All That Jam – Bob Bralove on Working with Vince Welnick

Episode Date: October 4, 2023
Hosts: Kevin Hogan and Amanda Cadran
Guest: Bob Bralove

Episode Overview

This episode of All That Jam features a candid discussion with Bob Bralove, former Grateful Dead sound architect and collaborator, focusing on his working relationship with Vince Welnick—the last keyboardist for the Grateful Dead. The exchange unpacks misconceptions about Vince's role in the band, his audition experience, and the nuanced challenges he faced, both musically and interpersonally, during his tenure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Addressing Criticism of Vince Welnick's Role (00:19)

• Kevin Hogan opens by acknowledging that “older heads” in the Grateful Dead community criticized Vince Welnick for using just one keyboard, often feeling he didn’t “do enough.” He asks Bob to explain the reality of Vince’s partnership and process in the band.

2. Audition Stories & Establishing a Bond (00:44)

• Bob Bralove tells a revealing story about Vince’s audition nerves:

  • Vince called Bob, seeking advice and support prior to auditioning for the Grateful Dead.
  • Bob advised Vince:

    “Whatever happens, these guys just lost a brother. They don’t want your tension. Come in here with some joy.”
    (Bob Bralove, 01:19)

  • Vince was deeply thankful for this advice, referencing it many times afterwards.

• Bob describes prepping for the audition:

  • Set up Brent Mydland’s (previous keyboardist) rig for Vince per his request.
  • Programmed sounds as Brent might play them for the audition tunes, giving Vince options.

3. The Audition Performance (02:54)

• The band played “Estimated Prophet” during Vince’s audition.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “He [Vince] held on to the seven longer than anyone.”
    (Bill Kreutzmann, recounted by Bob Bralove, 03:13)
  • This meant Vince excelled during the song’s unusual time signature section, impressing the band.

4. Live Performance Dynamics and Division of Labor (03:34)

• After joining, Vince asked Bob to handle “orchestration” for performances:
  • Vince wanted to focus on simply playing the songs.
  • They set up pedals: one for piano sounds, one for organ, and one for Bob’s “whatever you want” orchestrated options.
  • “I would know if he liked it or not, whether he used it.”
    (Bob Bralove, 04:08)

5. Brent Mydland’s Approach & The Role of Transparency (04:17)

• Bob elaborates on Brent Mydland’s playing style, contrasting it with Vince:
  • Brent’s approach was “present and transparent… you could hear everybody through him and you knew he was there.”
  • Used subtle, dynamic shifts in sound to shape the feel of the music:

    “He would play through a tune, first verse and chorus with an electric piano sound… and then he might come back and do the next chorus with chorusing… so then all of a sudden it becomes watery.”
    (Bob Bralove, 04:35-05:11)

6. The Pressure on Vince and Band Dynamics (05:23)

• Bob notes the difficult position Vince was in:

  • The band, especially guitarist Jerry Garcia, was sometimes unreliable.
  • “Everybody was kind of relying on the keys to clarify the chord progressions as things were moving through.”
  • Vince had to walk a tightrope:
    • Be present enough to support the band’s structure, but not so much as to obscure other players.

• On Vince’s adaptation and skill:

  “I thought he handled it really well… He was really good at that kind of—what would you say—structural playing.”
  (Bob Bralove, 06:13-06:28)

7. Vince’s Musical Background (06:28)

• Kevin credits Vince’s ability to his years with The Tubes.
• Bob agrees:

  “I'm sure he held the Tubes together a lot… he's just knows where it’s at.”
  (Bob Bralove, 06:32-06:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On bringing positivity into the band after Brent’s death:

  “Whatever happens, these guys just lost a brother. They don’t want your tension. Come in here with some joy.”
  — Bob Bralove (01:19)

• On what impressed the band during Vince’s audition:

  “He held on to the seven longer than anyone.”
  — Bill Kreutzmann, via Bob Bralove (03:13)

• On Brent Mydland’s keyboard artistry:

  “You could hear everybody through him and you knew he was there.”
  — Bob Bralove (04:27)

• On Vince’s tough musical position:

  “If he wasn’t there, then things could get a little wonky. If he was there too much, then you couldn't hear what everybody else was doing in the same way… And I thought he handled it really well.”
  — Bob Bralove (05:38-06:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19 – Introduction: Context around Vince’s criticism and setup for Bob’s perspective.
• 00:44 – 01:19 – The Vince audition story and Bob’s critical advice.
• 02:54 – 03:13 – Details of the audition performance and band members’ reactions.
• 03:34 – 04:08 – Division of keyboard labor during shows with Bob and Vince.
• 04:17 – 05:11 – Exploration of Brent Mydland’s style as a lesson in subtlety and band interplay.
• 05:23 – 06:28 – Discussion about Jerry’s unreliability, musical pressures, and Vince’s adaptability.
• 06:28 – 06:45 – Reflections on Vince’s previous work with The Tubes.

Episode Takeaways

• The criticism of Vince Welnick as a Grateful Dead keyboardist misunderstood the unique pressures and expectations he faced, and the sophisticated collaboration he developed with Bob Bralove.
• Both Brent Mydland’s legacy and Vince’s tenure show the delicate balance a keyboard player must strike within an evolving, improvisational band context.
• Vince’s professionalism, versatility, and willingness to bring “joy” deeply impacted the band’s final chapter.

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