Grateful Dead

...for the shows. All of a sudden I'm reading everything is selling out again after that nice hot uncrowded night in Mansfield last summer. Other than going to venues they haven't been playing in the Midwest, why is it crowding up again?

Headed out from VT today over the Green Mountains with a clear blue sky and the fall foliage starting to work it's magic. Have to say it felt really good to be starting another tour. Ran into a rainstorm from Buffalo on and now just hanging out somewhere between Cleveland and Chicago. Gotta say that the economy must not be good. There isn't a lot of leisure traffic out there, mostly the outdoor sports. Suits me fine, the open road is for me. Right on target for Eugene. Gotta love it. Last time on tour since Other Ones 2002. ~ C'mon pretty mama, let's get on the road again! ~

What can you say about flat, straight roads and growing corn? Thought I'd give my playlist for today. Must say it feels a bit, er, strange doing this cold, stone sober! Bob Dylan: Greatest Hits - Volume 3 E72 Hundred Year Hall E72 Hamburg Rolling Stones: Green Grass & High Tides Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed Rolling Stones: Beggar's Banquet Another day closer to Friday night & the tour opener! (What am I doing? I'm 52 years old!) Still healthy enough to enjoy it!!!

A beautiful day with perfect temps.. Good to be out West again. Today was just like my moniker most of the way. Playlist: Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers E72: Olympia Hall, night 1 The Music of Bill Munroe: Volumes 1 thru 4 So, mostly whiling away the long hours on the road with Bill Munroe doing his incredible thing with the mandolin. That guy is THE mandolin player. So, right on schedule for Friday night. Getting psyched, but at this age it's all pretty laid back till the music starts. Am curious as to how the West Coast Furthur scene differs from the East Coast. More mellow is fine with me. Hoping to meet up with a lot of good people (you know, the Kind ones). Mean people suck! ~ Well I'm going down this long, lonesome road and I don't want to be treated this old way! ~

Well, I made it in 4 days. 48 hours of driving. Beat the GPS by 4 hours. The traffic around Portland is Murderous. What the hell happened to Portland? Like Chicago, it's turned into "Portland Land". Talk about sprawl! So, saw some Furthur hitch-hikers right out on 5S but I didn't have room to pick them up. Hope John Q Law didn't hassle him. Far from the days in the early to mid 80s when you saw hundreds of people hitch-hiking. Am totally psyched to explore Eugene and check out the scene in town before heading out for the Cuthbert in the afternoon. Should be perfect weather if you like sunny in the 80s with eau de'round-up fertilizer in the air. Yup, it's that time of year... Playlist: Love Is The Song We Sing San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970 Volumes 1-4 The Grateful Dead contribute: Can't Come Down (as the Charlatans) Dark Star (original single release with banjo breakdown at the end) The Golden Road E72 Paris: Olympia Hall night 2 Rolling Stones: Through The Past Darkly Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street So, time for the real fun to begin. I'll post the list along with whatever interesting social commentary seems appropriate. Thanks to all the people who encouraged me to write this and those that want to hook up with me because of posting I've written. Hope my ugly, un-hippie like appearance is acceptable Saw this sign from some pan-handlers -- ~ We may be ugly but We still be Hungry! ~

I:Feel Like a Sranger> Shakedown Street; New, New, Minglewood Blues; Dire Wolf' It takes A Train To Cry; Cumberland Blues Pride Of Cukamunga. !!: The Music never Stopped; The Golden Road (To unlimited devotion); Strawberry Fields Forever> 'The Other One> Wharf Rat> Uncle John's Band; Help On The Way> Sliplno!> Franklins Tower Donor Rap E: Ripple 94 degrees at 5PM

I forgot a "The Wheel" from last night's show. Jeez', one of the better songs with the harmonies and all, all night. Think it was after The Other One. Phil said before the donor rap last night that they loved to play in Eugene. It was one of their favorite places. The cops were hassling street looking people for vending and camping on Thursday night and up till about 6pm on Saturday. McNally is quoted in the Eugene paper this morning as saying the band has supported such policies since the late 80s. The production is by Kesey & Family. They aren't bothering anyone. The Kesey security folks or the vendors. This is mellow and tame. Anyway, last night was a little spacey and tonight should be better!

I:Playing In The Band> Crazy Fingers> One-eyed Jacks (Bob's new tune); Brown-Eyed Women; Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues; Catfish John Throwing Stones> Casey Jones II: Jack Straw; Bertha> Estimated Prophet> Dark Star> Caution> (My list says "The It", must've been the shrooms) Eyes Of the World> Black Peter; China cat Sunflower> I know U Rider. E: One More Saturday Night Beautiful weather and a great show this evening. First time in a long time like I've felt I've had a lot of family around me, even though there are fewer and fewer of us left on tour. Phil was OUTstanding on Tom Thumb's The Throwing Stones had good moments. They threw in the current up-tempo version of Casey Jones. This show reminded what I came on tour for. I actually got up on my toes and heals and danced, a lot! There was really good playing here to the end. This was what I was expecting. I give this show 3.5 stars because Dark Star didn't go anywhere. Nothing left to do but smile, smile smile!!!

Can't speak much to the above post. But I'll say there is a little edge to the vibe this year, or maybe just in this town. Eugene has it's own peculiarities that are generally very well meant. But there are always people who pull rank and let you know they have the power in this little part of the world... Shakedown St. is also very edgy this year. There are a lot of people whoi just got out of jail hanging around Shakedown. Hey, everybody has to live. I'm just as happy to be off shakedown or sell my stickers in a more low-key place. My stickers are: May The Baby Jesus Shut Your Mouth & Open Your Mind May The Enlightened Buddha Shut Your Mouth & Open Your Mind F*U*R*T*H*U*R Than you'v'e gone before. I'm also doing Tibetan divinations First Show mistake in the list: Cassidy to end the 1st set. Bob cut it offf after Cassidy, peremptorily ending it. Second show mistake: GTed was right: Big Bad Blues is the new Bob tune that song was The Eleven. I hope all the edginess goes away, as I thinbk it well when the tour moves on after tonight's show. Gotta say the crowd average age is a tad lower than mine. Big 18-25 percentage but bigger 45-60 percentage. More older people than younger ones attached to their smart phones. But most people have put therm away are truly out there to people watch and be interactive. It is SUCH the opposite of having your head stuck inside a computer. Have a grateful day, especially Mona,

...LOOK for me in the middle view on the path dividing the upper lawn from the lower before the show and during the intermission. Love to meet'ya and see how the music is treatin' ya!

I:Jam> Truckin'> Good Lovin;; Operator; Hell In A Bucket Don't Ease Me In Mason's Children JK song "stand by you" Little Light II: Lost Sailor> St. Of Circumstance; Dear Mr. Fantasy St, Stephen Mountain Meadow (Phil's?) Let It Grow; Unbroken Chain So many Roads GDTRFB> We Bid you Good Night Phil's Donor rap E: Touch Of Grey Good, solid show to the run,

This ride is pretty boring except after Spokane when you cross the Rockies. Two passes there you don't want to tangle with in bad weather (4th of July & Lookout passes). Then you come into Lake Couer D'aleine, OMG!!!! The mountains overlooking the placid lake were majestic in this last great breeding ground American Golden Eagle. Now I know where the designer came up with Mountain Group motif on one side. My playlist for this 650 mile ride: E72 Vol. 15 Jefferson Airplane's Greatest Hits Neil Young's Comes A Time Bob Dylan's New Morning Hunter's Great Tales Of The Rumrunners (Promontory Rider - Territory Ranger!) Rolling Stones: Their Satanic majesties Request Thank's GTed for the corrections. ~ When logic and proportion Have fallen sloppy dead And the white knight is moving backward And the red queen's on her head Remember what the doormouse said Feed Your Head! Feed Your Head!! Ahhh, Missoula, I left a little piece of my heart here.

Yeah man, the weather is sunny and warm in the 70-80 range . Should be a good show tonight. I heard the roadies doing a sound check at Adams this morning at 9:45am when I stepped out for breakfast. Lot of heads walking around. The locals are asking questions like -- Who are these colorful people? I saw a Head going fly-fishing in the Blackwater River. He does catch & release. Could you say: ~ A bad day fishin' is better than a good night at a Furthur show ~ Nahhhh, just wouldn't be true even if a River Run Through It.

Fixing A Hole I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in And stops my mind from wandering Where will it go I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door And kept my mind from wandering Where will it go And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right Where I belong I'm right Where I belong. See the people standing there who disagree and never win And wonder why they don't get in my door. I'm painting my room in the colourful way And when my mind is wandering There I will go. And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right Where I belong I'm right Where I belong. Silly people run around they worry me And never ask me why they don't get past my door. I'm taking the time for a number of things That weren't important yesterday And I still go. I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in And stops my mind from wandering Where it will go.

I:Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodoloo> Last Time> Alabama Getaway; It's All Over Now; An Octopus's Garden; Lazy River Road Althea; Big River; New, New Speedway Boogie II: Celebration? (New Phil/Bob) Sugar Magnolia> Scarlet Begonias? Fire On The Mountain; He's Gone Drumz? King Salomon's Marbles; Sugaree; Viola Lee Blues> Sugar Magnolia Phil's Donor Rap E: It's All Over Now Baby Blue Wow, Gotta say that Furthur made a definitive statement at the Adam's this evening in Missoula. The band put in 100% effort all night long from the opening three songs. This was very evident on the mind-bending jam during Lazy River Road (Yeah, it was that good). The only thing that fell a little flat all night long was the He's Gone, otherwise ever other number was very well jammed out. The sound was pouring off the stage. This band was sending a message they were real and felt like playing. Along with the light show this was real psychedelic music. The kind that hardly anybody plays anymore. Oh yeah, and the acoustics were the kind where you could feel Phil's bass in your gut. Giving this show 4.5 stars. Well worth a listen.

I:Cosmic Charlie> Loose Lucy; Alligator>Jam> Friend Of The Devil; Deal; Doin' That Rag; Passenger II: Here Comes Sunshine> Foolish Heart> Lovelight> Colors Of The Rain (Phil)> All Along The Watchtower> Terrapin Station> At a Siding> Comes A Time> We Love You (Beatles) Not Fade Away Phil's Donor Rap E: US Blues Although the set-list looks good and there were definitely moments in tonight's show (Terrapin>At a siding; We Love You), this was a let down from last night's show., understandably. The cops were being intense about vending and there was no real before show scene. Maybe 5000 people in an arena meant for 12,0000. Always very comfortable! Only giving 2.5 stars. Ho-hum... Red Rocks here we come!!

Salt Lake to Denver is not such a bad hall. Saw the buses posting up at the rest stop at I80 & I25. Even as I made it in around 8:00pm after visiting friends in Fort Collins, there were many heads already registered here, 10 miles from the venue. The prevailing opinion on tour among "deadheads" (those who have seen Jerry play) is that they are playing better than any post-92 Grateful Dead. While I wouldn't go that far, I am willing to say that this band is really hitting it's stride and rocking out. If you have a chance to see anything on this tour I strongly recommend that you go for it. All those back east and Mid-West will have their chance in the Fall, but it'll be a grueling schedule for the boys and they may tucker out some, 'specially with two runs of 5 different cites in in 5 nights. The shows are sold out at red Rocks this weekend with a few thousand people looking for tickets. This should be the most intense crowd energy of the whole tour. People are psyched and generally very happy and upbeat. The by far lesser amounts of intensity in the crowd at Furthur distinguishes it from the day (as well, of course, as missing Jerry). There are a lot of people in the 45-60 and subset 60-75 crowd who just aren't up to partying liike it used to be. It's really chill to deal with people who have it together and there generally being a lot of space. Play list for Day 11: E72 Vol. 15: Rotterdam New Riders Of The Purple Sage: Greatest Hits Texas Blues w/other famous blues hits (Etta James doing Wang Dang Doodle, etc.) ~ The east is the beast But the West is the best ~

Love with your handsLove him with the dance Everybody Everybody come on come on Listen Listen We lift our voices to bless you We lift our hands to reach you We lift our hearts to love you Holy years of wonder We presents in times our body's Living sacrifices Holy and acceptable Hold on to you We love you Lift up your voices and say this We love you lord we love you (say that with me say) We love you lord, we love you We lift our voices to bless you We lift our hands to reach you We lift our hearts to love you Holy years of wonder We presents in times our body's Living sacrifices Holy and acceptable On to you We love you lord we love you (say it again we love you lord we love you) We love you lord, we love you How can i repay you All you done for me How can i say thank you A million times Strong and mighty and able Prompt and great in your favor My heart proclame the truth That i'm in love with you We lift our voices to bless you We lift our hands to reach you We lift our hearts to love you Holy years of wonder We presents in times our body's Living sacrifices Holy and acceptable On to you (x2) (Let me see your claps those hands and say) We love you lord we love you We love you lord we love you (and he is good) good (good) good (real good) good (beter than) good (mighty good) good (on the bad day) good (still good) good (anybody now) good (that he is holy) holy (holy) holy (is it love) holy (gotta be) holy (clean) holy (richeous) holy (holy) holy (holy) holy (wonderful) wonderful (ah!) wonderful (jesus) wonderful (he is) wonderful (incredible) wonderful (phenomenal) wonderful [ These are We Love You Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ] Good call JFSC, I thought it was a Beatles tune!

I:Mexican Hat Dance tuning> Aiko-Aiko> Greatest Story Ever Told; Cold Rain & Snow; Me & My Uncle; Ramble On Rose Loser; Money For Gas; Box Of Rain II: Easy...> * Hard Too Handle" Two Souls In Communion Cryptical Envelopment> The Other One> Cryptical> The Wheel> Death Don't Have No Mercy; China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider. Phil;s Donor Rap E:he Attics Of My Life With Chris Robertson(???)

The highlights were: Cold rain & Snow; Money For gas; Two Souls In Communion;; Wheel>Death Don't Have No Mercy In This Lans Having said that, this show was a bit flat. Will have to give it another listen but based on last night's experience we're giving 2.5 stars.. There were plenty of moments to dance even so. Red Rocks is a beautiful place and I'm really glad I had a chance to visit. The people running the shows are mellow (except for the Nazi searching people going in to the show). If you ever get a chance to see a show here (if you haven't before) you definitely want to see this place overlooking the Den ver skyline. Obviously, my rendering of the Stones song We Love You is wrong. I'll try to post the lyrics here. It is the best new cover they are playing IMHO. Over'n'out, back through the looking glass!