
The Third Mind today announces the February 14, 2025 release of “Live Mind,” their first live album via Yep Roc Records.
With over an hour of performances, “Live Mind” was overseen and curated by Don Boles, Will Golden and Brett Brock from shows in February and March 2024 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Ventura Music Hall in Ventura, CA, and The Kessler Theater in Dallas, TX. Produced by Dave Alvin and Victor Krummenacher, the album was mixed and mastered by Craig Parker Adams at Winslow Court, Los Angeles, CA.
What started four years ago as a wishful music fantasy, the supergroup of “Californian Psychedelic Rockers” (Doom Charts) is now a reality. The brainchild of GRAMMY award-winning guitarist Dave Alvin and veteran alternative music bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Monks of Doom, Eyelids), The Third Mind’s two studio albums – “The Third Mind” (2020) and “The Third Mind 2” (2023) – feature guitarist David Immerglück (Counting Crows, Monks of Doom, Camper Van Beethoven), drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra, John Cale) and vocalist Jesse Sykes from her critically acclaimed group, Jesse Sykes and The Sweeter Hereafter. The Third Mind live Psychedelic improv performances include the addition of guest guitarist Mark Karan (Bob Weir’s Ratdog, Phil Lesh, Delaney Bramlett) subbing for Immerglück, and special guest, the legendary LA musician Willie Aron on Keys.
Hailed as a “must-see” by the San Francisco Chronicle, The Third Mind made their live debut performance at the 2023 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco’s legendary Golden Gate Park, which CBS News Bay Area proclaimed “a spectacular performance.” A 10-date West Coast tour followed the festival garnering rave reviews including Twangville who noted, “if you want to experience a set of musicians at the top of their game improvising down a psychedelic rabbit hole, go catch The Third Mind.”
Of “Live Mind” the members offer:
“Creating improvisatory music in a recording studio is a little scary but attempting the same free form, no holds barred musical approach in a live setting in front of an audience can be downright frightening. Fortunately the members of the Third Mind are up for the challenge. Bringing all of their various musical histories and passions together in order to create something new and different at each performance, the Third Mind never fails to astonish and inspire me“. – Dave Alvin
“It goes without saying that there are always going to be certain musical moments that just can’t manifest unless an audience is there to witness and to be witnessed . One could call it a shared conjuring. I hope this recording captures some of the raw sweetness of that beautiful universal exchange.” – Jesse Sykes
“There’s a set list, sure, but none of the shows we’ve played have been remotely the same. I play a lot of different “kinds” of music, but being able to improvise within a structure is what I’ve always lived for… at a point in time when the whole world seems scripted, this little band carries forward the idea that spontaneity and improvisation actually stand for something: freedom.” – Victor Krummenacher
“Being called to play with incredibly talented musicians that give you the opportunity to be yourself, push your own boundaries, and somehow make it all work in a slightly different way every night, is a great gift indeed. One that is never lost on me.” – Michael Jerome
“We re-interpret the songs nightly, never playing anything exactly the same way twice… staying true to the musical approach I’ve loved for so many years playing in the Grateful Dead family.” – Mark Karan
The Third Mind’s eponymous debut was released in 2020, featuring extended and Psychedelic versions ranging from 8-10 minutes of songs by Alice Coltrane, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Roky Erickson’s 13th Floor Elevators. Following its release, tour plans were thwarted by the pandemic. The group reconvened in 2022 for a second album – “The Third Mind 2” – which shifted from the instrumental focus of their first effort to vocals with Seattle-based Jesse Sykes at the helm covering songs from the late ‘60s by the Electric Flag, Fred Neil, Dillard and Clark along with an original tune, “Tall Grass,” penned by Alvin and Sykes.
Pre-Order on Bandcamp: https://thethirdmind.bandcamp.com/album/live-mind
Tracklist:
01. Sally Go Round The Roses (Live) – 13:06
02. Doralee (Live) – 5:05
03.Groovin’ Is Easy (Live) – 6:44
04. Morning Dew (Live) – 12:43
05. East West (Live) – 14:21
06. A Little Bit of Rain (Live) – 4:01
07. Dark Star (Live) – 5:13
Ahead of the February live album release, The Third Mind will play four shows in northern California, including stops at the Odd Fellows Lounge in Auburn, CA, Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, CA, Sebastiani Theater in Sonoma, CA and The Chapel in San Francisco. In March 2025, they will hit the road with an album release kick off show in southern California at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano with more dates to follow; tickets are available HERE.
The Third Mind: On Tour
December 18 – Odd Fellows Lodge – Auburn, CA
December 19 – Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA
December 20 – Sebastiani Theater – Sonoma, CA
December 21 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA
March 21, 2025 – The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA