The Memphis Pilgrims Are: Michael Falzarano, Harvey Sorgen, Steve Rust and Jimmy Eppard; With Special Guests: Jorma Kaukonen, (Hot Tuna / Jefferson Airplane) Danny Lewis (Goverment Mule), Pete Sears (Hot Tuna) Larry Packer (Cat Mother And The All Night News Boys), and Dave Castiglione.
Influences
The Band, The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia Band, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, The Allman Brothers Band, Phis, , New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, Dickey Betts, Bob Dylan, Mike Gordon, Trey Anastasio, Jack Johnson, John Popper, moe., Robert Randolph, John Mayer, Bruce Hornsby, Max Creek, Warren Haynes, Gov't Mule, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, String Cheese Incident, Ryan Adams, James Taylor.....
Sounds Like
The Band, The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia Band, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, The Allman Brothers Band, Phis, , New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Bela Fleck, David Grisman, Dickey Betts, Bob Dylan, Mike Gordon, Trey Anastasio, Jack Johnson, John Popper, moe., Robert Randolph, John Mayer, Bruce Hornsby, Max Creek, Warren Haynes, Gov't Mule, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, String Cheese Incident, Ryan Adams, James Taylor.....
I started The Memphis Pilgrims in 1987. A friend decided to throw a party on Elvis’ ten-year death-a-versary in New York where I’d moved the year before after having spent ten great years in San Francisco. I thought The Memphis Pilgrims was a great name for the band because Memphis, the home of Elvis, is also the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll in my opinion. I think every music lover should make a pilgrimage there at some point to see Graceland, Beale Street, Sun Studios and the like.
Anyway, I remember that first show clearly. The drummer I hired called to say he couldn't make it, but was sending another drummer to do the gig. His replacement showed up with a broken leg and cast from the bottom of his right foot to his groin. The bass player never showed up at all, and I got a bass player friend-of-a-friend to play who happened to be there. It turned out to be a lot of fun despite the fact that I had never met anybody in the band and never saw them again.
I’d played on and off with Hot Tuna since 1983. While I was touring with them, I met Michael Slater and Steve Sacher, who later joined The Pilgrims. Shortly thereafter we got underway full time along with drummer Eliot Rachman. The band had many others drummers, but unfortunately I’ve forgotten their names over the years. One drummer that I remember, however, we nicknamed Happy. He had a day job as a window washer for many of New York's skyscrapers. He'd rock out all night and drink and party like the rest of us, then somehow manage to keep his balance on the scaffolding the next day.
The Pilgrims continued to play together for a few years all over New York City and the surrounding area before recording a five-song EP. Then in 1989 I hooked up with Hot Tuna again full-time and put The Pilgrims on hiatus until the early ‘90s. Although I’ve always loved playing in Hot Tuna and have both written and co- written many songs for the band, I still had a body of work that wouldn’t fit in the Tuna format. The Memphis Pilgrims allowed me to showcase that material while collaborating with other musicians.
"Mecca"
Michael Falzarano And The Memphis Pilgrims
AMD 103
Available At: www.cdbaby.com
And Apple iTunes
The hiatus ended with a new version of The Memphis Pilgrims which included Hot Tuna drummer Harvey Sorgen, bassist Steve Rust, guitarist Jimmy Eppard and eventually keyboardist Professor Louie. We worked often during my off time from Hot Tuna. As The Pilgrims, I recorded an album of 12 of my songs, Mecca. The original 12 tracks on Mecca feature Sorgen, Eppard and Rust along with Danny Lewis of Gov’t Mule who many people refer to as the 5th Pilgrim as he played on most of the tracks. I was also joined by Jorma Kaukonen and Pete Sears of Hot Tuna, Larry Packer of Cat Mother and the All Night News Boys (the only band to be produced by Jimi Hendrix and one of my faves from the ‘70s) and Dave Castiglione on sax.
There have been many fine musicians who have spent time in The Memphis Pilgrims over the years and who have helped me with my vision for this band. I want to thank them all for their help and support on this journey – for without them it would not have been realized.
Michael F.
This just in, The New Riders of the Purple Sage new cd Where I Come From is now available for mail order at www.woodstockrecords.com get it now! Also it's now available for download on itunes
Hey gang I’m out on the road with The New Riders of the Purple Sage our April Fools Tour starts today the 15th in Cleveland OH and runs through the 29th it will take us from New York to Tucson Arizona and back. We also have great news, our new studio CD Where I Come From on Woodstock Records is in hand and we will have them for sale on this tour along with the bonus CD the official in stores release date is June 2 but check back for an earlier mail order date if you can’t make it to one of the shows and don’t want to wait till June. The CD features 7 new songs written by David Nelson and Robert Hunter, Where I come From, Big Six, Barracuda Moon, Down The Middle, Blues Barrel, Ghost Train Blues and Rockin with Nona along with two new ones by me, Carl Perkins Wears The Crown and Something In The Air Tonight plus live show favorites Higher by Johnny Markowski, Olivia Rose by Ronnie Penque and the Classic Them Old Minglewood Blues. Several of the tunes have our old friend Mookie Siegel sitting in, he laid down some sweet stuff for us. There is also be a bonus CD that will initially only go out to radio stations around the country but will later be available to everyone which will feature some radio mixes and some rare live cuts like the 18 minute Dirty Business recorded up at Turkey Trot and the low down Pour House Jelly which was recorded by Tim “Sound Dawg “ Stiegler at sound check at the Pour House awhile back and features another old friend Professor Louie on Hammond Organ. We’re really excited to get the new CD out into the world and hope you enjoy it. We’re looking forward to getting out there this spring and summer and playing these tunes for you all. Stay tuned…. My new CD We Are All One also on Woodstock Records which features some old friends like the late Vassar Clements, Buddy Cage, Melvin Seals, Garth Hudson, Professor Louie and Jorma to name a few is doing fantastic and has gotten great reviews and airplay around the country. Check www.michaelfalzarano.com for the reviews and more info on that… See ya down the road Michael F.
Michael Falzarano and The Memphis Pilgrims's Friend Space (Top 34)
Michael Falzarano and The Memphis Pilgrims has 217 friends.
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your hard work. Hope to see you at the 2nd annual Utica Music and Arts Fest. Over 200 performers in over 15 venues for 3 DAYS! Including a kick-off party on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, Utica Tattoo Fest and the Utica Greens Fest!
Visit our site for more info and performer submissions. Have a great day!
Bands::: Interested in performing at this years event?? Click the link! And while you’re there please take a moment to sign up for our mailers to stay informed.
WE HAVE FINALLY COMPLETED FOUR ALBUMS FOR OUR FOUNDATION TO HELP THE NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS IN NEED FEATURING LOUIE BELLSON, PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND, EARL PALMER, HUBERT SUMLIN, LEVON HELM, DR. LONNIE SMITH, JIMMY COBB, CHUCK E. WEISS, JAVON JACKSON, CLEM BURKE, LARRY CAMPBELL, AIRTO MOREIRA, COUGAR & RUBEN ESTRADA, WASHBOARD CHAZ, MIKE WATT, STEVE JORDAN, DANNY 'KOOTCH' KORTCHMAR, JOHN BOUDREAUX, JAMES GADSON, TANMOY BOSE, CLIVE BUNKER, IRA COLEMAN, PETER ERSKINE, JERRY JUMONVILLE, PETE LOCKETT, SANTA DAVIS, JOHNNY VIDACOVICH, SAM CARR, BILL BRUFORD, KEITH CARLOCK, STANTON MOORE, SOUHAIL KASPAR, AFRICAN MUSICIANS, NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES, GOSPEL CHOIRS, CLASSICAL ENSEMBLES, TAP DANCING, LATIN ENSEMBLES, MARDI GRASS INDIANS, STREET MUSICIANS, DJ RE-MIXES, ETC. . . Currently looking for the right record company to release these wonderful gems. Please, help us support thee cradle of modern music!!! Regards, Fabian Jolivet
Hey Michael, I'm playing the Knitting Factory this Friday night at 9pm and trying to spread the word. I played your song We Are All One at a concert in a hospital a few weeks ago.
Hey Micheal, Please keep me updated!! This is one special thing you've got here and I am ready for some festivals or whatever else.. Keep it cookin' Bro!!
Hi Michael...thanks for the add, the privilege is mine!! Congratulations for your Sound...great Rock-Blues!! :-) Goodbye from Italy!! Stay tuned on...... MAX STRATOS & Co.
