Purple Sage Rides Into Bolo’s Tonight

The New Riders of the Purple Sage blaze back into the area for the first time in about a year. They play Bolo’s tonight.

You might recall this was a side project founded by the late Grateful Dead singer-guitarist Jerry Garcia and singer-guitarist-bassist John Dawson.

Two other members of the Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart, were also one-time New Riders of the Purple Sage members.

The combo formed at the height of psychedelic rock’s popularity and during the inception of country rock. Both genre’s flourished in the band’s formative years.

As the New Riders became more and more popular, it turned into a virtual full-time gig for the three Dead members. Realizing they couldn’t balance the two bands, Garcia, Hart and Lesh left New Riders.

The band went on to record a string of critically acclaimed and strong-selling albums in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, including 1973’s “Adventures of Red.”

Charter members Dawson and guitarist David Nelson remain with the band. The current incarnation has released three albums - 1992’s “Midnight Moon,” 1994’s “Live in Japan” and 1995’s “Live.”

Showtime’s at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.50.

, DataTimes