Jerry’s Middle Finger [Night 1]
Jerry’s Middle Finger brings the first of two billed nights to Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown. The California-based band is devoted to the music of the Jerry Garcia Band, so this is a tribute performance centered on the JGB songbook rather than the Grateful Dead as a whole. Available information does not confirm the complete lineup for this date, but the group is led by vocalist and guitarist Garrett Deloian, with founder and drummer Rodney Newman anchoring the rhythm section. The show lands at a venue that began as the cantina on a 1940s Western film set, among Pioneertown’s movie-set facades and desert surroundings.
Jerry’s Middle Finger draws on the breadth of Jerry Garcia Band repertoire, with descriptions of that material spanning blues, reggae, Motown, gospel, and psychedelic rock. The band has also been joined by Melvin Seals, who guested with them in Vallejo in 2020. Audience comments describe the group as “very tight,” praising its musicianship and its handling of the Garcia songbook with “great success.” One listener said the performances “bring back memories of seeing Jerry,” while noting the band’s own twist on the music. That balance, faithful attention to the source material without treating it as a museum piece, is the thread running through the available accounts of their shows.
Pappy & Harriet’s began as the cantina on a 1940s Western film set, and that history still frames a night here: the venue sits among Pioneertown’s old movie-set facades, with the desert just beyond. It is a restaurant and live-music venue, with shows in indoor and outdoor spaces; the setting and touring acts make the trip feel tied to this particular outpost, rather than just a concert stop. Shows are ticketed, general admission and standing-room only, with ADA seating available at either stage. The restaurant is separate, serves food, and runs a first-come, first-served waitlist, so put your name down early if you want dinner; eating does not secure a show ticket. Check the event details for doors and weather, especially for an outdoor performance.