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Just got a picture of Vince post op.

I just finished a book that came out last year, Here Beside The Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, And An American Awakening by Jim Newton. Ever since it was published 4 years after Jerry's passing, I've considered Blair Jackson's biography Garcia: An American Life the best book written on anything encompassing Jerry. Granted, Newton had an extra quarter century of archival and personal unearthing surrounding Garcia's and The Dead's story, but he took all that and hit it out of the park. Moreover, the book equally serves as a commentary of the literary, social, and political happenings surrounding Jerry's formative years and the Dead's ascension. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Ron Stevens long story about Dave Mason, his time with Traffic and a snow storm. Ron was a DJ on KSHE-95 from 1968 - 1976. On Saturday, November 27, 1976, Dave Mason played Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. If you grew up in St. Louis, you know that was one of many times Dave played Kiel. He played there a decade earlier with Traffic, the band he co-founded. He was there with Black Oak Arkansas in the summer of ’72. Dave Mason was what we would call a friend of St. Louis. He was here a lot. From Kiel Auditorium in the late 60’s to his last show in our town, at The Factory STL on April 5, 2024, Dave Mason always drew a crowd of loyal fans … and friends. Dave’s most memorable visit may have been at the Mississippi River Festival on July 21, 1978. He opened with the Dave Mason classic, “Only You Know and I Know,” written by Dave and made famous by his friends Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Bonnie may have been at that show, as she once lived right down the road in Granite City (and lives there now). That night, Dave also played the highest charting song of his career, “We Just Disagree,” which was still on the national music charts that summer. He was on top of his game, for sure. And before the night was over, he played Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower,” probably as a nod to the time he spent recording tracks for Hendrix at Electric Lady Studios. Dave played with some of the biggest names in rock, including Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Hendrix, Cass Eliot, Phoebe Snow, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. He was everybody’s friend. But Dave Mason’s show here in St. Louis in the winter of 1976 was one I will not forget. Joy and I did not go. Four months earlier, our house in Kirkwood had burned to the ground while we were asleep in it. Spoiler alert, we survived. By November of 1976, we were settled into our new home on Ponca Trail in Kirkwood. Ponca Trail was, and still is, a very small and private community of homes that were built in the 1890’s as part of a resort area, overlooking the Meramec River. About a mile west of the Kirkwood Train Station, if you follow the railroad tracks, you will find a much smaller station, once known as the Meramec Highlands Train Station, built in 1891. It is now a private residence. Joy and I were fortunate enough to own one of those beautiful homes on Ponca Trail in 1977. And when we were finally settled by November, we decided to have a party to show our friends … on November 27. So we missed Dave’s show. But that day, a few hours before Mason stepped on stage at Kiel, we received a phone call from the record label promoter. “Dave wants to do something after the show. Can he come to your party?” My response was quick and to the point. “Sure. As long as he doesn’t bring a guitar. I hate when guys bring their guitars to parties.” God, I hope he didn’t tell Mason I said that. But he came, showing up just before midnight. Right around when the snow started falling. Dave, as expected, was very cordial and sociable. I’m not the greatest conversationalist at parties, but I found him to be very easy to talk to, considering the millions of topics we could have addressed that night. Two days earlier, The Band had held their farewell concert (“The Last Waltz”) in San Francisco. A week earlier, Patty Hearst had been freed on $15 million bail. But we talked about his days with Traffic. And what he told me stayed with me for all of these years. I would hear the story told many times again by other artists. I asked him if he missed those earlier days playing in Traffic, or something just as Farley-ish. “Ron, let me put it this way. For the first time in my life, as a musician, I’m finally actually making money for my work. I never received a dime for anything I did in Traffic.” My reaction was probably WORSE than Chris Farley. I stared at him. No words came out of my mouth for quite some time. Then I realized he was serious, and no “just kidding!” line was coming. “How … how?” I blurted. “You were in a legendary band! You wrote songs! THE songs!” He explained to me how musicians often didn’t own their own work. The record labels and music publishers owned everything. There were exceptions, of course, and over the years, artists learned how to play that game effectively. It was an eye-opener for a young disc jockey who assumed the recording industry treated artists with the respect they certainly deserved. But now, all these years later, I look for the “happily ever after” stories and hang on to them. Dave’s is one. He persisted. He never quit doing what he loved. He ended up with more than financial wealth. He lived his life out with an overabundance of friends who loved him. And friends he loved back. By the end of the evening, around 2am, after Dave had shaken every hand and answered every question, he said goodbye. As I mentioned, it began snowing around the time he arrived. It snowed over 13” that night in St. Louis. The official count was 13.9”. But no one would leave the party until Dave did. Fortunately, everyone got out of our little private street okay. Joy and I moved all of the half-empty glasses to the kitchen and got to bed by 3:30am. At about 7am, there was a knock at our front door. Then the doorbell. At 7am. After less than 4 hours of sleep. Joy pushed me out of bed. It was her way of saying, “Get that. I’m not.” When I opened the front door that early Sunday morning, standing before me was … Dave Mason. “What the hell are YOU doing here?!” “I can’t find my limo.” Dave arrived in a white stretch limo. A snow white stretch limo. I looked just past him, right behind him. “It’s right there, Dave.” It was right there. It had been right there all along. Granted, it was difficult to see with all the snow. The driver was in it. In the back. Asleep. Imagine it’s a cold, snowy night in November in St. Louis, and you look out your front window to check out the virgin snow covering your yard, your driveway, and the street. It’s, say, 4am. The scene is always beautiful. But this time, a guy is staggering around messing it all up. If you lived on Ponca Trail in 1976 and thought you saw a ghost, it was Dave Mason. Sorry it took me so long to tell you. Rest in peace, Dave. Your life was blessed with many friends because you were such a good friend to so many. Ron Stevens was a prominent DJ and program director at KSHE 95 in St. Louis during the 1970s, specifically active as a key personality and leader during the station's formative rock era from 1967 through the 1970s. He later produced the documentary Never Say Goodbye: The KSHE Documentary, highlighting the station's history.

Just heard from Torin. The operation was a success and they expect Vince to be home in a couple of weeks. What a relief for the family and all of us too.

Vince is out of surgery ... Doing well! 😁😁😁🙏🙏🙏♥️♥️♥️

As the poet mused: What a drag it is…

I found out today that Bryan Adcock aka Blinky aka Blink Dawg and THE man on lights from '99 through sometime around '16(?) passed away this past weekend. You can find the obit here. I met the man in '99 at my third show at Grasshopper in Erie, PA where he basically hunted me down, asking if I was the guy who video taped the previous show at Penn State's Crowbar. I most certainly was; you can see clips of both shows, among many others, here. Bryan was awesome to hang with before and after shows, and I was happy to give him copies of the vids in those early days as he was honing his craft. I loved when he flooded the stage with color. Bryan had such infectious enthusiasm! He will be missed.

Connie and I are sending our love and prayers for two of the best of finest people we have met. Talked to Vince yesterday, he’s in good spirits and is first in line for a heart. Connie and I are praying that a heart comes available As we all know they opened their home and hearts to all of us Starheads when DSO was playing in FLA. So lets open our hearts and send love and prayers to Vince and Sue.

The Perrottis mean so much more to me than words can tell. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

{{{VINCE}}} SENDING LOVE, LIGHT AND HUGE HEALING VIBES TO YOU, SUE, TORIN AND CHERISE! Scott and I love you so much, you are our family and some of our favorite humans in our life. Even though we don't get a chance to talk or see each other all the time, when we do, it's like time hasn't gone by. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers and will be waiting to hear some good news! LOVE YOU!!!

I heard that DSO will be playing in Jacksonville, OR on 8/4 so there's likely going to be more West Coast shows

Set 2. Lights down, everyone juiced and here comes the first strummed chords of Terrapin to open the 2nd set. I mean there was no get ready, no warm-up—just right into the meat, the heart of darkness. Gotta say it, I only saw one Terrapin 2nd set opener and that was from the same Philly run as stated earlier—11/6/79 and that was a 4-song 2nd set---Terrapin/Playin/Drums/Black Peter/Good Lovin, with a big dose of Feedback thrown in--pretty heavy duty. This was to be Heavy Duty. When Terrapin opens the set, get ready. So here we are right into Terrapin, no messin around. And it was strong. They were crackin on the buildup and the breaks and the whistle and guitars were Screamin. And so was the walll to wall Kirby. What a joy. Playin followed and although it was short, any Playin is welcome. I got the next one wrong. I figured Playin/Uncle Johns, so when Shakedown materialized out of Playin, it was perfect. Three biggies and the mass singalong was on. Shakedown to open a set is always cool. But Shakedown outta a jam/space is freakin bullseye. Shakedown ripped. Totally unexpected. But what was was even more unexpected was Skip coming front and center again and blasting out the Bands Dont Do it. If anyone saw this comin, well come on down. What a freakin foursome. Drums and a much needed rest followed. The rest of the show would simply have been gravy, a long encore but DSO not only wasn't finished, they were kinda just getting started again. I mean the energy in the Kirby was sick. And the band was riding the audience wave. St stephen came out of space and then well what did we do to deserve these treats. Stephen was followed by a truly beautiful and tear-drop moment—Can't Find My Way Home in the perfect after drums slot. This song, which was only being played for the 2nd time, was pitch perfect and a real gem. Such a gorgeous tune and Lisa nailed it. I mean the hits, the highlights just kept on coming. Can't Find My Way Home is one of the truly great songs of the American Songbook. And this was perfect. Really amazing. What a moment. And let me just say for future DSO goers, if LIsa deems to bless you with Home, thank your lucky stars. It's a special night. When the band went into the notes for Playin Reprise well I said, what a showl We're done and no one would have been upset because of what we were gifted. Man was I wrong. The band came to a complete stop after Playin Reprise but didnt leave the stage, took a beat and then hit the intro notes into one of Jerry's prettiest songs evah—Comes a Time. Let me just back up one mo time and say this: St Stephen/Can't FInd My Way Home/Playin Reprise, Comes a Time. Holy Smokes Batman. What a foursome. Pinch me. It was almost unreal. Comes A Time is simply one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Jeff brought it home and they finished up with a rockin and appropriate Not Fade. Let it Rock was the real encore icing on the cake. It was close to midnight and we were all waisted and needed to find our way home or back to the Best Western next door. A couple of hours later I looked out the window from our hotel facing the Kirby and saw that the Band's bus and the Roadie Truck were packed up and gone. And I felt a twinge of sadness that they were no longer there. Were they ever there at all. Oh Yeah, were they ever. And remember only love can fill. Only love can fill. And there was so much love on this night, on this weekend. Thanks DSO. Thanks Wilkes Barre.

Back when there was a bit more civility. Pre internet troll era.