Today we look back to March 30, 2005.

Return of the Fantastic Four

Following a successful string of shows this past November, the Fantastic Four will surface again over the next few weeks. The group which is comprised of Robert Walter, Eric Krasno, Cochemea Cheme Gastelum, and Adam Deitch will appear this Thursday at Brookylns Southpaw. Then they will perform together again next month in New Orleans (of course) for a late night gig (ditto) at the House of Blues on April 23 (actually the morning of April 24 with music set to begin at 2AM).

RatDog’s Ship of Fools

Over the past few years Bob Weir and RatDog have gradually arranged some classic Jerry Garcia compositions and integrated them into their sets. On Monday, the opening show of RatDog’s spring tour the band busted out another. Ship of Fools made its debut at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis, MN (at the groups first show of 2005 back in February at Anaheims House of Blues, RatDog debuted ‘Row Jimmy). The current run of dates includes many shows rescheduled from last Octobers tour which was postponed due to Weirs physical exhaustion. The band will be in Madison, WI at the Orpheum Theatre this evening.

Jeff Coffin and Doug Belote To Join Depth Quartet Following Performance With Julee Avallone and Mike Gordon

Yesterday the Depth Quartet’s Julee Avallone held her senior thesis recital at the New England Conservatory. Avallone was joined by her DQ bandmates Scott Murawski, Greg Vasso and Justin Kolack for part of the performance as well as Jeff Coffin, Doug Belote and Mike Gordon (Avallone toured with Gordon, Belote and Murawski in Gordons band during the fall of 2003). Tonight, in commemoration of Avallones birthday (and to celebrate the recital as well) the Depth Quartet will offer up a rare mid-week gig, joined by Coffin and Belote. The show will take place at Mill Street Brews in Southbridge MA.

Michael Franti To Take Back Your TV

Michael Franti and Spearhead will perform a gig on the streets of San Francisco as part of a new TV network launch on Monday. The INdTV ‘Take Back Your TV’ celebration will take place on King St. on April 4 from 6-8:30PM. The event also will feature appearances by Mos Def, DJ AM and the Crown City Rockers. Franti and his bandmates have many plane hours ahead of them prior to the gig as Spearhead just wrapped up two dates at the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival in Byron Bay, Australia.