General discussion

From Mark Karan: i have been diagnosed with a cancer of the throat. it’s a tuff kind to fight. it’s a squamous cell tonsular cancer that has [metastasized] into two lymph nodes… and it’s stage four. the good news is that it’s “extremely well contained”. everything looks really good for getting thru this with hard … Read more

You gotta read this whole thing, and/or watch the video. Bush, Cheney should resign SPECIAL COMMENT By Keith Olbermann Anchor, ‘Countdown’ “I didn’t vote for him,” an American once said, “But he’s my president, and I hope he does a good job.” That—on this eve of the 4th of July—is the essence of this democracy, … Read more

Ratdog’s lead guitarist, Mark Karan, posted this message on his web site last week: A Message from MK hey there groovy guys and groovy gals… it’s yr ol’ pal MK here with some less than stellar news. i will not be joining the boys on this july run thru the good ol’ USofA… my MDs … Read more

Jim Page is playing a solo show at the Freight and Salvage tonight (Wednesday, June 20) at 8:00. Jim is a true musical hero a committed social activist, and a sharp and humane songwriter with a huge heart and an irresistible wit. If you’ve never heard him, trust me on this and go see Jim … Read more

I’ve got three gigs in the Bay Area this weekend, each in a different musical configuration: Thursday, June 21, 8pm: Honky Tonk Hippies and Crowsong at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre, 500 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur CA. $15. 415-924-6107. Doors & dinner at 6:30, show at 8. (download the poster) Friday, June 22, 7:30-9:30pm: DG, Mario DeSio, … Read more

GLOBAL DRUM PROJECT TOUR Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Giovanni Hidalgo, Skiru Adepoju Sep 20, 2007 Centennial Hall Tucson AZ Sep 21, 2007 Ikeda Theatre Mesa AZ Sep 22, 2007 Globalquerque Albuquerque NM Sep 23, 2007 Boulder Theater Boulder CO Sep 27, 2007 Laxson Auditorium Chico CA Sep 28, 2007 Zellerbach Auditorium at UC Berkeley Berkeley … Read more

I wanted to mention another book that should be of interest to readers of this blog: Grateful Dead and Philosophy, edited by Steven Gimbel. Here are some blurbs from the book cover (and the publisher’s web site): “The Grateful Dead and what it amounted to was multifaceted. There was music, there was lifestyle, and with … Read more

Wednesday, June 27, 9:00 pm: Zen Tricksters and DG at the Acoustic Cafe, 2926 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport CT. $10. 203-335-3655 Thursday, June 28, 7-11pm: Zen Tricksters and DG on the Rocks Off Boat Cruise around New York City. Leaves from 23rd Street @ FDR Drive. Board at 7, cruise from 8 to 11. Friday, June … Read more

Friday, June 15, 9:30pm: Honky Tonk Hippies and Bo Carper (of New Monsoon) at the Connecticut Yankee, 100 Connecticut Street, San Francisco CA (download the poster) Saturday, June 16: DG and Mario DeSio at Spuds, 3290 Adeline Street, Berkeley CA. 510-597-0795 Sunday, June 17, 9 am to 1 pm: Marin County Farmers’ Market, at the … Read more

Nick Meriwether, editor of All Graceful Instruments: The Contexts of the Grateful Dead Phenomenon,” is being interviewed by Christian Crumlish in the Inkwell, a public forum of The WELL. From the introduction of the interview: The Grateful Dead: just a dance band, or something deeper? Or will pursuing the question kill the buzz? When still … Read more