‘Grateful Dads’ sing to support Jordan Zides

The Grateful Dads, a band made up of local musicians who grew up with the Grateful Dead’s music, will perform at Backstage Nite Club in Woodmere on Nov. 12 to raise funds for Jordan Zides, a 2010 Lynbrook High School grad who was seriously injured in a car accident in upstate New York on July 25. The local tribute band will play other classic rock tunes as well.

According to the Warren County Sheriff’s office, Jordan was traveling north-bound with 20-year-olds driver Shelby Jackowitz and Samantha Weiss on U.S. route 9, near Camp Echo Lake in Warrensburg, NY, where the three were summer counselors. At 12:25 p.m., their 2011 Jeep Patriot hit a 2003 GMC dump truck,. Michael Moss, 50, was driving the truck, and all four were injured. Jordan, who is a student at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, suffered severe injuries and multiple trauma in several parts of his body, including his brain. He was unconscious, slipping into a coma, and in critical condition immediately following the crash.

‘”Jordan is making progress on his road to a complete recovery,” said his family in a statement. “He has a long way to go but with his strength, our belief and the love and support of you all we are certain many better days are ahead.”

His family posts updates of his condition online at www.caringbridge.org/visit/jordanzides.

The Grateful ‘Dads’

The band consists of guitarists Neil Cohen, of Valley Stream; guitarist Andy Harwin, drummer Bob Feldman, and bass player Austin Edman, all of North Woodmere; and keyboardist Jeff Blum, of Lido Beach.

The band began performing a variety of classic rock tunes from the 60s and 70s from groups such as The Who, Led Zeppelin and Cream — but a majority of songs are from the Grateful Dead. Harwin said the Grateful Dads band consists of friends and neighbors who have been playing together in some form or another for more than a decade. All four hold full-time professional jobs but still find time to hit the stage a few times a year. “It started as a twice-monthly session on Friday nights as a way to blow off steam and relax from the work week,” said Harwin. “At some point people started asking us why we don’t play in public.”

“The financial and emotional toll on the [Zides] family have been tremendous,” said Cohen. “It is our pleasure to perform on behalf of Jordan and his family, and we invite the entire community to join us in raising funds to assist in his continuing recovery.” Donations by check can be made payable to Bruce or Donna Zides.