Garcia Peoples was created by vocalists/guitarists Danny Arakaki and Tom Malach, bassist Derek Spaldo, and drummer Cesar Arakai, in Rutherford, New Jersey. Although the use of “Garcia” as the band’s name is not an exact shout out to the Grateful Dead, it has become apparent that the group listened to the output of classic acid rock bands like the Dead, Canned Heat, the Allman Brothers, and other less-well-known outfits such as NRBQ to form their take on the genre.
The group developed a following by playing clubs in Brooklyn, where they got a reputation for their fantastic live shows, which often included extensive improvisations. P.G. Six joined the group in 2017 to handle the keyboards. With the line-up in place, they began recording at a lighting pace, dropping “Cosmic Cash,” their debut, in 2018. To date, they have made nine recordings, the latest, “Live at the Sony Music Hall,” appearing in 2021.
A review says:
“Garcia Peoples stood out . . . The . . . lineup ran with myriad possibilities; musical conversations that weaved keyboards to the mix.”
Garcia Peoples and their special guest Blackwater will be at Nectar’s, at 188 Main Street in Burlington, a short distance from Colchester, on Saturday, February 11. When events like this are scheduled, organizers can turn to flyer printing to create handouts to advertise the show locally.