Greg from Chestertown

my favorite from Rodney Dangerfield; ‘The first time I had sex, I was scared. I was alone!’

I’m talking about the shows where Jerry was so fucked up from drugs or lack thereof, that he couldn’t play or sing worth a fuck. The half hearted attempts. The forgotten lyrics. That’s something you do not get with DSO. Their professionalism takes that out of the mix. They don’t recreate the flaws. Don’t get me wrong. I also understand that without the drugs, you don’t get Jerry taking our minds to the edge of the universe with a Dark Star that goes on forever, etc. I also think that DSO brings people together so that these conversations can happen in real time before, during,(talkers), and after shows, as opposed to blips on the forums. I imagine that Jubilee is the epitome of that scenario.

That was my first impression at my first Dark Star Orchestra show. I can still do this! I can still go to shows! You’re right, we got it back. With a sober, professional enthusiasm. They can ‘fix’ all the drugged out shows, rough vocals, and tackle a nineties set list with a vengeance. My favorite facet is that they go back before my time and deliver a seventies show or even earlier. Yea, Praise DSO.

Yea, I figured you must have but he way you worded it, I wasn’t sure if that one passed you by. Texting can be troublesome

You do know that he used to be the lead guitarist in DSO, right?

I would like to hear Iko, women R smarter, and Not Fade Away strung together. Probably in that order. Same beat, right? Heavy percussion

I think He’ll in a bucket is about Joan Baez, or at least that’s the rumor. Speaking of rumors, if you hold the album cover of Mars hotel up to a mirror, the hieroglyphics across the top read, ‘ugly rumors’. Supposedly that’s about a rumor that Jerry was sleeping with Donna.

Yea, I cannot leave Visions of Johanna. No way. Lot to laugh, a train to cry? Not Jerry’s acoustic version. No way. Wait, are we still keeping Victim? Oh well, that’s why God invented vanilla and chocolate ice cream. To each his own.

Ok, ok. I’m sorry I said hate. What I meant was that it is one of my least favorite Dead songs. It’s not all bad. Great set list, plus, victim is placed perfectly for going to take a pee. Musta been a great show, everything working out and all.

I HATE that fucking song. That’s all, thanks for letting me share.

I’m sorry I missed that one. That set list is all good from beginning to end. I’m tired from dancing and all I did was read the set list. My feet are killing me. I gotta sit down.

Well, then, quite a few Bertha, Good Lovin’ combos this tour. Just something that I noticed. Always nice rockin’ pair of songs live. Oh, spoiler alert!

From the heart of me. Nice!

I was at a show in Radio City, leaning on a railing at half time. A girl walks up to the railing with a sack of books and grumbles, ‘ I have a midterm tomorrow.’ I was at a show in Philly, sitting in the first seat of a row. A girl dances down the steps, we exchange smiles. She leans over and joyfully says, ‘I got fired so that I could come here tonight.’ My oldest child had a difficult birth, spent the first week of his life in intensive care. A week later, the Dead were in town. I went to the show. It made perfect sense to me. That one came up in the divorce proceedings. Priorities, Priorities, Priorities.

Thanks for recording, much appreciated. I thoroughly enjoyed myself catching the first night. Had a blast. The band really made two souls shine. I couldn’t understand why Lisa didn’t come out and sing along on I know you rider. I found that odd. The night went by so fast, Shame when you’re having fun. Always fun to hear Saturday night when it’s not Saturday night. They rocked it pretty good. I’m worried about the guy who had the unfortunate incident out front of the venue after the show. I hope he’s ok.

Bobby McGee two nights in a row.

Were you able to metro back out of town after the show? I looked into it, driving to New Carrollton and catching a train into DC but I was worried that the last train out wasn’t late enough. Not into leaving a show early just to catch a train.

Here comes Sunshine opener. Dark Star had a other one jam in there. Another great night by Dark Star Orchestra, familiar smiling faces, good time all night. I really appreciated the midnight, moonlight. I forgot all about that one. The band seemed to stretch it out a bit. Got caught up in the music, some of the tunes had me flashing back well over thirty years. Totally way lot of fun.

Yea, I’m glad that the band, the fans, and the venue were collectively able to put some distance between themselves and those past, unattractive memories.

so, I researched the original show out of my usual curiosity. The original didn’t have an encore that night. The ripple encore is actually the filler, I guess. I wasn’t there, last night or the original show.

I have a tape of the Grateful Dead hour that I recorded in, probably ‘88, off of the radio. Jerry is singing Black Peter. He just finishes the line ‘ just then, the wind came squalling through the door.’ At that point, my stereo picked up a CB radio. There’s a burst of static, a girl says, ‘ watch it, buddy’ and the radio goes back to Jerry singing Black Peter. Surreal?

So, I just had a thought. (Scared?) will these be the first electric shows for the Hamilton?

I’m figured that, at first, fans thought the fire alarm was part of the show. I’ve seen Rob use a hacksaw during the drums before. Another Black muddy river. That’s fine with me!

So, I’m in the UPS store this morning, getting something laminated. Shining Star is playing on the speakers in the ceiling, The Billy Davis/Marylin McCoo version from the seventies. I told the young fella helping me out, ‘ Jerry Garcia does this tune.’ He says, ‘ who the hell is Jerry Garcia?’ Surreal moment for me.

When I first started catching Dark Star shows, I was always reporting to my buddy John Devine. He told me, if you’re always going to Dark Star shows, you gotta meet Bixby. He goes all the time too. (We’re all from Wilmington) I was at the Grand Opera House In Wilmington, De. Before a show way back when. I’m standing next to the will call window and I here a guy say ‘ yea, ticket for Scott Bixby.’ I introduced myself, that’s where it all began. Whenever I’m at a show, we always seem to find each other, if only for a minute. He has introduced me to all of his friends every time. (I remember nobody’s names. I’m like that.) Bixby is the quintessential Starhead! Keep up the good work!