Insane ramblings of an insane music fan.

[LeftyFingerPop]

So it is a beautiful day here in New York State. Shorts, sleeveless T-Shirt....driving my truck barefooted (why not?....gives you a feeling of freedom). Sunglasses, arm hanging out window, hair blowing around, blasting The Grateful Dead from The Cow Palace, New Years Eve, 1976...listening to "Morning Dew".

REALLY listening. Paying attention to my driving of course...but not remembering it. Too into the music. I used to drive to NYC frequently, over the George Washington Bridge and the Cross Bronx Expressway. I hated the Cross Bronx, but a friend of mine used to tell me..."Shit philboy, do what I do. Put in a live Dead tape, put on your dog ears and listen hard, get in the zone, and pray you don't miss your exit". Dog ears...deadhead expression for seriously listening to music, not just casually listening.

So today I have my dog ears on and thinking how great it is to be alive. And by the time the song was finished, I had tears streaming down my cheek.

I have been to numerous Grateful Dead shows. I have witnessed some STUFF. Why the tears? Because this is what I flash on with this music: the INTERPLAY between the players. Phil Lesh with his narly teeth, pumping out bass chords so strong and deep that they make your nuts ache if you are standing in the wrong spot. Jerry Garcia grinning through his beard and finding a series of notes that make your spine tingle, Bob Weir literally spraying spit on you while he sings, and flinging sweat on you when he does his guitar hero moves, if you are fortunate enough to be standing right in front of him. Mickey Hart and Billy Kreutzmann drumming, looking like they are "sculpting the air".

And the crowd reaction...it didn't happen often, because the Dead frequently sucked. But the reason they sucked was because they always went for it, they always experimented. They "searched for the sound". And when they found "it"...you could hear 20,000 people literally GASP.

And these are my memories. and these memories have made me a better, more sensitive person. These memories have helped me listen better, to both music and people. And these memories have enriched me.

That's all....carry on as if nothing happened.
:P

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear philboy...

How can you say that's all?

It seems to me that you've said quite a mouthful here!

And all of it true, damn true...

You have connected with some really profound truths, sweetie...

Every now and then we need to do that...

Thank you for letting us into your soul today!

:loveya:

:hug:

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. My dear Peggy...

thank you!!

Sometimes you just have to spill your guts...know what I mean? :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Indeed I do know...

:hug:

[IndianaJones]

2. Roanoke Civic Center, summer 87...

Scarlet Fire...what memories.

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. Barton Hall, Cornell University, Mother's Day 1977...

Scarlet/Fire...never tire of hearing it.

Drove up to Ithaca in a blinding snow storm... IN MAY!!!!

[IndianaJones]

6. Black Muddy River was the encore...

man I miss those days.

I still listen to Terrapin over and over for hours.

[LeftyFingerPop]

9. I miss those days too...

I don't think I will ever stop missing them.

[Parche]

5. Music

Pink Floyd Rocks :bounce: :bounce: :hi:

You are the best :hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

8. Hello my friend...

:hi: :hug:

Dark Side of the Moon...one of the greatest ever.

[lost-in-nj]

10. I am sorry to admit

that I could never get into the Grateful Dread.....
but I love what you wrote here


:hug: :hug:


lost

who has driven barefoot!!!

[redqueen]

11. *sigh*

never saw them... but thanks for sharing that

[grace0418]

12. I hope that everyone gets to experience that. You described the feeling perfectly.

And even though I have never gotten into the Dead, I completely appreciate and love your description. I love the feeling when a piece of music carries you away. For me (as many probably know now because I've been babbling about them for several weeks), I get that feeling with the music of Neil Finn. Especially Crowded House, but all of his music really. I was even reviewing their latest album on my Finn Forum and described what I called the Finn Moment. Sometimes it's a whole song, sometimes it's a lyric, sometimes it's just a melody. But when I hear it, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, my spine tingles and I get the shivers. Sigh...

Thank you for your not-at-all-insane ramblings! :hi:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

13. Hell, I like music just like that.

Like listening to some types of jazz where you just go "Wow." I always feel that way when listening to Bill Evans--I swear his sound on the piano must exist in more than 3 dimensions, and even his happiest of renditions makes me ache inside, somewhere, because that's what his sound is: aching. I get those lightbulb flash moments of insight or just pure feeling a lot when listening to Steely Dan, as strange as it may seem. Every time I hear "Pretzel Logic" it feels like the first time--just makes me do another "Wow."

:D

[HuskerDU]

14. Beautiful!

'One good thing about music... when it hits you feel no pain!' Bob Marley

'Whether it's jug band music or rhythm and blues, just go and listen- it will start with a smile you can't wipe off your face no matter how hard you try' Lovin Spoonfull

I don't care if it's polka, just let the music hit you and take your pain away.

[EstimatedProphet]

15. Birmingham AL - 4/5/95

Morning Dew, close of the second set.

I saw infinity. That's all I can say.