Black Mountain # 2

[Tom Banjo]

With Chalet comes more responsibility.  Definitely different vibe at the B n B.

[Brian NJ]

That KOA is an antiseptic "campground" I am  surprised that they didn't exterminate the likes of y'all       Super 8 is the way to go. All night dance party Friday and Saturday in the parking lot!  A Chalet would be nice but spill your rice and beans on the carpet or leave a smoke unattended on the kitchen table/counter and kiss the deposit goodbye!

[Tom Banjo]

Pretty liberal line at the super 8

[GoingBackTo Where....]

From what I saw of the morning after...super 8 is A++++, but I bet you guys were not disturbed because all on duty sheriffs where searching campsites with flashlights:{

 

The Dead camping area was in the very back, and I could hardly hear any noise.  Around 3am 4 sheriffs came by and made everyone go to sleep.  One of the campground guys told us he was tired of taking care of us like little children---WTF.  I had to bite my lip on that one!!!   Armed officers can shut me up quick. 

 

I thought the searching and hassle by the authorities who seemed to stand around and boast, was a bit extreme, and I love rednecks, I am half, but these guys were bible thumping asses!!!  Nothing against the bible, especially because of songs like Gomorra, but still, they suck.  

 

Chalet would be cool.....or a rental by a nice stream close by.....either way, I think DSO might have a rap now with locals.  I would be extra careful from now on after shows there.  Don't get me wrong....A++++ venue!!!!!!!!

 

Reserve my thoughts about 2nd night until I listen to recordings.  I had a bad night, personally, and I let it get worse after the nights end.  My bad, and a apology from Sun the Grump!!!   Sometimes life and sleep depervation follow you to shows, a place I always want to feel free, worriless, and most of all, where I am not told what to do and how to act!!!   Its a safe zone for me, cause out here, life is full of steep cliffs, and loose edges!!!!

 

Yall be well,, and see you in 4 months

[Tea]

I have so little time to give this show it's due - thanks boss.

 

While the song-selection was not exactly in my sweet-spot, the sound and quality of playing was top-notch.  Rude and I were positioned center center/left about 8 - 10 rows back and that sound blew our doors off.  I mean J-E-S-U-S! 

 

I realize that certain forms of cognitive/spiritual enhancement can alter perceptions of what was going down but I was minimally modified this night.  The truth in the quality of this show (for me) comes from the fact that I danced my ass off from the opening drumbeat of Samson to the final flurry that wrapped up SMBH.  I don't exercise as much as I need to and I have to take more than my fair share of breaks to keep up some pace.  I freaking danced to the porta potties and back and still had some juice to keep it movin during Drums and Space.

 

This experience does not mandate that the 2nd night was better than the 1st.  I was just VERY psyched to be plugged into the vibe the whole time and seemed to have limitless energy (Sitting around all day drinking gallons upon gallons of water probably didn't hurt).  It's funny how different our experiences can be based on things that have little to do with the quality of the music being played.

 

All in all - an outstanding run at Blk Mtn.   I can't wait to go back next year - Super 8 here we come!  Going forward KOA will only be reserved for 4-5 hours of free lodging.  That's all they ever were to me in my previous life, and that's all they'll ever be forever.  KOA Asheville East can freaking burn to the ground for all I care - return that land to its original state. 

[Tom Banjo]

Koa always meant free camping. Someone else called it kids on acid.

[Mango]

Okay....

 

            I try not to think too much during shows; it's a bit of a meditation for me, the whole dancing thing. Thoughts do come and go though and when I listen to these amazing NUGZ recordings it really brings a lot back to me. So here I am, listening, reliving....

            I want to start by saying that this was one of the most special starhead gatherings that I have ever had the pleasure of taking part in. Some dear friends were missing- they always are.  I tend not to dwell on who isn’t there…the crowd is always different, always special. Always a slightly different flavor of DSO tour. I’ve spent 12 years now seeing this band and it has been the single most rewarding path that I’ve stumbled across. I am humbly blessed from it all…. there are no words to capture the gold ring down inside, but we try…

 

            The first two nights of my mini-run(Atlanta and Black Mountain #1) were both solid, high-quality DSO experiences. Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse show featured an impeccably played recreation of December 18^th 1973.  The show was rife with highlights, perhaps too many to mention. The whole first set was strong but the ‘China>Rider’ that closed out the set was something worth writing home about. Set 2 was wet-dream material. Weather Report Suite>Dark Star>Eyes>Wharf Rat>Sugar Mags, yes please!

 

                  Night #1 of Black Mountain had some of my peeps in difficult head-spaces and I didn’t feel all there myself for the 1^st set. Dance space wasn’t good…next time y’all listen to me! Hear me!?! By second set we settled in and by the end everyone was having a good time. One of those nights were you face challenges, maybe even experience some fear, but come out on top.  I knew that after our difficulties this night that night #2 would be a complete success. Two talented guitar-playing friends of ours came to our hotel room and graced us with beautiful music until 530 AM!! Apparently they are down with a good party at the Super 8! Helped too that we had friends on both sides of us.

 

                  Night #2 was perfect in every way. Or at least I decided at some point that it was and experienced it as such. It was a beautiful night; green and yellow lasers shining through the trees, blues, reds, and every array of visual effects exploding from the stage. A cosmic breeze in the air, illuminating all into expanded consciousness….

 

                 

Samson
Mission in the Rain
All over now
Dire wolf
Passenger
Till the morning comes
Mama>mexacali
who was john
Lazy>supplication
Alabama

Stranger>
Franklins
Sailor>Saint
st stephen
drums>Space>
st stephen>
Other one>
World to give>
Not fade away

Sing me back home

                 

                 

                  The show opened with a strong, even aggressive ‘Samson and Delilah’, and we knew right away that we were getting biblical here in Black Mountain(it is on the bible belt, right?).  I must brag that Torin(helpslip) and I called much of the set. Are they listening to us? What’s going on here?? Mission was great; loved Skip’s dramatically long pause after the intro, Jeff and Rob’s solos soared.  Passenger was seriously hot- the temperature outside wasn’t as much but I by this point have worked myself into a full on Chuckvegas-style perspiration-fest. Sweat pouring down my face and into my eyes, heart beating as fast as a rabbit’s. “What is a man, deep down inside, but a Raging Beast with nothing to hide?”.

 

                  I love the third night of a three night run. Three is the magic number and I love the culmination that accumulates and gloriously explodes. On this fine evening I was truly in the zone; experiencing every song and seeing every person for their highest potential. We create a magical support-web in which to freely express one-self. And the family is always expanding…

 

                  ….okay, enough gushing. Where was I? “Till the morning comes”….a good friend of mine always says that this is one of the most underrated GD songs. I agree and think that DSO absolutely crushes this song. I think that one of the reasons I had so much fun this weekend was because of a special someone back home who recently began lighting up my world. She wasn’t there dancing with me but she was surely with me dancing in my heart.

“When the shadows grow, it'll do you fine When the cold winds blow, it'll ease your mind The shape it takes could be yours to choose, What you may win, what you may lose”.  

The cowboy tunes helped elevate my heart rate to ‘scared-rabbit’ level, this is just too much fun. ‘Who was John’ was delightful. Such a treat that they play this song, so deep, so….biblical.  ‘Lazy Lightening>Supplication’ would come next, right on time as a friend of ours really needed to be convinced of this duo’s merit. I would say, at least on this fine occasion, that she found out what it’s all about. Another song that DSO rips to pieces. ‘Alabama Getaway’ was a perfectly raucous was to close out a strong set.

 

                  Set 2- and this night in general- was a wild dance party. Aside from the large group of friends that I had with me there was many a special soul in that crowd.  Torin called ‘Stranger’ as the set opener during setbreak. Kid’s good….knows his shit.  I had a feeling they would go into ‘Franklins’ since they had done ‘Help>Slip’ without it the night before.  This is a pattern I’ve noticed with DSO electives over the years. This killer song-combo could open any set as far as I’m concerned….dance-a-thon material.  I had so many moments of watching people throw down, friends and strangers alike….smiles all around. By the time we were done there the grass was flattened as if there had been rugs down all night. I personally danced in socks much of the night, on the grass (don’t ask…).

 

                  ‘Lost Sailor’ was smooth, ‘Saint of Circumstance’ got the crowd reeling before going off the deep end with ‘St. Stephen’. Man that shit rocked. Danced straight drums>space and back into Stephen. The whole evening was amazing but from ‘Stephen Reprise’>on was straight up peak DSO LOVE. I, for one, was feeling immense amounts of love, joy, and gratitude. We are lucky to have this much fun, I’m not sure that everyone gets to….

 

                  I always hope for ‘William Tell Bridge>The Eleven” out of Stephen, usually I’m let down. Well they didn’t do it again this time but I fully welcomed the booming ‘Other One’ that would ensue. Rip-roaring straight through to the other side, revealing a beautifully tender and poignant ‘If I had the World to Give’,  a song that the Grateful Dead only performed 3 times. Jeff really dug deep for this one. I’ve seen some good ones but have never felt it quite like this time. Pure connectivity, pure love. These moments are really special for me….I love connecting with my dancing peers but these occasions I connect on a soul level to all that is. Musical healing at it’s best. Maybe having a special someone in my heart added to my experience. All I can say is that it was divine.

                 

                  ‘Not Fade Away’, while not my favorite tune, was an absolute blow-out and probably the best I’ve ever experienced. Once again just really feeling it on a deep level…every note, every word, just feeling the immensity of my own and everyone else’s Love. A lot of Love in the air- I don’t think I was the only one feeling it!

 

                  ‘Sing me Back Home’ was a surprise to me and took me right back to my special place that I found during ‘World to Give’.  Really special shit here, gospel-style worship going on. I really can’t express the power of the connection that I felt for this….so I guess “the best ever” will have to suffice.

 

                  Love seeing this band. Love the people I’ve met because of this band, and the people that continue to meet. It’s an amazing, ever-expanding family.  Truly one of the best weekends of my life…already looking forward to next year!

 

                  Now lets see, what’s next? West coast tour it is….think I need the next month to recover and prepare.

 

<3

[Rude]

Super 8 seems like fun, but if we have the same group as this year I have no worries anyone will mess up the "Chalet".  If the transpo issue can be worked out, seclusion in the mountains seems like bliss and for about the same price as a hotel.  The $900 a night one I love has a "dungeon" for sunny to work his magic.  Not sure if chains are provided or not.  Ill find out.  6k sq ft and 8 bedrooms seems pretty pimp.