North Carolina-based Acoustic Syndicate has unveiled a recreation of the Grateful Dead’s song “Bertha”(Organic Records). “‘Bertha’ is one of the essential feel-good, toe-tapping Grateful Dead songs that tells somewhat of a hard-edged story while helping us dance and boogie our blues away,” says Bryon McMurry, Acoustic Syndicate’s banjo player.
“The song still can bring a tear to my eye to this day, depending on the mood I’m in, and Fitz’s vocal is — in my opinion — tailor-made for the song,” adds Bryon. “I saw my first Dead show in 1983 and continued as much as I could until Jerry’s death. I still feel the same emotion to ‘Bertha’ whether hearing the Dead perform it or when we are on stage performing it ourselves! It’s a joy to play.”
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