Danny Luehring Assembles Cast of Terrapin Crossroads Alumni for Free Concert at Golden Gate Park
By the twilight of the 1960s, the Grateful Dead had cultivated a loyal following in their native San Francisco, and a fandom that could no doubt flood the streets with hopeful listeners seeking a peek at the psychedelic tripsters.
Embracing the spirit of the times, the group presented a series of live performances free of charge. On at least five occasions, those shows occurred in the city’s Panhandle district. On Sunday, March 8, Hard to Handle, Live Music in the Panhandle, will pay tribute to the Dead’s mission with a new crop of torchbearers.
The event is scheduled to take place at the Golden Gate Park Panhandle, at the intersection of Ashbury and Oak Streets from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with music from Danny’s Live Dead as well as a special set from the China Cats.
Led by Danny Luehring, the gathering promises music played from a flatbed truck in line with the Dead’s free Golden Gate Park gigs and famous March 3, 1968 performance in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The show will feature a full roster of talent. Joining drummer Luehring will be Grahame Lesh, Jerry’s Middle Finger representative Garrett Deloian, Phil Lesh’s one-time bass tech and collaborator Brian Rashap, as well as Mother Hips’ Danny Eisenberg on keys.
Luehring’s Dead history extends back to 2013, when he began filling in for a friend on drums at Terrapin Crossroads. His saga with the venue ensued for the next eight years and informed more than 400 gigs he picked up along the way. The experience served Luehring’s weekly live series, dubbed Danny’s Live Dead [in the spirit of the Bar stage at Terrapin Crossroads]. Even after the historic live-music venue closed in 2021, the band continues to uphold the location’s spirit.
For more information, view the social media post below regarding the event.
