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A band, a show, a song………….This is how I’m going to try and explain “Cosmic Railroad” to you. Although, it is almost impossible to do so if you haven’t experienced the band for yourself.
A Band
First, “Cosmic Railroad” is a jam band based out of southeastern Wisconsin. The band was born sometime in 1999 (give or take a year or two in either direction). As the story goes, all the guys in “Cosmic Railroad” were involved with their own respected bands. These bands would book shows together from time to time. You know, one band opening the night and the other band closing the night. On occasion they would hook up at the end of the show for third set jam session. The jam session consists of everybody from both bands at once. Sometimes you would have four guitar players, two bass players, two drummers, a percussionist and a whole slue of singers all at once, on stage, throwing it down. This is when the idea of “Cosmic Railroad” was conceived.
The band has settled in on three guitars players, two drummers and one bass player now and looks like they are having fun with that line-up. As Patrick Fineran from the Journal Times puts it “if you like the Dead, Phish, older Dave Matthews and bands like that, Greg, Mike, Pete, Paul, Brandon and Shawn may be what you looking for”. He also adds that “the Cosmic Railroad has been laying down the deepest hippy groove since 1999 and it doesn’t look like its going to stop any time soon”.
“Cosmic Railroad” is: Brandon Shilts guitar & vocals, Greg Gierl guitar & vocals, Pete Rallo guitar & vocal, Mike White drums & stuff, Shawn Laurence drums & stuff and Paul Aceto bass & vocal.
A Show
A “Cosmic Railroad” show is an experience in itself. No one, not even the band knows what’s going to happen next. They are a true jam band to say the least. The band plays from the seat of their pants night after night. As Mike Fillipane from the Other Side says, “it’s so nice to finally see a quote un-quote jam band that can actually jam”.
The show will usually start with a crowd favorite just to get everyone moving or at least thinking that they’re moving. After that, who knows? The band leaves up the moment to pick the next song. This is where you can see their mastery. As the night moves on, they continue to pick up steam, and things really start to roll. A “Cosmic Railroad” show usually lasts up to three or four hours straight so when they hit their stride, it’s gone.
A Song
“Cosmic Railroad” is considered an original jam band. Mostly, the songs that you would hear at a “Cosmic Railroad” show are just that, original. The band uses these songs as a jumping off points, sometimes taking them into very different directions from the last time it may have been played. Other times, who knows? This attitude is what keeps these guys true to the fashion of how a jam band should play not how they should sound and that’s really why ”Cosmic Railroad” sounds the way they do….. It's real and it’s a must see to believe.
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Cosmic Railroad On Archive.org
