Da Coach's Blog

Raise your marketing up from The Dead ...

If you're marketing's dead, you'll be grateful for this video about The Marketing Lessons From The Grateful Dead http://vimeo.com/14112146

Dark Star still shines bright ...

Dark Star Orchestra threw down a BIG show at the Vic this past Friday night.  The new Jerry guy they called up from Double A does the job -- even looks the part.  They played a solid 3 hour cover of a '72 show from Germany -- the twirlers were out in full force!  Don't hesitate to stay on the bus with 'em.

I got my "Phil" on Friday night ...

Chicago has the best outdoor concert venue I've ever been to anywhere:  Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island, a little gem of a place right on the lakefront. And it just so happens I witnessed Phil Lesh & Friends play a MONSTER show there this past Friday night -- check out the setlist.  Founding member of the Grateful Dead, Phil is 68 years old, still pushing the envelope of rock and roll improvisation -- I wanna be like him when I grow up ...

When you need a Grateful Dead fix, go see Dark Star Orchestra ...

I saw Dark Star Orchestra this past Friday night. It was another full-tilt, dance-til-you-drop (no one sits), sing-til-you're-hoarse (my voice sounds like I've been gargling with gravel) jam-band show.  DSO channels the Grateful Dead like no one else, getting even better musically as time goes on -- been playing together since '98, started here in Chicago, Saturday 2/2 was their 1,500th performance (sold out, or I might have gone again). 

They really capture the spirit of what it was like back in the day -- over 3 hours of music, and I was shakin' it the whole time.  A GD/DSO concert absolutely has the same party atmosphere as other rock shows, except the band rarely says a word to the audience -- the strength of the music whips the crowd into a frenzy song after song.  It's hard to imagine -- you have to experience it to believe it.  If you got familiar with the songs I KNOW you'd become a great DeadHead/DSO fan, twirling 'round and round all night long amid the wafting scent of patchouli-tinged sweat and ganja mon! (What smoking ban?)

The set list says it all ...

In case you think Phil Lesh and Friends are resting on their laurels, guess again:

10/05/07 (Fri)  Riviera Theater - Chicago, IL
Set 1: Deal, Mississippi 1/2 Step, Deep Elem Blues, Loose Lucy, When You're Walking Away, Cumberland Blues, Tell Me Baby, Cold Rain & Snow

Set 2: Cosmic Charlie, Chinacat Sunflower, Eyes Of The World, St. Stephen, Millenium Jam, Mountains Of The Moon, Midnight Rider, I Know You Rider, Golden Road, Sugar Magnolia, E: Tom Thumbs Blues

A SMOKIN' show, trust me!

Those Grateful Dems ...

For those of you not keeping score at home, on the evening of January 4th the Democrats held a little "Pelosi-palooza" to celebrate Nancy Pelosi's coronation as The Speaker of the House.  One of the headlining acts was called "The House Band," featuring members of the good ol' Grateful Dead, of whom Nancy claimed to be a "fan."

Now I don't know about you, but I've attended my share of Dead concerts -- isn't it comforting to know that the 3rd person in line for President used to mingle with people whose brains were addled on all kinds of psychedelics???  (I'm sure Nancy herself never inhaled -- or maybe never exhaled ...)  Wave that flag, baby!

Bobby 'n Mickey 'n Billy -- OH MY!

I got my Grateful Dead fix in October:  First, Bob Weir's group RatDog played two stellar sets at the Riv -- as usual, all the "hits" were reworked to keep them vibrant.  A few days later I checked out The Rhythm Devils, featuring Bill Kruetzman and Mickey Hart as two drumming dervishes.  They pounded me into submission over the course of a long dance-a-thon at the ornate Chicago Theatre -- it was hard to sit down all night with that kind of percussive thunder going on!

Phil Lesh has STILL GOT IT!!!

I went to see Phil Lesh (bass player extraordinaire from the Grateful Dead) this week with his band.  Killer show, great venue, not too hot, fabulous tailgate party (courtesy of Rock) 'til the heat came 'round and busted us for grillin' on a sunny day!

Who said these guys couldn't sing ???

Never heard a better rendition of The Star Spangled Banner -- even Dusty Baker approved ...

That keyboardist position is open AGAIN ...

Moment of silence please for the late, not so great Vince Welnick ...

He's the 4th Grateful Dead keyboardist to bite the dust since the band's inception in 1965.  Doesn't seem like there's a lot of job security at that particular post, is there?