Grateful Dead

Great show! Time for an official release on this one. This show was part of a great story by Rolling Stone on the Grateful Dead in 1969, with Garcia on the cover. If you haven't read it, its well worth checking out.

That was one of the first things I ever read about The Dead - before I had heard a note of their music. It was in a book called "The Rolling Stone Rock N' Roll Reader". Printed in 1974, I've still got it - a great piece of writing. It made the band and their scene sound amazing, and I couldn't wait to jump in. Even the titles of the albums- Aoxomoxoa, Anthem of the Sun - very exotic.

$600! For the cheap seats!
A great sports bar with lively atmosphere, decent food and drink, a bunch of pals is the way to go. Better “seats”, great food, beer that isn’t pony pee, no hassle washroom access, and you save a bundle.
For the next game!!

I am kind of low key fascinated with reading old copies of Rolling Stone. It's especially fun to read reviews of albums and performances they initially panned but which later became recognized as total classics by pretty much everyone, including Rolling Stone themselves. The panned the great debut albums by Jimi, Zeppelin, and Sabbath, the Stones' Exile, Nirvana's Nevermind, Neil Young's Harvest, and lots of other examples of the best music ever recorded. And, in most cases, they eventually backtracked and listed those albums on their lists of all time bests.

They loved the Dead in the early days, kind of turned against them for a while in the late '70s-early '80s, and then jumped back on the bandwagon for the Touch of Grey years, IIRC. Whatever. I change my mind all the time, too.

Hendrix songs? Sheesh, almost all of it is great so it's hard to pick favorites but just for the heck:

Manic Depression: bone crushing riff and man, I related to the lyrics when it first came out: "I know what I want but I just don't know ... how to go about gettin it."

Purple Haze: this one is so obvious no one ever lists it, but seriously. That riff? Scuse me while I kiss the sky screaming out my 12-year-old self's transistor radio? When I first heard this one, it sounded like the saucers had landed, our new reptilian overlords were walking among us and the world would never be the same. And some of that turned out to be true.

1983/Merman: still leaves me speechless. Incredibly imaginative fantasy, beautiful playing.

Axis: love the lyrics and vocal, spent many an hour trying to learn that amazing solo at the end.

Who Knows: had to pick at least one Band of Gypsys track, and I always thought this one was really under-rated. What a groove!

Feeling a little low. The wife got Covid, again, and though I'm testing negative I still feel like shite. I'm-a put on some Jimi and power through.

Blue are the life-giving waters, taken for granted,
They quietly understand.

....I will probably go. Otherwise, staying home for the first couple games. My couple of friends I usually go with agree.
Panthers tix are about the same price.

I get prices rise the further the team advances, that’s dynamic pricing, and they are smart to do it while the demand is there. Plus, there is something to be said for “being there”. Anyone that has been to a live concert, a sporting event, etc, knows the excitement, the electricity of it. But the clinching games will likely be starting at $900. (Jimi’s If 6 Was 9).
But $600 buys a LOT of music. And $900 buys MORE…

Back in 1993, The Leafs were hosting the LA Kings, with Gretzky, in game seven of the conference finals. My brother and I decided to drive up to see if we could get tickets. Scalpers were asking $900 per ticket right before game time. 900 Fkin dollars! Granted, it’s Toronto. But, that was the conference finals not the Stanley Cup finals. And it was before StubHub, or any other similar online service that drives up ticket prices. So we did just what Mike said. Went across the street to the local pub, partied our asses off, had a blast with the locals and woke up $700 or so less in debt. One of the best hockey experiences I’ve ever had. And yeah, the Leafs lost.

....Gretzky.
And T-Mobile gets extremely electric.
There have been renderings released of the potential look of the Oakland A's ballpark being planned here.
It. Has. A. Partial. Roof.
No thanks regarding that genius idea. Apparently, the architects haven't been to Vegas in July/August.

By way of comparison, in ‘92, my wife and I were driving by the Forum in LA, and Gretzky and the Kings were hosting Edmonton for a playoff game that night. On a whim we went to the box office for tix, thinking no way. No problem, seating chart pulled out (before any on-screen purchasing), and we picked up decent tix at face value. Fast forward to this year, my youngest goes to a lot of games, tried for First Round tix here, and he told me it was “Taylor Swiftish”, really exorbitant pricing (I think he said extortion pricing), and resale on the secondary market was crazy. Getting tix for hockey here is so insane, that when my kids were little, the first game I took them too was in Ottawa. I couldn’t get decent tix for four in TO without signing a mortgage to get them. He was in Vegas for his stag last month, wanted to get Knight tix for the playoffs, timing was just off.
PS - Jack, that particular Leaf “loss” is local lore here, a true case of bad refereeing by Kerry Fraser, who is persona non grata here. Gretzky blatantly high sticked Doug Gilmour, ensuing power play gave the Kings the game.
VGuy - When the A’s move, do all the animals living in Oakland Stadium move to Vegas, too?

Crow-your comments on Rolling Stone reminded me of when I was 15 and started buying records, going to gigs..and reading the music press. N.M.E. to be precise. I was surprised to read that nearly all the bands I liked were routinely dismissed - T.Rex, David Bowie, Hawkwind, Black Sabbath - all a pale imitation of what had gone before, apparently. Being 15 I had no idea what had gone before - and in the heat of the moment it didn't much matter.

It seemed to me that the people who wrote this stuff were at least 5-6 years older than me. They were writing about music aimed at teenagers from the point of view of someone in their mid 20's. So although they assumed they had their fingers on the pulse, they were actually a bit out of touch. People who assume to represent the views of others often are.

Rolling Stone and outta touch.
We will not be resubscribing…

In the next round, the LA Kings Stanley Cup hopes were dashed in game 2 of the finals by Canadiens' coach Jacques Demers who asked for an illegal stick check against McSorley in the final two minutes. Your rivals, trailing 1-2 at the time, scored on the ensuing power play and went on to win in overtime. Then proceeded to win the Cup. I have always thought poorly of Demers for pulling a stunt like that. I guess the hockey gods saw it differently. Still it would have been nice to see an all Canadaland final, especially Toronto vs. Montreal.

Gretzky . . . yup. I was fortunate enough to see him play other times. He often made other professional hockey players look foolish.

Back in 1990 I was dating a girl who lived in Milwaukee. One time my visit happened to coincide with the conference finals with Chicago hosting Edmonton. I had always wanted to see a game at the old Chicago stadium for no other reason than the singing of the National Anthem. I called the box office the day of the game and they had two tickets available in the very last row. I bought them, not knowing they were under the balcony and you had to lean forward to even see the ice. Anyway, as the first period began, I noticed three empty seats on the opposite side, two rows off the ice near the red line. Between periods we go down and start milling around the area. All of a sudden some guys asks, "are you looking for those empty seats?" I meekly said, "Yes." He points down and says, "they are right here. Enjoy the rest of the game." So, now I own two Blackhawk jerseys. And "No" to your next question.

Probably all about hockey anyway.

How’d you know I was gonna ask!!??
Best. Uniform. Ever.
Pretty terrific visiting the old Chicago Stadium. The noise those folks generated was like a fleet of 747s taking off. Now THAT was an electric atmosphere!!
Oro - You are right about Rolling Stone magazine. I used to love the Hunter Thompson days, all through the 70s into the 80s, but as music audiences changed, it morphed into some kind of fashion culture magazine. No thanks. I remember seeing an issue at the dentist around the time Ray Manzarek passed away, and they had a postage stamp sized mention of him passing, and about The Doors. That was it. The Doors, for crying out loud! But they give full page spreads to some here this morning, gone this afternoon “artist”. The freaking Doors, that is all they get after their contribution to music!

Speaking of pricey.
Local CL ad for July 1st at Folsum.
Field level (standing) with "close-in" parking = $395.
Says that is less than it cost him.
How do young folks afford stuff these days?
Makes me feel old. And get off my lawn, lol.
Cheers
I don't follow basketball but Denver Nugs in the Finals?

Maybe young people don't go to gigs anymore. It's funny looking at concert footage from the 60's and 70's-the last one I saw was "Charlie is My Darling" featuring The Stones in 1965. The crowd look to be made up of children. Looking round at the last gig I went to, it looked like a day out for the over 60's.

Daverock: no hockey, which is a shame because at least that way there’d be something of interest to read…

MIKE: though it’s been changing for years, it’s really only been the last year or so that’s it’s turned into something else.
I keep telling the Other One that the day I get an issue that I can’t find at least one thing of interest, it’s over!
It’s getting close. Usually I’ll read the one page “ask some celebrity” and Ask Croz, which has been good, but perhaps not as funny as ask Dr Ozzy was, and that’s about it. Used to like some of the movie reviews, but it feels like nobody makes movies anymore, only superhero action comic crap? At least that’s mostly what they review…
Now a young person could say it’s just me, I’m too old and outta touch.
Perhaps, but if this crap they call music and —don’t even get me started on the fashion BS— is the best there is and what’s hip culture today, we’ll then I’m proud to be a Dino! Yep, no more subs for this fossil.

EDIT: does it matter Daverock, if they go to shows they don’t actually watch/listen to it, they just talk through it, at least when their not recording on their phones. Kudos to performers who don’t allow it.
Oh well, nothing lasts as pranksters say…

....used to be cool too.

Most people -in fact, all people - I know have got mobiles, and take them around with them when they go out. The last person I went out with even used to answer it when she was out with me, which I thought was a bit of a cheek. "It's my son" she used to happily mime, pointing at her phone. Yes..tell him to....

The only gigs I can remember where people didn't have the cursed things were those at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, and at King Crimson extravaganzas. Robert Fripp is known to start shows by telling people not to use mobile phones while the band are playing. He has been known to end concerts abruptly if he sees anyone breaking this basic code on courtesy.

Someone let me know if you figure it out.
I subscribed to Rolling Stone from late ‘70’s to early ‘90’s. Dropped it for a few years. Re-subscribed late ‘90’s. Always enjoyed MOST of it. When they went to bi-weekly, and then changed the shape/size, they lost me. Not because of the paper quality or size. It was because the information contained within was just a series of bite-sized, People styled, empty “nuggets” of insipid “facts”. Yes, they do not cater to my generation any longer. It happens inevitably. When I want music info (articles, reviews, concert info etc.), I rely on my monthly subscription to Mojo magazine. Even articles about bands I’m not fond of are interesting, because the writing is intelligent.
Regarding young ‘uns and concerts, it is irritating yes, but mystifying also, because I cannot fathom paying 💲💲💲just to have a conversation. I saw Edgar Winter in a club about 5 years ago. A young couple to my left talked (rather loudly) throughout the entire show until, at the encore, Frankenstein was played. At this point the couple filmed the entire song and seemed genuinely excited.
I’m starting to understand that young folks are incapable of paying attention.
Spoke with a nice lady yesterday who told me she was one of the chaperones on her grandson’s trip to Gettysburg. If you were born in this country, you know Gettysburg. When asked where he visited on the way home, the child could NOT name the town he had JUST visited, and when asked for ANY detail at all, he replied, “uhh, World War II??”. Combine this idiocy with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, and the End of the World seems nigh indeed.
So this (topic redacted) is not relevant to the Dead, but it IS relevant to society as we knew it being Dead.
And yes, we ALL have a bit of “get off my lawn” in our discussions, but I see that as just generational change.

Without music, I might just be ready to check out of this “Hotel California”.

When Rolling Stone was run by a bunch of aspiring journalists/hippies based in Sam Francisco, it was quite a great read, giving us some truly great music and culture journalism that was a step beyond the usual Tiger Beat kind of fluff that was so prevalent. Great “Random Notes” which often gave you a heads up who was touring long before the internet, and funny stuff, too. Not Creem magazine funny, which mocked itself as much as the artists it covered, but more in that delightful stoner humour.
Unfortunately, musical tastes change, audiences change, and young people now do not embrace music as the life force most of us here here feel it was in it’s heyday. Music mattered - still does. Not so much to people my kid’s ages, in their 30s and younger. Their culture is different. So Jann Wenner moved things to New York, attracted a different kind of journalist, more up town, and suddenly there is shit like fashion spreads in amongst the odd article you want to read about Tom Petty. The irreverent humour was gone, and it was all a liberal, environmental, and hipster angle. Too bad, it was a great read for a long time, but now, even the budgie doesn’t want it lining his cage. There are some great British music magazines around, and you mentioned Mojo, Mr Ones - I agree, great writing, and no filler.
New Dylan (Live) and a new Cowboy Junkies on tap tomorrow. I am playing a lot of Phish lately, trying to get my phishing legs - I think my dog is sick of hearing them around the house and car. Still no DaP 46. I’ve reached out to Customer Service, so here is hoping.

My two favourite music magazines at the moment are "Vintage Rock" and "Shindig!". As you might guess the first is focussed on rock n' roll from the 1950's until the present day. "Shindig!" fulfills the same function, but for bands and musicians at the psychedelic end of the spectrum. That has 1966 as it's aproximate starting date and also comes up to today. Both mags also review films and books connected to, and reflecting the music/ culture in question
"Shindig!" frequently mentions The Dead - in this months issue there is a heads up about "Here Comes Sunshine." Apparently it features " career spanning fan favourites, free-flowing medleys and extended jams honed during the previous year's extensive trips." Get your copy here.

....was Kerrang. And Penthouse.
C'mon man!

I too have considered canceling RS, I have to search for something interesting to read in them. No interest in the fashion stuff, come on! And the musicians talk to musicians is inane fluff. I like the environmental articles,and the movie and tv reviews, but I'm not sure if that's enough to keep me subscribing. I think I will try some of the other mags you guys mentioned.

I've said it before, I feel for kids that want to see their fav musician these days, tix are out of this world.

I stumbled into a Jimi show at the Monterey Pop Festival in1967. Too young to fully appreciate it, but I do remember seeing Jimi burn his guitar. Ha Ha I went with my Dad and my sister to see the Mamas and the Papas.

Dead Head TV Alert!! New interviews released last week on DreamsWeDreamed dot com. Robert Hunter interview. Tom Constantin Interview. John Cipollina and Peter Albin interview. Shoreline 88 Report and Review. Deadhead comments on Rainforest and advice for the incoming President. Madison Square Garden 88 report. Rainforest message from the Dead played at the Garden. Lots of fun!! Check it out and tell your friends- DreamsWeDreamed dot com. More to be released soon!

Looks like so far Amazon is not offering the new Garcia live 20 release. I save on shipping getting these through Amazon. If it shows up, give a hollar!

Nitecat - I ordered my Garcia 20 on May 26 from Amazon, exact same reason. I find sourcing Garcia albums on Amazon a little tricky, even if you have the name correct. But it’s there.

DaveRock - I have read Vintage Rock, you’re right, it’s a good read. But I’m unfamiliar with Shindig, so I’ll check out an issue soon. Another great intelligent music-focused magazine that used to be around was Musician. I think it has gone the way of $6 concert seating, a real shame. PS - You mentioned Steve Hillage’s L album last week, and it brought a smile. The first time we ever dosed me and my friends played that album, just loved it. I recall it had a few great covers on it, including George Harrison. Sure sounded great then, have not heard it in the ensuing 45ish years.

when ole nightcat is giving us some tasty treats!

Though those that Daverock mentioned sound good…

Ones: yeah, AI is only going to be as good as the “intelligence” it’s trying to learn, ahem…Lord help us…

Musician and Modern Recording were da shite

Go Nuggies!

that mike thanks for the Amazon tip. Will poke around.

was Blair Jackson's Golden Road . I have them all. I really looked forward to them coming out. Hands down the best Grateful Dead magazine.

Billy I have all the Golden Roads too, I think. I've been thinking of re-reading them sometime soon. Great mag, top quality writing.
Also, Billy I enjoy your frequent 'on this day' comments about shows you saw so many years ago. Since I attended all the bay area shows, I always get a kick with your reminder. We probably rubbed shoulders from time to time at all those shows!

I decided I had had enough of RS when Lou Reed died and he a shared back/front cover with some other "artist", whom I cannot remember. Maybe Dua Lipa. I know it was a woman. I still have the issue somewhere, but don't feel like locating it right now. Lou deserved a whole issue to himself, and he is still in my top 5 of favorite lyricists, along with Graham Parker, and of course Hunter/Garcia.

I followed your recommendation and watched the Paul Butter field video Horn from the Heart, I really enjoyed it. What a great harp player. He was influenced by allot of players but he had his own sound. East/West, Forty Days & Forty Nights, Walking Blues and on and on.

Butterfield was very progressive for his time, also with a mixed race band. I saw Butterfield once years after East West in a really small club in SF on Clement street, can't remember the name.

Where’s Mr Jimmy?
Miss ya buddy, hope things ok…

man, did he look pretty ill"

I hope that's not the case.

Hi marye
Can you please check your pm. Thank you.

What happened to Jim? Is he alright?

Jim is taking a ride in the Wayback Machine to surreptitiously make a copy of The Vault key. No need to storm it that way. No torches or pitchforks needed. A greener, safer option.
Cheers

For those of us of an age where East/West was pouring out of every dorm room window, it was pretty darn life-changing. If you haven't ever heard it you are in for a treat.

Received a message a while back that various parts of his family, and Jim too, has had some health issues. Think most of us understand that. He has also had other life issues going on, just the routine stuff, like vehicle issues.

My man Jim, hope all is well, hope to chat soon.

We definitely need him back, bad. He is, like yall, so knowledgeable. I am constantly surprised at the intellect, history, and stories of this bunch. Definitely the best read around, way beyond Rolling Stoned.

G

To continue, "I am going to pump you up." I am constantly amazed by yalls depth and breadth of knowledge. I received this great gift from serious regular around here. It is a 2 page article from 1969, with an interview of Jer.

I wrote this poster back how floored and how educated ole Jer comes off. It proves for sure someone like Jer (and the rest of GD family) and many of yall have wisdom well beyond what can be learned in formal education. Now my touch of wisdom has more to due with years lived, although I did earn "higher education" from high tiered "institution." But Jer, in 1969, was like 27. I am just getting where he was then, now. I may have to re-read that interview with Jer this weekend. Seems like it was a local interview, not a national publisher.

G

Hope to finish up my Rolling Stoned post I have been chewing on today/tomorrow. Not much there, but can be expanded...

G

....the circulating rumors are false.
BTW, made a last minute decision to go see Helloween last night with my friend from high school. Him and I cut our teeth on music together. Our first concert was Iron Maidens Powerslave tour in '85. We were hooked on live music ever since. We blame Eddie for our addiction.
We both bought the first Helloween record in '84. We are OG fans.
They put on a pretty damn good show. We left impressed.

Not about Jim, of course, I’m glad he’s fine, but 1stshows rumor lol

I saw him.play for free at De Anza College. I t was a free afternoon show out side along with James Cotton & Norton Buffalo, they were promoting a harmonica show they were doing in the Bay Area. I could have seen him in 1973 at Winter land along with Bloomfield and Bishop, but I foolishly turned down my friends offer to go with them. I would like to have a do over on that decision.

Hendrix tracks:
Belly Button Window
1983
You Got me Floating
Angel
Little Wing
And the Gods made Love
3rd Stone
Sooo many more, genius.
Saw Tangerine Dream was touring and low and behold, they are coming to a club near me. Far out, no original members left, but will be interesting checking out the new sounds. Standing or Seating, 10 bucks more for seating and very limited. so Worth it as tangerine dream can get a bit horizontal I think that's how Daverock put it. Still half what a Bob and the Wolvles show cost
Anyone following the Dead and Co. shows? Set list look very good, haven't heard anything yet but did see Mickey was doing a tribute to the cosmos and going where no man has gone before with his time in the spotlight. More time given to Mickey since Billy has bowed out. Mickey has taken it upon himself to keep the faith and push the envelope every night that he is on, traces of the old Mickey Hart band and their quest into the commos. Possibly the best part of the shows now is the drumz>space. Have also heard that they have picked up the tempo a bit from the slower format that they had adopted.
Dark Star Jubilee had Bruce and the noisemakers playing old favorites the "other ones" way. Always a treat when Bruce breaks out the dead tunes. So much to comment on, later...

PT Barnum, yes indeed, I've seen each show so far (not Cornell though) from my spot on the couch tour. I can largely confirm what you've heard. For example, the tempo is ever so slightly faster in places/at times, though not by a lot. Setlists have been nice... St. Stephen->Eleven followed by Iko (Last night in Raleigh), yes please.

Musically, I'd say this band is listening to itself, the players are listening to each other. Some songs feel different... Fantasy->Hey Jude seems to be used as a chance to get a little jammy in the first set instead of a crowd-pleaser that appears toward the end of a show. Other times I feel like Mayer's sound drifts into something that I could imagine David Gilmour being happy with. Bob's singing/delivery today reminds me more of his take on Bob Dylan than the all-over-the-stage Bobby of the "ugly brothers" years. And yet at times all those differences can suddenly evaporate, and the music can feel a lot more familiar, like with last night's Bird Song.

That said, the only time I miss being at the venue is when Drums starts. Mickey's got his squad mates - not just Jay and Oteil, but one night we even had Steve Parish out there - but when he turns his attention to the beam, sometimes one can be forgiven for thinking that it's Mickey's show. A bit like how it used to be with Genesis in the post-Peter Gabriel years, when Phil Collins would come out from behind his drumkit and emerge as the leader. And Mickey's also the only one providing any counterpoint, any real DARKNESS and danger, to an otherwise fairly plucky and upbeat show vibe. But I ramble. Drums has been consistenly excellent. Maybe my only gripe here would be that it feels a bit similar from night to night. But I think you could extend that metaphor to the shows. Unlike the Dead, this band isn't trying to feel out the audience in the first few songs to see what they are responding to and where they might like to go; the setlists are written in advance, and they are clearly paying attention to the curfew, so there really isn't a chance for Mickey to just say "screw it, this is sounding so good, this groove is so deep, I'm not stopping until they come to take me down..."

Amazing band that I've always been a fan of. Dig it in some recent years they've put on shows welcoming almost anyone that played in the band on tour to rock n roll metal style. How Many Tears...all cruelty and violence on earth will be dead and gone...

....yes Kriyas it's called the United Forces tour. They've had three singers since they started. All have incredible vox, and all three are on this tour. And it looked like they were having a blast on stage.
Somewhat corny lore, which they admit, but man, they can play power metal like nobody's business.
Golden Knights tix are dropping. Under $400 now.
RIP Vince Welnick.

And much appreciated. ('tis only a scratch. Merely a flesh wound)

Just crazy busy with things in general. There are a few cumbersome facts of life and relationship hard knocks that had to be delt with, but no biggie. Just cumbersome and time consuming.

It has taken MUCH more energy to back on the more difficult rivers this year. It gets harder every year but this year I had to train a bit and get in better shape, and still took a beating last weekend. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, isn't that how the saying goes?

All is good.. I am listening to more GD after a brief hiatus. Just finished my first listen to 45 and venturing into the pleasant 1972 sounds of 46 soon.

Thanks for your concern.