Yes, Al Di Meola is playing the legendary Jerry Garcia "Tiger" guitar on his electric tour dates in May and June 2026, as part of his "The Guitarchitect Tour". He specifically noted bringing out the iconic guitar for a show in Chicago, part of a 2026 tour featuring both electric and acoustic performances. [1, 2, 3]
2026 "Tiger" Guitar Tour Dates (Electric Band):
May 1-2: Minneapolis, MN (Dakota)
May 3: Chicago, IL (Park West)
May 5: Alexandria, VA (The Birchmere)
May 7: Pittsburgh, PA (The Oaks Theater)
May 8: Phoenixville, PA (Colonial Theatre)
May 9: Annapolis, MD (Rams Head On Stage)
June 6: Las Vegas, NV (Jazz In The Park)
June 10: Nashua, NH (Nashua Center for the Arts)
June 11: Lexington, MA (Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building)
June 13: Brooklyn, NY
June 14: East Greenwich, RI (Greenwich Odeum) [1, 2, 3, 4]
I just picked up a ticket for The Colonial Theater this Friday.
Just saw Al Di Meola, holy shit the guy is a monster when electric. Guitar fireworks, flamenco, Santana jams, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, a little great harmonic shredding too. Then down to a whisper or drum fill. Solid bass so interactive and fluid and driving, it was a musical amoeba of four people i never seen anything like it
Watching the video of the actual performance, Al didn't seem to know what the guitar is called, which makes me wonder who's idea it was for him to play it.
He's also been online this week noodling with the guitar Dickie Betts played on Live at the Fillmore East, owned by the same guy/organization that bought Tiger. Could well be that guy is actively working to get these great instruments played as much as possible. Give that man a cookie.
One thing for sure, as has long been the case, if a non-jam band artist can align themselves to the Grateful Dead they will see a jump in their fan base. I wonder how many dead heads, especially the vast number of post-Jerry heads there are, have never heard of Al Di Meola but will see those clips and go, "God damn, that guy can play!!!"
Personally, while I admire him and fully acknowledge his greatness, I've never been a fan... a bit too stiff & technical for my tastes, but it's great he's still out there, and if his playing Tiger exposes some fans to him and his musical style than more power to him.
Carlos Santana and Al Di Meola performed together at the Mann Center in Philadelphia in August 1980 as part of a notable co-bill tour. Fans and historical posts recall it as a spectacular, high-energy show where Di Meola often opened and subsequently jammed with Santana.
My first live music after Garcia's passing was a trio show w/Al, Stanley Clarke & Jean Luc Ponty alone & together. After intermission each played solo. Al spoke about taking the subway to MSG to see the Dead, crowd picked it up pretty quickly.
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https://www.reddit.com/r
https://www.reddit.com/r/gratefuldead/comments/1t325pg/al_di_meola_takes...
Park West, Chicago, IL - 5/3/2026
https://www.reddit.com/r/gratefuldead/comments/1t34rav/tiger_came_out_to...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance HTT Newberry
I was surprised when after
I was surprised when after Weir died I heard Di Meola's comments about his love of the GD and his seeing them at the Fillmore East.
I don't know why I was surprised, we really are everywhere, but I never heard him talk about it before and his music certainly has never reflected it.
I guess these days it's cool to be a dead head so folks can come out of the closet.
And how nice is it to see Tiger out and singing in the hands of the best?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: I rang a silent bell
https://youtu.be/KO_O3dMJkVI
https://youtu.be/KO_O3dMJkVI?si=0XY1JRC_D4OzYiPi
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
^^^^Nice vid
^^^^Nice vid
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GoneGoodbye
Wow!! That clip of him
Wow!! That clip of him playing Tiger made me cry!
He's playing Tiger on tour:
Yes, Al Di Meola is playing the legendary Jerry Garcia "Tiger" guitar on his electric tour dates in May and June 2026, as part of his "The Guitarchitect Tour". He specifically noted bringing out the iconic guitar for a show in Chicago, part of a 2026 tour featuring both electric and acoustic performances. [1, 2, 3]
2026 "Tiger" Guitar Tour Dates (Electric Band):
May 1-2: Minneapolis, MN (Dakota)
May 3: Chicago, IL (Park West)
May 5: Alexandria, VA (The Birchmere)
May 7: Pittsburgh, PA (The Oaks Theater)
May 8: Phoenixville, PA (Colonial Theatre)
May 9: Annapolis, MD (Rams Head On Stage)
June 6: Las Vegas, NV (Jazz In The Park)
June 10: Nashua, NH (Nashua Center for the Arts)
June 11: Lexington, MA (Isaac Harris Cary Memorial Building)
June 13: Brooklyn, NY
June 14: East Greenwich, RI (Greenwich Odeum) [1, 2, 3, 4]
I just picked up a ticket for The Colonial Theater this Friday.
Thank You for the alert.......
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GratefulTed
Hmmmm. I'm seeing him on
Hmmmm. I'm seeing him on June 12 in Ridgefield. Hoping the above omission is an oversight.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
Love Al! Wonder how he gott
Love Al! Wonder how he got hooked up with Josh - the guitar player from Terrapin Flyer?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
https://www.facebook.com/reel
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1504114101168764
Al playing Tiger during soundcheck
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: r n
^^^^^^^ Now that was nice
^^^^^^^ Now that was nice
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
"And there it was, the Jerry
"And there it was... the Jerry tone."
Really nice soundcheck sounds.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GoneGoodbye
"And there it was... the
"And there it was... the Jerry tone."
That got me too.
This is going to be one of those shows, for me, where it is going to take a few days to figure out what we just experienced.
Nice
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Same clip on youtube;
Same clip on youtube;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Mw3S3-GE4
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Eggman
That was a real treat!
That was a real treat!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: OO
Longer clip of UJB
Longer clip of UJB
Al Di Meola plays Jerry Garcia's iconic 1979 Doug Irwin "Tiger", Chicago 5/3/2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9vH2TTGkcY
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FREE TIGER!
FREE TIGER!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GoneGoodbye
I can't find any more info on
I can't find any more info on Al playing Tiger live, sorry what I posted was AI slop.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: GoneGoodbye
Just saw Al Di Meola, holy
Just saw Al Di Meola, holy shit the guy is a monster when electric. Guitar fireworks, flamenco, Santana jams, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, a little great harmonic shredding too. Then down to a whisper or drum fill. Solid bass so interactive and fluid and driving, it was a musical amoeba of four people i never seen anything like it
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: B.A.
Very cool. I'd enjoy seeing
Very cool. I'd enjoy seeing him play.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance HTT Newberry
Watching the video of the
Watching the video of the actual performance, Al didn't seem to know what the guitar is called, which makes me wonder who's idea it was for him to play it.
He's also been online this week noodling with the guitar Dickie Betts played on Live at the Fillmore East, owned by the same guy/organization that bought Tiger. Could well be that guy is actively working to get these great instruments played as much as possible. Give that man a cookie.
One thing for sure, as has long been the case, if a non-jam band artist can align themselves to the Grateful Dead they will see a jump in their fan base. I wonder how many dead heads, especially the vast number of post-Jerry heads there are, have never heard of Al Di Meola but will see those clips and go, "God damn, that guy can play!!!"
Personally, while I admire him and fully acknowledge his greatness, I've never been a fan... a bit too stiff & technical for my tastes, but it's great he's still out there, and if his playing Tiger exposes some fans to him and his musical style than more power to him.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
Santana jams >>>Saw it live a
Santana jams >>>Saw it live a while back....
Carlos Santana and Al Di Meola performed together at the Mann Center in Philadelphia in August 1980 as part of a notable co-bill tour. Fans and historical posts recall it as a spectacular, high-energy show where Di Meola often opened and subsequently jammed with Santana.
My first live music after Garcia's passing was a trio show w/Al, Stanley Clarke & Jean Luc Ponty alone & together. After intermission each played solo. Al spoke about taking the subway to MSG to see the Dead, crowd picked it up pretty quickly.