The Benefit
This was maybe the most gratifying gig I have ever done. And I have done many benefits, great causes, but this one was obviously close to the heart in many ways. I can't say enough about everyone that was involved. All my bandmates new and old, Colin, George, Jason, Pete was back with us, Adam, Pokey, Nick, Tim Taylor and Ray who joined BRW on bass and did a fantastic job. Sara who got us so many things for the silent auction, from The Squire, The Red Nun oh man, I can't even list them all. The people that brought food are owed thanks. My wife was incredible as usual, Rays's wife Laurie too. I can't even list them all so I'll stop trying but that's a few. We raised almost $2500.  Not bad for a bunch of hippies. Maybe 150 people at the peak. Thank you all for helping us do something nice.

Loved having Nick and Timmy T. on the CFZ stage again. It had been 10 years since the 3 of us and Pokey had shared a stage together. It was like riding a bike of course. We did just as I had said, some BNL, JGB and some Femmes. Which was a blast. Altho I realized I am maybe too old to jump around like that, I'd do it again.

I had picked Brokedown Palace at the end of the 2nd set for one reason. Dick Sage told me he wanted it played at his funeral. Now it may type morbid...but it was in a lively conversation we had about favorite Dead tunes or something. So anyway, I concur with Sage in that regard, in addition, it's my favorite GD tune. American Beauty is the  album that got me turned on to the Dead in 1984-85. I was hooked and still am. Anyway we did it, and it got very emotional in the room, people were singing along and some were crying. It was touching and it was one of those things you live for as a musician. Pulling everyone in so to speak. Great show(s), great people, great cause.


Maine
The Rv is clean. Running good. Tomorrow I get some supplies, cook off what food I can. The usual sandwich stuff for Friday, eggs - potatoes Sat day and then pasta with a red sauce Sat night. A fed army is a happy army. We have 9 guys going this time around. I usually always have either Pete or Jason as my wingman, neither this time. That bums me out a little......

Little weirdness in the line-up but not as much for me as having Colin on drums and Dave Barrett on percussion  (see below on that!) is not weird at all. In fact, with Pete out we have played with both a bunch and they very easily slip into our little mad world easily. On keys we have George for Friday, he can't make Saturday so we have friend Pete Belden, he who is a friend of Steve the pirate of JBZ, plays with him in the Rockaholics. He used to be a member of Freddy and The Maybilenes a classic Cape Cod act. Kevin on bass and me and Adam. Plus a couple friends tagging along. going to be a great time. Very much looking forward to it.

The Beast
Mickey Hart had his beast, we have ours. I made the mistake (well not really) of mentioning to Colin that the percussion set up we used was a little bit too set up for higher end sounds, bongo's ect. Unlike the Dead whom utilize more of a lower end sound. so Colin, the crazy drum freak he is, added some Sonor Toms to his already crazy set up. Here is the break down for the gearheads page:

lp aspire 14" + 15" timbales
lp aspire 11" quinto + 11-3/4" conga
lp aspire bongos
various lp cowbells, agogo bells, jam blocks, guiro blocks, chimes,
bells, tambourines, triangle, guiro, vibra-slap, flex-a-tone & cabasa
3 sonor 12"x10" mounted toms, 1 sonor 13"x11" mounted tom, 1 sonor
16"x16" floor tom
1 6"x10" pacific drums mini snare
1 lp caixa snare

I will get pictures. Unreal.

MY amp is almost done, her name is Stellar Blue (altho Ray, we may have to drop that R buddy). I can't wait to get my rig back.
And rumor has it we are going to outfit an old guitar I have here, an Aria Pro I bought for $100 in 1988 and never touched it,  into a "Jerry" guitar. It looks similar to his customs so it's going to make a nice tribute axe. I will play it in CFZ sometimes and give it to Adam to shred on with BRW. . A shared  group experiment so to speak.
Adam now has a Jerry amp, Ray modded his Fender. Can't wait to hear it this weekend.

Hope to blog again before but it's doubtful. I don't think anyone going has cel or sat internet so unlikely for there either. although I am bringin recording gear to record Adam and I doing some tunes. Thinking of grabbing some gigs as an acoustic duo.

Mike