Grateful Dead

hands down, no question, in person: the final song for Dear Jerry at Jerryweather Post Pavilion back in May 2015. Just about everyone who performed that night came back on stage for that finale.

So is this why Joni appeared at Newport, to hawk her new box set? Hmmmm…

Favourite Ripple - just a remarkable piece of writing (tip of the cap to Robert Hunter) and playing. A song anyone, even a Non-DH, could love. If you can’t get with Ripple, check your pulse.

1st Derek connection was in a place so small I could have reached out and tuned his e-string. I thought, "not bad for a young man!" This was Dec. 2000. My next appreciation came in 2016 at NOLA Jazzfest. Sonny Landreth, Gary Clark, Jr. and then TTB. I became very emotional during MIH. Next time I saw them was in Nashville, back in St. Louis, Nashville, and so on, but my youngest daughter and I met Derek and Susan outside the Robbie in Little Rock. It was a great show, but they'd played Austin the night before and, upon listening, I have no idea how they could have played as strongly as they did in Ar.
Anyhow, they treated us to a few from the first few albums - Don't Let Me Slide, Do I Look Worried and Until You Remember - the horns intro on the latter gets me every time (back in NOLA). Then a pair from Crescent and a pair from Ascension. And then seven members left the stage to the two drummers, keys and bass and Derek, for Pasaquan. My Dead center, few rows back, balcony seat was paid for here. Darn, that was something!
The second set brought members from Gabe's and Lobo's band for a good number of the tunes. They did Get Out My Life Woman with 15 people on stage - whoa! - but I think maybe a better choice would have been Down In the Flood. Space Captain left us in a jaunty way as we left my fave venue in St. Louis - 50 years ago our heroes played the same stage. It really is a cool place!!!

....the time is nigh.

I'm with Billy TK on this!
I'll go one step further and say most of the songs on American Beauty are the definitive versions, with the exception of Truckin' and Sugar Magnolia, my opinion of course. Ripple, Box of Rain and Brokedown Palace are just exactly perfect. My wife doesn't like the Dead, but she really likes these three for their soulfulness and perfect harmonies.

i wish they would release a 1990 MSG box set

Hey VGuy, looking forward to seeing you (and Nappy and Hendrixfreak, hopefully) at Red Rocks! Sent a pm, maybe it didn't go through, so I'll just post here: I'll be tailgating with the wife and some friends outside the venue on Saturday, hope we can hook up then? I'll be the tall geeky white dude with long gray hair, probably wearing a Giants cap and an ABB shirt. Hope to see you cats!

I'll be there. If you're going also, be sure to look me up and say, "Howdy," or maybe hoist a cold one with me.

I've shared so much about my personal life on these pages that I should be easily recognizable among the masses.

Cheers!

....when I remember. I'm not a huge fan of flying. Deep breaths.

to flight attendant: “I’ll take 2 beers and a triple scotch”
FA: “but sir..”
Vguy: DOCTORS ORDERS, NOW!”

I'm attending TTB on Saturday, 10th row center, with my illustrious cousin, the Great Fredini.

Between bands I'll be on the stairs, audience left, at or near a drink emporium. Nappy has my mobile #. I'll be carrying or wearing a Hamms beer hat. Heh heh heh...

Would enjoy meeting up.

Last 5 are on the periphery of the Grateful Dead:
Mickey Hart - Mystery Box
(A very underrated album)
Bob Weir & Wolf Bros - Live In Colorado

Melvin Seals - Melting Pot

Nicky Hopkins - The Tin Man Was A Dreamer
(Poor health and bad habits took this studio master far too soon)

Robert Hunter - Box of Rain
(I think this is his best album, and I somehow got my hands on the accompanying book by the same name of his master lyrics. Next to maybe Bob Dylan, no one could turn a phrase like Robert Hunter)

Looks like this Dave's is released on the same day as the Europe 72 stuff, so if anyone is wondering why they never got a shipping notification, it is probably backed up a little bit. I'm just as impatient as the rest of you, but nothing left to do..

5 months since they offered the lyceum box set 9 months since the dave's subscription was issued IMHO there is no excuse for being this scattered and F'd up. I suggest that the website crashed the other day and they obviously had to recover from a backup since there are all sorts of items that sold out long ago back on the website. Regardless they should be communicating with the people that have purchased these and at the very least the downloads should be working, they are not. Finally they just don't answer because they already have our money. Most retailers will not charge you for anything preorder until they have it and it is ready to go out.

....I made it! Feel better with my feet on the ground. Now time to check out some dispensaries.
I love Hart's Mystery Box.
Btw Google Las Vegas monsoon. Holy shit it was intense.
Lightning struck a light pole not two streets over from my house. Casinos flooded. Rolling thunder indeed.

Hope you guys have a great time and good shows! Welcome to Colorado!
Wish I was going! But for various reasons I cannot : (
Ce la vie, sigh…

Curious how/if y’all like that live Wolfies?
From what I’ve seen of them, not sure how much I’d spin it, but feel like I should get it since I missed going in my backyard..

Rolling Thunder, indeed! Did your plane take off in that deluge of rain??

My father used to fly a fair bit for his job, and his rule was always to sit at the back of the plane, and in his wry way, he explained he did that, because he “…never heard of a plane backing in to a mountain…”.

Both sets have arrived on the day of issue. Of course, as they aren’t limited sets I didn’t order them from dead.net. No news on DaP #43 yet. I hope to get a chance to play the new arrivals over the next few days and compare them to previous versions.

I should get the Joni ‘Asylum albums’ box and ‘Time Fades Away’ on the same day late in September as the NY release date has slipped back from mid-August.

Have fun at Red Rocks all of you. That show the other night in Aurora still has me abuzz-- especially regarding the Pasaquan. Easily the highlight of the show for me. When I think about that amazing jam, I think that listening to Derek Trucks play so beautifully on a track like that with the smaller band would be the akin to the 2022 version of seeing Jerry blazing a great 'Beautiful Jam' or 'Mind Left Body Jam' during a fall 1972 Dark Star-- but for 15 to 20 minutes. Or Duane Allman on Mountain Jam. Just a gorgeous theme to play around with. I hope they keep it in the repertoire for the long haul.

As Spacebrother said, TTB may hold Trucks back a bit from exploring fully-- Pasaquan lets him loose. Do not go for a beer or to the bathroom when everyone leaves the stage but DT, drummers, keys and bass. A great jam is forthcoming.

My two favorite bands in the world, on the same bill? Yes, we will enjoy.

As for leaving our seats while Derek is on stage: are you mad? a) we're professionals, b) what the !@#$%&*^%???

I too caught Derek many times with his DTB, yes, in tiny places like the Gothic Theater from the lip of the stage, and no, I don't hear the TTB holding him back, but I've only seen TTB 8-9 times, once with 800 people, otherwise nearly every Rocks show they played. (Not to mention ~10 ABB shows with Derek.) So maybe I'm clueless...

Oro-man: sorry you won't make it this weekend. Plan on another such show and we'll meet up. My niece's birthday is Saturday and I had to apologize for missing her dinner because "Tedeschi-Trucks Band is at Red Rocks." I got a totally blank look, but was forgiven because I made it sound like Jesus was back in town......

I saw on another forum that 2 people randomly received DaP43 today without any notifications. Look in your mailboxes !!

'Nuff said.
Maybe I can have that dream I had again and see you there.
Life gets in the way when you least expect it.
My 65th tomorrow so I got that goin' for me.
Never expected to get this far!
Cheers Red Rockers!

....no. It had cleared out by this morning.
I intentionally went to bed early so I could get a few more hours of sleep to be at the airport by 4:30. Monsoon woke me up, so those plans were dashed. I'm a little tired, but I'll make it through. Couple hour nap at the hotel upcoming.
Edit. Holy Potholes Batman! Denver roads need some work.

Maybe by some cosmic recompense for having to wade through pages and pages of international shipping gripes over on the MSG box set page, some forces saw fit to drop #17,103/25,000 at my door in Uptown, Chicago.

Can't wait to dig into these shows. The setlist is pretty cut up between the shows, but that's no problem for the contemporary listener. The material is all here, plus a few extra goodies - a couple of pics I haven't seen before that are pretty good. Who expected Abe Lincoln to make his Dave's Picks debut in the dog days of 2022? Enjoy this one when you get it, and someone tap me on the shoulder when its safe to pick my head up over in that MSG slag heap.

no tracking emails random #43 showing up. On 7-20 the dead site was fubar for about an hour or more I suspect they got hacked and are not disclosing that.

Rhino has a new remaster of "Waiting For Columbus" out today, which includes complete copies of the three concerts that the original release was culled from! Yay, Rhino!

Be kind, rewind.

George Clinton and P-Funk at the zoo's meadow.

GGRREEAATT SSHHOOWW

if TTB is half as lively, I am sure I will like them.

It is a shame that the people that are now running the show, no longer care about the people that are paying them! I thought this CD was due out today! It hasn't shipped yet and they are not talking! That is no way to treat the people that are the bills! When I preorder something, I expect to receive it on the day it comes out, like we use to! Now, they can't even be bothered to let you know what is going on. If you continue to treat your long term supporters this way, we will stop!

Got mine today with no email at all! Good stuff!

....outstanding.

Hundreds of dead net regulars busted at Red Rocks. Dead net is not sure if it can continue and/or if it makes to keep maintain the site as it's user base is currently in locked up.

_______________

Oh wait.. weed is legal in Co. Nevermind.. as you were.

Not gonna spill the beans because I'm too lazy to regurgitate the info. But this is gonna be one sweet mutha, at least according to the variety and two Dark Stars I see. Plus, my man Pigpen has I think six classics in the mix. Right there, I'm a freakin' cheerleader.

Okay, gents, gotta get my beauty rest before tomorrow night's rilly big shew at RR....

....I need time to digest what I just witnessed.
Getting here earlier tomorrow.

This may very well be the worst Grateful Dead cover of all time.

———

a beard.

My motto: I get this stuff for the music, not the packaging.

(Head pops up!) Did you say six - Six!! - Pigpen classics?? Do tell.

And yea, the cover art on DaP 43 is ho hum, but classic cover art seems to be a dying art. The “worst” Dead cover art!? That might be a stretch, as I think “Ready or Not” holds that notoriety. Barf making.

Two of my all time favourite cover arts were the first “It’s A Beautiful Day” album, and Quicksilver’s “Happy Trails”. Like Max Parrish artwork, dreamlike, from another time.

Yes but still illegal out in public and in city parks, which Red Rocks used to be a Denver park system property. Not sure if that's still true. But that said you had to be trying pretty hard to get busted there unless you were gatecrashing at the Jethro Tull show that ended rock at The Rocks amidst teargas. Always a safe haven for heads. Be careful in the parking lots though.
On Tommy Two Tone: My buddy got punked by coworkers who left him a message to call "Janny" at 867-5309 back when that was a hit. He figured it out when he reread the message to "Tommy" when he goes by Tom. There was no answer. Great tune though! One hit wonder?
Cheers and give us a review when you've come back to earth Vguy.

Wait, I thought weed was legal here? WTF, Colorado?

But checking the website, marijuana is on the list of "prohibited items" at Red Rocks? (My wife keeps going around going "red rooocks red roooocks" like "redrum" in The Shining, Which is cracking me up but also kind of creeping me out. I need to get her to stop.) I'm thinking we'll chance it anyway. I think we'll be in the Upper South parking lot before, if anybody wants to stop by, Row 52 (yeah, I know, wish it was closer) center at the show.

Surprised people are already worried about shipping for the new DaP. Didn't it just get released yesterday? Let's be realistic. Generally my DaPs arrive 7-10 days after the release date. (And I live in Cali, which seems like would be faster shipping, it never is.) Relax, my friends. It'll get there.

Wonder why they never posted a track list for this one? I suppose we all know pretty much what a track list from this period is going to look like, but still. If anybody who knows can post it here, that'd be appreciated.

OK. I gotta get some coffee, some ice, beer, sandwhichs, get on over there.

My buddy sent me this in an email today,,, thought some might enjoy reading it....

THE LAST WALTZ BLUES JAM
by Bob Margolin
The more blues-driven musicians commandeered the instruments at the jam, and played some old favorite songs together, mostly Robert Johnson’s. This sounds like a common scene at open-mic jams at blues clubs, where more experienced blues players sometimes conspire to sit in together. It happened at about 7 am, the morning after The Band’s Last Waltz concert on Thanksgiving, 1976. The Band had hired the entire Miyako Hotel in San Francisco to accommodate their guests. The banquet room which had been used for rehearsal before the show was now the party room, and musicians had been jamming in random combinations since after the concert, many hours before. But unlike your local blues jam, every blues player that morning was a Rock Star.
Except me. I was there with Muddy Waters. who was invited to perform two songs at The Last Waltz. Muddy had recorded his Grammy-winning “Woodstock Album” the year before with Levon Helm and Garth Hudson from The Band, but The Band itself was an unknown quantity to him. He brought Pinetop Perkins and me from his own band to accompany him along with The Band and Paul Butterfield on harp, so that he would have something familiar to play with. Muddy also felt I was good at explaining what he wanted onstage to musicians he hadn’t worked with, though 25 years later, I still find myself wishing I knew more about what Muddy wanted.
Muddy, Pinetop, and I checked into the hotel the day before the show and went to the restaurant. I saw a few familiar faces from the Rock World, and some came over to say hello and pay respects to Muddy.
That night, Pinetop, Muddy, and I were scheduled to rehearse our songs for the show. I didn’t realize that some of those blues-oriented rock stars must have been in the room to watch Muddy.
The next night, at the concert, Muddy, Pinetop, and I waited backstage to perform. Pinetop told me he heard one of The Beatles was there, not realizing that Ringo was sitting right next to him. Born in 1913, Pinetop knew as much about The Beatles as I know about The Backstreet Boys. Joni Mitchell, looking impossibly beautiful, introduced herself to Muddy. He didn’t know who she was, and just saw her as a young pretty woman. He flirted but she didn’t respond.
I’m told that there was a backstage cocaine room, with a glass table and a “sniff-sniff” tape playing, but I never saw it. I did, however, see through Rolling Stone Ron Wood’s nearly-transparent prominent proboscis in profile. In the “green room,” Neil Young passed me a joint, smiling, “We’re all old hippies here.” Though I was 27, something about “old hippies” resonated with me for the future. Young was older than me by a few years and even had a couple of gray hairs then, but I remember thinking that nobody in that room was old yet except for Muddy and Pinetop. Now, I’m certainly an old hippie, though Pinetop, going strong at 88, is neither. As for Neil Young, film of his performance revealed a white rock up his nose, which was edited out frame-by-frame for the movie.
California Governor Jerry Brown popped in and invited Bob Dylan to get together with him sometime. Dylan, relaxed and outgoing until The Governor arrived, instantly turned sullen and distracted, barely nodding without looking at Brown. The uncomfortable Governor soon left, and Dylan laughed just before he was out of earshot and reverted to his friendlier mode. Something is happening here, but I don’t know what it is.
When it was our turn to play, Muddy and Pinetop sang the light, swinging “Caledonia” as they had for “The Woodstock Album.” In hindsight, I think Muddy could have presented himself more strongly with a deep slow blues like “Long Distance Call” which would feature his almighty slide guitar. But nobody could argue with his second song choice — “Mannish Boy” was always a show-stopper. It was preserved in full in The Last Waltz movie, which was released in ‘78. Harp player tip: Muddy loved the way Butterfield played on that song, setting up a warble that “holds my voice up” rather than just playing the song’s signature lick.
Fatefully, only one camera was operating during our song, zooming on Muddy, but not changing angle. Standing close to Muddy, I was in every frame. Pinetop, at the piano way off to the side, unfortunately was never seen in the film. But as Muddy hollers “I’m a MAN” and we shout “Yeah” to answer, as we always did in that song, you can hear Pinetop also yelling, “Wahoo!” — which is a line from a politically incorrect joke that Pine had heard on the road, and was fond of telling over and over in 1976.
Now, whenever The Last Waltz movie is shown on TV, a few people at my gigs tell me, “I saw you on TV!” and how I looked — happy or mad or scared or bored. I think they just project how they would feel. I was simply concentrating on playing, and particularly enjoying Muddy’s powerful shouting, Butterfield’s warbling-tension harp, Levon’s deep groove, and Robbie Robertson’s fiery guitar fills.
Eric Clapton followed us, and as he began his first solo, his guitar strap unfastened, and he nearly dropped his Stratocaster. In the movie, his lips distinctly mouth, “Fuck!” and as he refastens the strap, Robbie picks up the solo and runs away with it.
Muddy and Pinetop went right to their rooms after our set, but I went down to jam back at the hotel after the concert. This is where I realized that some of those blues-oriented rock stars had watched me rehearsing with Muddy and been impressed that I was playing Old School Chicago Blues in his road band and helping to arrange the songs for our performance. I also had a very cool blues guitar with me — my late-’50s Gibson ES-150 arch-top, which I also cradle on the cover of my latest album, “Hold Me To It.” Bob Dylan approached me and said he hoped we’d get to jam together. Then he disappeared. I did play “Hideaway” and some slow blues with Eric Clapton, whom I met that night. Dr. John sat at the piano for hours, and played along with everyone. My piano-playin’ sister Sherry, who lived nearby and was hanging out, sat near him, eyes glued to his funky fingers.
Around dawn, I put my old guitar back in its case, and started to leave. Bob Dylan caught me in the hall and said, “I thought we were going to jam…” I decided to stay awake a little longer. We had Dr. John on piano, Ron Wood on bass, Levon on drums, Butterfield on harp, and Clapton, Dylan, and myself playing guitars. There were no vocal microphones, and we all played softly enough to hear Dylan sing “Kind Hearted Woman” and a few other well-known blues songs. His trademark vocal eccentricities sounded outlandish in the blues, but he did make them his own. Generally, the blues we played that morning were not remarkable, but I was honored to be jamming with these fine musicians, and I realize that they belong to the same “club” as you do — deep blues lovers.
Recently, I read Levon Helm’s inside story of The Last Waltz in his autobiography, “This Wheel’s On Fire” (recommended!). I was shocked to find that because of time and budget constraints and Band politics, Muddy was nearly bumped from the show. Levon fought bitterly behind the scenes and prevailed to not only keep Muddy in but to indulge him with me and Pinetop too. We were treated as honored guests at The Last Waltz and I enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime jam afterwards, but Levon never told us about making a stand for us. He just made us welcome. Ultimately, this gracious, classy, and tough gentleman was responsible for my good time there.

What a killer release, keep them coming Dave.

....I'll try. Let me get the bad out of the way. Lots and lots of stairs.
Now for the good. One of the best food courts I've seen. They serve basically everything. And if you are near the top like I was, the constant smell of food pours down over you.
If there was a police presence, they must be undercover, because I didn't see any.
The sound there is top shelf. Wow. Towards the end of the show, the wind picked up and started bouncing the sound around the huge rocks and sounded even more amazing! (I was under the influence of psilocybin, so I may be compromised regarding that, but I don't think so).
Getting around is easy. Getting in and out was easy. This place has it all.
Now TTB. I literally cried a couple of times during the show. They are tight AF and brought it hard for 2+ hrs. When Susan really starts preaching, you better shut up and listen because she's got something to tell you. Members of Los Lobos came on and sat in for a couple of songs and that's some dream come true shit. At least to me.
I have GA tix so a shout out to my neighbors Jessica and Ross and Susan and Alan for waving me over when I reached upper GA and yelled out if anyone had room by them for one person. You people were the best.
I walked back to my car and drove to my hotel in stunned disbelief and didn't say a word.
Didn't see anyone being busted for anything and pot smoke was definitely evident in the air. Crowd was chill. How can you not be at a place like that!!!
I regret taking so long to finally visit the hollowed ground that is RR, but better late than never.
You all have a great Saturday.
I'll be wearing my Make America Grateful Again tee and my American Beauty brown bolt/roses cap tonight btw. Tall white dude with a white beard and glasses with a constant smile on my face. Can't miss me lol!

VGuy - RR sounds amazing, and I’ll bet the band was fantastic! I just received Part 3 - The Fall yesterday, so after I finish this interminable Honey Do List, I’ll break it out. Glad you enjoyed the show.

Dennis - Enjoyed reading the Last Waltz story, my favourite concert movie. When it was released in 1978, I knew I had to see the film, as I saw The Band on that, their last tour. Considering they got their start in Toronto, I thought it shitty the film got only limited release here at the time, but since I was in university then, I saw it repeatedly, even matinees, at a theatre no longer standing that was a block from where the Band (nee The Hawks) used to play at a long defunct club called Le Coq D’Or back in the early 60s with Ronnie Hawkins, and where Dylan came to hear them play. The rest was history. Great story, and Muddy’s performance was a highlight.

to chill while I get new tires.

I give my name

I sit down 10 feet away to wait and play the electronic crack game (phone ya know)

10 seconds later some dude in line tells me my drink is ready

Barista says she called my name

She must have whispered it

Oooo, theres a package! New Daves!

PSYCHE!

Postal person misdelivered a delivery for my neighbor.

>:(((

I'll hold or wear my Hamms beer hat, blue short sleeve shirt with very thin vertical stripes, gray pants, sandals, Fu Manchu with beard, short dirty blond/gray hair, goofy grin...

I'm having trouble with my ankle, so I'm not climbing to the top in search of you, but maybe halfway between my Row 10 and your GA section up top. I told Nappyrags I'd be on the outside stairs, Row 10, between bands -- especially after Gabe Dixon but well before Los Lobos hits the stage.

Try to come down for a brief hang. I'll have treats for ya! If I can make 2023 and 2024 shows, I'll have put in 50 years at the Rocks. Fortunately, not making little ones out of big ones, if you know your prison lore....

HF

...but #23818 has arrived in sunny Southern California. Now if only that Little Feat box from Rhino would get its butt over here.

No notice, just a delivery a few minutes ago.

I've told this to you all a million times, but a group in the Twin Cities has been recreating The Last Waltz on stage once per year for about 15 years. It's a very cool event.

Be kind, rewind.

....I'm going early to try and get in the front GA section. Lot opens up at 4:30 I think???
PM section is down? Says I'm not authorized to access.

Me likey. Her wrists are both rotated so one cannot see her thumbs. So, anatomically correct methinks. A humanoid, too. Pairs well with a skeleton. LOW 17K's here. Wish I could say the same about my 04 Honda :-)

Worst cover. hmmm I won't go there...

Play Dead all! Happy weekend!