The Furtherrr Collective is a visual artist collective made up of Mars-1, Oliver Vernon, Damon Soule, David Lee, and Nome Edonna. The Furtherrr Collective pushes the boundaries in Sci-fi abstract psychedelic painting through their collaborative process, which involves individuals with different artistic backgrounds working together to create immersive, larger-than-life works. 

Johnathan Singer is a content creator and live performance artist. Singer’s artistic versatility also includes creative director roles, designing and producing videos for music producers, musicians, and other visionary artists.

Singer pushes the boundaries of technology through these performances leading to new art forms which incorporate computer-generated images, texture maps, custom 3D animations and special effects. These innovations activated his audiences both with visual and auditory experience. His progressive art style propelled him as a live VJ, growing his business, and leading him to perform all over the globe.

Today Johnathan is one of the most notorious visionary artists creating content for world renowned Lighting Designers and VJs. Some of his most noted artist collaborations are with Alex and Allyson Grey, Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Slightly Stoopid, Shpongle, Tipper, The Grateful Dead 50th Anniversary shows, Dead & Company and many more. He is proud to have done multiple productions at Red Rocks Amphitheater (Denver), Soldier Field (Chicago), The Gorge (Washington), Orion Amphitheater (Alabama) The Beacon Theater (NYC), The Sony Theater (NYC), The Fillmore (SF & Denver), among others.

BARRY SLESS – Guitar, pedal steel guitar

Born in Baltimore, MD, Barry began his career as a touring musician playing guitar and pedal steel with the Maryland based western swing band, Cowboy Jazz. Their two album releases on Rounder Records became favorites of the legendary Northern California radio station KFAT, whose generous airplay in the San Francisco Bay Area led to regular West Coast touring.

On one of those tours, after jamming at a San Francisco club with Matthew Kelly, Barry was invited to join his band, Kingfish. Touring with Kingfish introduced Barry to other Bay Area based bands and in 1994, he became a founding member of the David Nelson Band. DNB caught the attention of Phil Lesh who included Barry and other DNB members on shows with him at The

Warfield Theater in 1999.

After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2000, Barry became a regular member in most of Lesh’s touring lineups from 2005 through 2008 and guested with him numerous times since, having played well over a hundred shows with the various formations of the band. In 2007 he joined Roger McNamee’s new group, Moonalice. The group's 2009 CD release was produced by Grammy award winning producer T-Bone Burnett.

Barry currently tours with Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros, as well as continuing as a member of The David Nelson Band (www.nelsonband.com) and Moonalice (www.moonalice.com/splash). He was a member of Green Leaf Rustlers, featuring Black Crowes frontman/vocalist Chris Robinson, and also currently tours with Skeleton Crewe featuring Rob Barraco (DSO, The

Dead) Jay Lane (Dead and Company, Bobby Weir and Wolf Bros) Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna) and Stephen Inglis (Billy Kreutzmann’s House of Spirits.)

Barry’s pedal steel can be heard on selected tracks from three Chris Robinson Brotherhood albums (“Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel” and “If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home By Now”, both released in 2016 and “Barefoot In The Head" released in 2017). He also appears with Leftover Salmon frontman Vince Herman’s Great American Taxi on their 2010 album release "Reckless Habits” and 2011’s “Paradise Lost” and was an occasional touring member of the band.

During his career, Barry has also shared the stage and traded notes with Carlos Santana, Bill Kruetzmann, Mickey Hart, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Cassidy, Paul Kantner, Country Joe McDonald, T-Bone Burnett, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, John Scofield, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Stanley Jordan, John Mayer, Los Lobos, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Larry Campbell, Joan Osborne, Ryan Adams, Jackie Greene, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements,

Jesse McReynolds, Melvin Seals, Merl Saunders, Buddy Miles, Robert Randolph, Tom Constanten, Papa John Creach, George Porter, Papa Mali, Oteil Burbridge, Commander Cody, Bill Kirchen, Leftover Salmon, Norman Greenbaum, Donovan, Wally Ingram, Jeff Sipe and others.

Barry’s playing combines elements of many different genres, and can evoke styles reminiscent of artists from the western swing of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys and the twang of the Bakersfield classic country sound, through the psychedelic and free wheeling improvisational styles of the Grateful Dead. He maintains a strong sense of song, melody, phrasing and taste, while creating his own unique sound. With roots planted in Americana, hints of jazz and

Motown and a dose of psychedelia, he’s at home backing up asinger/songwriter or making a quick left turn, leaving the script and soaring into the cosmos of free form improvisation.

Barry’s guitars are custom made by Santa Cruz, CA luthier Scott Walker. He owns six of Scott’s creations. www.scottwalkerguitars.com. His main pedal steel was custom made by Ross Shafer for Sierra Guitars and his amplifiers are custom built by Sonoma County amp creator Bill Krinard, one of the original creators of Two Rock amps. He also had a three time gold medal award winning beer (World Beer Cup 2008 & 2014 and Great American Beer Festival 2016) named for him. Sless’ Stimulating Stout was brewed by Iron Springs Brewery from 2005 until it was retired in late 2021 when the pub closed their doors for good.

ELLIOTT PECK - Vocals

As one of the most sought-after vocalists on the West Coast, Elliott Peck has made a name for herself lending harmonies to everyone from Phil Lesh and Bob Weir to Jackie Greene and Lukas Nelson. As a member of the band Midnight North, she’s appeared on bills with the likes of Bonnie Raitt and The Infamous Stringdusters and slayed festivals from Newport Folk Festival to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. In 2012 she began singing on many configurations of Phil Lesh & Friends, and toured nationally with Phil Lesh & the Terrapin Family Band from 2017-19. Now, with her mesmerizing solo career, Peck is stepping center stage, ready to prove she’s a talent more than worthy of the spotlight on her own.

“I’ve been writing songs for a long time and I’ve been really fortunate these last few years to perform with so many great musicians,” says Peck, “but as a songwriter I & wanted to record my own material in addition to my songs I record with my band Midnight North. Peck’s debut solo record , Further From the Storm, (2018) was recorded in Oakland with producer Karl Derfler (Tom Waits, Dave Matthews), It was Peck’s first release under her own name and her debut album for the burgeoning Blue Rose Music label. She performed at the 2018 Americana Festival debuting her new songs on a showcase bill with Margo Price, David Lunning & Steve Forbert.

Weaving together the disparate threads of American roots into a captivating whole, her debut record serves as a brilliant showcase not only for Peck’s vocal prowess, but also for her meticulous craftsmanship. She writes with a breezy vulnerability, a plainspoken and unflinching honesty that belies her songs’ subtle sophistication as she draws on classic country, blues, R&B, and jazz to create an utterly timeless collection. It’s the kind of music that demands repeated listening, revealing new rewards with each and every drop of the needle.

Her most recent release, an EP titled “In the Pines” (2023) was recorded at Sun Machine Studio in Novato California with producer Ryan MacCaffrey. A collection of songs that continues to demonstrate her growth as a both a songwriter & vocalist. To celebrate this release, she performed at the Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley, CA) in December 2023 with a start studded backup band (Natalie Cressman, Jason Crosby, Dan Lebowitz) to a sold out crowd of adoring Bay Area fans.

“Working with Phil Lesh for so many years has always pushed me to think outside the box,” says Peck. “I’ve adopted his policy of trying to keep things surprising. There’s comfort in writing a song and being done with it, but I’ve learned from Phil not to be afraid to go back and rethink things and experiment with different sounds and allow the song to continue to evolve.”

This may be why Peck appeals to strongly to both the Americana world of singer/songwriters, as well as to her solid fan base of jamband & Grateful Dead fans. Even if you’ve never heard her sing a note before, Peck sounds like the kind of songwriter you’ve been listening to for years, and as she embarks on her newest chapter, it’s clear that she’s the kind of songwriter you’ll be listening to for years to come, too.

GEORGE MICHALSKI - Piano & Keyboard

When it comes to genius, you need look no further than George Michalski.  The native San Franciscan has certainly paved his own musical highway during an illustrious career.  A true child prodigy, Michalski performed his first concert at the tender age of 4, performing a program of Bach at the Main Branch of the San Francisco Library.  By the time Michalski turned 7 he was offered a full scholarship to the prestigious San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  In 1964 and 1965 George won the gold medal from the National Recording Society for his virtuoso piano playing.  At the age of 12 he was elected President of The Pacific Musical Society and traveling the world performing. 

And that’s only the beginning of the story. 

Benefiting by growing up in a City whose musical community was just beginning to blossom, a young Michalski fell in with the Grateful Dead, visiting with Jerry Garcia and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan at the band’s legendary 710 Ashbury pad.  A hirsute Michalski can be seen in the photo that graces the gatefold center of the band’s landmark album, “Live Dead”. 

By 1970, Michalski was recording with Blue Cheer, and through Blue Cheer guitarist Leigh Stephans, George performed on a recording session with up and coming singer Lottie Golden.  The guitarist on that session was the late Michael Bloomfield.  Bloomfield raved about the band in an interview in Crawdaddy published later that year. 

Relocating to Los Angeles in 1972, Michalski formed the band, Foxtrot that became the house band at the famed Hollywood nightspots the Whiskey A Go-Go and The Starwood.  The band had the distinction as being the first white band signed to Motown Records. During their two-year reign Foxtrot was headlining over such young upstarts as Van Halen as well as touring with the Electric Light Orchestra. 

In 1975, a chance meeting with a then obscure actor by the name of Don Johnson, led to the pair sharing various Los Angeles homes for the next 8 years representing a bacchanal period in the pianist’s life.  In 1977, producer Jon Peters heard Michalski and partner Nikki Oosterveen on a suggestion of a colleague.  “Jon Peters heard us on a Wednesday and the next day a limousine picked us up and we were with Rona Barrett on Good Morning America.  By Sunday, Barbra Streisand was sitting on my piano bench leaning my songs,” recalled Michalski.   Streisand would record George’s  “The Man I Love,” which was the flip side of her biggest selling single, “Superman.”  Michalski would also go on to score the Barbra Streisand/ Ryan O’Neill film, “The Main Event” as well as recording the album “M & O” (Columbia).  Michalski also scored the music for the films “Candyland,” a Faye Dunaway movie “The Eyes of Laura Mars,” and he wrote “Rock ‘n Roll World” for the television series, “Fame.”  George also scored the music for the Readers Digest production of  “Yosemite” which quickly became the biggest selling video at the time. 

George also established a hometown San Francisco connection when he was introduced to the mime group Shields and Yarnell by powerhouse manager Rick Marcelli.  Coming on the heels of their hit CBS Television show, Shields and Yarnell were one of the most popular comic acts in the world.  Serving as their Musical Director for the next 4 years, Michalski toured the globe with the mime sensations even scoring their spectacular HBO Special, “2 In A Box”.  George has many fond memories from this time especially an extended run at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas where Shields and Yarnell opened nightly for The Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. 

George is known for his uncanny ability to bring together musicians.  In 1986 he founded the legendary Los Angeles band, Black Tie.  Like most of Michalski’s musical efforts this was another all star affair featuring:  T-Bone Burnett, David Kemper, Jimmy Griffin, Billy Swan, Blondie Chaplin, and Randy Meisner.  “Four of the band members had a #1 song,” Michalski boasted recently.  A national tour by Black Tie preceded a year-long Tuesday night residency at the Cine Grill located inside famed Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. 

I met George through my friend guitarist James Gurley back in 1989.  George had moved back into his Richmond District home in San Francisco and just finished recording his highly acclaimed CD, “When The Power Goes” (Blue Jazz).   Gurley had invited me down to a ongoing Tuesday night gig at The Last Day Saloon in San Francisco where he was performing with Michalski in the loose-knit jam band, The Greatful Beetles.   What I heard that evening was simply incredible.  Besides Gurley on guitar, the band featured:  Bill “Sputnik” Spooner (guitar), Mitchell Holman, (bass), Don Graham, (drums), and Vince Wallace, (sax).  Michalski ran the show from behind his electric piano offering up three phat sets to the regular Tuesday night crowd which often was filled with luminaries such as: Gregg Allman, Robin Williams, Dennis Miller, Peter Albin, Prairie Prince, Kenny Dale Johnson, Brad Gillis, Harvey Mandel, and Carlos Guitarlos, who would come down to jam or just to hang out.  These evenings would prove to be the humble beginnings of J.C. Flyer. 

The 90’s also proved fruitful for the resourceful Michalski.  The pianist teamed up with virtuoso violinist Kristina Kopreva to record the successful CD, “Yosemite” (Masia Music).  George would also receive a boost from his old friend Don Johnson who decided to work an original idea from Dr. Hunter S. Thompson into a hugely successful CBS television series,  “Nash Bridges”, that was based in San Francisco.  Michalski served as the show’s Musical Director for each of the weekly series’ five seasons.  During that time he was able to air the music of over 50 unsigned musical acts, a feat that is unheard of in the television industry.  One of the many highlights from “Nash Bridges” included the recording of “Santa Claus is Coming To Town,” and “Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas,” sung by the show’s co-star Cheech Marin backed by Michalski on keyboards along with: Clarence Clemons (sax), Neil Schon (guitar), Carmine Appice (drums), and Ross Vallery (bass).  I almost forgot to mention that the musicians were dressed in full police blue when they performed the songs during the show’s holiday broadcast. 

Last year, Michalski recorded “San Francisco”(Masia Music), which has been hailed as the soundtrack of The City.  The recording features the crème of the Bay Area music scene such as:  Martin Fierro (sax), Harvey Mandel (guitar), Brad Gillis (guitar), Michael Carabello (congas), Richard Olsen (clarinet), Lawrence Ferlinghetti (poem), Barry Sless (pedal steel), Lorin Rowan (guitar and mandolin), and Kathi McDonald (vocals).   George is currently working with 1950’s heartthrob Eddie Fisher who will be recording his first studio album in nearly 25 years with the gifted pianist. 

George Michalski has been a major influence in my life.  His wonderful piano arrangement on “California” is one of the reasons that the song remains so enduring.  His contributions to five of the songs on “Movin’ On” are extremely rich, and filled with passion and emotion.  It was George’s suggestion that I use the Rowan Brothers to sing harmony with me on “Movin’ On”.  And like most of his musical ideas this one turned out to be a winner. 

By J.C Fleyer

GRAHAME LESH - Guitar & Vocals

Grahame Lesh is known for his work with the band Midnight North and his father Phil Lesh's projects, such as Phil Lesh & Friends and the Terrapin Family Band. He grew up in a musical household and developed a career rooted in rock, folk, and Americana, eventually taking on a prominent role in the community built around Terrapin Crossroads. In addition to his musical pursuits, Lesh is also an accomplished analog film photographer. 

Musical career

• Midnight North:

  Co-founded the band in 2012, which has released four studio albums, three live albums, and two EPs, with the 2021 album "There's Always a Story" being a commercial success. 

• Phil Lesh & Friends:

  Has toured and performed globally with his father's bands, playing venues and festivals around the world. 

• Terrapin Family Band:

  A member of his father's band, which has included many guest musicians and has a rich history tied to the legacy of the Grateful Dead. 

• Musical style:

  His music is a blend of rock, folk, blues, and soul, with his band Midnight North being particularly influenced by the country rock sound of the Grateful Dead's classic albums. 

Personal life and other interests

• Family:

  The son of Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. Both he and his brother Brian became musicians and played with their father, according to Wikipedia. 

• Photography:

  He is a skilled film photographer who captures moments from his travels and performances, developing and printing his own black and white images in a darkroom at the Harvey Milk Photo Center in San Francisco. 

• Legacy:

  He is actively involved in celebrating and continuing the musical legacy of the Grateful Dead, particularly through events like The Heart of the Town tribute concert. 

JOHN MOLO – Drums

John Molo is the product of immigrants – he counts three grandparents who came to the United States from Ireland and one from the border of Switzerland and Austria which is where his surname comes from. Molo grew up and lived in Washington, D.C. but his oceanographer father became increasingly concerned about the safety of the inner city and moved the family to the suburbs of Langley, Virginia where he went to high school at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia.Molo was a member of Bruce Hornsby and the Range when the band won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of 1986. After the Range disbanded in 1990, Molo continued to collaborate and tour with Hornsby until 2000.In May 2009, Molo joined the band Moonalice​ and tours with them today as well as his role in the David Nelson Band.​

PETER HARRIS - Guitar

Pete Harris played with Melvin Seals' JGB 1996-1999. David Freiberg's Quicksilver Messenger Service 2008 to the present, though the band is inactive due to David's touring schedule with the Jefferson Starship. Plus a plethora of lesser known local bands such as Grateful Tuna, House of Bloomfield, and Django Obscura. Fire up the hype!

PETE SEARS - Bass Guitar

He’s played with many artists including, Early Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Long John Baldry, original Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, John Lee Hooker, Dr. John, Government Mule, David Nelson Band, Louisiana Love Act, California Kind, Moonalice, Harvey Mandel, Nick Gravenites, John Cipollina, Los Lobos, Jerry Garcia, Sam Gopal Dream, Sons of Fred, Fleur DeLys.

Since 1963, when Pete Sears began his career as a professional musician, he has played keyboards or bass guitar with a large variety of artists on many records. His credits include the classic early Rod Stewart albums, Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells a Story, Never a Dull Moment, and Smiler, featuring Ron Wood and Martin Quittington on guitars, Micky Waller on drums, Pete on piano and some bass, and Ian Mclagan on organ.

Pete was bassist and keyboardist with Jefferson Starship from 1974 to 1978 (which featured Grace Slick on vocals, and Papa John Creach on violin), and from 1979 to 1987, he was with Starship, playing on over ten albums with the two bands. He contributed several songs to each album, including Sandalphon, an instrumental tune on their biggest selling record, Red Octopus in 1975. Pete collaborated on many songs with Grace Slick as lyricist, including Hyperdrive and Play On Love. In 1978, after Grace left the band for one album, Freedom at Point Zero, he began working with wife and lyricist, Jeannette Sears, and over the years they wrote many of Jefferson Starship’s songs, including Stranger, Awakening, Save Your Love, and Winds of Change. Several of these songs were made into music videos and were put into heavy rotation on MTV. Jefferson Starship were guests on the television comedy show, “Friday’s”, where he met comedian Don Novello, famous for his “Saturday Night Live” character, “Father Guido Sarducci”, they became long time friends.

They also played on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” in 1983, and performed one of Pete and Jeannette’s songs “Winds of Change”.

From 1992 to 2001, Pete played keyboards with Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Michael Falzarano and Harvey Sorgen in the Jefferson Airplane off-shoot, Hot Tuna. He also played in the Jorma Kaukonen Trio with Jorma and Michael, often touring Italy. Pete has taught piano at Jorma’s “Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp” in S.E. Ohio, and performed as a solo artist on the Live From Fur Peace Station radio show. He also played keyboards with Zero on several tours and albums during this period.

In 1998, Pete performed at the ‘Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Tribute’ to John Lee Hooker at Stanford University as one of John’s guests, along with Charlie Musselwhite, Rich Kirch, Johnny Johnson, and Elvin Bishop. Footage, including an interview with Pete, was shot at the show for an acclaimed documentary film about John Lee’s life titled, That’s My Story. Pete also played keyboards for John Lee in Oroville, California on May 25th 2001, the third to last show before John’s death. John Lee was also a guest on Pete’s album, The Long Haul. Pete’s other release, Watchfire, in 1988, included Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, David Grisman, and Mimi Farina.

Over the years, Pete has worked on many benefits with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead including an early version of Ratdog, and in 2001 he formed his own band Dawn Patrol.

In 1999, Pete and Jorma Kaukonen performed with Phil Lesh in several Phil and Friends show along with Steve Kimock at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. The weekend of shows were eventually released on a CD called, “And Love Will See You Through”.

He is currently a full-time member of Moonalice, also featuring Roger & Ann McNamee, Barry Sless, and John Molo. He also a member of The David Nelson Band, and flies around the country playing one-off gigs with artists like, Steve Kimock, Los Cenzontles with Dave Hidalgo and Flaco Jimenez, Max Baco, Dave Alvin, Peter Rowan, Vince Herman, Harvey Mandel, Nick Gravenitas, Eric McFadden, and Rich Kirch, and is collaborating on an audio/visual project with renowned visual artist, Andreas Nottebohm.