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Week of May 10, 2010

Part 1 43:06
Introduction
Grateful Dead, Crimson, White and Indigo (7/7/89)
RAMBLE ON ROSE
Interview: Len Dell’Amico
Grateful Dead, Dead Ahead (10/31/80)
RIPPLE
HENRY KISSINGER SKETCH
Interview: Len Dell’Amico
Grateful Dead, Crimson, White and Indigo (7/7/89)
BLOW AWAY

Part 2 13:19
Jim Lauderdale, Patchwork River
PATCHWORK RIVER
EL DORADO

This week we visit with Len Dell’Amico, longtime video director for the Grateful Dead, whose latest contribution to the GD media library is Crimson, White, and Indigo, the complete concert of July 7, 1989 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Len visited with me at KPFA recently to talk about this project and to tell some great stories about his work with the band over the years.

Patchwork River is the name of the new CD by Jim Lauderdale, and all the songs were written by Jim in collaboration with the Grateful Dead’s resident poet and lyricist, Robert Hunter. Hunter has been on a serious roll of late. He co-wrote all but one of the songs on Bob Dylan’s latest album, Together Through Life; he and David Nelson wrote some fine songs for the New Riders of the Purple Sage CD Where I Come From, and he’s contributed lyrics to Bill Kreutzmann‘s two bands, BK3 and Seven Walkers. To name but a few! Now comes a full CD by the King of Nashville, Jim Lauderdale, continuing a partnership that has been going on for several years and included the 2004 release titled Headed for the Hills. I have been positively hooked on this new one since it arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago.

Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from:

The Nateva Festival July 2-4 in Oxford, Maine, with Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, moe., The Flaming Lips, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Zappa Plays Zappa, Keller Williams, Max Creek, Moonalice, George Clinton and Funkadelic, Lotus, and over a dozen others. Tickets, camping and complete information is available at www.natevafestival.com.

The Mighty High Festival May 28–30 at the Tuxedo Ridge Ski Area in Tuxedo NY, about 40 miles Northwest of New York City. Featuring Dark Star Orchestra, New Riders of the Purple Sage, From Good Homes, Peter Rowan, Commander Cody, The Felice Brothers, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Quest Theory, and more. Complete information available at www.createAvibe.com.

The Furthur Festival May 28–30 at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp, CA featuring two nights of Furthur with Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, performing the entirety of six of the Grateful Dead’s past albums including the 40th anniversary of Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. Additional artists include Hot Tuna, Jackie Greene, Galactic, Larry Campell and Teresa Williams, and more! Complete information and tickets are available at www.furthurfestival.com.

Yeah, this is another one of my periodic requests for financial support. There’s a twist on this one: I just received a substantial check from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, and that donor suggested I use this gift to inspire others to contribute as well.

The Grateful Dead Hour is doing okay in a slowly declining radio market. We lose a station now and then, and somewhat more rarely we pick up another – almost always at a lower rate than we used to command. Like almost every other creative/media enterprise, it’s getting harder to make a living. But we carry on, and the show is not in any immediate danger.

But my company is about $20,000 in debt. When the underwriting money comes in a little faster than usual, I pay that down a bit. Then something comes along that requires an expenditure, and the balance rises again. I *hate* owing money, and I can’t stand paying several hundred dollars a month in interest on that credit card. So my inclination is to use this donation to pay down the balance.

It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to me, asking for money from my friends and listeners right after receiving a large contribution, but the person who made the donation knows a lot more about this sort of stuff than I do. So I’m asking you to consider making a contribution now, too: added to the check we just received, it will be possible to make a large dent in that credit card balance and get back to something more like cash-and-carry mode. Maybe we can think of it like those “challenge grants” and “matches” we use to inspire donors in public-radio fund drives. Your gift today is being matched by our anonymous donor.

Times are tough all over – believe me, I know. I know an awful lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet, and I have been gratified by the response when I have come to this community looking for support for other causes and individuals. This may not be the best time to ask you for a donation, and I totally understand if you can’t swing it right now. But if a large number of friends and neighbors can each make a modest contribution, the net result will add up to a significant and hugely helpful sum.

If you can spare a few bucks to help keep the good ship Truth and Fun on a steady course, you can send a check or money order to Truth and Fun, Inc., 484 Lake Park Ave. #102, Oakland CA 94610-2730. Or you can go to https://www.gdhour.com/support.html and make a donation online. There is a one-time Paypal donation form, and two monthly “subscription” options ($5 per month or $10 per month). I am profoundly grateful to my monthly supporters.

If you are a business or individual who would be interested in becoming an on-air sponsor of the Grateful Dead Hour, we’d love to hear from you. Email me, or contact Dave Weissman, davew@gdhour.com, for more information.

It’s important to add that any money you send to Truth and Fun, Inc. supports all of my creative enterprises. My musical career is in no danger of forcing me to give up the GD Hour; in fact, all of my various “jobs” interlock beautifully, and I feel fortunate as hell to be able to do all the things I do without having to get a “real” job in order to pay my mortgage. So your support helps keep the Grateful Dead Hour going AND allows me to continue pursuing my musical endeavors.

And speaking of my music, that’s another way you can help: buy some! I just released an online “single” titled “Life Is a Jam,” recorded in the studio with Mark Karan (Ratdog/Jemimah Puddleduck), Mookie Siegel (David Nelson Band), Joe Kyle, Jr. (The Waybacks) and Dave Brogan (ALO) – three takes of the song, each with a unique jam at the end, totaling about 26 minutes of music for a mere three bucks. Please see https://www.dgans.com/liaj/download for more info on that. I also have several CDs for sale at https://www.cdbaby.com/all/dgans – most recently “The Ones That Look the Weirdest Taste the Best,” produced by Tim Carbone and featuring four members of Railroad Earth on all the tracks.

Thank you for your kind attention, and thank you in advance for your support!

– DG

Week of May 3, 2010

Part 1 39:23
Introduction
Grateful Dead 8/16/87 Town Park, Telluride CO
SPACE->
THE OTHER ONE->
TRUCKIN’->
BLACK PETER->
GOOD LOVIN’

Part 2 16:42
Grateful Dead 8/16/87 Town Park, Telluride CO
TOUCH OF GREY->
BROKEDOWN PALACE

“Brokedown Palace” begins with a serious screwup on Jerry’s part. Quite amusing, and of course the recovery was sublime.

Support for the Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from:

The Nateva Festival July 2–4 in Oxford, Maine, with Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, moe., The Flaming Lips, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs, Keller Williams, Jememiah Puddleduck, Max Creek, Moonalice, She and Him, Toubab Krewe and dozens of others. Tickets, camping and more information at NatevaFestival.com

The Mighty High Festival May 28-30 at the Tuxedo Ridge Ski Area in Tuxedo NY, about 40 miles Northwest of New York City featuring Dark Star Orchestra, New Riders of the Purple Sage, From Good Homes, Peter Rowan, Commander Cody, The Felice Brothers, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Quest Theory and more. Complete information available at createavibe.com