads and five more books about the Grateful Dead.

Several appearances on The KFOG Deadhead Hour led to Gans being asked to become the producer/host of that program, which soon went national as The Grateful Dead Hour. Sirius Satellite Radio hired Gans to design the programming schedule for the Grateful Dead Channel in 2007, and in January 2008 he and co-host Gary Lambert launched Tales from the Golden Road, a Sunday-afternoon call-in show. Both radio shows continue to thrive.

Along the way he has produced several boxed sets and compilations of Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia music, and written liner notes for more than a dozen records. He has released more than a dozen records of his own music (original songs, improvisations, Grateful Dead music, and more).

“I was writing my own music before I got turned on to the Grateful Dead,” Gans explains, “so when I discovered the Dead’s way of music-making I adapted it to my own work – which is how I am now able to fly to a town I’ve never visited before, meet up with some new friends, and make deeply satisfying music for ourselves and our audiences.”

Another One – The Premier Grateful Dead Experience! Is not just another one of those Dead cover bands… This 6 piece band has come together to honor the legendary music and spirit of The Grateful Dead. With a deep appreciation for the Dead’s unique blend of rock, blues, country, and folk, this band has made it their mission to pay homage to the music that continues to evolve. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, or just discovering The Dead for the first time, Another One’s high-energy performances are sure to transport you to space, and leave you feeling the magic of The Dead’s timeless sound. In true spirit of the Grateful Dead no two shows are the same. Come on out, grab a ticket, and enjoy the experience – You don’t want to miss this band!

Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 8:00pm. Full bar service will be available throughout the show, with the kitchen being open 4-close. All guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and supervised at all times while inside the building. Failure to provide proper supervision may result in removal from the premises. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests.

🎟️ Note: $1 from every ticket sold goes to a fund benefiting local artist mental health & wellbeing.

Please note that all ticket purchases are final and nonrefundable.

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