News

Furthur Will Play Eight Nights at the Capitol Theatre This Spring

Furthur will host an eight-night run at Port Chester, NY’s Capitol Theatre this spring. The Grateful Dead offshoot’s confirmed Cap dates are April 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24 and 25. The Grateful Dead have a long history with the Westchester County theater: In the early 1970s, the Dead played 18 shows at the historic theater during a span of only 11 months. Bob Weir performed at the venue’s reopening HeadCount celebration this September and Phil Lesh & Friends played a multi-night run at the Cap in November. Jerry Garcia once called the theater one of his top venues. Tickets are now on sale.

This spring’s Furthur shows also mark the 20th anniversary of Cap proprietor—and Relix and Jambands.com publisher—Peter Shapiro’s first Grateful Dead shows. As a sophomore film student at Northwestern University, Shapiro attended the Grateful Dead’s run at Rosemont, IL’s Rosemont Horizon from March 9-11. On March 11, Ken Nordine recited some tripped out poetry during the Dead’s already spacey drum segment. Shapiro—who was in an elevated state—got freaked out and left the show.

Shapiro spent the rest of the night wandering through Shakedown Street, and he became enamored with lot culture and its community. The next morning he went to the library before the doors opened and researched what films has been made on the Deadhead scene. Shapiro’s research inspired him to make his first film, And Miles to Go Before I Sleep.

Though he was unable to talk with the band or use any of their music, Shapiro scored interviews with Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, Al Franken, Wavy Gravy, John Barlow and other members of the extended Dead family. The film also started Shapiro’s own journey within the music industry. “That was my first real experience with the Grateful Dead,” Shapiro says. “That film led me to Larry Bloch, Wetlands and the rest of my career. It took me 20 years to go from the lot to booking [Bob Weir and Phil Lesh] at the Cap.”

Click here to watch And Miles to Go Before I Sleep elsewhere on the site.