Leaderboard

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.

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.

maybe about 2006.... "Started out to Richmond for the Cosmic New Year's Run Four nights listening to Dark Star, expect'n plenty of fun Hoping to dance all night with Starhead friends hanging all around. Just bought a brand new Prius, gets mileage you wouldn't believe But ran out of gas in the mountains while traveling I-81 Outside of Possum Hollow but the car won't run on pure ethanol. Another stop at a thrift store Bess and Tim got to have their fun Not much but good old clothes, soft and cuddly warm I found me a big law book and largest French Press in the land. Finally made it to "The National" Talked with Sara at the Tee shirt stand Chuck and Lisa were at the show Connie and Gary from the far northern land. Show got off a bit slow, Musta not had something turned on. Second set was setting fire, Franklin's Tower and Terrapin Loved see'n Dan Healy dancing behind the big mix'n board. Fire alarm went off at 4 am, but hotel wern't burn'n down Took forty minutes to stop the sound Everybody was just standing round. Next night in Norfork found DC Frank by the rail All our friends were bounc'n high When Lisa sang "Hurts Me Too" both Janis and Pig just had to smile. Drove seventeen miles across the sea Chesapeake Bay all around Then up the peninsula, beautiful birds and trees railroad on our side. New Jersey roads ain't no good, Bumps and twists and turns, Can't find my way around I now agree with Herdy, don't want to come here no more. Montclair's Wellmont Theater Another beautiful show Woke up in the morn'n, it was cold and windy too, Big white flakes a fall'n, brightly cover'n the ground This Southern Boy ain't seen snow like this since winter of 99. Hit my head in Baltimore, knocked me out stone cold. Didn't really wake up till second set But then things came around Danced with some blonde haired girl, cutest chick in town. When the show was over, we all headed out of town Kira couldn't find the cab so we walked till break of dawn Stopped in a 7-11, not much else going down. Finally back in the hotel, don't know what room I belong. Called up my wife, Bess, just to catch the number home. Woke her out of sleep so fast, her eye got full of pain. Had to take her to the hospital, the doctors were all amazed. We broke off from the tour... had to get Bess on home. Sorry to miss John's show, but later this year we'll go at it again.

Elective Show China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Black-Throated Wind, Box of Rain, Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, St. Stephen > Corrina > Morning Dew > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad* *w/Jennifer Hartswick

1983-09-08 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO Set One: Shakedown Street; Mama Tried-> Big River; Ramble On Rose; Hell In A Bucket; Brown Eyed Women; Looks Like Rain-> Deal Set Two: Scarlet Begonias-> Fire On The Mountain; Estimated Prophet-> Terrapin Station-> Drums-> Space-> Throwing Stones-> Black Peter-> Around And Around-> Good Lovin’ Encore: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue DSO did this at Red Rocks 09/08/2019 w/ White Rabbit Filler.

.......that I'm happy that I've found a place that LOVES DSO as much as I do!!!!! Pleased to meet you! Mark here. First post, yada yada. I'll give y'all the crib notes. I got on the GD bus in 2006 and have never looked back! Have many reasons why it took me so long but that's for another day. In retrospect, quite bummed about that fact but the only thing that matters is that I am NOW ON BOARD!!!! (And have been religiously for the past 20 years) Had an awesome friend who continuously sent me live Dead shows (on my request) over a long period of time. Got about 150 shows, mostly SB or high quality audience. Anywho, I got on the DSO bus LATE as well..... 10-15-2023, The Signal, Chattanooga, and was so blown away that I've seen the boys (and girl) 15 more times over the past 2 1/2 years. 90% of which I had to board a plane to get to them. To me, they are the greatest band on the planet and I've seen shitloads of bands all over the world. Trust me, I KNOW that I am NOWHERE near the league that most of you are in, seeing the Dead and DSO 100's and even 1000's of times, but know this: I LOVE THIS BAND, almost more than anything in this world and I will continue to do everything in my power to see them as many times as I can until the day I die. To me, they are a gift from God. Mark We'll be back in just a little bit.........................

Ron, can’t tell you how grate it is to see you posting here occasionally. Those of us who been around here for a while gotta a lotta love for you brother!! Keep on keepin on!! ❤️

I do many Hyryder shows myself…Bluebird always a good one.

26/06/27 Horizon Stage Bethel Woods Bethel, NY First Set Elective China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider, Schoolgirl, Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Hard to Handle, Green Green Grass of Home, Cryptical>Death Don't Have No Mercy>Dancin in the Streets>Cryptical> Viola Lee Blues. Second Set Recreating 69/08/16 Woodstock Set St. Stephen>Mama Tried, Dark Star>High Time> Turn on Your Lovelight. Third Set Elective Alligator>Drums>William Tell Bridge>The Eleven> Morning Dew. E: Woodstock. Quite possibly the most amazing night of music I have experienced. Absolute inspired magic. Will expand after morning coffee. Thanks Band and Crew. Praise DSO.

SO GLAD you beat me to this! Mind you, I have NOT read your post yet but will give my review. After seeing DSO 1000 plus or minus times, I have crossed a few shitholes. This Shithole ranks in the top 10. Where do I start? After walking thru the metal detector before the show, the guy asked me to show the brim of my hat and wanted to inspect my sunglasses that sat on top of my hat. OK, that was over the top, no pun intended. The venue had about 100 too many employees walking around the venue, directing, motioning, checking etc. This included multiple police. I immediately noticed that the entire floor was filled with chairs WITH assigned seating.. WHY? Dance is why the majority of us come to see DSO. Clearly, there was zero interaction between the promoter and the venue as to what kind of music that was planned this evening. I witnessed a guy being arrested for smoking weed. I witnessed another guy getting arrested and his wife being knocked down. It appeared that they were intoxicated but the treatment was out of control. My friend had mentioned that she was really high at set break so, later, I decided to go down to the front row where she was sitting to make sure she was doing ok. I sat next to her. The seat was open. I was courteous, quiet and thoughtful while conversing with her. Bubba, the stage security guard singled me out and asked to see my ticket and proceeded to kick me out. My friend was also astounded by the way I was treated. I have to say that after speaking with several of their employees, they could care less about how I perceived things. I could never go back there. The one positive thing is that many of my mutual friends skipped this one....SMART! If you can afford a $1600 suite upstairs ( which my friend had ), that wasn't bad. Having said that, at one point, a security guard came in the suite with his flashlight on.....that says everything you need to know about the place... NO THANKS! Now, I will read the above original post.

Well, I am probably not the only one that harkens to wings a mile long. And if I step a little outside GD canon there’s the incredibly evocative notion that Big John’s been drinking since the river took Emmy Lou.

2026 Jubilee #2 Elective Morning Dew, Jack Straw, Loose Lucy, Broken Arrow, Black Throated Wind,Here Comes Sunshine, Keep on Growing, Sugar Mags > Scarlet Begonias* > GDTRFB** (Barraco said we’d have fun with this one) > China Cat Funflower 🌻> (Feelin Groovy Jam) > I Know You Ryder** > Easy to Slip > St Stephen** > He’s Gone >Drumz > Space > I Can’t Find My Way Home > Not Fade Away Jam > St Stephen Reprise > She Belongs to Me > Sunshine Sweetleaf E: Why Don’t We Do IT the Road > Love the One yer With *w/Jennifer Hartswick ** Fireworks at the best parts Chefs 💋

Just got a picture of Vince post op.

Yes it was

I wasn’t at the original but was at the DSO show with bells on. Oh what a night!

Thank You to both of you for your support and patience. Happy belated Bday gr8fulpair you have been a gr8 contributor! Thank you Mr. V. the longest registered member of the forums. I Love you All

The Comet Bluegrass Allstars opened with 2 sets, Sitting on Top of the World, Dark Hollow, Pig in a Pen, Summertime, IKYR, Catfish John, The Weight, Orange Blossom Special, Hobo Song, Midnight Moonlight, and other Peter Rowan and Indiana referenced songs. They've been doing free shows every Sunday for the past 30 yrs. Then: Set#1 Chinacat Ryder River 1/2 Step Bertha GSET Althea Lucy After Eleanor Midnight Dancin Set #2 Alligator Take Me to the River> Hell Est Scarlet H2H Eyes Fire Stranger US

I'm not aware of glitches where replies don't show. I hadn't replied to this post, Me Tea and DesertDead did "React" to it. You would have received notifications of that. I did do an Upgrade on Wednesday (8/19), I forgot to take the Forums offline as I usually do. Perhaps the others posted their reply during that time. Sorry for the inconvenience.... I am Old and on Medication. Welcome to the Forums! ☮️

Thank you, Chuck and Tea! (I guess Tea is the head honcho here? - I'm honored. 😊 ) An Obsession to say the least, Chuck!!!! I just found a double-bill that I can do before Jamaica! Hampton Beach for 2 shows! So psyched!!!!! When I see 2 shows listed ON A WEEKEND, within 2,000 miles, I'm ON IT!!!! 😃😃 Once I pull the trigger on the flight and hotel (or AirBnB), just the entire month, or whatever it is, becomes an anticipation bliss factory!!!! So, it's not just the shows, it's the whole lead-up to those shows! I'm paying for and enjoying months of happiness before it even happens!! LOVE IT!!!! And, this is a slight bummer with the site. I again got notifications that DesertDead, Taper Ron, and Dead duck responded to this post, but those posts are not shown.....????? What's up with that? I would like to thank them or respond, or whatever, for their posts. Can that issue be remedied? If not, THANK YOU, you three invisible posters! 😉 Listening to one of my faves right now - 11-14-87 , Long Beach. Fricking SOLID!!!!!! Let's fricking ROCK in Hampton Beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DSO RULES! Mark

I said goodbye to someone this week who meant a whole lot to me. He was a father, husband, uncle, grandfather, an animal lover and to me he was a mentor, a father figure, a brother, a deadhead that went back to the 70’s but mostly Frank was my close friend. I met Frank in 2007 as I entered the fire department and he was my original Captain of the house. On our lockers we all have stickers and stupid stuff but on the front of his locker was a JGB sticker. I said wow my captain is a deadhead with such delight. In 2010 I organized a bunch of us including Captain Frank to go see DSO. He already seen them and so had I. Some of the guys not into the dead the least bit, some knew a few songs but me Frank and 2 other guys were there for the music. Everyone had a blast. Some of you out there know me and have met Frank a few times. We went to many many DsO shows throughout the years together. He alway wanted to make JITS but never found the way to get there after retiring at 65 and having health issues, but he still made DSO shows in NJ and NY as best he could. He was a true warrior. he played the saxophone in a local band called American beauty , I used to go to the jam sessions and sit in the tiny room and listen to them rock out for the 3 hours they had the space rented. He played in the Capitol Theatre in the 70s with one of his bands and was so proud of that. He used to say to me some nights, listen man some people complain about the dead being dead after Jerry. When I close my eyes I listen to DSO it’s there and it’s as close as anyone will ever get man. This band is the real deal. I loved hearing him reminisce about his old days. He was a treasure and special. One night we went to DSO with friends of his. They drove. One woman got sick and had to leave. Her husband wanted to drive the woman home at set break. So I said Frank im gonna stay I’ll get home you can get a ride with them. He said no way brother im staying with you. This is a 74 year old man, 35 year FDNY veteran, hobbled and recovering from multiple illness…..stood right by with me. Love you bro Captain Frank was a sweet loving gentlemen from an era of love. He showed it at work to all of us everyday at the firehouse. He showed it at shows when he spoke to people and he showed it when he played his beloved sax. Frank passed away on Jerry birthday. I think that’s fitting. I listen to Sirius XM channel 23 pretty much everyday I’m in the car. The days between show had started that morning and we usually talk. weirdly i hadn’t heard from him I said let me call him and see how he’s doing (he had multiple health things going on). An hour later I got the news. The next week I found some solace in mostly JGB band on channel 23 in the car. Im gonna miss him more than words can tell. He did give me a huge amount to live off of. At the firehouse, at shows, and just being a good human being. i Love you brother, im gonna miss you tremendously. Your hugs, smile, telling me you loved DSO after the show. I hope you’re playing the sax up there talking to Jerry looking down on all of us. Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this , Frank was one of us.

Hyryder! I moved to Bloomington and catch as many Hyryder shows as possible. iykyk

Original Setlist China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Beat It on Down the Line, Friend of the Devil, Easy Wind, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, St. Stephen > Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain, Man Smart, Woman Smarter, China Doll > Good Lovin' E: Woodstock

3/29/91 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY Feel Like A Stranger, Sugaree, Walkin' Blues, Dire Wolf, Me & My Uncle-> Mexicali Blues, Althea, When I Paint My Masterpiece Iko Iko, Saint Of Circumstance, New Speedway Boogie-> Truckin'-> Drums-> Jam-> The Other One-> Wharf Rat-> Throwing Stones-> Touch Of Gray E: Brokedown Palace Filler: Box of Rain (with Lisa) 6:40 start with 10:30 curfew. Spot-on re-creation of this early Vince-only show I attended in Spring ‘91. I don’t think Jerry and Vince jammed on Within You Without You during space at the original show, but Jeff and Barraco did. I won’t be at the Greek this year so hopefully some other West Coaster will ring in.

Elective Setlist Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo, Hell In A Bucket, Peggy-O , CC Rider*, Easy Wind*, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Broken Arrow, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Lonesome & a Long Way From Home Shakedown Street, Baby Whatcha Want Me To Do* > Man Smart, Woman Smarter, Crazy Fingers > Drums > Imagine Space > Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys > I Need A Miracle > So Many Roads > Johnny B. Goode E: Don’t Do It *Lisa on Harmonica

Elective Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn), Cassidy, Althea, Passenger, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues, Lazy Lightnin’> Supplication, Run For The Roses, Walkin’ Blues, We Can Run > Johnny B. Goode Feel Like A Stranger, New Speedway Boogie Playin’ In The Band > He’s Gone > Jam > Drums > Space > The Wheel > All Along The Watchtower > Comes A Time > Sugar Magnolia E: Take A Letter, Maria Notes: Lisa is back!

First Jubilee that I remember selling out GA tickets prior to festival. update: more tickets added, no longer sold out! see you soon

This is the first summer since 1964 with no original members of the Grateful Dead on tour.

Maybe the craziest thing abut DSO's late 60s recreations is the original sets were sufficiently compact such that the filler can be worth the price of admission. 😁

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.

Elective set. Rob Eaton out sick. Jeff on Travis Bean, Skip on Fender Jazz Bass, Barraco mostly Piano with Organ on a few. Lisa on Harmonica here and there. AMAZING SHOW. Jeff was on fire and really animated. Let it Rock TLEO Strange Man Easy Wind Mission in the Rain Cassidy Stir it up Lonesome and a long way from home Tore Up Sugaree I’ll be with Thee Hard to Handle Don’t let go > Drumz After Midnight From the Heart of Me That’s what love will make you do Tangled up in Blue sisters and brothers just fantastic. what a treat. Praise DSO!!!

This should be a fun one…and bringing my daughter stella blue to her first jubilee.

Would be remiss not to mention this pair I attended. 8/8 Indy Conner Prarie Recreated 6/6/91 at Deer Creek which is a couple of stones throws from this very nice outdoor space. There was dedicated dance space behind first few rows…where I was, several 10 people tables behind that then lots of grass and tree lines up a rise. I particularly enjoyed the Jack Straw opener and Big RR Blues in first set and UJB in second. 1991 not my fav. Enjoyed filler a lot! Mr Charlie, Strange Man, Volunteers. 8/9 Dayton Rose Music Center 30th anniversary….. Elective:: Alabama Getaway Man Smart Woman Smarter Althea Mama Tried Mexicali Run for the Roses Broken Arrow Jack a Roe Never Trust a Woman TMNS Scarlet-> Fire Easy to Slip-> St Stephen-> D/S-> Imagine.(instrumental)-> Dark Star-> TheEleven-> Death Don’t-> Viola Black Muddy River Monster 2nd set worthy of the aforementioned anniversary. Also important to note was pre show announcement by Barraco of the celebration of life for Aaron(RUDE) “who really liked us”. The crowds applause was heartwarming as I planned to celebrate his life this show as I became aware of the date….as he would want me to. Although I spent much of first set debating security for at least 3 inches of aisle space to dance next to my seat, I was able to flirt/negotiate with her into the only half full ADA area which had plenty of space for my pleasure…and welcomed for that second set. Even saw Lisa frolicking by during drums. sufficient to say set 2…all of it…is why I have seen hundreds of DSO performances. Thank you band. You too Rude

Remember it fondly. Praise DSO.

Emmylou opened tonight's show with this

She was Jerry’s favorite female singer. I enjoyed learning about her earliest work from the Ken Burns documentary on Country music. She goes all the way back to the roots.

I had what I'd go as far as to call a profound experience Friday night, on account of music / location / psychedelic enhancement. (I guess that trifecta reads like, well, duh!.") I'm going to write it up while still fresh, and to help some life to this place I'll definitely post it. 😬 😜 Teaser alert: I saw Easy Wind, for my show at Belly Up in Solana Beach. (Which is pathetic; I've lived here in North County SD for over 6 months and Solana Beach is one town down.) I was totally solo, Ubering in case I wanted to imbibe with impunity. I didn't spend a cent in the venue, because the wildcard was the shrooms. I've partaken a fair amount over the past few decades various psilocybin forms, including the premium harvested stuff. I've also done small to medium LSD doses a couple times since the 90s. So how could carefully portioning off a third of the 4g laboratory mushrooms my wife bought home from a source in NYC go wrong? I'm eating about 1 1/3 grams. By showtime and hour later I was (a) dumfounded at the potency of these things, (b) wondering and/or fearing how much higher I was going to get, and (c) realizing that if when the music started this band wasn't bringing it I for me I might be in trouble! It's about 8 miles home if I walked on, or closely when not possible, the coast line. What a great way to experience this unexpectedly insane high if necessary! This is the kinda shit now hitting me. Looking at my phone to text my wife about these Frankenshrooms was a chore as it swirled and pulsated. While I'm a lightweight in these circles, I know what a full scale phchedelic high is, this stuff was turbo charged. I don't think I've been this high since the late 80s. So all that said, maybe folks can chime in with Easy Wind experiences. My story soon...

Bro, there's no "leagues". Just the love, passion, and connection with the music. Now having scolded you, welcome! 😁 And your passion seems palpable. If you want GD in its purest mold, you've come to the right place...

transmission blew up 2 exits before Roanoke on my way to these shows. We left the car and forged ahead, thank God. I was in school at App State and it was about a month and a half before I could get back up there to deal with it. My dad told me to sell it. The gas station owner gave me $50 for it, lol. My dad shit his pants when I told him I sold it for $50.

10/6/1977 Activity Center. Arizona State University Tempe, AZ Promised Land, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Dire Wolf, Looks Like Rain, Loser, Minglewood Blues, They Love Each Other, The Music Never Stopped Bertha > Good Lovin', Friend Of The Devil, Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Not Fade Away > Black Peter > Not Fade Away > Around x 2 E: Uncle John's Band F: The Weight Notes: Lisa out - under the weather. Get better, Lisa❤️

I especially liked Barroco's doing Bobby Whitlock's "Keep on Growing"...B# just wailing.

Don’t have the raw numbers but safe to say that this is was the largest Jubilee attendance to date - even despite the wet weather . Congratulations to the band and crew!

I think the rains gonna make it very intimate

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.

Original recipe with 80s instrumentation set one: Let the Good Times Roll Alabama Getaway Brother Esau Tom Thumb’s Blues Ramble on Rose Easy Wind Wang Dang Doodle I’ll Be with Thee Beat It On Down the Line Big Boss Man Ruben & Cherise set 2: Foolish Heart Masters of War New Speedway Boogie Midnight Hour>Jam* drums/space Gimme Some Lovin All Along the Watchtower Black Peter Tangled Up in Blue encore: Doncha Do It *Corrina Tease Pretty sure this is accurate but I’m open to corrections. This was one high octane elective set! Jam out of Midnight Hour was super melty, top flight improvisation. Drums/Space? Downright volcanic. Masters of War, Lisa brought the house down. Surprisingly light on Bobby content - I guess Eaton’s saving his voice for Oakland. see you there?

Yooooo! PHX successfully opened 2026 up right! Set 1 had CRS, Mama Tried, Big Boss Man, FOTD (fast), Bobby McGee, Bird Song (strong), a RIPPING Jack Straw, Hurts Me Too that was my favorite version ever by any band that Lisa fucking slayed. Round and Round was appropriate, i.e. “the place was packed” lol The Van Buren is a relatively nice venue, but they need a bigger venue for PHX. The security checks and entry process took abnormally and excessively long, and the overcrowded scene was a bummer for many. (My crew had a hookup at the venue so I was not adversely impacted, but still…) So while the first set with just Rob on drums and the set list had all heads (get it?) on an early show — 1970-ish, set 2 opened with Weather Report. So we knew we had an elective set because LIG never opened a second set with that first set composition (Mama Tried in two slot, BBM, Bobby McGee, etc.). China Doll was lovely. St. Steve Not Fade GDTR Not Fade was smoking. Raucous and rowdy shit. One More Saturday Night on a tour-opening Thursday was a fun surprise. Got to say hi to Rob B after the show (yo Rob), mentioned that the last time we chatted was at the Mousetrap in Indy for Skeleton Crewe, so we got a kick out of that. And he was with some people I know. Small world, great vibes The band and the quality of play, plus the sound last night should have everyone super stoked for when you see them soon. Loved seeing everyone happy and healthy. Thanks for the shoutout, AC DD

Fantastic! Actually guessed the show from the first note, as not too many shows start with Ramble On Rose. Love this OG dead show. DSO delivered big time. Tom did great!

The crew served up a rocking elective. Sounded great in spite of a few PA issues here & there. Love this venue but it was quite packed. The Weight Cold Rain and Snow Midnight Hour Ramble On Rose Broken Arrow Cumberland Easy wind Lost Sailor > Circumstance Tangled up in blue Stranger Help on the way>Sunrise>Slip > Franklin’s Corrina>Drums >space>Dear Mr Fantasy > Corrina Like a Road Leading Home Viola Lee Blues Don’t Do It