The Grateful Dead’s not so Nationionalist Anthem. A message subtly sent to all of the flag waving blind patriots out there that hide behind the colors of the flag and swear it’s all good.

Better change your act….we’re all confused…

From July 4, 1989.

U. S. Blues

Bowie believed and accepted enough to write and sing about it.

“He told us not to blow it “cause he knows it’s all worthwhile.”

“Starman”

(pics of yesterdays rainout not available. no rain expected today so look for pics tomorrow)

From last years festival in Roswell, footage of Element 115’s show at the Wool Bowl.

Cool that it is just walking distance from the house. I will get to see the show again this week. They are a fun bunch of folks.

I have wanted to get abducted for years. I have still not seen a green or grey creature on a ship loaded with flashing lights. I am waiting for my alien probe and I don’t mean being raped by an illegal.

It seems the Byrds wanted the abduction experience way back in the ’60’s. Here they are on the Smothers Brothers show with “Mr. Spaceman”.

Now I am off to get pics and the inside story of the festival. I’ll have them up tonite and will continue covering the festival all weekend.

Have a pleasant Independence Day and don’t forget the kids serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Remember Melanie’s hit “Brand New Key? Back when I was a kid she sang this hit on every radio in town.

The Dollyrots do a great version in a very different style. Or is it that different. You tell me.

Every now and then I fall apart.

Bonnie Tyler

“Total Eclipse Of The Heart”

Today has been filled with those pre-surgery jitters and other weirdnesses that come with getting ready for a hospital stay.  I am kinda scared. This is my spine they are going to be cutting into and the percentage of success is about 60%. While the chance of paralysis is there it is less than the chance if the procedure isn’t done. So naturally I am terrified.

I will be absent for at least 2 days and mayhap longer.

But, as usual I have been doing the familiar. Puttering around the house with music blaring. Today it has had a great deal of Grateful Dead mixed in. Comfortable with the tunes I relax more when Jerry is singing in that cracked, raspy voice he had. Kinda makes me feel that everything will turn out ok in the end.

I was in Monterrey when the band filmed this video. It was a series of daytime shows and the first day every one was wondering why the elaborate light show array was set up. That night, about the time the Monterrey Bay fog was rolling in over the hills surrounding the Laguna Seca Raceway some hippies came around the campground announcing a free show. We went back into the music arena and were treated to the filming of this video. It took multiple nights to film it and the campground scene called us back but I was there in that crowd for quite a while 2 nights running.

It kinda describes how I am feeling right now.  A little blue, a little weird and”A Touch Of Grey”.

I will survive.

See ya in a few.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd with George “wild Child” Butler and the Howlin Wolf Band.

“Spoonful”

“WHATS UP?”

4 Non Blondes.

She identifies with this at 25 but if you change the age to fifty….well, I’m still trying to get up that great big hill of hope.

Springsteen.

Listen to what he says before breaking into “Livin’ In The Future”

The Kendalls.

Devils got me now.

I think I’m Givin’ in.

Mary K said she wrote this in 1984. She hoped it was just seasonal but…..

Cream (the senior tour)

“Stormy Monday”

Somebody said they saw me swinging the world by the tail.

Allison Krauss and Robert Plant.

“Killing The Blues”

The Divinyls