Here is the latest news from David Gans, producer and host of the Grateful Dead Hour.
“Playing in the Band” fulfills its mission
[a friend] asked if I had ever listened to the Grateful Dead. I had a Warner Brothers sampler album that had one song by them on it (a live version of Johnny B. Goode) and it did absolutely nothing for me and I told him so. And that was the end of that. But a while later I found myself on the road with my job and with a little down time to burn in a strange city. I had no vehicle to get around but there was a mall within walking distance of my motel, so I set off for the bookstore. Browsing around I saw a book called ‘Playing in the Band’ and it was about the Grateful Dead. After thumbing my way through the book in the store I put it down and walked down to the mall record store. I looked up the Grateful Dead and I ended up buying a cassette of their ‘greatest hits’ called ‘What a Long Strange Trip’. Then on impulse I went back to the book store and bought the book. I read the book and looked at it’s pictures as I listened to the music for the rest of the evening. I have to say that if I had not bought the book I may not have investigated the band any farther. The music seemed way too slow for me, but the book made me want to hear more…Read the post here.
Gans and S3B gigs in December (and the rest of November)
Wednesday, November 28, 9pm: David Gans opens for Cast of Clowns at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall, San Francisco.
Thursday, November 29, 9pm: David Gans opens for Cast of Clowns at the Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA.
Saturday, December 8, noon to 1:45pm: KPFA Crafts Fair. At the Concourse, 8th and Brannan Streets, San Francisco. https://www.kpfa.org/craftsfair/
Saturday, December 15, 8:00 pm: China Cats and Sycamore Slough String Band at Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton CA
Saturday, December 22, 9pm: DG and Andre De Channes at the Redwood Cafe, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati, CA 94931. $5. 707-795-7868.
Details and links at dgans.com/gigs.html
We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness…
The celebrated poet Jane Hirshfield, a friend and cyber-neighbor in The WELL, posted a poem by Jack Gilbert following the announcement of his passing last week. The poem is titled “A Brief for the Defense.” These lines were especially powerful and important, to my eye and heart:
We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world. To make injustice the only
measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.
– Jack Gilbert
Grateful Dead Hour no. 1262
Week of November 26, 2012
Part 1 31:54
Furthur 9/23/12 Red Rocks, Morrison CO
ALLIGATOR->
CUMBERLAND BLUES
Talk
Grateful Dead, Winterland 5/30/71
DEAL
SUGAR MAGNOLIA
Part 2 24:53
David Nelson Band 11/8/12 Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA
WHERE I COME FROM->
IMPRESSIONISTS TWO-STEP
The two selections from 5/30/71 are taken from a special vinyl release that was sold in record stores as part of Record Store Day.
Thanks to gnomesandhobbits.com for the Furthur show. You can buy Furthur live shows online (on CD or download), and they sell ’em at the shows, too, of course.
Jon Carroll’s Thanksgiving column
“At Thanksgiving, all we have to worry about is whether we can wholeheartedly support A) roasted turkey, B) friends and C) gratitude. My opinions on these matters are unambiguous; I am in favor of them all.”