Scott Metzger Tells All About his MANY Projects, His Discovery by Trey Anastasio and Tom Marshall, the upcoming Hulaween Fest and a Bit of his Personal Life. 

Article and photos by Lori Sky Twohy

Lori from JamBandsOnline: Well hello my old friends. It has been a long time since we talked or we published an interview with you. I’m sure you remember that the first time I saw you play was High Sierra ’08 with Bustle In Your Hedgerow in which, line up wise, was basically the same band as JRAD except for Tom Hamilton and of course it was a Led Zeppelin tribute band, rather than the Dead.

Scott: Exactly the same band.

JBO: It’s so amazing how by switching to a Grateful Dead tribute band, it really took off and fast. Maybe it was timing? People were just ready?

Scott: I think JRAD’s timing was very good. Our first gig was 2013. It was supposed to be a one off; we only meant to play one show. But the Dead community is rabid—the word about our set spread fast. Everywhere we went that year people said, “You’ve got to do JRAD again.” Our second gig was at the Capitol Theatre—and it sold out.

JBO: What I heard from friends at the time was the speed you play and it was more hard rocking and fast and I agree. With all due respect, some Dead-adjacent bands play slower than prime-era GD; people appreciated being able to dance at your tempo. Do you hear that too?

Scott: Yes, but it all just happened naturally. In 14 years we’ve never really discussed “how” we’d do it. That’s just how the five of us play. I come from punk rock backgrounds. It speaks to the strength of the GD songbook: you can play those tunes slow, fast, sideways—they’re strong songs that translate any way you approach them.

JBO: I’d mostly seen JRAD at festivals, so my first full two set show that I just saw in Milwaukee blew me away. I didn’t realize you played other covers. I’m a die hard John Lennon fan, so when you did Instant Karma that night I almost lost it and then the Allman Bros for encore was another nice surprise. But the whole show had a lot of epic jamming and I could see you were all having a blast up there. And I noticed you were singing. Bustle, your other current band LaMP, you’re your old band RANA (that still plays from time to time) were all instrumental when I saw them. Do you feel comfortable singing? You were on the Bobby songs while Tom sang the Jerry parts.

Scott: I don’t consider myself much of a singer. Tom grew up on the Dead and knew all the tunes, so he took the Jerry stuff. Somebody had to sing the Bobby tunes, so I did. I learned to love them, and luckily those songs fall in a range that sits comfortably for me. Happy accident. I still don’t think of myself as a singer, but I do sing Bob Weir songs.

JBO:  So I am so excited for Hulaween this year, especially your set f course and I saw when I was looking at all their past line ups, I saw it was one of your first JRAD gigs in 2014 so soon after you formed. So full circle. How does it feel to be back this year?

Scott: We always look forward to Hulaween. The five of us have played it in different configurations a million times. The festival and crew have been very good to us. People who go to Hulaween really look forward to it all year—it’s a very well run festival.

JBO: So this isn’t only the second JRAD Hulaween? Or have you played more?

Scott: We’ve been back many times. JRAD’s done it a handful. I’ve also played it with Bustle way back, and with Anders Osborne.

JBO: I seemed to have missed your playing with Anders, but I have noticed that pretty soon after you started JRAD, Phil, Bobby, and John Mayer all sat in with you as well as others. Any favorite sit in stories; maybe even a more obscure one?

Scott: We’ve been very lucky. Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth sat in with us in NYC a couple years ago and that was huge for me; I grew up on Sonic Youth. More recently, Branford Marsalis played with us twice. He’s one of the most important American musicians of the last 50 years—the way he kept jazz central to American culture can’t be overstated.

JBO: When Branford sits in, do you shift to a jazzier approach?

Scott: Not at all, we just go for it. Again, it’s the Dead songbook: avant-garde rock players like Lee Ranaldo or straight ahead jazz guys like Branford can both find a home in those tunes.

JBO: That’s the jam band magic: improvisation and clicking on stage. People stuck on Top 40 don’t know what they’re missing!

JBO: You’ve got a ton of projects: JRAD; LAMP, RANA reunion; Medeski, Martin & Cline late night after Phish this New Years run, and you’ve got a benefit show for Star Route Farm with THE Sean Lennon. I am so looking forward to this. Have you played with Sean before or will this be the first time?

Scott: I haven’t. We’ve crossed paths, and I’m honored to be invited for such a great cause. It’ll be special.

Scott: Whether I’m playing JRAD, with Russ and Ray in LAMP, or with Medeski and Billy Martin, it’s the same challenge: find my place among great musicians—often heroes of mine. It’s humbling and addictive in the best way.

JBO: A sobriety question—okay to ask? I did meet you at a Yellow Balloon table at High Sierra in 2008 right after seeing you play in Bustle after all.

Scott: Of course.

JBO: Do you feel getting sober over 19 years ago helped your success and stamina for touring?

Scott: Being sober in the music business has its own challenges, but there’s no way I could keep this schedule if I weren’t. I’ve gathered so many good experiences and lessons; I can’t imagine jeopardizing them or losing that momentum. I’m lucky to speak at recovery events sometimes. When someone says my sobriety inspired them to get back on track; that’s the most meaningful thing I could want.

JBO:  So sometimes I go on social media when I know I am going to do an interview to ask the fan ideas for questions andyour fan Judy Goldberg asked the following: What has surprised you most about the career turns you’ve made?

Scott: I never set out to be in a jam band, but it suits my musical personality. The fan base has been unbelievably supportive. It’s always a surprise. I can’t believe how many people come out.

JBO: Your fan Lori Michelle asked: What’s on your current playlist and who are your current inspirations?

Scott: I don’t listen to a ton of current music except Sabrina Carpenter actually. I tend to go back to my Mount Rushmore: guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny; anything by my friend Nels Cline, the band Morphine, Waterboys and the Ramones.

JBO: Well there is something we have in commonI saw the Ramones a few times back in the day!

Scott: The Ramones were the first ticket I ever bought.

JBO: And you mentioned Sonic Youth earlier. I got into Phish and jam bands after getting sober; before that I was deep into the darker punk scene, especially The Damned who I still see often. You have punk rock roots too?

Scott: Yes! I love those shows. My wife and I saw Ministry a few weeks ago. Al Jourgensen is still so loud and heavy.

JBO: Tell me more about your first band RANA? Was that your first touring band?

Scott: Yes, but the way I got in is a pretty crazy. It’s actually is a really good story for the article. I was first in Tom Marshall’s band Amfibian.

JBO: Seriously? Ok, we have to hear this.

Scott: So when I was 17, I played a small coffee shop called Small World Coffee in Princeton, New Jersey with an improvised trio. Trey Anastasio and Tom Marshall walked in—this was around 1998.

JBO: Are you fucking kidding me?

Scott: They watched our entire set. Afterward, Trey grilled me about guitar and influences, then brought me to Tom and said, “He’s your lead guitar player.” Trey basically got me my first gig. I then joined Tom’s Amfibian.

JBO: OMG! How did I not know this? What a special introduction to your career as a pro musician. Unbelievable.

Scott: Through Amfibian I met Andrew, who started RANA; that’s how I joined. RANA toured hard from 2000–2006. We came close to being a long term band., but now we play every four or five years.

JBO: Do you still record much with them or just tour for live gigs?

Scott: Mostly live these days. but I put out a solo acoustic record during the lockdowns. LAMP has two studio records and a couple live albums. Studio work isn’t the focus right now.

JBO: I saw LaMP at Northlands Festival this summer and what a beautiful set.

Scott: LAMP starts its first West Coast tour this week. We’re very excited.

JBO: So besides the sobriety story, I’d love to ask one more personal question: I couldn’t help but notice a comment you made when we were texting about scheduling this interview that your wife was on tour with The Who?

Scott: Yes! She’s a violinist. There’s the classic outro on “Baba O’Riley” and she’s been playing that with them for the last eight or nine years. They often tour with an orchestra and when they do, she’s the only string player who travels with the band, and she rehearses with the Philharmonic in whatever city they’re in. She prepares the whole string section before the gigs. And when they’re touring as a small band, she’s out there doing the “Baba O’Riley” feature.

JBO: I just saw that in Chicago at United Center this summer! I remember thinking, “Who is that amazing violinist?”—and it turns out it was YOUR wife?

Scott: That’s my wife. Funny enough, that United Center show was the one I attended too.

JBO: No way—we saw the same one. The show was so amazing, I got a little emotional; it might be the last time we get to see them. But what a great match: you and your wife—both touring musicians.

Scott: Most of my fans know about Katie—we’ve done a bunch of gigs together. We actually met when she sat in with JRAD. Thanks, Jerry!

JBO: That’s adorable. Thank you again for taking the time for this. Have a great time out west on LaMP tour. Can’t wait to see you at Hulaween with JRAD right around the corner.

Scott: Thanks Lori, looking forward to the article.