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Just to get it on the record… Took the flying aluminum tube to Oakland to see my first DSO in California. The weekend was spectacular…great music, people, weather Two quite different shows but equally enjoyable in their own unique way. 7/31 tribute to Bobby with JGB opening (kinda weird since 8/1 is well 8/1 but I am sure scheduling conflicts in play) Melvin was ridiculously good… Many guests some of which I saw 2 weeks ago in Indianapolis seeing Barraco and Skeleton Crewe were a part of DSO sets. I still see in my mind 6 percussionists banging on Rob/Dino drum kits 8/1 Jerry birthday…suffice to say the DarkStar->El Paso->Eyes->Dew->Sugar Mag is why I’ve seen this band for 27 years. DSO still surprises me just how good they are. Of course saw many friends even though my first time dancing to DSO in the golden state. Not sure where next adventure will be but isn’t that the point.

Wow being at the Greek for this was an unforgettable experience and phenomenal way to experience that venue for the first time…lotsa parrellels to the 2018 Red Rocks for DSO’s first time. Being on the DSO train over the years is like being on a long extended hiking trip up in the mountains…something as full on as hiking the Pacific Crest trail, for example….…it’s an adventure packed with beauty and challenge and curiosity about what it’s like up around the next bend…only to find yet another outrageously beautiful, expansive view with indescribable and pristine perfection splayed out in front of you,,.possibly even more glorious than the mind blowing view you had just a couple miles back… There have been what seem like endless peaks, sublime mountain lakes, quiet gurgling streams, alpine meadows, marmots calling out from beneath the rocks, views into deep valleys, terrifyingly steep cliffs, thunder and lightning rainstorms to survive, exhaustion yet truly fulfilling exhilaration along with a bit of physical malnourishment at times within a journey that offers thick and drippy glimpses into timelessness…. There have been many memorable high peaks along the way,,,and the Greek was a pinnacle experience…a peak among peaks that will be hard to beat,,,but all the peaks have so much to offer in terms of expansive views and inspiring beauty. The Greek completely fucking kicked ass… How could the best band in the land not pour it on as thick as molasses and heat it up and pour it all over you…their first time getting to play such an iconic and gorgeous venue steeped with Grateful Dead history. I also feel like it always up’s the ante when DSO plays in the Bay Area since it was the birthplace and home base for this music,,and history matters when it comes to the GD experience… With the juju of the venue and jehovah’s favorite Choir ready to pop so many of our Greek cherries good and hard…our favorite band played the shit out of 7/13/84…quite frankly, they fucking slayed it from start to finish. The beast that lives deep within the caverns of this music was fully unleashed and raged hard and strong as they worked their way through the intensity and sweetness of it all…the entire lower bowl below the upper grass area seemed to be dead silent during Stella Blue…the crowd seemed completely on board for the full shamanic cleanse throughout second set. Felt many times that we were in some sort of forgotten ritualistic cathartic festival of great human release in an ancient temple of sorts……ahhhhhhhhhh…..that’s why we chase this shit so hard…SOOOO freaking GOOOOOOOD!!!!! Of course the filler on top of the long and lofty Dark Star polished out the experience into a crystal clear gem with Lisa pouring it on thick…. i had a buddy who was way up at the top of the venue while we took it in down in close and he said when they dropped into Ripple he had to stop moving and drop into silence because the sound of the whole bowl of people down below singing together along with the band was drifting up the hill and landing in his ears as indescribable beauty and strong GD emotion…wow…. I want this hike in the high country to go on and on and on….so much satisfying beauty behind and so much yet to be discovered out ahead…. Thank you DSO…your capacity to transform the human spirit through your musical skill cannot be described with words!!!! Let it be known there is a fountain That was not made by the hands of man… ⚡️🌹⚡️

Why is Black Peter special to me.... Listening to BP from Europe (I think) last night I commented to a friend how this is probably the best blues song ever... This song has a way of putting all that life and death is into its proper perspective. I had spent a couple /few years listening to BP multiple times a day because the lyrics and bluesey groove was my life... "all my friends came to see me last night, I was layin in my bed and dying" 48 staples closing me up and coming back to life while a priest is giving me last rights and the friends that came to see me. "Just want to have a little peace to die and a friend or 2 at hand" my mantra for two to three years of nothing but the horror of what I had become... Wanting to die but " one more day I find myself alive tomorrow maybe go beneath the ground" This was a comforting thought... See here how everything lead up to this day and it's just like any other day that's ever been. The pain of knowing the life your living will be the life you die from and having no hope it could ever be different... The people may know but the people don't care that a man can be as poor as me. Take a look at poor Peter he's lying in pain... poor in spirit and extreme physical pain but the physical was minor in comparison to the spiritual pain. Black Peter brings me back to a life I was dying by and forward to the grateful life I live today... See here how everything lead up to this day and it's just like any other day that's ever been... 😀❤️😀

1969-02-07 Stanley Theater , Pittsburgh Pa filler: Easy Wind Hard to Handle Strange Man Love The One You’re With I am no longer sad about missing out 🕺🏻🙏🏼💃🏼

69/01/25 Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, CA Dark Star>St Stephen>William Tell bridge> The Eleven>Lovelight. Dupree's Diamond Blues, Doin' That Rag, Cosmic Charlie, Alligator>Drums>Alligator> Caution>Feed Back>Bid You Goodnight, Filler: Easy Wind, Sing Me Back Home, Next Time You See Me, Take a Letter, Maria, Sittin' on Top of the World, You Ain't Women Enough, Mr. Charlie, Ripple. From the first bars of Dark Star, to the final notes of the Ripple, this show oozed special. The first stretched out in all the right places, the Star particularly devastating in its development. Lovelight a full Pig version. Doin' that Rag a mindblower, Cosmic Charlie slowed a beat. Caution epic. Killer Filler. Reaching deep into the catalog for a couple of gems, and they absolutely slay Easy Wind. What a close to a five show run, infinite magic. Thanks Band and Crew. Praise DSO.

Completely GAME ON show…such a different experience than Del Mar which was super fun, played so well and arguably had better sound in the brand spanking new venue but…. complete roof blowout during Deal after a super solid first set and just total second set beauty perfection…whatever words you use for speechless situations… LA crowd was full throttle and giving it loud and clear back to the band right out of the gate and all the way through and the symbiotic organism fed on itself thoroughly throughout the night…band was so ready to go out on limbs and lay it all down…never recall seeing Jeff quite so animated and playful and literally getting down while slaying the shit out of so many jams… it was just one of those nights…. the Wiltern is such an old beauty (had seen them there 4yrs? Ago) and it makes me wonder how the influence of such a beautiful space that clearly has soul and so much history influences the music… terraced floor so no slope dancing, like the warfield and other small halls I’ve seen that have Eliminated the slope floor for flat terraces….boulder theater comes to mind too… didn’t talk to tons of people but was surprised how many peeps we came across who were DSO virgins in last couple nights. Definitely DandC splillover in there… getting their minds blown I’d say! wow thanks for this full throttle dialed in Saturday night in LA Smokin’ Hot🔥 ⚡️🌹⚡️

Last evening Basement Dance Party 2 surprisingly exceeded expectations, burning many calories in the process. A full serving of treats set the mindstage for the genius of the Big Man, he delivered in spades. The show had a nice long set break to refresh, and the energy in the room propelled the party to add on two unscheduled sets of acoustic Jerry. Hoe Down grande. Set One 83/10/21 Centrum Music, Loser, CC Rider, Cumberland Blues, Cassidy, Ramble on Rose, Brother Esau, BIG RR, Promised Land. Set Two 81/05/16 Cornell Shakedown>Bertha, Lost Sailor>Saint>D> Set Two 85/06/24 RiverBend S>Comes a Time>Other One>Cryptical>Wharf Rat> Round and Round, Good Lovin'. E: US Blues. After Show Acoustic Set One 87/10/31 Lunt Fontanne Theatre (Evening) Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Deep Elem, Blue Yodel #9, Ballad of Casey Jones, Two Soldiers, Diamond Joe, Gone Home, Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie, If I Lose, Ragged But Right. After Show Acoustic Set Two 87/10/31 Lunt Fontanne Theatre (Matinee) I've Been All Around This World, I'm Troubled, Short Life of Trouble, Blue Yodel #9, Spike Driver News, Troubled In Mind, The Girl at the Crossroads Bar, Bright Morning Stars, Ripple, Good Night Irene. Praise DSO.

20/08/01 In DeadNation The Still, Timonium, MD Touch of Grey, Ramble On Rose, Rooster, Althea, Train To Cry, MAMU, Big River, Bird Song, Brown Eyed Women, So Many Roads. China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Crazy Fingers, Box of Rain>Other One> Jam>Morning Dew. Fantastic to get some live Dead music for the Big Man's Birthday. Band really hit their stride from the Althea on in the first, the Bird Song a spinning dreamscape , and a credible job done on the SMR. China>Rider mashed and things were rolling along nicely until I felt a few raindrops at the end of the Other One. A bumpy landing ensued, with a ragged Dew ending the night as the rain drops picked up. Damn 2020. Great to see familiar faces, feel family, dance. I believe Jerry would be proud. Praise DSO.

This weekend (Oct 18 &19) two days of a small GD festival in a Nashville park "Touch of Brews Festival". (Terrapin Beer sponsored) John K will do a solo "acousti'Lectric" show and then set in with other bands both days. My family is even going along to Nashville which is unusual.

Wow! Wow! WOW! This was THE NIGHT! Set 1 was complete 11/21/69 Cal Expo, Building A - Sacramento, CA (Set 1:) Casey Jones Good Morning Little School Girl Cold Rain And Snow Cumberland Blues Easy Wind (Set 2:) Good Lovin' Drums Good Lovin' China Cat Sunflower I Know You Rider High Time Me And My Uncle Turn On Your Love Light Set 2 elective Cryptical/the other one/cryptical St.Stephen William Tell The Eleven Death Don't have no Mercy Alligator Encore: Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane) 1st time played in front of people I don't have to say anything else, this was insanely amazing and unbelievable dance fest. Thank you DSO!!! And crew!!! Love you all!

69/02/07 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA Dark Star>St. Stephen>William Tell Bridge> The Eleven>Lovelight. Cryptical>Other One>Cryptical>Death Don't Have No Mercy>Alligator>China Cat Jam> Caution>Feed Back>Bid You Goodnight. Filler: Easy Wind, Strange Man, Hard to Handle, Love the One Your With, Tore Up. This one was not to be believed. First standard early 69 fare, the Star stretched a little more than Napa, Eleven elevating, Rob strong on the Lovelight. Second the real face melter from first notes of Cryptical, Death Don't popped the lid on the insane closing sequence, Caution went deep. I absolutely lost my mind during the Easy Wind, the filler much like Napa killed. Spent the evening with many loved friends. Thanks Band and Crew. Praise DSO.

Holy Guacamole 🥑 Batman! Looks like they threw the kitchen sink at ya'll - and then the whole kitchen, just for good measure 😮 Reads like a dream to me - I'll bet it was a lucid dream for all that got to plug into THAT vibe. One of the best vibes there is musically which I've nicknamed: Endorphin Firehose. Who wants a sip? What I'm most happy about, is BillK522 finally getting the royal treatment with this offering. The veritable 1969 white whale was finally realized - and then that monster just swallowed Captain Bill, whole All I know is that the opening refrain of Dark Star must have made everyone giddy with anticipation 🤪 With a Dark Star opener, you know you're embarking on a 3-hr journey. I might have just jumped out of my skin. Thanks to DSO + Crew for deciding to make this one happen for some very deserving friends- infinite magic indeed ❤

A weekend steeped in primo ‘78 DSO in a 100 yr old theater in SF with so much history and soul… The roof was blown out on Saturday night in the best of ways possible… once again the musical journey offered confirms to the cleareat of perspectives that they are TRULY A BAND BEYOND DESCRIPTION WOW ,,,thank you for a REAL good time 🙏🏼

Waiting for a miracle was a song that I really connected with following my moms diagnosis with brain cancer. So I understand NE. Even though no real miracle has come she's still with us and has beaten the odds which is a miracle. We visit my mom in less than 2 weeks will be good to be with her again despite her weakened state.

I FINALLY got a taste of some live GD-esque music this weekend. It felt really, really, really, really, really, really, really bleeping excellent to be back in the saddle - even if the musicianship was a far cry from DSO's collective chops. It was also really, really, really, really, really, really great to meet some new friends and dance the night away! Like a breath of the freshest air there is... I know I should be grateful to be alive with a healthy immediate family and a job BUT this last year has been so very tough on me - on all of us I'm sure. Innocence lost, love lost, family lost, lost family, respite lost. It all makes me so sad that it's hard to get up in the morning to face the day. Sorrow used to be an occasional visitor in my life but now it's moved into our spare bedroom and often takes over for days and days at a time. Grief is a very strange animal - I wish it would just go. People tell me I need to let it run it's course but it often feels like touching a hot stove. When it's not burning me, it feels like being alone in a boat that's sinking during a rainstorm - in the middle of the ocean. I guess I have to hurt in order to heal, right? Sorry for the therapy blog - if I keep it in, it literally eats me alive from the inside out. LIVE music won't be the sole reason that I make it through the maze I'm in but I'm certain it will help me reach a more comfortable place/perspective. It was really nice to smile again and to leave my trials and tribulations alone - even for just a couple hours. I'm looking forward to the peace that this music can bring me and sharing that joy with some amazing people.

Herdy, Bix, Vegas, and I will be in Maryland all 3 nights. Gold section. We have a huge house rented, that's where the after party will be. Hopefully Scotty and the Daylights are flying in, so we can have live music. Steph is doing well, just got herself a Mercedes Benz. Her and Jesse are living the life they love. Hope I don't miss you this time Sunny. Peace brother.

So laying in bed at 4am I just started cracking up thinking about tonight. Hope you guys dont mind me sharing but I can’t stop laughing. So I suggest to tea and Gr8tfulpair that we should do a zoom call sometime. Tea said let’s do it now. This was like 1am eastern or close. I install the app and start a call and link the invite. A few minutes later Gr8tfulpair joins. We are like where the frick is tea. We chat for a while as I was informed early that his phone was at 1% and the only charger was one that our long lost friend sunny had left and it drains battery vs actually charging it which makes sense and also makes me continue to laugh. Well eventually I get a locked pic of Gr8tfulpair which means battery dead then get a video in our chat group of Tea’s front door cam showing he’s locked out of his house and that’s why he didn’t join the zoom. Still laughing. I miss my tour crew. I miss so many of you. Tour is another home. I miss it .

Good morning Tea, You a person I have never meant just made my day with your comments. I have been off the board for some time dealing with "mid life" sadness and sure as shit I get on today and I see your comments. This proves "strangers can help strangers" in the craziest ways. Thank you brother for helping me see the light and to understand we are not alone in this world and its ok to ask for help. I promise you Tea I will pass this on to another person in need. The sun is shinning in my back & front door today!!! YIP!!!!!!

AZ proud to fire it up once again. New venue (praise Baby Jesus for the Van Buren, the Marquee was super aggressive with hipsters and heads ffs). Hoping for China/Rider, don’t care what era (beggars and choosers and all that). LFG!!

Thank you God for this past year, Thank you God for family here Thank you God for this delicious food, Thank you God for all that's good Awesome night, no better way to kick off the holidays. Sold out show once again at the Peak! DSO never disappoints. They threw me off with a 1st set drums, never heard that before. Thought maybe it was an elective set. The band is just a juggernaut when they get warmed up. The whole second set was fire once again. Props to my upstairs dancers. Another awesome night on the mountain. Hopefully everyone made it home safely and had a great Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends.

When DSO put this on the tour schedule i was excited. I saw Billy and the kids last summer at the Pier and it was great. The view is insane and if you get a day like Sunday there’s nothing like it. but other than that, unfortunately there hasn’t been any reason to go there for any music. DSO hasn’t been to the city in years, maybe since coney island 6 years ago. Definitely haven’t been to Manhattan in 8 or 9 years. It’s falling apart again in this city but it’s nice to have a show in your backyard. So the day was perfect, sun shining, a cool breeze and Alotta smiles. I love how the guys in the band talk about playing at home. I heard some reminiscing of club wetlands !!! Minglewood and Row Jimmy first set love. Sugaree.. thank you dso for everything as always, it means the world to all of us

2-3-79 Indianapolis Promised land Candy man Mama tried Brown eyed Looks like rain China cat > rider Minglewood Stagger Lee Heart of me Music never stopped Scarlet > Fire Estimated > Eyes Drums Other one Wharfrat I need a miracle Casey jones One more sat nite F: stir it up wowzers,… that one didn’t leave much in the tank. That 2nd set, near apocalyptic. Another really beautiful old theater.

Tried and true material. Personally business picked up at the China Rider. Pre drums delivered with world class precision. Miracle>Casey Jones probably did not happen often. Fantastic group in the hall getting down all evening. Spent the show with many loved friends. Praise DSO.

Finally checked from my bucket list seeing a show at the Warfield. It did not disappoint, due in large part to the scorcher we got from the band. I’m an early era guy so not my favorite collection of songs but nobody puts lipstick on a pig better than dso. They’ve given me new appreciation for many songs I’d usually skip over. Loser was gut wrenching, cc rider just ripped, and shakedown bout brought that gorgeous ceiling down. Second set up to drums was non stop fun. Skip was playing Phil’s Mission Control bass and let me tell ya, the bombs were flying. Cherry on top being the Visions and going down the road. Dance party was bit scattered due to the seats, but we managed to carve out the space we needed. ps: 1 draft beer = $20…. However the security staff couldn’t have been kinder. The one behind us was trying to help somebody find a lighter for their joint. Thanks to some great folks that showed us how Warfield shows are done, the experience was exceptional. Thanks as always to the band and crew!

Original Recipe Alabama Getaway, Hey Pocky Way, Big RR Blues, Passenger, Peggy-o, Cassidy, Brown-Eyed Women, Broken Arrow, Let It Rock, Pieces of My Heart. Foolish Heart, Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance> Crazy Fingers>Drums>Space>Tomorrow Never Knows>Love the One You're With> Saint Stephen>Morning Dew>Viola Lee Blues. E: Baby Blue Welcome to the Left Coast. Small theatre, Slanted floors. No balcony. How am I gonna make this work? Answer: Incredibly well. Well thought out elective delivered to a weekday audience. Big RR third a means business early indicator, although this one crept up on you. Let It Rock hammered. Foolish a bit bumpy, the delivery of the Crazy Fingers more than made up for it. Flawless covers led to the Stephen that popped the cork on a mind blowing final sequence. The closing crescendo of Viola outer limits. Spent with evening with many loved friends. Thanks Band and Crew. Praise DSO.

Eaton just had successful spinal surgery. Here’s to a speedy recovery for Rob! I hope he’s feeling like his old self soon - {{{Healing Vibes}}}

Was in NYC over the weekend and saw Miles Davis bassist Marcus Miller play the last show of his residency at the Blue Note Jazz club. He had old Miles Davis band mate Mike Stern sit in on guitar. It was incredible!

22/05/06 InDeadNation The Recher, Towson, MD Truckin', Sugaree, Ramble On Rose, Loser, Stagger Lee, Memphis Blues, Tennessee Jed, Mexicali Blues, Loose Lucy. West LA Fadeaway, Jack Straw, Foolish Heart, Scarlet Begonias>Fire on the Mountain, Box of Rain, Ripple, Casey Jones, We Bid You Goodnight. A Friday rainy slough through rush hour traffic well worth the sacrifice for a couple sets from my favorite local Dead band. I had the dance floor to myself for long stretches and took full advantage. Jack Straw, Scarlet>Fire personal highlights. Venue's a bar that transforms to college bar at 10:00 when we finish up, interesting transition. I had three lovely coeds with me for the Casey Jones. Ah to be young. I tacked on the second set from 87/03/26 in the basement when I got home to cap the evening. See everyone in Strousburg. Happy Mother's Day. Praise DSO.

45 years ago today I hopped on the bus to never ever land. 5/4/77 Palladium NYC

Watching the Hyryder Indy stream right now and the trap is packed. I’m getting a flu shot before New Years indy. Those dirty hippies get me sick every winter. Not sure how I’d chase the rug rat from 8-5 every day if I got sick. He’s currently fascinated with the green power button on the amp and it gets turned off 20x a day. Don’t get me started on how he does 3 mouse clicks and it says are you sure you want to delete everything on this computer. I turn my back and my phone is locked for 60 secs. He chewed up a cigarette from a pack that got in his reach and he was grossed out and spit it out and 20 minutes later he’s trying to grab another. Then there’s leaves that get tracked in. No those aren’t snacks. How many are you chewing on? Oh Atlanta. I got to get back to you.

85/11/16 Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA Hell In A Bucket>Sugaree>El Paso, Dupree's Diamond Blues, Little Red Rooster, West LA Fadeaway, Let It Grow. Tennessee Jed, Cumberland Blues, I Need A Miracle>Crazy Fingers>D>S>Comes A Time> Gimme Some Lovin'>Truckin'> Black Peter>Good Lovin'. E: Day Job. Another fine example of the wacky good lists being produced in 1985. Only TennJed in the second set from the 80's on, and an opener to boot. The second set especially tasty, check that pre drums. I have found the second set Cumby to be quite righteous, and approve of the post space Truckin'. It was 35 years ago today. Praise DSO.

https://archive.org/details/gd1983-09-11.125609.mtx.dusborne.flac16 I've been waiting to post this show. It's one of my all time favorites. I listened to the tape of this show while at summer school at Arizona State University, especially the first set then. Apparently during the second set, because of a light rain, a rainbow appeared during Morning Dew. As I've posted before, the wang dang doodle is one of my favorite segues ever. My first shows were red Rocks right before this musical adventure. That last night at RR, as everyone was walking the lot to their cars, there was a soft chant going on "ssssaaannnta fe, ssssaannnta fe", over and over. I didn't know what was going on back then, but looking back now I realize it was tour heads going down there for the final show of this run and magic was being conjured up Gotta love those midset Hell in a Buckets, esp 83 buckets, this show is gold at every turn, they must've had nothing but love in Santa fe

Park West 8/20/87. First in line at 4am, by 6am there was a crowd of maybe 100 people lined up, got the rail, big boss man opener, china Ryder second set, stella, most peaceful place to be. Waist high stage we could drape our arms on , nothing but the band 5 feet away. End of rocky mountain tour for me , 12 hr drive up from Tempe two nights earlier. Then the long desert drive home through Utah and western Wyoming getting to Laramie. Gas was cheap, nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile and dream of the next show which was eel river in Humboldt with JGB acoustic and electric, 3 sets for $15.00. When's that time machine coming?

Happy Friday Darkstar forum, Going to see Melvin W/ JK this Sunday at the Atomic Cowboy in St.Louis. Going to be a outside show. Can's wait and the second best part is we are off work on Monday!!! Yahoo!! Will give up date on show. Have a great and safe Labor day weekend everybody...

New set up old names. Amongst the confusion of upgrade it was nice to see familiarity. Nice to read of the reunion of dates. The remeberence of the first circus ride. A throw of the unexpected, the first time. Not as good as it could be, but the best it would ever be. First are always something to reflect on. Age catches up, memerories fade, but the ones we keep, we cherish. I cherish mine. I cherish many....no regrets of a weekend missed, as the bus always idles for those waiting to hop back on. Pauses for the right reasons makes it sweeter when we go back to where we belong. Nice to read the post. No more cavey but change is the only constant. Hope all.yall are doing well. It's a strange place to be knowing where your started. A big thanks to many here. Walked me through hell, forgave my stumbles, and encouraged so many times with keep.on growing at the balck.mountain. my song to rest. And rest we need at times. Regroup, reevaluate, and fight for the beauty of the love we bring. The comfort of knowing it's always here. It moves on with out you, but allows you to come.back on. A continuum....ever last lasting, or at least built to. Carolina contingent. I second thought myself, but ...little league Saturday is more precious. Happy to come back and share my silly words, but more happy to come back and read yours. Stability....and to think we find it in the same but different. Every show, every night. Will make a jubilee a priority. Be nice to dance with you fine people again. To flail. Makes calves tighten just thinking about it. You know my love is not fade away. Happy spring, rebirth, enjoy your back yard carolina!! Sorry. Wants no longer out weigh needs, but eventually need to take a load off. Go hang out with carmin....and go spend some time loosing my twenties ...closer to 50. As always, it makes sense to me....to others, to some, it's in and out, as the garden grows and the sunshine knows, the laughing water, maybe more will eventually get me out the door. Get out of the way, splintered light will indeed come back one day!! Love yall!! How I became other love I dont know, it used to be going back where...... prior sun1869, I guess time does change all. Name change is common for me.

First GD show was 31 years ago tonight. Seems like yesterday and 2 lifetimes ago all at the same time. https://archive.org/details/gd1988-04-11.sbd.miller.91243.sbeok.flac16 It wasn’t until Rosemont that the switch really got flipped but this nite was the 1st nite of the rest of my life ❤️

So, one week after my first Grateful Dead concert, I go back to college for my second year. My shroom mate has a friend who went to college in San Fran just so he could go to Dead shows. He calls my roommate to say Bill Graham bought the Warfield theatre so that the Dead could play there for two weeks straight. They’re playing acoustic sets, plus two electric sets to celebrate their fifteenth anniversary. With a few more phone calls over that time, we learn that every acoustic set is being closed with Ripple, and that they’re making a double acoustic and a double electric album from those shows. They asked everyone to not do too much hootin’ and hollerin’, as the shows were being recorded for the albums. We also learned that they were doing similar shows at Radio City. That got us cutting class and riding up to Radio City the Monday before Halloween. We ride into New York with his Buddy and try to scalp tickets. We get robbed by ‘scalpers’, and now we’re penniless outside of Radio City while our ride is inside the show. Pretty disappointed for about an hour when someone walks up to us wearing a ski mask and asks, ‘who wants to get snuck in?’ We tell him our hard luck story, and he says, ‘ stand right here, let me find three more people’. We end up walking right through the front doors of Radio City without a ticket. This guys neighbor was a ticket taker at the door. Once inside, we got free doses, red dragons two weeks old from Berkeley. Absolutely amazing night. Acoustic set was precious. Five and a half hour show. Life changing. That’s all, thanks for letting me share.

Today is the 30th anniversary of my first Grateful Dead show. http://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1988/4/11 I really didn’t quite understand the hype - it was like an inside joke that thousands were in on. I skipped school and went (was taken) on to Chicago. It was like nothing I’d even imagined - my DNA got changed and that was it. Like it was written in my soul.......❤️

How about DSO history 2001-09-08 Show# 546 Tipitina's Uptown New Orleans, LA Click Here for Setlist GD 01/11/1979 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY This was my tenth DSO show. By then I had met and hung out with the crew after shows and met nearly all of the band, except Rob Koritz and Lisa. That night I met Rob between sets and we had a chance to actually talk. Then he took me Backstage and introduced me to Lisa. "Mean" Willie Green sat in with the Band that night on Drums and Percussion. I also met him (Didn't know who he was at the time.

Once in awhile you say to yourself that was THE best show that you’ve EVER seen or ONE of the best shows you’ve ever seen. but soon you catch yourself saying it a lot lmao that being said, the second set of the final show of the week was up there with one of the best I’ve ever seen. morning dew to start that monster double decker sandwich was something I needed to experience PITB>UJB>umbroken>d/s>imagine instrumental with the crowd singing some of it >last time >DARK STAR>PITB>UJB. This was totally amazing. Dark star was all ready sending me into orbit when we got the pitb reprise and ujb reprise. You don’t want these nights to end but they have to. the whole week in Jamaica is just amazing and I really loved the matinee. Wasn’t sure it was gonna be topped. Something about a daytime show that warms your bones differently. But that last set was something I’ll cherish for quite sometime, especially as I sit here in NY in the snow thinking about my sunsoaked week, of great people, beautiful weather and music that makes me happy beyond words. They are second to none when it comes to re creating the Grateful Dead music and the vibes that come with it . Ending with ripple my cup was beyond full. Dark star thank you once again, much love, and thank you Melvin and JGB!

24/06/11 Dance Lab Set One 94/10/01 Boston Garden, Boston, MA Help on the Way>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower, Walkin' Blues, Althea, MAMU>Big River, Tom Thumb Blues, So Many Roads, Promised Land. Set Two 69/02/28 Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA Morning Dew, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Doin' That Rag, King Bee, Lovelight. Set Three 87/09/18 MSG, New York, NY Shakedown Street, Women Are Smarter, Terrapin Station>Drums>Space> 76/06/11 Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA Samson and Delilah, Sugaree, Sugar Magnolia> Eyes of the World>Stella Blue>Sunshine Daydream. E: Johnny B. Goode. While less frequent since COVID, these events still occur and this one really rang the bell. Final 10 song opening set, impressive work for 1994. Pristine recording second, full of vigor and Pig goodness. Back end of the third unplanned today in GD history, with a unique Samson and a never ending Eyes intro. Big Fun. Praise DSO.

HOLY SHIT! Best DSO show I have ever attended, by far!! Easily one of the top 5 CONCERTS I have ever attended! Please tell me I can find this show for sale on a DVD or on ReListen!

It was everything a Sunday show should be, except undersold. The balcony was VIP so just one big room and they sold every square inch. Despite the storms around, heard they sold out. It’s not every show you launch from the first notes, but this one did just that. Me and BillK ended up in the middle of this group of 20 something’s from Santa Cruz. I gotta say, those skinny kids got some sharp elbows. Almost mosh pit like in there. During the feedback jam, the touch heads all left so space opened up. Show itself was fairly short so they had an hour left after the encore. Perfect selection of fillers. Letter to Maria a new one on me, but they rocked it out! Thanks band a crew for a great run!!

Hell yeah, we even spent some time on the rail last night! Place was slow to fill up, but eventually got pretty tight. The slope and the seats had lots to do with that. We carved out a small flat spot at the top and wore a few layers off the carpet. There were some gems in there last night but the closing sequence was a mind bender. Crazy Fingers, oh yeah baby, Jeff killed it. Not a sound from the crowd during the tender Dew moments. Killer place and crowd, thanks much to band and crew for laying it down!

Thanks for tracking and dialing that set list Bill… dug the Lisa/Barracco vocal chanting during the Tommorow Never Knows jam….have only heard instrumentals up until tonight… amazingly young crowd in this college town…I dig that…and they were getting down and getting off sweatiest damn Tuesday night I can remember 😱

Man the last two weekends I have hit this little soon to be private club in Louisville. It’s just starting but apparently a guy who used to post “living room concerts” online with local musicians bought a place to start having these shows. No cover, BYOB, and they pass the hat with 100% of the donations going to the artists performing. 1st week I went was a bluegrass band that I basically watched grow up and become a band down at Terrapin hill farm. Last night was a local legend who played old blues and gave us a Peggy O. Dude is a music lover who tells everyone that this is a “listening room” not a concert hall. A place for music lovers to go to listen to music. Just a freakin beautiful spot for live local music with no hassles. He’s been doing this about 8 months, and I’m kinda salty that I’m just now hearing about it because so far it seems Taylor made for me.

Billy Strings for the Win. Absolute Fire 🔥 last nite in Cary, NC. For the uninitiated, Cary stands for: Containment Area for Relocated Yankees. Venue = Good! 11p Curfew = Bad I’ve seen him a handful of times and my jaw still hits the floor every time he gets going. SET 1 Fire on My Tongue Bronzeback Hellbender Sadie What a Lady Everything's the Same Away From the Mire Long Forgotten Dream Rank Stranger Doin' Things Right Southern Flavor Dealing Despair Home SET 2 Tom Dooley On the Line Nothing's Working The Streamlined Cannonball Taking Water Running Train, Train Watch It Fall West Dakota Rose Secrets Planet Caravan Wargasm ENCORE And Am I Born to Die? Run Down Willin' Don't Let Your Deal Go Down

89/04/12 Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL Jack Straw, Row Jimmy, Minglewood Blues, Tennessee Jed, Masterpiece, Cumberland Blues, Let It Grow. Touch of Grey, Truckin' >Smokestack Lightning> Spoonful>Smokestack Lightning>He's Gone> Drums>Space>Take You Home>Watchtower> Wharf Rat>Lovelight. E: Black Muddy River. last Spoonful 87/09/07 [124] Peeking around the historic show at Cameron Indoor on this day in 78, let us glance at the final April 12 performance for the boys in the city of big shoulders. Never go wrong with Jack Straw as an opener, Cumberland always welcome. Star of the first the Let It Grow. Smokestack sandwich the memorable anomaly of the show, although the Smokestack section less than three minutes combined. A Dead Base dive revealed the sequence was also played on 84/11/02 at BCT. Further down the wormhole, that show also contained the first Gimme Some Lovin' and the last Casey Jones until the bust out at RFK in 92. Were you in the house Desert Dead? I enjoyed speakers in the hallways the night after my second row center hardwire with the Big Man. Praise DSO.

So random thoughts and randomness in general, nothing to do with what came before but ****the space after Jerry sings "ewwwh weee" and before he sings "this feelings killing me" .......pure pure godlyness. The notes between lyrics in don't let go are just juicy heavenly bliss. Random but true.

Don't suffer in silence and don't be ashamed. Please talk to someone - it's ok to be sad and it's ok to ask for help. Life can feel like it's more than you can handle and sometimes you gotta lean on someone for help. Remember to always be kind because you never know what another person is going through.