Starting five years ago as a wishful music fantasy, The Third Mind, a super group deemed “Californian Psychedelic Rockers” by Doom Charts, has now become a powerful and thrilling sonic reality.
The brainchild of Grammy award-winning songwriter/guitarist Dave Alvin and veteran alternative music bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Monks of Doom, Eyelids), The Third Mind began with studio recordings also featuring Jesse Sykes from her critically acclaimed group, Jesse Sykes and The Sweeter Hereafter, drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra, John Cale), guitarist David Immerglück (Counting Crows, Monks of Doom, Camper Van Beethoven), with special guest, legendary LA musician, Willie Aron on Keys.
LIVE – The Third Mind present their psychedelic improv performances with the addition of guitarist Mark Karan (Bob Weir’s Ratdog, Phil Lesh, Delaney Bramlett) subbing for Immerglück.
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.
Hailed as a “must-see” performance 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.”
“When we debuted live at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, I felt like I’d come home. I’m excited to be playing in The Third Mind’s live touring line-up.” – Mark Karan
It was clear then that these shows were not to be missed, and needed to be recorded and released! The Third Mind’s – Live Mind is now available, released on February 14, 2025 by Yep Roc Records.
