Happy New Year

Happy New Year everybody. I love you guys and gals I really do. Looking forward to a great 2021 and the return  of gatherings and live music. We'll be staying home and watching SCI and Booby on the tube tonight. Enjoy yourselves and stay safe. See you next year...

“This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays! ”D.M. Dellinger

Where I spent New Years Eve 13 years ago.  The Happy Bar, Union Island, Grenada.  Don’t ask.

Happy New Year. Love all around!

I watched the show last night and enjoyed it. Days Between was so good! That song gets me every time. 

So last night (NYE), was a hard call for me.

I had been invited down to the Richmond area for a party and playing music.     But it was definitely not a covid-safe environment and the weather was supposed to be shitty on Friday.  After a fierce internal struggle,  I decided to stay home.

So I decided to ring in the new year with a fire in the pit in the back yard , with fungal assistance and tunes on the bluetooth headset.  It was very nice, the fire balancing out the cold but requiring constant fiddling.  Some people in the hood were sporadically shooting off pro grade fireworks so I was looking forward to that at midnight.

Midinight rolls around and I toss in the flame color bag, fire one up, and hit play on the tune I had queued up.  Throwin' Stones - Grateful Dead, Capital Centre, 9/13/87.  (But oddly enough no fireworks...  Oh Well.)


That song and show got me back on the bus after life had pulled me away for many years.  (I think I have posted about that in the past...)

I recall I was was enjoying the entire show when they had just come out of a Stella Blue and went into Throwin' Stones.  A really good version, everyone was really into it - you can hear it on the tape - the crowd energy was really high and I was really FEELING it.  

Then...  

At 4 minutes and 47 seconds into the song...

Jerry hits this note...

This beautiful mind bending note...    


It certainly bent my mind - and body, physically - like when you are standing there doing the 'Dead Shuffle' (dancing in place without moving your feet) swaying back and forth, and your suddenly body takes a left with the guitar...


The bus pulled up, the door opened and I was back on. 



I have heard the crowd react to Jerry's playing before of course, but it usually comes at the customary places - the end of a guitar break, or even the end of a particular riff. But I have never heard them react to a particular note. (Probably happens all the time but just leave me be...) But you can also hear that on the tape as well.


So back to last night...


So I am standing by a roaring fire on a cold night, deadshuffling, big ol' full moon out, tunes cranked, firecrackers going off everywhere, but no big fireworks.  I am really into the song, and as I always do when I listen to it, I was waiting for THE NOTE, when - 4 minutes and 45 seconds after midnight...

boom...

damn big ass fireworks going off low and right across the street.  Right on cue as Jerry hit THE NOTE.  



One of those meaningless minor little coincidences of cozmik significance that happen with Dead-related stuff all the time that make you lean back in your seat on the bus and be glad you are along for the ride - with so many <and-dammit-I'm-old-enough-to-know-what-it-means-and-use-the-word> groovy people.



But it was a fun moment to offer some hope for a better year to come and seeing everyone again...


Peace & Love in the new year everyone...


Link to the song at Archive.org:  Throwin' Stones - Capital Centre, 9/13/87

Happy belated New Years to all the Forumites. Love you folks and this place. "Only Fun In 21!".

The only thing that made me smile on this shitty day.