Grateful Dean

Being that I have selective dyslexia as well as ADD whenever I just don’t feel like paying attention, along with the corporate names that have stolen the names of our favorite venues, at first sight I thought Dead & Company were playing The First Viagra Center in Buffalo. I figured the band should really be UP for this one! My immediate memories of The Buffalo area take me to Rich Stadium in the Summer of 89 and 90. I had my share of terrific moments in that neck of the woods. Speaking of memories, I couldn’t help but reflect on the 30th Anniversary of my first show yesterday. It took place at The Meadowlands on 11/11/85. The first memories from that experience are the Walking The Dog opener and the first thing that hit me like a ton of bricks was Garcia’s backup singing. His voice seemed to break through everything else and completely fill the arena in a way that was totally unlike any of the other voices I heard. The next thing that really hooked me, like John Mayer, was the opening licks of Althea which was played last night in Buffalo as well. It felt as though my entire being, along with all of its contents, hung on the fat string of Garcia’s guitar. As a 15 year old studying intensely for the Acid Test, I could hear my brains sautéing like garlic and onions in olive oil throughout the night. As Garcia took his solos it sounded like he would hit a string with his pick and drop a handful of notes that seemed to fall off of his guitar and onto the floor. He’d use the rest of the solo to systematically and sonically pick them all back up. It was the wildest thing I ever heard in my life. Well once again, that shit didn’t happen last night but Althea was good. By intermission I was talking with my friends about a plan to pay our way across the country to join the greatest musical transformation society that ever existed. It’s hard to believe 30 years have passed since my internal compass was directed to Terrapin and from that moment on I’ve been Forever Grateful, Forever Dead.

I don’t know about you but I’m really happy that our favorite musicians finally have a band that sounds better than the Dark Star Orchestra. While their current repertoire isn’t nearly as vast, the music is bringing the community to the places we’re accustomed to traveling and last night was no exception. The first set was good because of Althea, Here Comes Sunshine, El Paso and other songs that you really liked but I failed to mention. John and Oteil are keeping everyone else more interested in what’s going on and as long as they remain as plugged in as they are, the music will evolve and become better every day. One of the many interesting things that exist in Grateful Dead Land is the wide range of emotional characteristics on completely opposite ends of the spectrum, contained within US. Getting into the gang is no easy task but once you’re in we’ll love you forever! Just ask Hornsby! When the project with Mayer was announced, his name may as well have been Manson. There’s no cast of folks more judgmental than US(Totally judgmental statement). The shit that was thrown around about Mayer was almost as over the top as the praise being heaped on him now. There’s the interesting part that shows how extreme most of us are in our personality traits. Just as there’s no more judgmental of a bunch, in contrast there’s no more forgiving of a bunch. Every accusation that was previously brought up regarding Mayer has been completely forgotten as he’s officially become one of US. Once you’re one of US, there’s no escape. Regardless of what John creates in his future as far as music goes, there will always be a few people in tie dyes spinning up front at his future shows. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that in Terrapin Nation, we can’t stand you until we absolutely love you! Hilarious!

Since Blues has always been one of my favorite genres of music, I was pretty happy about Mayer coming on board from the beginning. How many times have I mentioned that my cousin, Bobby Messano, is a Blues Hall of Famer? Too many probably but it’s something to be proud about. He’s a tremendous guitarist and would be great with Dead & Company. He’s not pretty like John but he’s got crazy chops. Poor guy would be mutilated as soon as he was announced for every day of every month that preceded the shows. Then he would spin your mind on the first night and be hailed as King. That’s what has happened for John and with good reason. He’s an outstanding guitarist and he’s beginning to learn how to take it into mind melting mode. His voice is starting to find its way into the tunes as they start to become a part of him. He’s showing some signs of being able to get spacey and broken down a little as was evidenced in last night’s Dark Star. All he needs now is a few more broken hearts, a couple decades struggling with drugs, a near death experience or 2, children that he loves but can’t find the time to father as he’d like because of the demands put on him by a society of people that he feels somewhat responsible to and the death of a bunch of people he’s really connected with and he’ll have the depth through which Garcia’s sound emerged… I saw Rob Rennie mention that there was a review that said, “Mayer returns to “Lady With A Fan” beautifully, and with such ease that the tune almost feels like it could be a JM original.” He’s doing great but let’s pump the brakes a little. While I’m not afraid to admit that I actually like some of his mainstream tunes, John doesn’t have an original that even vaguely borders on the imagery and density and pure lyrical brilliance of Terrapin. Do the words flow from him like cosmic syrup from a psychedelic maple tree like they did from Garcia? Abso fuckin lutely not. Lets not get too carried away…

One thing I’m really looking forward to is John’s next album. This experience will go with him into the studio and I’m looking forward to seeing the continuation of this process through his own work. I think the song catalog he’s learning that was penned by the greatest teller of tales the world will ever know in Robert Hunter will be a key that unlocks a door to massive creativity in his own mind. Hunter’s songs have a relevance that is timeless and so much depth that songs we’ve been singing for decades still find new meaning within the changing stages of our lives and personal development. Your Body Is a Wonderland, not so much… Some of our bodies are more resembling Wastelands…

The second Set in the First Viagra Center was great! Viola Lee is a monstrosity of a song. It lends itself to amazing outcomes and is a platform for inspired jams to leap from. Wang Dang Doodle found a spot in the sandwich and New Speedway really fits this bunch. You remember that jam at the end of Truckin? The jam where the band keeps ratcheting up the tension as the tune spins on its axis. Garcia blasting a whirlwind of notes that get compressed over and over again into the vortex adding one straw at a time onto the camel’s back. Phil is pounding the center of the moment as it winds up like a coil reaching full mechanical tolerance as both drummers keep heaping coals into the furnace of enlightenment. The pressure builds and builds as your brain starts firing off neurological orgasms like the final 2 minutes of a Roman Orgy until at last the camel’s back is broken, the dam is opened and the release of all of that tension comes pouring out powerfully into the entirety of the universe with everyone hitting that money note all at the same time! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!! That shit didn’t happen either but it was good. Dark Start found some spacey air particularly after Drums and Space. China Doll was born through the experience and has always been a menacing yet beautiful Jerry tune. Once again, I recall many a night when Garcia stood firmly in the midst of the menacing haze of The China Doll as the story unraveled and you would have this feeling of powerful trepidation knowing every broken part of you was being brought to the light of self awareness to be dealt with once again. The tears built at times as Garcia reminded us that we were only fractured, just a little nervous from the fall… Relief and a sense of resolution followed as the beautiful harmonies took the prior feelings of internal fear and turned them into a overwhelming sense of inward accomplishment. Yet again, that shit didn’t happen but it was good! Sugar Mags has long been a great way to shake off the Spiritual Surgery of the night and get rejuvenated as we celebrate the journey we’ve been through during the course of an evening. It rained happiness from the stage and everyone in the building got soaked.

Since it was busted out again at RFK, Casey Jones always brings tense smiles to the faces of people that love cocaine. For people that have been strung out on white powders, Casey Jones has been music to board up your house from the inside while listening to. It sounded great and another fantastic party was put on by our friends at Dead & Company. The tour rolls on to Ohio which reminds me to wish Neil Young a Happy Birthday! Tickets are starting to tighten up a little bit since the stellar reviews have prompted the curiosity of many of the faithful. Folks that already got a dose are rearranging their lives to get another dose as our dysfunctional family reunion parties through its 50th year of music’s finest sounds. If you’re in the NJ area, my pal Scooter is putting on a great party in Morristown on November 13th featuring David Gans as well as The Rumpke Mountain Boys. Potluck Brunch, book signing and jam-with-the-band on
Saturday morning November 14, 2015 as well. To get tickets you can go here or call 908-229-1214 with any questions. I’m gonna check that out for sure! Maybe I’ll see ya there.

Dead To The Core,

Dean Sottile (pronounced So Tilly)

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