What happens when an unconventional band of critically acclaimed musical virtuosos reunite to perform a tour with their original band line-up for the first time in 40 years? Their fans line up for tickets to see them play.
Fans of the The Dixie Dregs (aka The Dregs), are excited for the Dawn of The Dregs Tour, which begins in Clearwater, Florida on February 28 and continues with shows on the East and West Coasts through April of 2018.
Since announcement about the tour, Dregs fans from around the world have responded with enthusiasm. A date at Atlanta’s Center Stage sold out in a matter of hours, and the other shows currently on sale are tracking to sell out in advance of their dates as word spreads about the tour.
“We knew there was still an audience for the band, but the degree to which they have responded has been overwhelming,” said Dregs bassist, Andy West. “A fan from Canada posted on our Facebook page that he has tickets for at least four shows, and may get tickets for other shows as well.”
Those are some dedicated Dregs fans.
Getting The Band Back Together
Reuniting the original members of the band after 40 years is a story within itself. Andy West continued to create music and play in several solo projects, but his daytime job for most of those years was as Technology VP for a high-level software company in Arizona. Violinist, Allen Sloan went back to school, became a practicing anesthesiologist in North Carolina. Keyboardist Steve Davidowski continued to make a living from music as a session player in Nashville, and currently plays with various bands near his home in North Carolina.
Original Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein maintains his position as the original drummer of the multi-platinum selling ‘80’s band Winger, is a member of the band Jelly Jam with Ty Tabor (King’s X) and John Myung (Dream Theater), and is also finishing his twentieth year as a much sought-after Professor of Percussion at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
For guitar aficionados, Dregs co-founder and chief composer, (and long-time Ernie Ball Music Man signature artist) Steve Morse needs no introduction, and his place in the pantheon of guitar greats is certain. Although his gig for more than 20 years has been as guitarist for Deep Purple, his career started with the Dixie Dregs.
The band traces its true beginnings to the band Dixie Grit, which started in a Georgia high school with Steve on guitar and Andy West on bass. Dixie Grit morphed into the Dixie Dregs at the University of Miami School of Music, where Allen Sloan (violin) and Rod Morgenstein joined up with Steve and Andy, who were the “dregs” of Dixie Grit. The members of the Dixie Dregs remained committed to attending the University of Miami School of Music, which hosted a lively and talented musical community during their tenure, including future greats Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, T Lavitz, and Bruce Hornsby, among many others. In 1975, the group’s demo album, The Great Spectacular, was recorded at the University of Miami and then re- released on CD in 1997.
After graduation, the band moved back to Augusta where Steve Davidowski (keyboards) completed the band that would eventually emerge and become known simply as The Dregs. The band paid its dues and honed its skills playing in bars and venues throughout the South in the mid-70s. They established themselves in the firmament of American instrumental music, seamlessly fusing rock with progressive and jazz elements to create a uniquely instrumental-driven style that has stood the test of time.
Based on a short demo and a tip from former Allman Brothers keyboardist Chuck Leavell along with legendary Allman/Dregs tour manager Twiggs Lyndon, Capricorn Records signed the Dixie Dregs to record Free Fall (1977). The success and critical acclaim of Free Fall announced the Dixie Dregs to the world, and after its release, they would become a cult favorite band that would have a lasting influence on much of modern rock.
Steve Morse Signature Guitars
For 30 years, Steve Morse has been rocking with his serial number #1 model of the original signature guitar that bears his name. Featuring a classic double cutaway design, four custom DiMarzio pickups and intuitive switching layout, this signature guitar affords effortless playability, comfortable yet solid construction and a full range of tonal possibilities. Due to his virtually non-stop playing over that time, he has had the luthiers at Ernie Ball Music Man refret the instrument more than 10 times. At The NAMM Show 2017, the Ball family surprised Steve by giving him serial number #2, which had been in the company vault, virtually untouched, for decades.
The SMY2D celebrates the 20th anniversary of signature Music Man artist Steve Morse. Combining the beautiful elegance of figured maple with the distinctively voiced Poplar tone-wood, custom Dimarzio pickups and simplified intuitive pickup arrangement, the SMY2D delivers the feel and playability one would expect from such a high caliber instrument, but more importantly retains all the unique signature elements Steve has relied upon throughout his amazing career.
Dixie Dregs Tour Dates
Find out if Dixie Dregs is heading to a town near you by checking out the dates below and be sure to visit their website for info on how to get tickets and info on the latest dates added to the tour.
02/28/18 CAPITAL THEATER CLEARWATER, FL
03/01/18 PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL
03/02/18 THE BELL AUDITORIUM AUGUSTA, GA.
03/03/18 CENTER STAGE ATLANTA, GA
03/05/18 CHARLESTON MUSIC HALL CHARLESTON, SC
03/06/18 CAROLINA THEATER DURHAM, NC
03/07/18 LINCOLN THEATER WASHINGTON, DC
03/09/18 SCOTTISH RITE AUDITORIUM COLLINGSWOOD, NJ
03/10/18 NEWTON THEATER NEWTON, NJ
03/14/18 THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE RIDGEFIELD, CT.
03/16/18 TOWN HALL NEW YORK CITY
03/17/18 BEARSVILLE THEATER, WOODSTOCK, NY
03/19/18 WILBUR THEATER BOSTON, MA
03/21/18 CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS – THE EGG ALBANY, NY
03/22/18 CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL PITTSBURGH, PA
03/23/18 KENT STAGE KENT, OH
03/24/18 THE VIC THEATER CHICAGO, IL.
04/11/18 PABST THEATER MILWAUKEE, WI
04/14/18 BOULDER THEATRE BOULDER, CO
Bonus Content
Watch Steve Morse demo his signature models below.
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We need Austin TX dates! Please!
“West Coast” Really? You need a refresher course on US geography. And I’ll be hopefully your power of suggestion pans out.
That is great news. I love Steve and the Dregs.
I’ve been a avid follower of Steve Morse since 1977 after a performance, with The Dixie Dregs, in Tulsa OK at a old converted movie theater. I own and cherish my Blueburst ( Steve Morse) Ernie Ball guitar, and while I own and play several others, there’s never a question as to what I would choose to play, if I were forced to choose only one. I continue to see the Ernie Ball guitars chosen as guitars by professionals players who require the balance of comfortable playability along with pickup flexibility, quality and accuracy.
Steve’s guitar acumen is unheralded in my view to the mainstream of the music world, and only esteemed by those who have ventured into the less traveled, instrumental jazz-rock fusion venue. Since his addition to Deep Purple he’s enjoyed a much more broad audience and has gained a much deserved at-a-boy, for filling and surpassing, big shoes. Thanks to Deep Purple for recognizing and adding him to their lineup. I get to see him a lot more because of their decision.
He’s given me countless hours of music instruction and even more hours of listening pleasure.
To all of the Dregs, The Steve Morse Band, Flying Colors, and to Deep Purple and all those others, especially Steve,
Thank You
Greg