Happy Halloween from Larry David

This is a holiday classic scene from Curb Your Enthusiasm.

R.I.P.-Merl Saunders

That big jam session in the sky keeps getting better and better every day.

Keyboardist Merl Saunders died yesterday after complications from a stroke. He had played with the likes of Miles Davis and was a longtime friend and collaborator to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead.

In fact, after Garcia almost died from his diabetic coma in 1986, it was his friend Merl Saunders who stayed by his side and helped Jerry learn to play the guitar again. Jerry and Merl played together in a variety of forms from the early 70's through the late 80's. Luckily (like all things involving Garcia), most of those collaborations were recorded. Make sure you check out Merl's classic 1990 instrumental album "Blues from the Rainforest".

I'm sure him and Jerry and jamming again right now and the thought of that just puts a huge smile on my face....

Click below to listen to some great Saunders/Garcia moments.

Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia-Berkley, CA 1973 Mix


Merl Saunders (with guest Jerry Garcia)-Blues From the Rainforest


Grateful Dead with Merl Saunders-The Twilight Zone (TV Series) Soundtrack
http://www.divshare.com/download/5521037-2ff

Hope

With less than two weeks to go in the American presidential election, I think I speak for most Americans when I say; "THANK GOD".

My friends (sorry), I have had all I can take of talking heads on radio and TV discussing polls, Alaska, recessions, bail outs, golden parachutes, plumbers named Joe, real America, being tested, abortions, faith or lack of it, domestic terrorists, hockey moms, pigs with lipstick, preconditions, robocalls, gaffes, game-changers, and saying words that end in "ing" without using the fucking G!

Oh yeah, so what's up with the picture above? Well, regular readers to this page know that I will be voting for Barack Obama for about 1,000,000 reasons. Living in the middle of Wisconsin, I am subjected to seeing maybe 25 McCain/Palin signs on my way to and from work every day. I see a total of 2 Obama signs; one of which is mine. It is easy for me to get discouraged and really start believing that Obama will not win.

Then halfway to my office each day, I pass this abandoned old schoolhouse which sits in the middle of freaking nowhere. As you can see, someone painted "Obama '08" on the falling down white fence. Every time I pass this I am filled with an overwhelming feeling of hope. Hope that this country can be a better place to live and raise my family then the current cesspool it is now . Hope that a black man with a more positive vision of what this country can be will actually be elected president. Hope that we can indeed work together for a positive change. I have no idea how this will turn out, but something about Obama just feels so right at this point in history. I feel that this may be our last chance. It just feels SO important. And the only thing that makes me feel hopeful on a daily basis is this little school located in the nowhere town of Vinland, Wisconsin where at least one other person obviously feels that hope too.

Anyway, to keep this page on task musically, below you will find a election mix I put together to get me through these crazy days. I hope you enjoy the music no matter what side of the political fence you are on. May we grind through these last two weeks and come out a stronger and more hopeful nation. Peace.



Setlist:
1. Bob Dylan-When the Ship Comes In
2. Grateful Dead-Throwing Stones
3. The Who-Let's See Action
4. Sham 69-If the Kids are United
5. Son Volt-Joe Citizen Blues
6. Bruce Springsteen-The Rising
7. Neil Young-Campaigner
8. Patti Smith-People Have the Power
9. Jefferson Airplane-We Can Be Together
10. Tom Waits-Step Right Up
11. John Lennon-Gimme Some Truth
12. Stevie Wonder-Higher Ground
13. Bob Dylan-The Times they are A-Changin'

R.I.P.-Levi Stubbs

One of the greatest voices in music has died today; Levi Stubbs.

I grew up listening to the Four Tops (Thanks Mom!) and his voice is forever ingrained in my consciousness. His voice was joyful, powerful, and most of all; passionate. He sang some of the greatest songs of all time and the history of popular music would not have been the same without him.

At least the music always lives on...

The Real Dylan & Summer '08 Mix

In honer of the ridiculously good new Bob Dylan Bootleg Series release "Tell Tale Signs", Uncut magazine has published a 13 part feature focusing on the recording sessions that make up the material featured on the discs. Specifically, Dylan's output from 1989-2006.



Told by the producers and engineers who worked on the recordings, the result offers a fascinating incite into Bob's recording process. This is must-read stuff for Dylan freaks and proof that while I love the guy, I don't think I would want to work with him.


Read all the goodness below:
http://uncut.co.uk/music/special_features/

My other Dylan gift to you today is a great mix of tunes from Bob's summer tour of Europe. It contains one of the best versions of "Just Like a Woman" I've ever heard. Hearing that song sung with the years of knowledge in Dylan's voice now just kills me. This set also contains some great versions of many of the Modern Times tracks. I think I like these songs even better life than the studio versions.

I really can't wait to see him in Milwaukee on November 6. I hope you enjoy listening to this set.

Bob Dylan: Summer 2008 Mix

Side A


Side B

The Jawhawks Triumphant Return!

On September 6 at a festival in Spain, the five original members of The Jayhawks played their first show together since the mid-90's. As much as I love the Gary Louris-led version of the band, they do not sound the same with the unmistakable harmonies of Mark Olson.

Since no announcement of an official Jayhawks reunion had occured, I can not tell you what a pleasent surprise it was to find out that this show took place. Mark and Gary are releasing an album together in January so I can only assume we have not heard the last of this incarnation of The Jayhawks.

Click the link below to download the show and a big thanks to the taper! The sound is less than stellar, but it works for me. Enjoy.

The Jayhawks-9-6-08.zip

The Jayhawks: Azkena Festival Spain.
September 6, 2008
Band:
Mark Olson-Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
Gary Louris-Electric Guitar/Vocals
Marc Perlman-Bass
Tim O'Reagan-Drums/Vocals
Karen Grotberg-Keyboards/Vocals

Aud recording.
Sony Hi-Md MZ-RH910>Mics: Sony Stereo-ECM-719>soundforge 8>cd wav editor>
flacfrontend level 6>you
Recorded by Zebulon.
Edited By J.P.

Setlist:
Wichita
I´d Run Away
Over My Shoulder
Real Light
Two Angels
Take Me With You
Martin´s Song
Waiting For The Sun
Clouds
Two Hearts & Settle Down Like Rain
Sister Cry
See Him On The Street
Nothing Left To Borrow
Pray For Me
Leave No Gold
Blue
Bad Time
Miss Williams´Guitar

Playin' in the Band

Happy Friday everyone. I thought I would give you a fantastic Dead show to get your weekend started right and musical.

This one is a particularly hot show from 8-5-1989 and is one of the best soundboard recordings I have of them. Highlights include a rare first set opening "One More Saturday Night", a rocking "Let it Grow", and the entire second set.

This one of those shows I would play someone who was first getting into the Dead. It has all the elements that made me love their music and keeps me coming back. Enjoy and have a great weekend.

Grateful Dead: 8-5-1989 Carlson, CA
Setlist:

Set 1:One More Saturday Night, Cold Rain & Snow, We Can Run But We Can't Hide, Stagger Lee, Memphis Blues, Row Jimmy, Let It Grow

Set 2:Hey Pocky Way, Playin' In The Band-> I Know You Rider-> Terrapin Station-> Drums-> Jam-> Standing On the Moon-> Throwing Stones-> Not Fade Away, E: U.S. Blues