From the early jam-band scene to their latest album It Ain’t a Thing, New Potato Caboose continues to blend harmony, improvisation, and history into unforgettable music.
In this episode of Local Music Somewhere, host Greazy Keyz sits down with:
Doug Pritchett – Lead vocalist & guitarist for New Potato Caboose
Cito Giulini – Longtime musician, producer, and studio owner
Together, they dive into:
🎶 NPC’s journey from the Wetlands to modern stages
🎶 Stories behind their new songs & upcoming shows
🎶 Cito’s musical path from Grateful Dead shows to Granbar Studios
🎶 Reflections on Charlotte’s jam-band community
PLUS—an exclusive live performance of their new track “Georgia Angel.”
The Legacy of New Potato Caboose
A Reunion Rooted in Friendship and the Love of Music
Greazy Keyz welcomed two legends of the East Coast jam band circuit — Doug Pritchett and Cito Giulini — into the rBeatz studio for an episode full of stories, laughter, and live music. The duo shared how their long history, stretching back to college days and cross-country tours, has come full circle with a fresh collaboration and renewed energy in Charlotte’s thriving local scene.
Formed in the mid-1980s, New Potato Caboose has weathered decades of change while keeping their original lineup intact — a rare feat. “We have more fun now than we ever have,” Doug said. “We’re mature… and we listen to each other.” That connection shows both on stage and in the studio, where the band’s new album It Ain’t a Thing captures that timeless jam spirit.
The Origins of a Name — and a Scene
Yes, the band’s name really does come from an obscure Grateful Dead song. While there’s no deep origin story behind it, Doug laughed that it “just clicked,” and by the time they considered changing it, New Potato Caboose was already too well-known in the college circuit.
Cito’s history runs parallel — his band The Other People shared stages (and the road) with Caboose for years. “We were pretty much a Dead cover band in the beginning,” he said. “We opened up for the Caboose a couple times — and Hootie & the Blowfish opened up for us. Then Dave Matthews opened up for them.”
One of the best moments came when an unknown kid in Charlottesville asked to play during their break. That “kid” was Dave Matthews. “He played two songs, and we were like, ‘Wow.’ A couple years later, he’s huge.”
Recording at Dave Matthews’ Studio — Haunted Hollow
Decades later, that friendship came full circle. New Potato Caboose recorded their latest album, It Ain’t a Thing, at Dave Matthews’ Haunted Hollow Studio with producer John Alagia (known for his work with Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and of course, Dave himself).
The album blends new songs with unreleased classics from the band’s early days and was crowdfunded by fans who still remember their long history. Doug said the project was never about chasing charts, though it surprised them by reaching #5 on the national jam band chart.
From Road Stories to Studio Tales
From falling into drum kits mid-show to friendly poster “wars” between bands, Doug and Cito swapped hilarious road memories that gave a glimpse into the wild early days of the jam scene.
Cito also recalled his early studio experiments — like recording Larry Keel on a primitive version of Pro Tools using one microphone. It was a reminder that, even in grassroots beginnings, the passion for sound has always been at the core of his work.
The Enduring Spirit of the Grateful Dead
Both musicians credit the Grateful Dead as their lifelong musical compass. For Doug, it began with hearing the acoustic Reckoning album in 1980 — “I just thought the songs were great songs.” For Cito, it was a life-changing concert in 1983 that led to over 350 Dead shows and a whole new career path.
Their reflections capture why the Dead’s influence remains alive in Charlotte and beyond — in every jam, harmony, and community gathering. As Doug put it, “It’s not about making it anymore. It’s about having fun.”
The Charlotte Music Scene Today
Doug and Cito both see promise in Charlotte’s evolving scene — more venues would help, but the energy is there. And with artists like Greazy Keyz shining a spotlight through Local Music Somewhere, local musicians continue to find their voice and audience.
The episode closed with two live performances — “Georgia Angel,” a heartfelt song Doug wrote about meeting his wife Poppy, and the title track “It Ain’t a Thing,” a soulful jam full of optimism and classic groove.
🎶 Key Takeaways from This Episode
- New Potato Caboose celebrates 40 years together — with the original lineup still intact.
- The band’s name comes from a rare Grateful Dead song, reflecting their lifelong influence.
- Doug and Cito have a long history of shared stages, from college tours to national circuits.
- New Potato Caboose’s new album It Ain’t a Thing was recorded at Dave Matthews’ Haunted Hollow Studio with producer John Alagia.
- Their crowdfunded project hit #5 on the jam band charts — showing fan support still runs deep.
- Cito has recorded with legends like Larry Keel and continues producing in his own studio.
- The Grateful Dead’s legacy remains alive in Charlotte’s growing jam scene.
- Live performances of “Georgia Angel” and “It Ain’t a Thing” brought the studio to life.
The Spirit of the Jam Lives On
Charlotte’s music scene continues to thrive because of artists like Doug, Cito, and Greazy Keyz — who keep live music authentic, spontaneous, and full of heart. Whether you’re discovering New Potato Caboose for the first time or have followed them since the ’80s, this episode is a reminder of what makes local music special: friendship, freedom, and the love of the groove.
“It ain’t a problem till it’s a problem; it ain’t a thing till it’s a thing.” — Lyrics from the title track
About Me – New Potato Caboose
With the release of a new album, It Ain’t a Thing, New Potato Caboose has nimbly found a way to weave together the band’s long history in the jamband scene with their current drive for songcraft and groove to deliver a breakthrough release that captures their signature sound. The roots of New Potato Caboose stretch back to the early days of the jam scene, trading shows and sharing stages with the likes of Blues Traveler, Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews Band, and legendary ground-floor acts such as The Band and the Neville Brothers. As the first band ever to play the iconic Wetlands venue in NYC, NPC was featured in the Sundance documentary, Wetlands Preserved. By the early ‘90’s, the group was playing over 200 dates a year and garnering writeups in Pollstar, Billboard, and Variety. They’re currently performing at high-end venues such as Baltimore Soundstage, The National, and The Hamilton, bringing their superb live act to a fervent fan base.
It was at a recent concert where the inspiration for a new album came up. The vibe was so sweet that the band was struck by a mutual “a-ha moment” and set the wheels in motion on a project that would include unrecorded gems, live favorites, and brand new songs. The band was fortunate that John Alagia (Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Ben Folds, Lukas Nelson) was inspired to produce the project, tapping into the music scene roots they all share. John also brought in a talented team from the Red Light Management/DMB family, including engineering wizard Jeff Moxley (Blues Traveler, Plain White T’s, The Chainsmokers) and L.A. mastering ace Whynot Jansveld (The Wallflowers, Sara Bareilles, Crash Test Dummies). The band and production team lived and recorded together at Haunted Hollow, Dave Matthews’ private studio in Charlottesville, VA.
The final product is It Ain’t a Thing, a snapshot that manages to capture both NPC’s origins and the magic that is happening now. As a crowd-funded, independently-produced album, Caboose fans will share a huge part in its success. On It Ain’t a Thing, you can hear the band deftly roll in influences from the laid-back party vibe of Little Feat, the mystic innovation of the Grateful Dead, the shimmering vocals of Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the relatable earthiness of The Band. These elements are interpreted and shaped by the extraordinary talents of members Doug Pritchett (acoustic guitar, vocals), Don Laux (rhythm guitar, vocals), John “Red” Redling (keyboards, vocals), Tim Pruitt (lead guitar, vocals), Mike Mahoney (bass), and the powerful double drums sound of John Trupp and John McConnell. Mix in the savvy original songwriting of the band, and the skill of the production team, and the result is a wide-ranging sound that is uniquely New Potato Caboose.
The album pulls tunes from the full spectrum of NPC’s career arc. The classic songs long loved by live audiences include the gritty rocker “Hey Now Julia”; the ethereal heart-grabber “Accidental Ecstasy”; the grunge-infused “Brave New World”, and the punchy roller coaster ride “New Potato Stew”. The middle-era songs written after the band took a break from touring: the playful, bumpin’ “Duke of Awesome”; the lush soundscape of “Shine”; and the fun-loving “Weed”. The brand new songs were conceived especially for this project and represent NPC’s current outlook on life, love and living, featuring the swamp-jam title track “It Ain’t a Thing”; the southern-rock love song “Georgia Angel”; the dusky and defiant “The Whisper”; and the exquisite and complex “What’s the Real”, which champions the concept that life is at its basis, whatever you make of it.
Upcoming Events
Friday, September 5th – The Poseidon ~ Hilton Head Island, SC
Saturday, September 6th – Ziggy’s ~ Greensboro, NC
Friday, October 24th – Tally Ho Theater ~ Leesburg, VA
Saturday, October 25th – Hampden Sydney College, Farmville, VA
More Artists and Show Episodes
