3rd time dropping acid, 2nd time at Nokia, 1st time seeing Phil (hey I'm only 16!) and it was the most amazing night of my life. Shakedown Street was more groovy then I ever could have imagined and what were the chances he'd play Help On The Way/Slipknot (my favorite songs in the whole universe). Seriously last night was so wonderful I can't even put it into words. Thank you Phil and to all the kind heads that shared their pot with me last night. Peace to all.

getting ready to head out the door..check in 4pm.....
these last 3 shows will be killer....
the first 3 were!!!!
thank you phil..hope to see you in forida in march..i'll be there
will you????
peace all...and enjoy your weekend....

GRTUD left me with the job of describing Phil's bass. I spent some years of my life building what I thought were sound resonators capable of making sound that would change the fabric of time and space. I wasn't fully successful but Phil has succeeded and mastered this device. "Dark Star" was almost too much for me. I almost lost touch with reality at several points and mercifully Phil turned on "Franklin's Tower" and saved my mind from being "lost at sea". GRTUD also left out the very touching version of "Ripple" in his review (I even have pity on him, knowing the all out effort he gave "on the rail" - the guy truly never gave AN INCH the entire show). The crowd literally had tears of joy in their eyes as we all communed with our own spirit worlds. "Uncle John's Band" was equally heartfelt but more raw edged and equaled the spirit emanating from fans, basking in the supernatural glow that only music can provide. What a great show! Never had such a good time, in my life before...

"All energy flows according to the whims of the Great Magnet. What a fool I was to defy him."

Woohoo! (Just another Lobos fan. But then, I was actually born in East L.A....)

My number one and I counted the mics onstage, when we entered the venue and scurried to the front, center right of the stage barricade and grabbed hold of the rail that would be "home" for the next (almost) 6 hours. "No extras, damn!", we stated in unison. We were both so looking forward to seeing Trey again but it appeared as though there would be no special guest this night, our only in the Big Apple for this tour. I'm a fiend for "special guests" and since P + F's 1999, that ALWAYS includes a hope for an appearance by Trey, if not already on the headline. As I bored folks with tales of daze gone by, a roadie appeared with a fresh mic stand, then a monitor! We were in business! Talk swirled of the possibilities as our heads filled with thoughts blissful, near endless jam sessions, when appeared a knarly, pointed and beautiful oak colored guitar. "That's not one of Trey's," No. 1 stated. "I know Trey's stuff and that's not one of his..." Thus began a more spirited round of speculation which now centered on No. 1's sharp observation of the strap. "Could be Derek's or Ryan's but not wide enough for Warren. Definitely has the look of someone built on the lean side," I reasoned, once the detail was pointed out. "Is that Ryan Adams?", I asked as a twiggy, yet younger version bounced around back stage in the role of roadie. No, it was the motorcycle wallet that tweaked my mind in that direction. As I had asked the question, a guy dressed and looking a lot like "Waldo" from the children's books, "Where's Waldo" looked up from his position on the floor of the stage, as he connected some cables and himself asked, "Ryan Adams?" We were bewildered and in typical prankster fashion, EXCITED because we knew this was gonna be fun....
I sure hope someone takes up the tix offer above and sees this band while in NYC, before going back west. I don't know where Phil found Jackie but we're keeping him (Golden Road believes he was created in a lab - personally I don't care, I love him, as well the other members of this band). The only thing tastier than Ryan's birthday cake was the endless jams this band is capable of performing. Jackie Greene was absolutely possessed during most of the first set but on Sugaree, he set a new standard. INCREDIBLE! The show wasn't without it's challenges which included "Operator" in the first set (but was way cool they played it at all) and Ryan's addition to the second set proved that this is all being done before our very eyes and I LOVED IT! Warts and all is how I like my Grateful Dead because to throw everything you have at an audience, to try to totally thrill an audience that has scene "everything" is no easy task and cannot be risk free. That show, on Nov. 5th, was EVERYTHING I've ever wanted from a Rock-N-Roll show. Larry Campbell is one of the coolest guitar players in music history, Molo is a psychedelic monster/god, Molitz works his freaking ass off playing and adding sounds I never knew existed and Phil, I fucking love you man. Thanks again and someone needs to start driving to NYC and take my man up on that tix offer, NOW!
Oh and let me not forget Steve Berlin from Los Lobos. He was incredible on the (Alto - I believe) Sax and keys (Brown Eyed Women). Very nice addition to the first set which I felt was close to perfect.