9/4-6/98 - The PigNic - Laytonville, CA

The hottest band of the weekend was The Gasoline Cowboys with Mark Karan. They played the campground stage Friday night and stole the weekend. Without a doubt they're one of the hottest new bands I've seen in a long time. Missing Man Formation was best when Mark joined them for Baba O'Reiley and Helter Skelter and perhaps sounding a little biased here, but KVHW was also best when Mark joined them. I've seen him play with over half a dozen bands and I'm blown away each time by his ability to step in and rip it up. 

Ratdog seemed like just another Dead cover band. Dave McNabb, who is just a kid and a friend of Jeff Chimenti's, was, well....a kid with a lot of potential. My kids and my best friend's son were sitting on stage in front of him and he really got a kick out of watching them....for me...that was the best part of Ratdog.  Surprisingly there were no spit showers. I was truly amazed by that....and it makes me wonder if the spit factor isn't a very important factor in the equation. On 8/7-8/98 there were showers of spit and those shows were mind blowing. The Dave Nelson Band was also noteworthy. They ripped it up as well.

The PigNic is everything we're all about....Peace, Love, Sharing and FUN!!! It's another one of the many bay area not to be missed events.

 8/7-8/98 - Phil & Friends - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Jeff Chementi, Steve Kimock, Prairie Prince, Dave Ellis

I breezed in at exactly 9 p.m. on Friday, running into friend after friend. The thought that I could not get out of my mind was/is how incredible the Fillmore is. When I was just a kid, my parents used to go to the Fillmore East and West all the time.....I did not truly understand why. After coming off tour and 22 amphitheaters all over the country, I have an even greater appreciation for this venue than ever before. 

They didn't really hit the mark until Sugaree when Steve really stepped out. The Instrumental/Tease Terrapin was good, but rough as all the songs played for the first time have been. Truly wonderful it is to watch the new evolution of all of the old songs. Mountains of the Moon was the best I've ever seen or heard. Phil nailed the vocals, a first for this song, and the music was inspirational. Bobby played more lead than Steve the entire evening and I'm not sure if it's the smaller venue and more casual atmosphere of home base, but he truly steps into the lead position here and the shoe really seems to fit him. I imagine in time it will become as seamless and invisible as it was once, but for now, again, watching it is truly amazing....okay it's FUCKING AMAZING or FA.

So, blown away I am once again and the second set opens with Truckin' into Smokestack Lighting, another first, and they nailed this one the first time out. Another Instrumental/Tease of The Other One, there were many on the tour, and they're welcome, unlike the Dark Star teases in the late years, they don't leave you wanting for more!!! The Watchtower was truly magnificent. It happens to be my favorite song of all times, long before I was ever into the Dead, so, what can I say....gotta love that one. Steve went way out there on it and I was blissfully in heaven. The rest of the show I would label as standard fare, for me at least, but still great.

Saturday's opening tune really set the tone for the evening, It's All Up To You. Steve was now on familiar ground. The Dark Star Instrumental/Tease with a very jazzy jam was again where Steve is most comfortable....way out there...and this time I wasn't left wanting more of Dark Star...just more.... They ripped into Jack Straw and then
Friend of the Devil. A few forgotten words by Bobby and the audience picked up and sang the rest with him, just in case. Every time that happens I think of Philharmonia and the feeling I got listening to the entire audience play the players and versa vice or vice versa as the case may be!!!

The second set was a mind blower and China/Rider at midnight had a particular significance which I didn't pick up on at the time. It's hard to believe it's been three years and Jerry would be proud of what has become of his baby. Phil left the stage each night with an ear to ear grin like the dotting father, very proud of Steve....kinda reminded me of Mickey when his daughter danced on stage.....VERY PROUD. And unlike the end in 1995, I, am very proud to be a part of what is happening now. A thank you hardly seems sufficient, truly blessed we are to be a part of this second chance.

6/4/98 - THE OTHER ONES - The Warfield Theater - San Francisco, CA - A Rainforest Action Network Benefit

Once again my mind is blown. I must confess that this time I did have some expectations of a rehearsed band as I knew they'd been rehearsing daily. I awoke the morning after the show in a friend's hotel room in Marin and thought, for a second, that I was on tour already....or is that still?!?! Every song was played at the same professional level we were all used to for so long. Okay folks, the morphing, for now, appears to be done....although things have been changing lately on a daily basis!!! We/they found the groove this fine evening. They took us to infinity and beyond...not that there was every any doubt. There was no high point to this show.....the entire show was the high point....from start to end. The combination of Steve Kimock and Mark Karan complimenting each other in a way that words can not describe. 

THEY'RE BACK in full force. They can and will transport you, once again, to the places on THEY can. It has been so long since I'd been there, I had forgotten just how intense it could be.  

There was a lot of turmoil leading us to this point and some very difficult choices for the boys to make and in the end....just as I knew all along....the final decisions would take us THERE. In my heart and soul more of the same ole....some of the new.....god it's good to be back.  WE'RE BACK......FUCKIN' EH. 

For those of you waiting for the show near you....hold onto your hats and pack your bags, you're not gonna want to get off this bus.

In my wildest dreams I never thought I'd see the day. My neighbor in the pit and I just kept looking at each other......sporting huge smiles....high fiving each other......blown away again and again.....knowing in our hearts and souls.....THEY'RE BACK......so elated and filled with joy that all of our dreams....that we dreamed so long ago....have become reality once again. 

The press coverage of this event was so heavy on a national level that I must take my hat off to Dennis McNally.....great job dude. That, in and of itself, should be a clue to us all that all eyes are on this upcoming tour and on us. 

One of my philosophies of life: FUN is the MISSION. In this society of Dead Heads where Anarchy rules, staying in control of one's self is one of the keys to everyone having fun. Recently, I stumbled onto the following.

The Seven Commandments of Cosmophilosophy

1. Reussit: You shall not fear God, man or nature, nor inflict pain
on God, man or nature.
2. Sitla: You shall not be a hypocrite to yourself or to others.
3. Sinver: You shall respect the rights of other beings.
4. Suto: You shall abstain from all excesses
5. Atas: You shall work according to your talents and character, and
at all times be kind and cheerful, nor shall you feel superior to others.
6. Orus: You shall undo the sins against others and yourself without delay, and respect the laws of Cosmophilosophy.
7. Ruessit: You shall not let others die in pain.

If you see someone who needs help, help them....if you can not help them, then find someone who can....we'll be out there....everywhere. If you see someone behaving inappropriately, enlighten them. If they do not wish to be enlightened, then find someone who can. We are a team that must work together to ensure that this nomadic tribe makes its journey safely home and that the press have nothing to report except how fabulous the music is and how effortlessly all the gigs went off.

Thursday, June 4, 1998 we made history. This summer we'll all be living and creating history, which is an awesome responsibility that falls on each and everyone of our shoulders.

WE'RE BACK.......SEE Y'ALL ON THE ROAD.

6/5-6/98 - ZERO - Maritime Hall - San Francisco, CA

Still have not been home yet....I arrived late and missed the opening act. The second band, Tiny Universe, was doing their fourth gig and they were amazing. A jazzy blues band that played quite a few instrumental songs a la Zero style. This is an extremely talented group of young guys. With the inevitable step up that Zero will be taking post-Further, perhaps Tiny Universe will be stepping into Zero's place. 

Zero came on rather late and the place was all abuzz from the previous evening. It was easy to see who had been there the night before as their feet were still floating above ground level and they were still sporting ear to ear grins while hovering above the rest of the crowd. 

I overheard some off the cuff remarks by hard core Zero fans....they were concerned about the demise of Zero and obviously not familiar with the inner workings of GD/TOO band members in that they have all always had their own bands.

The music was complimented by one of the best light shows around by Liquid Lights Productions. 

Steve Kimock took us to even higher highs on 6/6/98. I'd swear that Jerry was in his guitar. I felt that once before at a Zero show sometime in the last year. The fact that Steve's been rehearsing with the boys was apparent at these shows. Look for Zero to soar to new heights post-Further.

4/21/98

I stumbled on this on the furthur page of dead.net. It was written when Pig Pen died, but it is ever so true today....a timeless piece....the writer really GOT IT......

Take It Furthur
The Olde York Times, York, PA 
March 1973

CORTE MADERA, CALIF. Ron (Pig Pen) McKernan organist and vocalist for the Grateful Dead, died at his apartment on Thursday, March 8, 1973. The probable cause of his death was cirrhosis of the liver, which had plagued him for the past few years. We will miss him. 

"I know you riders gonna' miss me when I'm gone"

A few nights ago, while sitting with some Armadillo people in their humble domain, the very sad news was told to me of the death of a blues singer named Pig Pen. Namely, the particular Pig Pen of the Grateful Dead family. Being a Dead Head, and a musician I am very much a fan of the Dead and of Pig Pen. To me Pig Pen sang with true emotion, that is he just picked up your soul, took it right out of ya guts, washed it out, and hung it up in the fresh sunshine to dry. The next time you want to hear blues, just put on the Live Dead album and listen to a good soulful Death Don't Have No Mercy cut, and sure enuff, guaranteed, you won't come away from it the same person.

Garcia once gave a description in an interview, of Pig Pen which fits very well, "Pig Pen is just a victim of the blues." When a body's got the blues, they take their toll, but sometimes they do it in strange ways. I mean that sometimes when you get down that unless you see a speck of sunshine, you can't get back up and that's that, it's hard but it's fact, cause when thing go wrong with you it hurts me too, ya know.

There's a story about Pig Pen when Janis first got to California, she and Pig Pen sang in this coffee house; when it came time to discuss salary they both just said "buy us Southern Comfort." It was said that during the Europe '72 thing, Pig Pen was so far out of it on wine that he didn't know he was in France. Pig Pen was only 26 and had survived a trip in the sick bay with holes in his liver, drinkin too much. 

But there comes a time when you must either take it furthur, or stay right where you are. In my mind, Pig Pen took it furthur. He's gone and ain't nothin' gonna bring him back. But for him, we gotta take it furthur, ever since the first-acid tests, it's always been take it furthur, we're a vehicle thru the universe. From here to there eventually and that involves all, life, death, change; its all there, but to reach it we have to change, take it furthur. 

If you've ever heard Pig Pen sing, I'm sure you could pick out a situation in your own life that was like what he was singing about and you could relate and say yeah, I was there or that happened to me, but not only that, you could feel it deep down inside. We sure owe him for that; what he laid on us we should put to practice. That cat sure could sing the blues. 
-----------------------------------
Furthur. 

for it is all a dream
we dreamed
one afternoon
long ago

After writing an article on the death of Pig Pen, I thought that there were enough Dead Heads within the reach of this magazine that maybe we ought to look at what the Grateful Dead family may or may not be after all this.

I mean like this band has had a long history of hard luck, and yet they seemed to have survived most, if not all, the crises they have encountered....

Now it's the Pig Pen thing hanging over their heads. I really think that if the Grateful Dead family sticks to the school they mothered, then they will reel it in, change it, and take it FURTHUR, still churning out the best music, still doing. Don't miss the next Dead concert, cause I imagine there Will be some heavy going down ........................FURTHUR.

(March 1973, Author unknown)

FOR NEAL

a stop for beer
in moriarity
name of jack's
mythical western
hero

who rode
so many of these roads
on vision quest

& disappeared from
our lives

getting furthur

Robert M. Petersen
Moriarity, N.M., 20 Feb. 1977

2/27/98 - THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD
@ THE FILLMORE With Phil, Bobby, Stan Franks, Jay Lane, Dave Ellis & Jeff Chimenti

I arrived at the Fillmore and with every step I took I ran into someone
else I knew. ‘The Family Atmosphere' had returned for this show. A
rainbow raindrop fell into my hand and a huge smile was glued to my face for the rest of the evening. When the doors opened I headed for my usual spot in The Phil Zone (the stage had shifted somewhat to the right).

They started playing what is listed on the set list as a jazzy intro, but it seemed more like Bobby and Phil trying to get a feel for who was doing what. Their faces were tense and the general air about the show was very unsure. They went into Hell In A Bucket while working through their new roles as they both picked up a piece of Jerry's role. By midway through the song the tension dissipated as they began to ‘just play' > Sugaree.....another fine rendition with a different sound this time. All of the songs this evening had a completely different sound. >Queen Jane > Playing In The Band and the tension descended upon the stage once again. This time I sensed that it was between them and the audience. The first 20 feet at least were filled only with ‘Family' and it was as though they felt more pressure from the audience than anything else. Then Phil let loose with a rippin' Mississippi Half Step > a rippin Birdsong (Bobby). I don't think anyone could've guessed any of this. Then West LA Fadeaway (Bobby) which brought a lump to my throat, mostly from the connotations in the song and the obvious correlations.

This show was most definitely rehearsed and it showed. They still have a lot to work out and once again they blew me away! It must've been at least as hard for them do all of the Jerry tunes as it was for us to hear them. They've put a new and wonderful spin on them. All I can say is thanks.....for not putting them away like they did with Pigpen's songs. 

The second set began with Mountains of the Moon. I don't believe I've ever seen that one. I was singing the words in my head, but the magnitude of this song didn't really computer until well after the show.  [So, what could they possibly do next?......What's Become of The Baby > Born Cross-eyed........Nothing would surprise me now.]  > Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance......the infamous ‘81 combo.......> The Other One.

When they went into Wild Horses I melted. Words can not describe how incredible this song is > Dark Star....okay, I'm just one huge puddle at this point and I venture to guess that every face in the place is adorned with ear to ear grins > a rippin China/Rider and to finish us off....> St. Stephen. I dare anyone to criticize how well they pulled off this incredible combination. If these are the auditions, I can't wait to see the rehearsals!! Get out those tour hats out and clean out those tour buses, I hear the road calling. The Encore was Like A Rolling Stone and Ripple....sweeter than sweet. 

What is incredibly apparent is how hard they worked to make this show come off....learning all of the words to the Jerry songs and all of the emotions that must go with playing them and playing for mostly ‘family,' On a scale of 1-10, they get an 11. Their musical genius and ability to surmount all odds (this one being probably the hardest of many over the years) never ceases to amaze me.

The morning after the show I was at someone's house who had received numerous E-Mails from people blasting the show, saying it sucked and one said: ‘it was the worst Mountains of the Moon I've ever heard.' So to all of you I say: "COOL, then you won't be needing a ticket next time.   Oh yeah, and when was the last time you heard Mountains of the Moon?" 

I for one consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to watch and listen as the feel their way through yet another incarnation. They are still in the morphing stage and I look forward to another 30 years of rehearsals when they complete the auditions, but 30 years of auditions would be just as cool!!!

1/31/98 - Phil Lesh and Vince Welnick with David Gans & The Broken Angels - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Blow away once again. Unforseen circumstances caused a delay in my arrival at the show and much to my surprise it was sold out. The place was packed. I met some people in the bar upstairs for a drink during the first few songs by the Broken Angels. Then I made my way to The Phil Zone. The addition of another professional/Vince to the mix increased the volume and quality exponentially.

The unrehearsed atmosphere was barely visible this time.....Phil had sheet music and Vince was feeling his way through the first few tunes.  Then they ripped into St. Stephen > Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain. The execution was near perfection. [Perfect scores don't exist here, nor do poor/bad shows.] Phil closed the first set singing Sugaree. Who would've ever thunk it......NOT ME!!! Damn you're good
Phil.

The second set opened with a smokin Friend of the Devil, Golden Days Stella Blue which paralyzed me and brought a huge lump into my throat.  I find now that Stella Blue and quite a few other songs now have an entirely new meaning for me. Stella Blue was crying out to Jerry and emitting an overwhelming force/power from every note and every word.   The many planes in the universe all seemed to come together. We were no longer everywhere, we were one and thus, the transition into the Other One was quite fitting. Once again Phil took me ‘THERE' and from THERE we went FURTHER into Dark Star. Just when I started to think it doesn't get any better than this, they break into Imagine and once again I'm paralyzed.

I rarely pay attention to what songs are being played, but rather I focus and concentrate on the music. As they went back into Dark Star, they took me FURTHER and I lost the ability to focus. The anticipation of a show of this caliber and quality is what kept many of us ‘on tour.' Now I'm blessed with it every month and practically in my back yard. I almost feel guilty for being so spoiled. [Almost is the key word there!]

Oh No, that is not all.....then they went into Cosmic Charlie > Box of Rain and Phil ripped on Like A Rolling Stone which resulted in semi-paralysis.  Oh No, that is still not all.....Wild Horses.....couldn't drag me away from any of these mind-blowing shows......> The Wheel and We Bid You Goodnight.

I felt like a broken record after for the only words that I could speak
were amazing and killer. They'll have to move to a bigger venue very
soon. The Fillmore was packed ‘a la Bill Graham' style and there was
nary a ticket to be had outside [if there were any, they were not many]. So I as you this.....do we continue to practice anarchy and continue to let this snowball get bigger and bigger until it reaches critical mass or becomes an avalanche? Or do we want to keep it a secret? We managed to keep it a pretty closely guarded secret through 1983-84 and anarchy worked quite well then, but there still was a code of ethics and morals. Once the secret was out and many of the teachers were ‘in,' the scene began to change slowly until the explosion in 1987. If the answer to the first question is yes, then are you ready and willing to take on the responsibility of being a teacher to those that are not in the ‘know?' Food for thought....

We have clearly taken one step outside of the ‘family only' atmosphere
of the last few shows. Are we taking this snowball down the green/novice run or the double black diamond/expert run? Does it matter or will it continue to grow at the same rate regardless of the speed it travels down this mountain?

The crowning touch on the evening was the big hug that Phil gave Vince while they both had ear to ear smiles and were obviously elated to be playing together again and the feeling was very mutual. Once again, I thank you all for a wonderful evening. 

Last Year                                                                                 Next Year

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