As The Depot prepares to host Bob Weir and RatDog and their large following of old school and New Age Deadheads, In This Week is talking to lead guitarist, Mark Karan over the phone from his hotel in Spokane, Wash.

A mere four days into the Bob Weir and RatDog summer tour, Karan is pleasant to talk to. His voice is sincere and excited, and it becomes obvious that the guitarist not only has a talent for music, but also for turning almost anyone into a believer, rather it be in the music that he creates or in his newfound philosophies following his experience with cancer, Karan makes the listener want to jump on board and follow him wherever his path may lead him.

Though Karan has served as the lead guitarist for Bob Weir and RatDog for over 11 years now, he has kept himself even busier by playing with other musicians such as The Rembrandts and Huey Lewis, while also heading his own band, Jemimah Puddleduck, and writing a solo album.

"I am pretty consumed by music and my music career. I don't take as much time with friends as I probably should," admits Karan.

Karan released his first solo album, "Walk Through The Fire," in late June of this year. Though Karan had been entertaining the idea of a solo album for quite some time, it was not until his experience with throat cancer that he made the decision to actually go into the studio and create one.

"The desire to record is always there with me. I have been on a lot of people's records but I had a mission or a directive, post-cancer, to get it done and show what I had to contribute as an individual. This was the only time that I have been me-centric," admits Karan.

It was in June 2007 that Karan announced to his various bands that he would be taking a break to be treated for his cancer. He returned to the Bob Weir and RatDog lineup in March of 2008, feeling lucky to still be able to sing.

"Having cancer created core changes in me that are more universal, about acceptance and being able to let go of resistance. I don't want to be stuck in complaining about what should be, and not being able to move forward," says Karan.

Part of moving forward for Karan was to continue playing with Bob Weir and RatDog while simultaneously recording his solo album. When describing his experience playing as a member of the band, Karan admits that he is constantly surprised at who comes out to see the shows.

"Overall, our fan base is Deadheads, but it is interesting to see how many young people there are. When I first began playing with Bob Weir, I assumed that all the fans would be 40 to 50 year-olds, but each time we go out, we seem to develop a new crop of young fans. It's a pretty consistent mind-blower," laughs Karan.

The constant addition of younger fans to the already existing fan base can easily be attributed to the fact that the band is fronted by Bob Weir, the former co-vocalist of the Grateful Dead. Though Karan has most certainly earned bragging rights from his stellar resume and journalist-heralded accomplishments, he maintains an immense amount of humility, and projects pride at being a part of Weir's backup musicians.

"Watching us play is an opportunity to see some incredibly well-written songs performed by an icon in rock 'n' roll", says Karan.

Karan will happily tour with Bob Weir and RatDog for the next three-and-a-half weeks, and then as his fellow musicians may decide to take some downtime, Karan will focus on getting out and promoting his solo work.

"I will definitely continue doing RatDog, but now that the floodgates have been open, I am also going to get out and do my own stuff", says Karan.

Salt Lake Deadhead fans should take note to pay particular attention to Karan as he is rocking out alongside Weir this Saturday at The Depot. While they are waiting for Weir to return with another show, fans will most likely get to experience a Mark Karan solo show, which according to Karan, is not too far off from what they love to see from Weir and RatDog.

"My shows are much the same way but they are more rooted in Blues. They are good songs performed with real emotion, and I let the music speak for itself," says Karan.