All over the world airports are filled with strangers stopping strangers, just to shake their hands. Familiar Tribal Colors and patterns on those around us bring the memories of days gone by into the forefront of our minds. The journey to the world’s biggest Family Reunion in history is well underway. As the eyes of the Grateful Dead world all look to Chicago, you can actually see the exhaust being created in the air from human engines fueled by adrenaline. There’s been more foreplay leading up to this weekend than any group of humans have ever experienced, “See here how everything lead up to this day”.

Its been a long time since I was in a city that was completely taken over by Deadheads. I believe most people’s expectations are higher than they may have initially been after the Santa Clara Shows. The collective soul of all of us together in one place is every bit as powerful as the show itself. The band had an opportunity to work some things out musically as well as spiritually. For the first time in my personal history of music and travel, I’ve had an opportunity to get really close to people I’ve never met. Social Media has become the nervous system of Grateful Dead Land transferring information and connections that will soon be turned into the substance of physical encounters. Unknown revelations and opportunities for growth and healing await. Those without tickets are heading to their own mystical will call location, somewhere along the way, that was preordained long ago where someone that’s been a guardian of their pass for entry has preserved their ticket to be part of the biggest event in our family’s history! We’re ALL Getting In!!! Every Night!!! Somebody out there is packing up your tickets right now!!!

I have a few things I’m wishing for…

As the volume of the vibe in our community gets turned up considerably minute by minute, we can only hope the same can be said for the volume of Bruce Hornsby and Jeff Chimenti. If anyone on the inside is reading this, we like our Hammond sounds REALLY FUCKIN LOUD!!!!! Loud enough to actually create wind. I’m not sure what it sounds like at the stadium so maybe the mix I got from 2 nights of streaming isn’t entirely accurate compared to the live sound.

Am I the only one that wishes Mickey would drop the BBQ Brushes and mallets, pick up some sticks and give us just a few more runs across the Tom Toms with the power and authority that was an absolute trademark of his playing throughout the years? Those moments like the end of The Dew when he’d climb the whole ladder of sound with an otherworldly type of power that would resonate within our entire being… I’ve missed hearing that as much as almost anything to this point. We haven’t had a percussionist during 30 years of the Dead, we’ve always had 2 Drummers… He’s an absolute master of everything pertaining to his craft and I’ve followed all of it with tremendous interest but I sure have missed feeling Mickey’s power as he’s opted for a much more muted sound. I think the overall sound misses his prominence… Mickey, we can’t hear what you’re playing and we really want to!!!

My last wish is that you’d keep the set lists to yourselves. Some asshole is leaking them out. When in history did we ever know exactly what the Dead were gonna play before we ever walked into the show that night? I wonder if there was a time in history when the band even knew the answer to that question… Can you do a better job keeping that shit from getting out? Is there anyone that really wants to know what they’re going to play in advance? Unfortunately, like car accidents on the road, it’s almost impossible not to look once it’s within sight. No need for that shit to get leaked and that could be pretty easily prevented.

Regardless, I look forward to sharing in the moments with all of you. The GD 50 Experience has already been more to me than I ever could have imagined. The principles of tension and release have existed for a long time. I look forward to the overall tension in the community finding the ultimate release through the celebration of our lives through music this weekend. A song has its moments of tension, confusion and the gradual growing of the chaos that builds towards that moment of release that hinges on a single note. That note is like a needle that pierces through the shell that has contained the force of built up ecstasy, allowing it to be completely released. We’re all at that point together. This song has been building for months now and the inevitable and impending release is right here… Right Now… The City is prepared, the Band is prepared and I know we’re as prepared as we’ve ever been… The circus is filing into town in massive numbers… Love lights are fully turned on and turned up… It’s almost as if the air is breathing itself in… We’re prepared to share as many laughs as we will tears… Every step on the emotional spectrum will be fully and thoroughly experienced in the days to come… There’s no more “This Could Be The Last Time” because this time, it really is… I’ll meet you at the Jubilee…

Dead To The Core,

Dean

Fare Thee Well Preparation Video!!!