Big Tastes, Big Sounds - Late Night At Big Daddy's A Big Hit

Sure Phil Lesh and Bob Weir's latest Grateful Dead off shoot Furthur wove their iconic musical magic at Madison Square Garden on Saturday Night.

But did they have chicken, ribs and shrimp jambalaya for everyone there?

Tommy Kurtz did. And to complement his authentic Cajun cuisine, the manager of Big Daddy's brought along Long Island jam stalwarts The Electrix and their energetic brand of Dead infused swing and blues.

All for just $10.

"I didn't realize they (Furthur) were playing in town until a few nights ago," said Kurtz. "This is the second time this month. We're calling it 'Late Night at Big Daddy's. We're trying to build this up."

It's working.

The cozy, funked out Cajun joint was packed and jumping with a friendly blend of loyal locals and devoted hippies. Scotty Bones of Massapequa is a little of both and he loves what he's seeing and hearing coming out of Big Daddy's.

"I've seen well over a thousand shows," said Bones. "There's no music scene on Long Island. But Reckoning and The Electrix, these guys are crazy talented."

The Electrix did their part to feed Bones' jones and keep the vibe as New Orleans as you can get for just north of Sunrise Highway. One particularly heated sequence found the band in peak form; doing to the Grateful Dead catalogue what the Dead do to the rest of American music; weaving in, out and around it - and making it their own.

Heading full steam into the end of their first set, a raging "Before You Accuse Me (Take a Look At Yourself)" gave way to the psychedelic polka of Weir's "Mexicali Blues." Then in traditional Dead fashion, the band kept their foot on the gas and lit into a swingin' take on Johnny Cash's "Big River." The crowd pleasing folk stomp of "Don't Ease Me In" was taken as far out as you can go and brought home with a thunder that left all of Big Daddy's screaming for more.

Kurtz is a big Deadhead himself and he did a nice job of taking the things he loves, music and food, and bringing them to an enthusiastic Massapequa crowd.

"It's been a good night," Kurtz said with a shrug.

As Garcia himself sang, "Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile."