1996: “Deadapalooza” is a reference to what became the Furthur Festival, and the new record teased in “Odds and Ends” was released in 1998 as Spirit Trail. This is one of a series looking back at the old Bruce Hornsby newsletters that Melissa Reagan would post out in the 1990s/early 2000s. Links have been added where appropriate to add context.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Bruce will be touring with his band for most of the spring and summer. The following tour dates and locations are subject to change, and more dates will be added but are not firm enough to include in the newsletter at publication time.
| April 4 | Aspen CO | Wheeler Opera House |
| April 5 | Denver, CO | Paramount Theatre |
| April 6 | Park City, UT | The Dome at Wolf Mountain |
| April 8 | Seattle, WA | Moore Theatre |
| April 9 | Portland, OR | Roseland Theatre |
| April 10 | Eugene, OR | EMU Ballroom, U of OR |
| April 12 | San Francisco, CA | The Fillmore |
| April 13 | Los Angeles, CA | House of Blues |
| April 14 | San Diego, CA | 4th and B |
| April 16 | Phoenix, AZ | Electric Ballroom |
| April 17 | Albuquerque, NM | Kiva Auditorium |
| April 19 | Austin, TX | The Backyard |
| April 20 | Dallas, TX | Deep Ellum Live |
| April 22 | St. Louis, MO | Mississippi Nights |
| April 23 | Columbus, OH | Newport Music Hall |
| April 24 | Kalamazoo, MI* | Miller Auditorium (FREE!) |
| May 4 | West Palm Beach, FL | Sunfest (FREE!) |
| May 6 | Atlanta, GA | Roxy Theater |
| May 8 | Nashville, TN | 320 Performance Hall |
| May 10 | Chicago, IL | Vic Theater |
| May 11 | Minneapolis, MN | First Avenue |
| May 12 | Madison, WI | Barrymore Theatre |
| May 14 | Louisville, KY | Coyotes |
| May 15 | Virginia Beach, VA | Virginia Beach Amphitheater |
| May 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | Metropol |
| May 18 | Washington, DC | Cellar Door Ballroom |
| May 19 | Philadelphia, PA | Electric Factory Ballroom |
| May 21 | Northhampton, MA | Pearl Street |
| May 24 | Providence, RI | Strand Theater |
| May 25 | Boston, MA | Avalon Ballroom |
| June 8 | Cleveland, OH | Cleveland Jazz Festival |
| June 10-11 | Oakland, CA ** | Yoshi’s (BH Solo Piano) |
| August 17 | Newport, RI | Newport Jazz Festival |
There will be opening acts for many of the above dates: Aquarian Rescue Unit in April and God Street Wine in May. Please inquire when ordering tickets.
* Gilmore Festival in Kalamazoo on 4/24: Bruce will be performing solo piano and in duet with banjoist Bela Fleck. In addition, Bruce will participate in a meet-the-artists session with legendary jazz pianist McCoy Tyner at 2 PM and broadcast in part by NPR on 4/25’s Performance Today. For further information about the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, please call 1-800-347-4266.
**Yoshi’s Jazz Club: Makeup dates from Bruce’s week there in January.
Although these shows were sold out in January, some ticketholders may not be able to come to these makeup dates, so there may be tickets available. This is a small jazz club and Bruce will play two shows each night. Call Yoshi’s at 510-652-9200.
“DEADAPALOOZA”
Bruce and the band will also be part of the tour so far informally known as “Deadapalooza” in June and July. Former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart and their bands will be joined by Bruce’s band and others for a festival-like tour similar in format to Lollapalooza. Dates have not yet been announced.
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS
Bruce received two Grammy nominations for the Grammy Awards which were held in Los Angeles on February 28. Although he did not win either category, he was nominated for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance” for “Song B” and for “Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television” with Chaka Khan for “Love Me Still’ from the Spike Lee film “Clockers”. These were Bruce’s eighth and ninth nominations. Bruce’s “Grammy percentage” slipped from a robust .429 (3 for 7) to a less than Griffey-esque .333 (3 for 9).
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ALBUM AND OTHERS
Bruce and the band’s version of “I Know You Rider“, performed as a tribute to Jerry Garcia, will be included on an album featuring highlights from the concert for the opening of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. The release date is unknown.
Bruce played accordion and sang vocals on “Down the Road” from Mickey Hart’s latest release, “Mystery Box”.
Also, Pam Tillis recorded Bruce’s song “Mandolin Rain” on her most recent album.
“AT THE RYMAN”
Bruce performed with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Bela Fleck on an edition of “At the Ryman” which will air on TNN at 8 PM on April 15. The show was recorded at the Ryman Theater in January.
ODDS AND ENDS
Bruce has been writing for a new album and began recording in March, although with the spring and summer tour schedule, recording won’t resume until much later in 1996.
Bruce is also working on one or two songs for the new Ron Shelton movie “Tin Cup“, starring Kevin Costner as a golf pro. The movie will be released this summer.
WEB SITE
OK… try this…to reach our newly created Web Site, use the following URL:
http://members.aol.com/
We (Bruce’s office staff) will try to check in now and then for e-mail and will post any new tour information or general information that may be of interest.
QUESTIONS FOR BRUCE
1. Do you work-out on the road or are you too tired?
I work out most every day. It keeps me going in the face of a crazy road schedule. I usually run every day or ride a stationary bike, and if we get a chance, Molo, J.V. and I play basketball at the local YMCA, friends’ houses, or health clubs.
2. What is “prestidigitation” (from “Spider Fingers”)?
Finger magic, sleight of hand.
3. Regarding the Anthology, the music looks difficult. I am a 14 year old self-taught pianist who has had one year of lessons. Do you have any suggetions?
Practice a lot! I didn’t start playing until was 17, so had some catching up to do. I practiced 4 to 6 hours a day back then, and in the last year l’ve returned to practicing 3 to 5 hours a day. Work to make sure your technique is solid so you don’t fall into bad habits early on.