Move Me Brightly
Jerry Garcia
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Released: October 29, 2013
Reviewed: December 22, 2013

I’m going to make a confession for the first time.  For some unknown reason, I’ve just never been a Grateful Dead fan.  I don’t know why I made that decision because I never really listened to their music.

Until now.

While watching the recently released documentary on Jerry Garcia, Move Me Brightly, I fell in love with the band’s music.  Go ahead, call me very late to the party. It’s true.

A must-see for any Deadhead, Move Me Brightly is a film based around a unique musical gathering held to mark what would have been Jerry Garcia’s 70th birthday at Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael, California.

Part insightful documentary and part rousing concert film, Move Me Brightly features contributions from fellow Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Donna Jean Godchaux along with Garcia family members. There are also special guests such as Carlos Santana, Sammy Hagar, Mike Campbell, Perry Farrell and Stephen Perkins from Jane’s Addiction, and interviewer Luke Wilson. Yeah!  Luke Freakin’ Wilson!

The film also features an impressive lineup of musicians representing more recent generations who have been influenced by Jerry Garcia, such as Vampire Weekend’s Chris Tomson, Phish’s Mike Gordon, The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn and Tad Kubler and Furthur’s Joe Russo & Jeff Chimenti.

The one-of-a-kind line-up of Move Me Brightly concert performers featured in the film joined together to perform unique interpretations of Garcia classics including “Terrapin Station,” “Shakedown Street,” “Cumberland Blues,” “New Speedway Boogie,“ “Friend Of The Devil,” and many more.

All of the performances are amazing. However, particularly moving to Boomerocity was the performance of He’s Gone.  Wow, wow, wow!  The entire DVD is worth purchasing just for that performance.

Move Me Brightly was directed by Justin Kreutzmann, the son of Grateful Dead drummer Bill.

Move Me Brightly TRACK LISTING:

1) Cumberland Blues 

2) Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad 

3) Mission in the Rain 

4) Shakedown Street 

5) He’s Gone 

6) Eyes Of The World 

7) Terrapin Station 

8) Days Between 

9) Franklin’s Tower  

10) U.S. Blues

Bonus Performances

1) Friend Of The Devil

2) Bird Song>New Speedway Boogie