For over three decades, Halfstep, hailing from the Glens Falls area, has kept the spirit of the Grateful Dead alive while carving out its identity in the jam band scene. The band was formed in 1991 by Juan Calzada, his then-wife, Michelle, and Samps. It wasn’t until 1995 that Dave Lawson joined the band, and one year later, that I first saw Halfstep play at one of Wild Man’s 420 parties. The Halfstep that I knew, the one I went to see at Aiko’s (really Club Caroline’s at the time but will always be called Aiko’s) every Wednesday for years consisted of Juan Calzada, Dave Lawson, Bob Peck, and Robin Barkenhagen. The band has seen many changes over the years but they have continued to stay true to their sound. The impact this band has had on my life and countless others over the years is truly miraculous. If you’ve ever yelled “RYE BREAD” at the top of your lungs, you are one of them. My love for the band, their music, and the music of the Grateful Dead is boundless. I’ll be the freaker by the speaker so long as I’m alive.
Now gather ‘round, Stepchildren. I have a story to tell about the Great Reverend Green Dave, and his six-stringed sermons delivered with an axe that wails…..
Dave Lawson, aka, The Reverend Green Dave, is one of Halfstep’s guitarists, vocalists, and songwriters, whose devotion to music has been both a guiding force and an all-consuming passion. I had the chance to sit down with Dave to reflect on 30 years of Halfstep, the evolution of his musicianship, and the unforgettable moments that have defined his career.
Penny: Thirty years with a band is no small feat. What does this milestone mean to you personally and as a musician?
Dave: “It’s kind of crazy, considering I first showed up on February 11, 1995 at Barleycorn’s in Lake George to tape the band and maybe sit in for a few songs and I ended up sitting in all night. The place was packed with ski tourists, and we played until 4 a.m. I was so high off that night’s energy that I went straight to work the next morning, catching gondolas at Gore Mountain. That kind of feeling is contagious. I went to my first practice with the band, and the lead guitarist quit. I felt a little bad, but it would have taken more than that to bring me down from that first gig high. From there, it was straight into overdrive—a long, strange trip that hasn’t stopped since.To do anything for 30 years is incredible, but to do it with a band—where no one has killed each other yet—is even more amazing. We’ve played great shows, terrible shows, written countless songs, and aside from my marriage to my amazing wife, Cherrise, music has remained the one thing I’ve truly persevered at. “Perseverance Shuffle” has come to represent that idea for me. You fall, you get back up—sometimes with a dirty face—but you keep going. Performing with my Corsican Brother, Mario Corsican, aka Juan Calzada is comfortable most times. We know where the other is and can work around each other.”
Penny: Halfstep has shared the music of the Grateful Dead with many people over the years. What inspired you to start this journey, and how has your relationship with the music of the Grateful Dead evolved?
Dave: “I hit my first dead show in 1982 and was hooked right away. My learning to play lead entailed sitting in front of the television and waiting for the commercials. There were 10, 15, 30-second commercials, and I would try to learn the song by the end. Some were really easy, and some tougher. The exercise of course is to listen, figure out the key you’re in and what mode it is. THEN learn the lick in under 30 seconds max. That process trained me to improvise—something that fit naturally with the Dead’s music. Their sound made so much sense to me because it was fluid, exploratory, and spontaneous—exactly how I had learned to play. As for how my relationship with the Dead’s music has evolved? Honestly, I don’t know how Bob Weir still performs some of those songs. Some of them kill me after 30 years! These days, I find myself going back to the music that inspired Jerry Garcia—which, in turn, helps me find new music that inspires me. It takes something truly mind-blowing to make me dance—like Derek Trucks playing “First Tube” with Phish.”
Penny: As one of the band’s guitarists, vocalists, and writers, how do you balance staying true to the Grateful Dead’s legacy while also infusing Halfstep with original material?
Dave: “I’ve always been combative about setlists. By the time you hit the third or fourth song, you’ve already lost interest in what you thought you wanted to play. The Grateful Dead never played a song the same way twice. Crosby, Stills & Nash said it best: “I can’t remember how I played it last anyway.” When it comes to songwriting, spontaneity is key. For example, our song “Peanuts in My Pocket” was born entirely by accident. Our drummer, John Duffy, used to joke around by playing this quick drum riff and saying, “You know what that is? ’70s porn music!” and eventually Juan jumped in with a little guitar riff. The rest of the song came to me one night when we were playing at Aiko’s and I ran across the street to Desperate Annie’s on set break for a rare opportunity to have a beverage. I heard them playing the riff from across the street and ran over and the entire song just came out right then and there.”
“That’s the magic—being in the moment, staying original, and letting the music take you somewhere new.”
Penny: After three decades of playing, what performances or moments stand out the most?
Dave: “Hands down, the most memorable was backing Pete Seeger at the 30th anniversary of the launching of The Clearwater in Beacon Park, NY. In 1969, my mom’s folk group performed at an event with Pete. I was nine years old, sitting in the crowd, watching her sing with a folk legend whose music I had grown up practicing on guitar. Thirty years later, not only was Half Step backing Pete, but I got to tell him that story. We played a few tunes with him, ending with a massive call-and-response of “If I Had a Hammer.” Pete was yelling at Juan to “SING!” but Juan was just standing there, slack-jawed. I had to push him out of the way and belt it out with all my heart. Another unforgettable moment was playing with Merl Saunders. The second his Hammond organ kicked in, I couldn’t hear my guitar at all. Everything else just disappeared. I was playing for my life. I’ve played songs with bands and had no idea what the songs were. I played Damn Sam Super Jam with Jen Durkin and DJ Logic. People were coming up to me and saying, “I did not know you knew that song!”. And of course I did NOT – three hours of music and I didn’t know one song we played. It was glorious. It was midnight when we started, I was exhausted from doing sound all weekend and I was filthy dirty. You can see a quick clip of it here – this is why I play music. The stage was packed and it was a party.
Another thing, back in the day, John Duffy was our drummer and he liked structure so much that he could play most of the Neal Pert catalog perfectly which is technically insane to me. It was hard to get him to let go and play in the moment, and yet we had “moments”. We would always play “No One to Run With > Hey Pocky Way > No One to Run With“ and that would be it, so one night during the jam I worked it into a Spanish type jam and once everyone was gelled, I pulled it into “Con Sabor” and everyone just got it. Eventually, we dropped the Allman Brothers tune, and “Hey Pocky Way>Con Sabor” has become a staple of ours. There were times when John Duffy and I communicated to each other with no words. The first time it happened, it freaked him out. He eventually left to join another band, and I miss him. He was coming around, indeed. We’ve had some changes over the years. We just recently picked up this younger guy, Jason. He’s really great. He’s got such heart and is totally into what he’s doing. It’s funny, we were scared of each other when we met because each of us felt how serious the other was, and wow, what a great guy. He’s a great player with tons of heart. That’s the kind of energy that keeps the music alive. We also picked up Bill Cormier on bass, who has been my re-memory. There was this lick I would play back in the day and I would ask anyone what song they thought it was, (as the song was from my childhood in the department stores, circa 1963/64). I played the lick one night at practice and Bill recognized it, went home and sent me the song on Youtube. Mind blown! The song is Alley Cat by Bent Fabric and His Piano. SO now we have a bass player who understands where I musically came from. It’s kind of neat how “it all rolls into one” He is a solid player and I am grateful for him. For years we could not hear Bob on stage, it just went past us into the audience. Now suddenly there is Bill with TONE. It was something to get used to. Suddenly there is bass on stage and it’s not a bad thing. Makes me rethink a lot of what I play and that is kind of the point now, isn’t it? The acronym is still the same but instead of Bass Player Bob, it’s Bass Player Bill.For a short stint we Had Ian Reilly on Bass who had heavy metal influence and rocked. He is a guy who started talking serious heavy metal with me only to realize, I never listened to any of it, after that it was another Bass player Bob Beaver who clued me into The Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”. I had to go look up the words and thought, I can identify with this actually, and every once in a while it comes out. (as an incidental thing, Ian, Bob Beaver and Bill ALL have lived in or are from Salem NY.”
Penny: Your music has influenced so many, myself included. How has playing with Halfstep shaped you as both a musician and a person? And what would you say to the fans who have supported you on this journey?
Dave: “Honestly, it freaks me out that anyone looks up to me as a musician. This life has been hard. I can say, without exaggeration, that I am an addict—not to substances, but to music. It has cost me a marriage, two houses, periods of homelessness, a job, and almost my life. And yet, I would still drop everything for another gig. But through all of it, I am beyond grateful. To the fans who have stuck with us through the ups and downs, through the great shows and the total trainwrecks—thank you. It’s your energy that keeps this thing and me moving. I play because I have to. I play because when the floor is packed and the music is flowing, there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.’
After three decades, Halfstep is sounding better than ever, continuing to improvise, evolve, and keep the music alive. Dave Lawson’s life and musical career is a testament to the power of perseverance, the thrill of live performance, and the undeniable magic that happens when music takes over your soul.
Thank you Dave and everyone who has ever played on stage as a member of Halfstep. The jam band scene would not be the same without you! “We love ya, Bobby!”
RFB,
Penny Piper
