Grateful Dead

It's hard to believe that Furthur has been around since 9/18/09. That would be 2 1/2 years now. Though there was a lot of comparing and moaning and general reviewing in the first six months to a year, all of that has died down now. It seems like you're either on board with Furthur or in the "Hate'm. Don't want to have anything to do with'm." camp. As I'm not a musician I can't really say about the quality of the music. All I can say is about how it makes me feel, after seeing about 15 shows. It makes me feel old. I hear the music fading away like an echo. I find it easy to fall asleep at Furthur shows. That doesn't mean I don't like them. Rather, I accept the band for who they are with their present capabilities at their ages. In the first dozen Furthur shows, JK showed brilliant propensities to jam out in front of Bob & Phil, but he has been reigned in by ego or age or both (not his). Chimenti seems to get more freedom to jam than JK. I feel like this is a waste and it would certainly liven the proceedings up more than a notch or two if he be given the room. I think it's OK to acknowledge that other guitarists can solo in Jerry's style and may even be comparable. Not equal, or even in the same league, but comparable. I'll still go to one-off shows and generally beam and have a good time hanging out and telling war stories about back in the day, but there is very little itch to do any ecstatic dancing inside the show -- it's more like -- "Lay me down, my dear brothers. Lay down and take your rest." I'm not as old as Bob & Phil so it's hard to say how they feel about upbeat tempos and following behind somebody who solos like Jerry, IMHO. What is yours if you have the shows under your belt to have one?

I couldn't wait to get done workingtoday...I said couldn't wait- right. Well, I finally got to end the day and head home, wondering if a stream would be still flowing or not. Well, get this> I fired up the computer, asap and got online, found Taper Rob's Stream and heard exactly ONE SECOND of the Show. I rejoiced of course, because I thought I may have missed it. The Universe was looking out for me. What a deal. Never, I tell you never before have I ever caught only ONE SECOND of a show before. Well, kudos to my karma looking out for me. Ahhhhh I am in awe at this experience. I'm going to find a set list. Goes like that> ONCE. I Love You, All, xo

Beacon run starts tonight! This old Deadhead is ready to dance the night away!

Whoever cooked up that show deserves a lot of credit! It will be a fun, festive atmosphere. Hopefully a fine, fine summer evening and also hope they come up with a good poster for the show like the one of Phil & Bob in the baseball uniforms. Thursday evening in the park... A***, incense & balloons... People laughing everywhere. Yeah, I know. It ain't that way anymore. Well, we can still remember the good old days and be ever grateful for what we have right now....

sound like a great venue for a fun day. It really is pretty remarkable, all things considered, how many generations are getting at least SOME personal experience of this thing, and their own version of it too. It's a good thing.

That would be July 5th in Pawtucket, Fluffanutter. I think you got too much hair tucked up under that Pawsox cap, dude! We're on tour this summer. Will be there with bells on!!

Looking forward to the shows at the Wang Center less than a month away. Bringing 2 Furthur newbies with us who should really enjoy themselves. Expecting a fun time!

Yeah, they are definitely selecting the venues with more care. A lot of these shows will now sell out. One that won't will be a triple A minor league ballpark called McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI on July 6th. For each full admission payed one child twelve or under will be allowed to accompany that person in. That still won't make it hard to get tickets. This should be a great show from a fabled venue in a blue-collar working-class city just North of Providence. See ya' on the diamond! (<>);~]]

As I'd imagined, they are playing smaller halls in the Spring. Phil's b'day in SF every March, I guess it goes and goes till... Sure seems like a deal with the devil, though. I guess some people call it dedication.

The boys are plying great with some intensity and a really incredible work ethic. They usually played 2:45 to three hours of music. Everybody needs to know that the setlists are pre-cooked by Phil's wife and Bob's manager. I don't mind. You can tell when they are hitting all on all cylinders. The crowds just aren't there anymore. If they want to keep playing, it's going to be in smaller and smaller halls except for a few select first-rate venues such as Red Rocks. I personally like it better that way. It's more laid back. The crowds are younger in the East, Older in the West. The good vibes are back and I wish everybody has a ball for the upcoming Christmas run in SF. All another year older and wondering how much longer it can last. That last tour I did from Eugene to Las Vegas (skipped Cali) was awesome. Met some great people and had a high time or two. I never minded the driving considering I had my entire CD collection with me. Going across the Rockies at Lake Couer D'lene, Idaho was just the peak of the trip, with the mountains perfectly reflecting in the placid Lake. The best show was in Missoula where Barlow has a studio and Bob often went to work out new tunes. When Bob and Phil really want to throw down and make a statement, they can still do it. The sure did it that night in Missoula. WilI I ever do another tour? No.... But I'm sure glad I had the blue skies and high vibes following me for the last one.