Keller Williams – Rex
Keller Williams has never been shy about his love of the Grateful Dead. The quirky Virginia tunesmith has written songs about his younger days on tour and performed with Dead member Bob Weir. On his latest release Williams pays full tribute with a project called Grateful Grass that features help from mandolin picker Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band) and bassist Keith Mosely (String Cheese Incident) working up a full set of acoustic Dead covers. Recorded live at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, the disc features hopped-up string romps through psychedelic faves like “Eyes of the World” and “St. Stephen,” while Williams lets his Southern drawl infect rarer cuts including “Candyman” and the stretched out “Birdsong.” It’s a fun ride with the expected energy of a one-time gig.In the sprit of a changing music world, Rex will only be released digitally. The title comes from the Rex Foundation, a charitable organization founded by the Dead that will receive all proceeds from the album. Good vibes all around.
—Jedd Ferris
