For the past 10 years, Pittsburgh’s Deadheads have gathered for local Grateful Dead tribute band theCause’s annual benefit show, D-Jam.
The yearly “colossal fundraiser,” which has raised more than $100,000 in charitable donations over the years, is typically organized by theCause bassist and vocalist David Tauberg.
Tauberg was unable to organize the event this year because of health concerns.
“My buddy David in theCause is recovering from cancer,” said Eric “Pappy” Weingrad, guitarist and vocalist for theCause. “He’s still battling it, but he’s gonna start getting better very soon.”
With D-Jam on pause this year, Weingrad organized a new benefit after discovering Guitars4Vets.
Founded in 2007, Guitars4Vets operates in chapters across the country. Veterans enrolled in the program receive 10 weeks of one-on-one lessons before graduating with a new acoustic guitar and starter kit of accessories. Organizers say the structured format helps participants build confidence, discipline and connection.
Continuing theCause’s charitable tradition, Weingrad organized the Garcia-Grisman Revue.
The show benefited the Butler chapter of Guitars4Vets, a nonprofit organization that provides veterans experiencing physical injuries, PTSD and emotional distress with free guitar kits and music lessons as a therapeutic alternative.
“The program is free,” said Karen Dunn, VA nurse and Butler chapter coordinator for Guitars4Vets. “It’s 100% driven by donations, and all of our instructors are volunteers.”
Dunn added that many of the volunteer instructors are veterans.
Weingrad said he views the treatment of veterans as inequitable.
“That’s just been one of the biggest injustices — that these people lay their lives on the line and they come back and we don’t take care of them,” Weingrad said.
He said music can offer both therapy and camaraderie.
“It’s therapy, and these guys have been through a lot,” Weingrad said. “They get the therapy out of it, and they get some camaraderie out of it together, because there’s group lessons that go along with it.”
In addition to directing a large portion of ticket sales to Guitars4Vets, organizers held a silent auction featuring Dead-themed gifts donated by community members.
Dancing bear stained-glass pieces, musical instruments and a gift card to the newly opened Grateful Dead-themed Terrapin Bistro were among the items auctioned.
“It’s the outreach,” Dunn said. “It’s about getting the word out so more veterans and volunteers know.”
Weingrad said he initially hoped to raise $5,000.
“If we could get like $5,000, I’d be really excited,” he said. “So we’ve already blown away.”
Fans of Jerry Garcia and David Grisman packed the Original Pittsburgh Winery in the Strip District alongside volunteers and program graduates, raising more than $14,100. According to Dunn, that total is enough to purchase new guitar kits for nearly 30 veterans.
More information about Guitars4Vets is available at guitars4vets.org. Updates on future performances from Eric “Pappy” Weingrad are posted on Facebook under Eric Weingrad and on Instagram at @pappypgh.
