Amazing Things Found While Cleaning

Back in May, I got a phone call from my friend's mother asking for some help for my friend.  I never heard anything from them, so I forgot about until I cleaned out my voice mail.  It seemed that I had let them build up for way too long.  I found the original message, and I called her asking her about him.  She told me that he was now living near me.  I called him up, and we got together today.  He appears to be doing so much better than the last time I saw him.  I was very happy to see him.  He feels really good about being where he is, and he has some tangible goals in front of him.  This is a very good thing for him.  I know how he feels because I had been in his place.

I bought a new hard drive (what else is new?). I am going to put my others in to storage, so I don't lose any shows or anything else off of them.  I was talking to someone recently about that, and they said I should make a list of what is on each drive.  That way I wouldn't have to hunt through each drive to find what I am looking to burn off of it. This person is way too wise beyond their years.  This way I will finally have a list of all my shows. Hmmmm? Not bad if I do say so myself.

Music for today:
Dark Star Orchestra
June 25, 2010
People's Court
Des Moines, IA
listen here

A New Recording Device

 I got a long needed new recording device yesterday.  I have yet to take out for a spin, but I have some upcoming shows that I will want to record.  My last recorder's display faded, so I couldn't tell what I was doing.  It was truly recording in the dark.  There are two features about this recorder that I really like.  The first is that it will record straight through without stopping.  This means I will be able to get the whole set of a show with out any breaks at all.  The second is that it takes two different sets of batteries so that I can continue to record with power with out having to change batteries.  This means worry-free recording.  I have waited so long for this.  I am truly happy with it.



Music for today:
Grateful Dead
September 4, 1980
Civic Center
Providence, RI
This show has been commercially released as "Download Series Vol. 7: 9/3 & 4/80"
info about show listened 

Just Another Thing

When I first started this blog, I got hit with a very nasty virus that put my PC out of comission for a little while.  I strated this back up, and I got hit with more bad news.  My modem went down in a blaze of glory.  Actually, it just pettered out on me. I would love to say that it was still unde warrenty, but that would be wishing for to much.  I have to pay for another one.  I do get to spread the payments out over a few monthes, so it won't take too much of pinch out of my bank account.  I hate to say that I need this to survive, but I really do.  I got my palm read years ago while I was in Key West.  The guy there said that my future was to be in computers.  I really didn't believe him.  That could be said for almost everyone at that time.  This was back in the early 1990s when this happened, and since then, computers have taken more of a prominence in our culture then in anytime before this time period.  You didn't need to be a psychic to see it coming.  So for the next few days, I will hanging out at my favorite coffee shops and spomging on their wireless connection. Iced Coffee and free wireless! What a combination!

Music for today:

Rush
September 9, 2007
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, MN


Grateful Dead
February 9, 1973
Roscoe Maples Pavilion
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA
listen here

Jerry's Birthday/Back For More

Today is the anniversary of  the birth of Jerome John Garcia better known as Jerry Garcia. His legacy as the leader and lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead established them as the cornerstone of Hippie counterculture in San Francisco in the 1960's.  From party band to record setting band, the Grateful Dead had come one of the most attended concerts.  After his death, the band's music still finds new fans.  The remaining members still perform to sellout crowds.    Jerry Garcia found massive success before he passed away, but as success does has a way to put a schism between his remaining family members.  Jerry's ex wives had to go to court and drag his name through the courts to settle his estate since he didn't leave a will.  I still listen to all the incarnations of Jerry's music from the bluegrass, R&B, Bob Dylan covers, and of course the Grateful Dead.


I had a falling out with some people over a personal matter.  It cut straight to the bone.  I had to step back and take stock of what was important in my life.  I was very fortunate that I didn't have to spend  any time in places where is not fit for man nor beast.  I did however avail myself the useful tool of Facebook.  I have actually had great success with it, and I plan on continuing with this.



Music for today:

Grateful Dead
 May 18, 1977
Fox Theatre
Atlanta, GA
listen here 

Rhythm Devils
July 23. 2010
Howelsen Hill
Steamboat Springs, CO
listen here

GD 5/15/77 & 5/17/77

The shows for today are a continuation are the Spring Tour of 1977.  This tour is considered one of the best.  The first show (5/15/77) features the very first Iko Iko.  The next show (5/17/77) has the finest version of  Jack-A-Roe ever performed.  In a year that has so many great performances, it truly is hard to pick out the shiny examples.  This is what I would like to focus on instead of my shortcomings.  After all, it really is about the music.  This is my lifeblood.


Music for today:

Grateful Dead
May 15, 1977
St. Louis Arena
St. Louis, MO
listen here
The copy that I have is a Charlie Miller remaster.  Since it is not available at LMA, this recording will come close to the sonic quality.

Grateful Dead
May 17, 1977
Coliseum
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
listen here

The Time Has Come

A major change will take place as of today.  It is high time that I no longer bother you with my personal (or lack of a personal) life. I will continue to tell you about the shows that I am listening to though.  I do want to share the following poem that summarizes my life as I leave it on the sidelines.

The Men That Don't Fit In by Robert William Service

There's a race of men that don't fit in,
A race that can't stay still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and they rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.

If they just went straight they might go far;
They are strong and brave and true;
But they're always tired of the things that are,
And they want the strange and new.
They say: "Could I find my proper groove,
What a deep mark I would make!"
So they chop and change, and each fresh move
Is only a fresh mistake.

And each forgets, as he strips and runs
With a brilliant, fitful pace,
It's the steady, quiet, plodding ones
Who win in the lifelong race.
And each forgets that his youth has fled,
Forgets that his prime is past,
Till he stands one day, with a hope that's dead,
In the glare of the truth at last.

He has failed, he has failed; he has missed his chance;
He has just done things by half.
Life's been a jolly good joke on him,
And now is the time to laugh.
Ha, ha! He is one of the Legion Lost;
He was never meant to win;
He's a rolling stone, and it's bred in the bone;
He's a man who won't fit in.

These songs should tell you where its at: "Turn Out The Lights."  The next is "The Song is Over."  And lastly, the song to finish it all up "When the Music is Over." 

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
 May 9, 1977
War Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo, NY
listen here

Grateful Dead
May 13, 1977
Auditorium Theater
Chicago, IL
listen here

The Bridge

Last November when I started this project, I was not in my right mind.  I had a real bad thought go through my mind that could have been fatal.  It consisted of going out in a blaze of glory.  I was to go on the trip to great beyond.  My goal was San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.  The sense of being grandiose is something that I didn't think I had until this came along to bother my mind.  I had heard of a documentary that a film make had made about this phenomenon.  It is called The Bridge.  The fact that I have bipolar disorder is the key to all this misery.  Here is another that has this kind as well.  Yeah, I know I am beating a dead horse with all this morbid talk.  This is the "why" people don't like to deal with us.  This includes major religions as well.  We are the scourge of the world.  The hungry of the world can be fed, but the mentally ill will always be ill. There is no real cure.  Patients wears extremely thin when dealing with us.  How many telethons or major fundraisers have you ever heard of for the mentally Ill? Zero!  There are no major concerts scheduled anytime soon either.  I am not asking for vibes or prayers, because that would be asking too much of any one.  We are just on the edge.  It is like the old question that is asked often, "Am I threat to my self or others?"  At this point  the answer is "No." So it is onward and upward out of one abyss and on to the next.  The song that comes to mind is "China Doll."  Here are the annotated lyrics for the song.  The other song that comes to mind is one that actually helps through the bad times.  It is called "Stone Blue" by Foghat.  Then of course, we have the the quintessential song by The Beatles "Help."

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
May 8, 1977
Barton Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
listen here

'Tis Darkest Before The Dawn

Having ventured into uncharted waters of life, it is a bitter pill to swallow alone.  I would like to claim for the record that besides the help that I get at the VA, my family and the part time job I am pretty much alone most of the time.  I thought about being a monk once, but I really couldn't get my head around a religion that doesn't want me.  I thought about friends in the self-help groups that I had belonged to for so many years, but all they were interested in was themselves.  Women wouldn't want a fat, jobless man, so why would they want me?  My health has gone south.  I am not happening nor am I hip.  I am just here counting time before it strikes midnight.  There was once a story about a guy who gets chased by a ferocious animal over a cliff to a waiting branch.  Below the man are a pile of razor sharp rocks.  This man is trapped between the rocks and the ferocious beast.  On the branch is the prettiest flower that he has ever seen. He scoots himself over and breathes in the wonderful aroma.  It is the best thing that he has ever smelled in his life. This is the perfect analogy of my life. The tunes that I would like to share can be seen through a different perspective.  The first is "Wish You Were Here."  The next is "Fearless."  At the end of the this song, the throng are singing a particular song "You Will Never Walk Alone";  here is the same song done with the full weight of the crowd behind it.  I just wish our crowds were that enthused at our football games.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
May 7, 1977
Boston Garden
Boston, MA
listen here

Just Another Day

I had a huge rant that I wanted to post, but at the risk of alienating some readers, I deleted it all.  Negativity breeds all sorts of real bad feelings.  This was one of those.  You don't need to witness a complete meltdown.  It isn't very pretty.  Suffice it to say that there is a forum that I had belonged that ignores my posts.  I am doing the most humane thing by leaving it completely.  The bookmark is now gone.  I will leave it with the following "Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
May 4, 1977
The Palladium
New York City, NY
listen here

Grateful Dead
May 5, 1977
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
New Haven, CT
listen here

The Wrestler

I am still recovering from my cold.  So, I wrapped myself with a comforter and watched some movies.  One of them was The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei.  After watching this movie, I remember the times of watching wrestling on TV.  The program we used to watch was called All-Star Wrestling.   We even named a dog after one of the wrestlers.  My parents came home with a Vizsla (Hungarian Pointer).

We gave him the name Baron after the wrestler Baron von Raschke the ClawMaster.

I had a friend in High School that had close ties to the wrestling world.  His dad was the producer for All-Star Wrestling, and he knew all of the guys.  He helped his dad put on the shows in the small arenas.  I met up with him at one of our reunions, and I found out that he even became a referee for the bouts as well.  I remember once turning on the radio in my car and hearing an interview with him about his experiences.  Here is the song that Bruce Springsteen did for the movie that should have won the Oscar for best song "The Wrestler."

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
May 1, 1977
The Palladium
New York City, NY
listen here
Set Two only

Grateful Dead
May 3, 1977
The Palladium
New York City, NY
listen here
Set One in SBD only

Cadillac Records/North Country

What a fool am I for not having seen Cadillac Records when it first came out.  I got my PS3 to stream movies from Netflix, and this came up as one of the offerings.  I had some time to kill today, so I loaded it up to watch it.  I have the Chess box set of Muddy Water's recordings.  They are fantastic.  A friend burned me a disc worth of Chuck Berry from his Chess box set.  I featured it awhile ago in another entry.  The storyline in this movie that interested me most was that of Etta James.  Beyonce as Etta was a gritty performance.  The woman certainly has the chops when it comes to acting.  I mention this because I often think of her mainly as a singer.  She covers Etta's songs wonderfully.  I would like though to offer the original tunes here.  Here are some of her classic numbers.  The first is "I'd Rather Go Blind."  Here is the original version of "At Last"; Beyonce sang her version at the inauguration ball where President Obama and his wife Michelle danced together.  Now to top it all off, we have Etta James with The Tower of Power Horns jamming with the Grateful Dead on New Year's Eve doing "Hard To Handle."

This evening was spent watching the movie North Country. It is about the struggle against sexual harassment in an iron mine in Northern Minnesota.  The soundtrack has lots of songs provided by Bob Dylan who comes from that area.  I heard a story long ago about him at his high school talent show in Hibbing, MN.  The story went that he was booed off the stage.  I met a person who was my coworker that was there at the show.  She told me that the story was true.  I also met a guy whose brother went to school with Dylan, and he was at the talent show as well.  It is a strange world in that part of the country.  It is like stepping backwards in time.  Here is a tune from the movie's soundtrack "Sweetheart Like You."

Music for today:

None.  I was recovering from a cold today, so I curled up and watched movies.  Tomorrow will be different.

Flogging Molly At First Ave

This evening was supposed to be a father/daughter evening out, but somethings were not meant to be. Originally,  I had read that it was going to an all ages show.  That is the information from the bands website. While I was at breakfast checking out a place that served Cuban food, I read our local entertainment rag.  I caught the ad for the place that it was being held, and much to my dismay, it said that it was an 18+ show.  I checked the tickets, and sure enough, that is what it said.  I felt really bad that I made this kind of mistake.  She didn't seem to heartbroken over this since early in the week she was to see a Broadway musical and another concert of one of her favorite bands.  It was shooting for the moon I guess, and I shot too far.  I went on facebook to see if anyone would want to go with me.  An old friend of mine wanted to but couldn't get out of work.

I went to the show, and eventually found someone who needed it.  I talked to an environmental group there inside the show.  I will share more info on them in another post.  I also bought a hat.  I wanted to buy a shirt, but they are all too small for me.  I did buy a baseball hat with Flogging Molly's logo on it.  I do like my caps.
I stood right behind the soundboard which was elevated.  This gave me a great view of both the warm up band and FM.  I met a guy named David who writes for Beholder Media.  He was a young guy that had never seen them in concert.  As we were talking, he told me about a guy from a band that had recently died.  The report was heart related, but he had a history of suicide in his past.  I told him that it reminded me of the old David Bowie tune "Rock and Roll Suicide" that he did when he was doing Ziggy Stardust.  This guy never heard of Ziggy Stardust, Lou Reed or Guitarist Extraordinaire Mick Ronson.  Here is another example of Mick Ronson's work  that I gave him (he is on lead guitar):  "Heroin part one, part two".

The music for the show was great.  It was like going to a big Irish wake.  There have been many people mentioned throughout that have passed on, and many dedications were made to various people for different causes.  The most poignant one was to the missing fiddle player.  Her mother was undergoing brain surgery, and she was not doing well.  Other than that, It was a great time to be had.

I picked up my copy of Avatar on blu-ray this afternoon.  It was completely stunning.  It is the best reason for blu-ray to exist.

Music for today:

Band of Heathens
April 15, 2010
The Bottling Company
Hattiesburg, MS
Opened For Mofro

01. Somebody Tell The Truth
02. Look At Miss Ohio
03. L. A. County Blues
04. Jenny Was A Keeper
05. Jackson Station
06. Your Gonna Miss Me

Seven Words (warning foul language)

There is a great video featuring Frank Zappa on the program Crossfire.  This program came out in the mid-1980's, and it is about the censorship of rock music.  Zappa was a conservative voice in the freedoms of free speech.  I find it rather ironic that Tipper Gore was the person that lead the charge for labeling music. Here is Frank's video.  To say that Tipper Gore is a deadhead, I don't really believe she knows where it is at. Here are some videos for that self-righteous bitch.  The first is "The Seven Words."  The next tune is from Twisted Sister (The father in this video is the same guy from Animal House.) "We're Not Gonna Take It." There was a mention of a Van Halen video in the Zappa piece called "Hot For Teacher"; I offer it here for your consideration.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
September 24, 1976
William and Mary College
Williamsburg, VA
listen here

Something Off My Mind

I have had the following thought nag on me for over thirty years.  It was about a book I read in freshman English class.  The only thing that I remembered about it was that it had these kids stranded in a building with nothing but flights of stairs.  So, I looked it up just now, and voila, there it is.  The name of the book is House of Stairs.  It is amazing the shit that I have rattling up in my brain.  It is damn scary sometimes.

Now it is on to tamer subjects, I heard talk today of a song that one Jerry Garcia might have played on as a teenager.  the song is "Do You Wanna Dance" by Bobby Freeman.  Here is some discussion as to whether or not this was the case.  I heard the live broadcast of this song on New Year's Eve while I was at a big sober get together at the old Minneapolis Convention Center.  They tore it down and replaced it with an ultramodern one.  The old one was extremely old.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
June 29, 1976
Auditorium Theater
Chicago, IL
listen here

Grateful Dead
July 18, 1976
Orpheum Theatre
San Francisco, CA
listen here

Blue Monday

I would like to say something witty and smart, but it is just not in me today.  I did use facebook to try to get rid of an extra ticket for a show that I am going to on Thursday.  That was the only redeeming spot of my day.  The rest of it has been in a bad funk.  I feel it now as I type.  I could just curl up and disappear.  My head hurts bad.  It is true that depression is a physical pain as well as mental anguish.  Here is an upbeat song, but like I said, it is not how I am feeling "I'm Down" by The Beatles. The next is the classic "Stormy Monday" by T-bone Walker.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
June 19, 1976
Capitol Theater
Passaic, NJ
listen here

Grateful Dead
June 24, 1976
Tower Theater
Upper Darby, PA
listen here

Eric Clapton

I have much in common with this guy that is not so obvious.  He is famous; I am not.  He plays guitar; I only wish I could.  He's English; I'm Irish. So what can it be?  We have the same disease.  We are had problems with chemical addictions.  Yeah, your saying to your self, but how how can I possibly be like the Rock God?  I have found that a person's talent or occupation does not make the person.  This is a fallacy.  It is the things that we have in common that are the important stuff.  It is like surviving a great disaster.  The people that I have gone through it all know what it is like and can help others through it as well.  This is what Eric has done with the Crossroads Festival in Chicago.  It is to raise funds for his treatment center.  It is his way of giving back to the community as a whole.  Here are some great tunes from Eric Clapton over the years.  The first tune is with John Mayall & Blues Breakers "All Your Love."  The next is Cream with the song "Tales of Brave Ulysses."  Up next is Blind Faith with the song "Can't Find My Way Home."  The next song is by Derek and the Dominoes "Why Does Love Have to be So Sad."  The next is a solo recording that Eric did  of the Slow Hand "The Core."  Flash forward to the present time, Eric is resting on his laurels.  He just finished a tour with Jeff Beck.  Here is a video from one of the performances from February of 2010.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
June 17, 1976
Capitol Theater
Passaic, NJ
listen here

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
Live From Madison Square Garden DVD

Upcoming Shows

Our great state fair will host a couple of different artists this year.  I decided that I should really go see them.  They are Rush and Weird Al.  I will take my daughter to see Weird Al, and I bought a pair of tickets for Rush.  This will give me an opportunity to take someone with me.  I might met up with an old friend from school at the show.  I connected with  him on facebook today.  Here is a classic tune by Weird Al called "Albuquerque" part one, part two.  The Rush concert will feature them playing their album Moving Pictures.  Here are a few of tunes from that album. The first is "Witch Hunt."  The next song is "Vital Signs."  We will finish it up with "Red Barchetta"

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
April 16, 1978
Huntington Civic Center
Huntington, WV
listen here

Dark Star Orchestra
April 14, 2010
Mystic Theater
Petaluma, CA
listen here
This show is with Stu Allen.  Here is from Minnesota, and he has a local band called The Jones Gang that plays around the Twin Cities.  I have personally met the man, and he is the genuine article.  He is a very nice guy.

Pirate Radio

I picked up the blue ray disc of Pirate Radio.  One of the reasons for this was for the extras.  I was not disappointed.  The deleted scenes could have easily have made the movie, but it would have been way too long.  I was very satisfied to the point that it made feel even better about this movie.  There was a scene that took place outside Apple Studios  that foreshadowed the great album cover of Abbey Road by The Beatles.  I also found out that the role Gavin Canavagh was played by Rhys Ifans.  You know him from the movie The Replacements.  He was the soccer playing place kicker that says this about himself, " I'm wiry."  Here are some songs from the soundtrack of the film.  The first comes from The Beach Boys "Wouldn't It Be Nice."  The next song in The Kinks doing "All Day And All Of The Night."  The next is Cream doing "I Feel Free."  We finish this up with The Who doing "I Can See For Miles."

Music for today:

Log Cabin Boys
November 23, 1986
The Log Cabin
San Anselmo, CA
This was The Grateful Dead's Thanksgiving dinner party.
Set 1:
d1t01 - Freight Train Boogie
d1t02 - Rosalie McFall
d1t03 - Glass Of Wine
d1t04 - Drifting Too Far From Shore
d1t05 - Devil In Disguise
d1t06 - Two Little Boys
d1t07 - Cold Jordon
d1t08 - I'll Follow My Darling

Set 2:
d1t09 - Drink Up And Go Home
d1t10 - Mystery Train/Six White Horses
d1t11 - In God's Grace Forever More
d1t12 - Diamond Joe
d1t13 - A Little At A Time
d2t01 - Swing Low Sweet Chariot
d2t02 - I'll Go Drifting With The Tide
d2t03 - Snow White Wings
d2t04 - On Top Of Crucifix Mountain
d2t05 - I Hear A Voice Calling
d2t06 - A Broken Heart ->
d2t07 - Please Come Home

Line Up:
Jerry Garcia (banjo, vocals)
David Nelson (guitar, vocals)
Sandy Rothman (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals)
Dan Healy (guitar, vocals - does not play on last 4 or 5 songs)

This show was recently added to my collection, and I couldn't wait to hear it.  I would to thank Charlie Miller for making this show available.  Treasures like this are to enjoyed right away.

A Night On The Town

Later this evening, I will be doing fine dining and a Broadway show that is visiting Minneapolis.  The show in question is the musical Avenue Q. I will be joined by my daughter.  I first heard of this production through her.  Her online friends were all the rage over this musical, so naturally she wanted to experience it as well.  When I found out that it was coming, I got tickets as an early Christmas gift for her. I also bought the soundtrack to it as well. when we were in Florida, we listened to it in the car as part of the road trip that we took as we went to see her friends.  Here are some of the songs from the show.  The first one is "It sucks to be me."  The next is "Internet is for Porn."  The next song is from a reherasal "Everyone's a Little Rasist." 

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
April 8, 1989
Riverfront Coliseum
Cincinatti, OH
listen here

Death and Taxes

"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy (13 November 1789)

This famous line is attributed to Benjamin Franklin.  It is fitting to have it done on such an occasion as tax deadline day.  I will be getting mine in the mail at the deadline on Thursday afternoon.  I have plans in the evening, but I will report about this tomorrow.  So on the day that America bleeds green and black,  here are some tunes to help the medicine go down.  The first is the famous song by The Beatles "Taxman."  The next is by Pink Floyd from their reunion show from Live 8 "Money."  The next is from Dire Straits doing a live version of "Money for Nothing."    The last song is something that I found that sums it all up, and it is by a band called Death and Taxes "We Are Only In It For The Money." 

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
June 21, 1971
Chateau d'Herouville
Herouville, France
listen here

David Bromberg Band
February 3, 1976
Mother Blues
Dallas, TX
listen here (put in David Bromberg and search for date)