Garcia Project Coming to Trinity-on-Main in New Britain
By Frank E. Bradley | Special to the City Journal at September 3, 2023 | 6:00 pm | Print
The Garcia Project a great cover band of The Grateful Dead’s great music is coming to Trinity-on-Main at 69 Main Street in New Britain on Friday, September 11 at 8 p.m. The opening band will be The Remnants. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. The Garcia Project faithfully channels and projects the feelings, emotions and music that propelled the Jerry Garcia Band (JGB) and the fans through many years of musical bliss. It’s about family, soul searching, rejoicing, contemplating, celebrating, seeking truth and loving one another.
The Garcia Project performs full, classic Jerry Garcia Band shows from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s – creating the Jerry Garcia Band experience for old fans to relive or new fans to enjoy for the first time. Some reviews tell it best: “If you close your eyes, you’ll swear you are at a Jerry Garcia Band show.”– ecoLocal Magazine; “In order for a tribute band to be successful, fans need to look at them as the authority on the artist they are emulating. The Garcia Project pulls it off effortlessly. Go see them live The Garcia Project is the whole package.”– Jim Gilbert, Upstate Live and “I heard something in your playing…that spoke to me from a place Garcia spoke from: the darker side, darker not meaning evil, but that sound attainable only by people who have been in every blue-light cheap hotel…you exude some of Jerry’s more interesting qualities.”
– Scott Allen, Aces Back To Back.
Mik Bondy (Guitar & Vocals) fills the “Jerry” role with modesty and an understanding that no one can replace Jerry – but that we all together can rejoice in his music. Mik has constructed two tribute guitars and a recreation of Jerry’s actual guitar amps, effects and speakers. Mik loves to jam. A long time Jerry-head, Mik enjoyed the last few years of Jerry’s life following the JGB around whenever he could. Mik has performed as guitarist with Melvin Seals and JGB.
Kat Walkerson adds heartfelt and soulful female vocals to the mix. She brings an awesome energy to the project and you can feel her love for this music though her singing. She exudes positive vibes and her smiles are a testament to her appreciation of the music. Kat has performed as a vocalist with Melvin Seals and JGB.
Dan Crea uses two Fender Precisions like Kahn used from ‘74 to ‘81, with American Special necks, EMG pickups with Alnico magnets and high mass bridges for clarity, and Warmoth bodies with custom bridge pickups and electronics (Mike Pope Flexcore in one and ACG in the other) to approximate the Steinberger tone when needed. Dan has performed with Melvin Seals.
Greg Marshall plays the piano part form the early Jerry Garcia Band styles and he excels at the Hammond Organ parts for 80’s and 90’s JGB styling’s. He is an amazing keyboardist that loves the music of the Jerry Garcia Band. Greg has performed with Melvin Seals.
Bobby Belanger is a solid and tight drummer that can bring the music down to whisper and back up with a roar. Bobby excels in the 70’s era JGB stylings as well as the later eras.
You may find one of these great musicians at certain shows as well: Melvin Seals, (Jerry Garcia Band) on Keys and Tom Constanton (Grateful Dead) on Keys. Doors open at Trinity-on-Main at 7:00 p.m. There will be a full bar for 21 and over and snacks and other drinks available. Free parking on the streets and in a garage on Chestnut Street. To purchase tickets visit www.trinityonmain.org or call 860-229-2072 or (860) 306-4585.
