Grateful Dean

The City of Brotherly Love got blasted with a sonic bomb of goodness last night as Dead & Company kicked off the first night of a weekend trifecta in our favorite familiar cities. My favorite bust out in the last 5 years of The Grateful Dead was undoubtedly Here Comes Sunshine. I’ll never forget the vocal part that opened it as the desert sun baked the living shit out of US in Arizona. At that time in my life I had developed the same type of habit as the most soulful guitarist that ever lived. It was close to the end of the road for the narcotic fueled days of my life. I don’t know what anyone other than Garcia was doing during that Here Comes Sunshine because I watched him and him alone from the first notes to the last. For some reason, I still get chills when I hear Garcia sing, “Line up a long shot maybe try it two times, maybe more… Good to know you got shoes to wear, when you find the floor… Why hold out for more?” In those days just being alive in the morning sometimes seemed like a long shot. After 22 years clear of that shit, I’m grateful to be pursuing much better long shots these days…

As good as all of this current manifestation of Grateful Dead hybrid is proving to be, There was only one voice and one guitar that sent chills from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. Garcia… There was only one singer that could place a lyric at any place his soul desired and it was just about always the proper place for the lyric whether it met with your expectation or not. Garcia… There was one player that could course through a solo and it felt as if his fingers were actually playing up and down your spinal cord. Garcia… That’s all I’m gonna say about that…

After a few days to rest, this band emerged with the same fire it displayed prior. John’s vocals are improving and it seems to me like more heart is coming through. The Half Step took some unique turns and provided a moment or 2 to be remembered. Bob, Bill and Mickey have given an entirely new life to John Mayer. A life filled with a completely different flavor of personalities and passions. In return, John is giving new life to our favorite musicians. Oteil is thrilled he’ll probably never have to pay for weed again! Best quote of his recent interview!

One of the greatest things about having kids, for me, a little later in life is the perspective and excitement they bring back to you. After having seen so much of the world and experienced as much as the typical Deadhead does early in life, you sometimes lose sight of the wonder that’s found in life’s simplest things. While driving my son to school this morning, he spotted EVERY living thing from the house to the school and announced each discovery as if it was a major event to make known. “OH MY GOD IT’S A SQUIRREL!!!”, “LOOK DAD! CHIPMUNK!!!”, “DID YOU SEE THAT BIRD?WOW!”. My kids have shown me how amazing so many things are again. Things that I stopped noticing long ago. There’s a new sense of exhilaration in things that had become pretty common. That’s one of the greatest gifts in raising kids for me.

John and Oteil bring that same kind of energy to this experience. Songs that had become common to me are being experienced through a new set of eyes and ears. A scene that became my home and is filled with incredible sights, sounds and personalities was just part of everyday life. I’ve begun to experience all of the wonder in our community and take notice of so many things through the eyes of the new generation that’s currently having their first chance at the world’s greatest rock and roll community. John, like my kids, doesn’t ever seem to want the jam to end. Bob tries nightly to reel him in at times and John would prefer to just keep going. The wise elders attempt to keep some form to the experience while the young guns try to blow every experience wide open. It’s an incredible dynamic that has helped me to hear some songs I’ve heard a few thousand times through the ears of those that experiencing it live for the first time. This band playing China-> Rider is like walking through the woods with my kids. No beautiful leaf goes unnoticed. EVERY living thing is whole heartedly pointed out and announced at full volume. Things we’ve passed by without barely recognizing are fully seen and explored. This is a brilliant time in our community and I’m taking in every available moment. One thing is incredibly obvious, this group of guys has the chemistry required to make great moments occur on a daily basis. Keep the mother rollin one more time! If you haven’t already, make plans to see Dead & Company! I’m going fishing with my daughter, Catch ya later!

Dead To The Core,

Dean Sottile (pronounced So Tilly)
@gd50th on Twitter
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