General discussion

From the Electronic Frontier Foundation: The new Congress has barely begun, but the major record labels are already up to their old tricks. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has re-introduced the PERFORM Act, a backdoor assault on your right to record off the radio. Satellite and digital radio stations as well as Internet webcasters would have to … Read more

Lately I’ve been doing a loop jam that I call “Cassidy’s Cat,” starting with a bit of “Cassidy” and intertwining with snatches of “China Cat Sunflower” and bits of other Grateful Dead melodies. This week I am in New Jersey performing and recording with the Shockenaw Mountain Boys (Tim Carbone, John Skehan, Andy Goessling and … Read more

Excerpt from a 1967 CBS news documentary titled The Hippie Temptation. If you can find the whole program, it’s worth watching. Viewed from the perspective of 40 years later, it’s hilarious, but also pretty scary.  A mother tells the story of how her child took acid and saw god – so she sent him to … Read more

I read my first John McPhee today: Basin and Range.  While flying over said region, in fact. Now I feel like a fool for not having read his entire oeuvre already. This book includes a sentence I had heard attributed to McPhee – the sort of breathtaking fact that sums up the magnificence of the … Read more

From an article titled “Message in Music: Pastor explores spiritual themes in Grateful Dead tunes” by Gretchen Murray, published in the Traverse City (MI) Record-Eagle January 6, 2007: … 40 years since the group got its start and 12 years after the death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia silenced their music, some people who didn’t … Read more

DeadNet is streaming Live at the Cow Palace New Year’s Eve 1976 until 11:59 pm January 1. There’s a photo gallery you can browse while the music is playing. My little featurette is also available online now. Features the voices of Bob Weir, Donna Jean Godchaux Mackay, KSAN host Glenn Lambert, and fans Paul Israel … Read more

Hey all, We want to wish you the very happiest of holidays! We also want to let you know that RAILROAD EARTH is partnering with the newly launched online video company, ICLIPS.NET, to bring you a PAY-PER-VIEW broadcast of RAILROAD EARTH’S NEW YEAR’S EVE Celebration at THE TROCADERO in Philadelphia, PA on DECEMBER 31st! For … Read more

By way of Thumbrella (“Words to a Void”), videos of kids playing Grateful Dead songs at the Paul Green School of Rock in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Blogger Gary Grainger adds: “Damn! These kids are good!!!”

https://www.dccc.org/contribute/events/celebration_concert Please Join The House Democratic Leadership & The House Democratic Caucus For a Celebration Concert Honoring Speaker Nancy Pelosi with Special Musical Performances by Tony Bennett Carole King Wyclef Jean And Your House Band Featuring Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, Bruce Hornsby, Warren Haynes, Mike Gordon, and Special Guests With Special Appearances by … Read more

From jambands.com: Sowing The Seeds Of Americana As we previously reported, a new documentary film, Music Farmers: Sowing The Seeds Of Americana chronicles the festival experience at Suwannee Springfest and MagnoliaFest. The film will be broadcast on Florida PBS stations during January, with a nationwide roll out in March. The film features interviews, music, and … Read more