One more Saturday night at Winterland! Yes, we're back to home base for DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 42, the complete show from Winterland, San Francisco, 2/23/74. The one that featured the earliest amalgamation of what would soon become the Wall of Sound, the one that is so "loud, clear, and defined," it's been ripe for release for quite some time and we're glad it's finally getting its due.
First set or second, there are no wrong answers here. From the unique show opener of Chuck Berry's "Around And Around" and an incredible "Here Comes Sunshine" that would then disappear for 18 years, to a medley of WAKE OF THE FLOOD tracks - "Row Jimmy," "Weather Report Suite," and "Stella Blue" - cementing their status in the canon and an unstoppable hour through the classic 1973-1974 Dead that is “He’s Gone”>“Truckin’”>“Drums”>“The Other One”>“Eyes Of The World,” it's all exceptionally hot.
Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 42: WINTERLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, 2/23/74 was recorded by Kidd Candelario and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.
Crypto
IMO that’s the problem with cryptocurrency - no one can really explain it. Based on what I know it sits somewhere in the middle of at least three really complex domains - technology, finance/economics, and governmental policy/politics. You hear a lot of people from any one of the three give you a really great explanation of why its the next big thing (mainly the tech folks from my experience), but they are completely out of their depth when talking about the other fields (monetary or governmental aspects for the tech people).
I have a 0.0001% understanding of the tech side, and I believe people when they tell me that the blockchain is truly novel development. But I don’t think anyone has developed a killer app for it yet. Cryptocurrencies in particular - the most well known blockchain application, float somewhere between fixing a problem that doesn’t exist (if you’re in the US at least - replacing the dollar, or really any other currency), and acting as a facilitator for laundering money and financing illegal activity. But those actions will never be sanctioned by any modern, western government anyway. And those are the governments in whose money real, productive actors can trust, and no one has any logical explanation for why the US government would encourage or facilitate a competitor to the US dollar - it’s dominance and the immense soft power that comes along with it are not going to be relinquished.
I look at crypto/blockchain/NFTs now kind of like the internet in the early 90s. A fair bit of it may be useful and the technology will develop and eventually be used in productive endeavors. But to try to guess which ones those will be at this point is incredibly risky. If you want to try to invest in it I would suggest trying to cast as wide a net as possible to take part in a moonshot perhaps, but also be in a lot of duds along with it.
BTW, revisiting 1-22-78, McArthur Court - what a great show. High energy hard rocking stuff, from Minglewood on. I took a pause at Terrapin; hope to finish off the show doing some yard work tomorrow.
Cryptocurrency/Streaming
Let me first state this: I am an idiot.
Having gotten that out of the way, I would no more invest in crypto than I would transition my music collection to an all streaming model. My question is…what do I own?? I can’t see it, can’t touch it, can’t even show it to you. I realize that I am a luddite, but could someone please explain this to me. What the f*€k do I own?? Where is it?? Why can’t I touch it??
You may now resume your total enjoyment of the McArthur Court show.
This has been an editorial from the idiots for democracy group.
crypto - it's a mystery to me
The most shocking thing I've heard recently is that half the power in the world will be used keeping the "secret" number!
Even more shocking was the majority of electricity will be used in streaming!!!
I'm an idiot also and would probably never buy any (never say never). But they install a crypto machine at the store. People come in and shove cash into this machine and get some form of "coin". We believe they're drug dealers!
Crypto
Someone smarter and more ambitious - not to mention someone less troubled by pesky things like ethics - needs to develop the God Coin. I'm pretty sure they'd be the richest person on the planet inside of a year.
If any of you want to take this idea and run with it, just remember to tithe me my 10%.
Crypto, crypto, wherever you are....
First, Vguy generously suggests that "there are some really smart people on here," and I'm thinking, "Well, why don't they post any comments?"
Then several smart(asses) reintroduce themselves using the opening line: "I'm an idiot," before demonstrating that they have common sense, which, as we all know, is in short supply these days.
I mean, I'm good -- unless this confessional thing catches on and I begin to spew. There's just so much you folks don't want to know! After polluting this forum with endless "stories," I still haven't even scratched the surface. (Depravity R Us...)
Ah, the Dutch tulip craze. It's one of the main chapters in another book I recommend: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles MacKay (1841) -- sadly, a remarkable work of insights for our times, only 180 years old.
I know only one or two things about crypto: you can't touch it and it's going down, down, down. What Freddie King coulda done with those lyrics. Oh, wait...
6/20/69. Aoxomoxoa release date
53 years ago today, Aoxomoxoa was released. It's one of my favorite Dead albums. Aoxomoxoa & Anthem of the Sun, are my two favorite 50th anniversary releases so far. I like the original version so much more then the remixed version. It would have been nice if he Dead would have brought back Mts of the Moon. and Doin that Rag. Also on this date, the Dead started a great 3 day run at the Fillmore East that would make a great box set.
Stoltzy strikes again!
Mr. Proudfus - thanks once again for your recommendations. I listened to 11-19-72 this weekend at your urging and yes it is spectacular. I listened to the jam two more time over the weekend.
Dennis
I’m not trying to bankrupt you, but the Miles Davis site is offering “What It Is - Montreal 7/7/83” as a 2 LP record store release, $25. Not sure if it is limited edition, but while you had your wallet out…
As for crypto, I think Slow Dog Noodle said it best, how it lurks at the vector of three powerful societal forces, with just enough ambiguity and lack of clarity to make it an investment only for the most daring, or insiders. To me, it always seems like something dreamed up by illegitimate cartels and bad actors to finance and hide their illicit and nefarious deeds. I have enough trouble managing a retirement portfolio of blue chippers and emerging companies, with full public disclosure, and lawful accounting practices; Cryptocurrency is just a little too shadowy for my risk appetite.
I'm not a idiot...
Coz I used to understand things. One is either born an idiot or one is not. If you weren't born an idiot, then you won't become one. I used to understand things but now there are plenty of new-fangled things that I don't understand so there is something else at work here, like senility or some other form of brain-rot. Or maybe the things I don't understand are so half-assed that they cannot be understood by any sentient being. Like ephemeral moolah. Why is it called crypto and where is the crypt anyway? Nobody seems willing or able to explain that. How hard can it be? Try asking the government of El Salvador who made the stuff legal. They even spent bazillions of taxpayers real money buying it and suddenly it's lost 2/3 of it's value. Somehow they still have the same amount of shitcoins but most of their real money has disappeared. Try explaining that to the masses when they turn up at the gates of the government building demanding to know why the coffers are almost empty.
As for NFTs, what is that? Non Fungal Tokes or something like that, but again it appears to be something you can buy for a buttload of money and at the end of the day you have nothing to show for it. A fool and his money... etc. I managed just fine before these things were imagined and I'm still doing all right without them. I suspect that it's a creation of the devil and as such can best be given a wide berth. So there.
Smart ass, who you calling smart ass?
Why I outta…
I resent, er a, resemble that remark! ; )
HF, oh do tell, ya know ya gotta get it out, and some of us old duffs are bored off our asses with life so need some vicarious hijinks (not to be confused with the adventures of mr jinks)
Dutch Tulip craze: who knows how that might of shook out if they’d had ole Tiny Tim around?
CRYPTO: the great Sgt. Shultz nails it yet again, “Col.Hooooggaaaan, I know nothing”
Holy Guacamole Batman, this Garcia!Live Vol 18 is a real Bobbie Dazzler!
Good tight lineup perhaps at their peak, good set list, only recall Tough Mama having some hiccups, awesome Beatty board that sounds great after brief initial tape anomalies (do they plangent these? I’ll have to look…)
I’m sure some folks prefer more of the “normal” stuff that came later, but these early seventies local gigs with this lineup playing Soul Jazz and Jazz are some of my favorite all time Garcia.
Idiot wind
Some people are born idiots, some achieve idiocy and some have idiocy thrust upon them. In my case, it's a combination of all three. My period of maximum lucidity and connectedness with society occurred when I was between the ages of 30 and 50 roughly. Things were a bit confusing before and after then. But on the whole, I think I am happier in the state of idiocy.
No idea what cryptogram is, obviously. I'd much rather improve my guitar playing skills than learn about stuff like that.
Listening to 5/19/74 and reading the positive comments about Garcia Live 18 -which I think is from the same sort of timespan - makes me feel tempted to seek it out. I haven't kept up with live Garcia releases.
Best record I have played today-"My World Is Empty Without You" by The Supremes. My God.
That Mike in Montreal
I saw and ordered that one last night. Jeff just said it's on the way.
I was really hoping to find a digital copy (cd), so I can listen.
Like Jimmy Castor sings,,,, "gotta find a turntable, gotta find a turntable, gotta find a turntable".
I could just reach in a grab one and say "come here"
(a little novelty blast from the past. Never a blast from the future?)
Dennis - Turntable
I knew you’d get it! You got great taste, Dennis! If you get your hands on a turntable, or a friend with a turntable and a great sound system that wants to hear The Master Play, I’d like to hear your scouting report on it.
I’m hoping the estate has a lot more stuff to release, too. Maybe our own Dave Lemieux…
is crypto...
like centavos??? Discerning idiots want to know...starting in 1969 me and three other friends (who strangely enough are still kicking it) were labelled "The Blockheads" (From Gumby of course)...my pal Huntz had a snazzy Corvair ('63 maybe?)...we went everywhere in it so we named it buckets as "we came in buckets" an old R Crumb line....
Oh and by the way
the 55th Anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival just passed us by...I was 16 and I asked my Pop if there was any chance of my being able to go...he looked at me over his Bo Diddley glasses and said "Are you Fuckin' crazy???''...HA much less what Mom would've said...
What type of sunglasses does Ned Flanders wear?....
....Oakley Doakleys.
Blonde On Blonde...
was released 56 years ago today...no wonder my back aches...
In Palm Springs
HOT af
Nice place though
Go to RiversideCA to the Cheech
Museum of Chicano art
Veeeeeery cool
Palm Springs this time of year ....
I live full time in the Coachella Valley and can vouch for the heat in the summer (well, winter too, at least relatively speaking). We've only had a handful of days over 110 this year, so the REAL heat is still on the horizon.
On a different note, 11-19-72 is one of my favorites... I've had a soundboard cassette for 40 years ... Birdy, Box, Stars and Stripes Jam, but mostly that Dark Star with the Weather Report tease into 1/2 step.... not sure why, but it gets me every time!
Let's begin with cryptogamic soil, folks...
This is real and it is a feature of high desert soil in the American West and, apparently, known worldwide. Cyanobacteria and other organisms build vertical "castles made of sand" that can reach 4-6 inches in height and are amazing to examine up close. They serve to hold soil together in arid regions where vascular plants are too few and far between to hold the surface together so that it all doesn't just blow away in the wind. Serves the larger ecosystem in that way. It's like the Earth's skin. A few years back I was examining some really impressive examples and then reached for my walking stick, which I had laid on the ground. My pal warned me that a scorpion had scuttered under the stick and, indeed, without that warning, I'd have been bitten. (I always stand the stick upright now and use dead trees to stash my boots, sox, etc. when backpacking.)
Now, the scorpion is an amazing critter that has about 450 million years of evolutionary history on Earth without undergoing much change. That means it has survived a dozen or so major extinction events and come out stinging. Around here, they're an inch or two long. In the South Africa, they grow to 8 inches in length. Get this: in the Devonian period, 400 million years ago, sea scorpions grew to 8 FEET in length, but perished 150 million years later, though, obviously, this life form has survived in myriad forms. Today's lesson: not all "crypto" is for idiots...
Next up, Oro: a few truly salacious tales of misspent youth........
Oro
Good luck tomorrow night. I think game four decides the series. If the Avs, win, the Cup is yours. If the Bolts tie it, I think they win in 7. That being said, it all depends on Kucherov. If he is out with an injury, it's over. These two teams are awesome to watch. Just a reminder of my prediction back in April which is posted below.
Yes. I think Colorado is the team to beat.
The President’s trophy winner rarely brings home the Cup. Say goodbye to the Panthers.
It’s extraordinarily difficult to win the Cup three times in a row. Say goodbye to the Lightning.
We all know how the teams from Canadaland have performed over the last 25 years or so. I’ll be backing the Oilers in the west and the Leafs in the east. I’m truly hoping this is the year the Cup heads across the border. It’s been way too long. Regardless, say goodbye to our brothers to the north. All of them.
That leaves Colorado. Good luck to your local boys.
So, Spotify led me to a band called....
....King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Band from Australia. Styles all over the place. These guys are pretty damn good. Any of you ever check em out?
Don't Step On The Cryptogamic!
Greek or Latin for hidden marriage? Still have my first hand drawn warning pamphlet from a visit in 1980 to the Needles District in Canyonlands. The Park Service was new on this thing to protect the integrity of the soil. No big ranger station then, just a beat up single wide trailer that was closed when we got there around sunset. Didn't get a map or even see the brochures. Navigated from our own topos. A 3 day, 35 mile trek all the way down to the Colorado River (below the confluence with the Green R.) and back up through the lanes (Devil's Lane is a must see) and the slot canyons. The most spectacular and colorful terrain I have ever hiked through. Confession time: We bushwhacked many times off trail and had two dogs with us, a big no-no. We had to lower the dogs down some sections with a short rope and our belts as they aren't that good at rappelling. Had to drink boiled water from potholes as we totally underestimated the scale of our endeavor. Practically a death march down to Spanish Bottoms where we filtered the muddy water through bandanas before boiling. Camped at the bottoms across from the pull-in for some really big rafts with lots of customers. We were so jealous eating our freeze dried or ramen while we could hear an outrageous party across the din of the river and smell their steaks cooking. I think there's a big rapid right below there. Long story short we felt pretty bad when we were leaving and picked up the brochures stating no dogs and no bushwhacking. Luckily we did not harm the cryptogamic soil as one of the group was a biologist and future lifelong Park Service and Forest Service employee. I have hiked that area many more times but all day hiking. Got to see the Yellow Man pictograph on one a couple years later. It inspired my wife to become an archaeologist and a published author (her graduate studies thesis) of a study of the rock art of Nine Mile Canyon in N.E. Utah. We still go to the Needles District as often as we can and stay in the Squaw Flats campground (will they rename that now?) at a campsite we call Mushroom Rock for obvious reasons.
Cheers, summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the streets!
P.S. Just read an encouraging article about the beautiful Utah red rock country: Tribal Leaders and Feds Reestablish Bears Ears Commission. Hope they can undo the damage caused by Zinke et.al.
PS...no, not Betty Ford (lol)
A short visit to plot out retirement years activities
Retirement in 7 yearz ifn Im lucky
King Gizzard et al
My son turned me on to them a while back
Neopsychedelia
"Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake"
It makes sense in the song/video
OMG....
....Trey Anastasio played a solo acoustic show last night in Grand Rapids and a seven year old girl was holding up a sign saying "Can I sing Bug with you?" with a heart. And he invited her on stage and she nailed it.
Shit like this gives me hope in this crazy world. Thank you Trey. You made me tear up watching that. Class. Act.
AJS
I concur, it’s do or die time.
Game 4 should be a biggy!
Boys seemed a little mortal, or flat last night, and Kuemper was just plain no bueno!
Getting a little nervous. I know the AVs aren’t the Rangers, but the Bolts game back from down 2 games in the final, so…would love to see the AVs win it for game five at home for the fans etc. there’d be one hell of a party in LoDo on Friday night, but holding my breath until when/if I actually get to watch MacKinnon hoist that puppy.
EDIT: that Bug video made my morning! Got both me and the other half choked up.
Thanks, Oro for pushing…
Thanks, Oro for pushing Garcia vol 18. I needed some nudging to put this one on, and it truly is one dazzling show, esp the second set. It’s just my humble opinion, but it is one heck of a showcase for Paul Humphrey. His drumming just makes this show. Gonna go pull out Hot Rats - Gumbo Variations, anyone?
Needles District
I lived and worked there from February 1979 to end of April of 79. Then had to double back to northern Montana and take my old job again in the backcountry of Glacier National Park.
I still walk several miles a day here in the mountains of southern New Mexico. I do have an old nickname of over 40 years to uphold.
Monsoons arrived in force.
Libre Fuerza Aerea Mexicana!
Free festivals
Fascinating glimpse into the Free Festival movement in England in the 1980's with a rare screening of "Hawkwind Live at Stonehenge- Summer Solstice 1984". It was shown in the early hours this morning, and it is on again on Sunday on Sky Arts.
Compared to what festival sites look like now, it all seems very poverty stricken and a little seedy. Bedraggled looking people huddled round camp fires, humble tents, blackboards with the names of all manner of drugs chalked on them. Probably similar to what's on offer at the big corporate events of today, thinking about it - but now it's the norm - then it was very alternative.
The music is weird and wacky - but not really too good, unfortunately.
GarciaLive 18
Funny, I prefer the first set as a set. Although I love Freedom Jazz Dance from the second, Merle's Wondering Why goes on and on and doesn't do much for me. I'll give it another listen. We were all dancin' during the first set last night while I cooked dinner.
Hey those of you who know
When is a general time to expect the new Daves announcenment? July? August?
Just hi-curious....
My name is Butters…
I’m hi-curious! ; )
Good question PF, I know it usually drops around the first of august so probably not until 2-3 weeks before : (
well...
the past few days was the 53rd Anniversary of the Newport Pop Festival in Northridge CA 1969...Jimi played twice, Spirit tore it up as did Johnny Winter & Jethro Tull...over the three days I don't think we slept over 6 hrs total...some fun....and the doses were free!
5/19/74
Is incredible too. Maybe a bit light on long jams - the one coming out of Truckin' may be the centre piece, but every song is played really well, and Jerry's guitar sounds superb.
It's probably been mentioned before, but I wonder how loud these 1974 shows were if you were actually there. They sound very quite, listening at home. Almost delicate. Especially compared to live shows I saw at that time-Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, etc who were so loud you couldn't hear for a week. I have just played the live 1973 show from Sabbath's Volume 4 super deluxe bollocks - a show I attended, as it goes - and even playing the cd quietly, you can sense how loud it was in the hall. The Dead sound almost acoustic by comparison.