My Take on Jubilee 2015

[Tom Banjo]

This party was just exactly perfect.  It was an emotional journey.  It was full of bright shining inspiration.  It was full of love.  I caught up with friends.  I met a few more beautiful smiling faces. It brought my lady and me closer together.  I mean this event was just exactly perfect for me. 

 

First and foremost, before I get into the music, I want to thank Dark Star Orchestra, Walther’s production team, the events staff, the road crew (especially Nick and his lovely fiancé Sarah), but also Ellie as her presence always make things go smoother.  I’m not going to be able to thank everyone by name.  So many people went the extra mile to make this a magical weekend for all of us and I definitely felt like this was a magical weekend.  Maybe most importantly, I would like to thank the Starhead community not just active board members but members of this small group of deadheads that travel around the country to see Dark Star on a regular basis.  All of you know who you are and I cannot thank you enough for making this weekend happen for me.  This experience changed my life for the better and I’m still waking and walking in the spell of gratitude I was placed under at this event.  Damn it feels good to be alive.

 

Night 1 (6/17/76)

 

Cold Rain

Big River

TLEO

Cassidy

Tennessee Jed

LL Rain

Row Jimmy

Music Never Stopped

Scarlet

Promised

 

Help>

Slipknot!>

Franklin's>

Dancin'>

Samson

Ship of Fools

Lazy Lightning> Supplication

Friend of the Devil

Let it Grow> Drums> Let it Grow>

Wharf Rat>

Around

 

I was definitely feeling the energy in the air at this event.  I also had birdies in my ear with inside information.  I’m not going to pretend I’m actually clairvoyant but that with some help, I can make a pretty solid educated guess.  I knew coming into the night we were looking at a late 70s offering.  I was very pleased as the show unfolded that it happened to be June 76.  I can’t honestly say I ever honed in closer than that.  I threw a dart at the board and hit on Beacon June 76.  Shows before this one go figure. 

 

Tonight the boys and girl showed us that they truly are the best band in the land playing these songs for audiences to hear.  I mean it was just a good ol fashioned grateful dead dance party.  Everyone around me in good spirits and feeling good, except my buddy found he drive heaved. 

 

As the set starts, I’m pulling myself through a pretty intense psychedelic wormhole.  This event was not a blast for me last year and I may have over ingested at dinner.  It took a while for me to actually find my balance and groove.  Once found I had it in spades all weekend.  Cold rain opener was fantastic.  I packed in the Cold, Rain and Snow to get ready for this trip and pushed myself to the brink to get here.  I had to get my baby at the airport.  Big River bouncy and fun, but I certainly wasn’t crying any rivers tonight.  My one buddy must’ve loved it as he exclaimed something like :”why not 20 minute big river.”  I could do without ever hearing one of those.  They Love each other beautiful and I hope people are starting to see that we love each other.  I’m working harder to show it everyday.  Cassidy was profound and then just seemed to puff away.  It ended on a breath like feeling.  It scary to think this, but I may just be what I was born to be.  I could always do without Tennessee Jed.  I didn’t relinquish preconceived notions for most of the song and I awaited the next tune.  Looks Like Rain harkened to the emptiness I’ve felt so many times before but I had my composure tonight and I shed no tears.  I think I’m starting to understand Row Jimmy as I push myself to be more the man I know I want to be and I think I’m capable of being, but who knows if I’ll ever really get there.  Better today than I was yesterday.   Music was just plain fun dancing and was actually foretelling of my night to come.  As the sun came up, I was the only one up at camp, but by golly, I greeted the morning air with song.   Scarlett continued the playful dance groove that the people of the rug were maintaining.  I was still struggling to find my rhythm and may have even looked out classed by some of the great dancers around me.  I was also convinced this was the set closer.  I never fully reengaged for promised land and I don’t really care.  Great first set to start the weekend, but my eggs weren’t overcooked yet by anymeans. 

 

Set break I was a disaster.  I misplaced the flash light and I was frantically throwing everything around looking for it.  My lady tried to remember me to be patient and take my time.  I was having non of it.  I was feeling 76 and I thought they’d open with Samson.  I had to be there for Samson.  Its an unreal feeling I get during that song.  I am Samson and metaphorically through dance I am tearing this whole building down.  I didn’t want to miss this.  We make it back down towards the stage as they start playing.

 

I was wrong.  Help on the Way openers.  Way more fitting as my lady found a flash light and a buddy (one of those community members I was talking about) cleaned up for me.  “Without love in the dream.” Set 2 was off with a bang.  HSF openers are pretty unrivaled in energy in my opinion.  By the time we were rolling away the Dew.  My eggs had really started to cook.  I was finding my balance and I was keeping pace with those other great dancers around me.  Boom Dancing.  76 Dancings are my favorite of the GD dancings and we all started to really enjoy the groove.  The sound system was incredible.  Cotter was dialed in and did I say that these guys and gal made it very clear that they are playing this music at a higher level than anyone else on the planet right now period.  I mean we were grooving.  Then I get my Samson and I ego trip out for a minute.  Ship of Fools is grounding.  Songs hasn’t yet, but is getting close to eliciting tears from me.  I really would love to learn the way to sink your ship of fools.  According to my lady, this is where things got really good.  Some people don’t like LL>supplication.  I love it and my lady was impressed with my moves.  I don’t think I need to really say more.  The band crushed it and we all responded with some of our best moves.  Friend of the Devil was emotional but still composed.  I’ve lived that song in many ways.  Let it grow was another vehicle to ego trip out as I faught the urge to scream I AM.  Wow what an experience to have it all come crashing back down into the most grounding moment of the night.  I truly hope the Lord some day wills it because it will take years for me find my way to my feet.  Around and Around is a throw away.  Who cares? I danced and enjoyed it.  I think so did you. 

 

Night 2 (4/22/69)

 

This one will go down in the annals of Dark Star myth and legend.  Those of us who were there know what I am talking about.  I’m sorry if this isn’t your show, but this is what I go to Dark Star to see and believe me they play your show more than they play mine.   I had put myself in the right head space coming in.  I needed one solid reminder from a community member that we were having fun tonight.  Don’t get off fucking with anyone’s head.  So I put that out the best I could.  We were all having a great time tonight and I fucked with my own head. 

 

 

Sitting On Top Of The World

Morning Dew

Beat It On Down The Line

Good Morning Little School Girl

Doin' That Rag

Cryptical>

Drums>

Other One>

Cryptical>

Death Don't

 

Dupree's >

Mountains Of The Moon

Dark Star>

St. Stephen>

The Eleven>

Lovelight>

Caution Jam>

Lovelight

 

filler Easy Wind> Viola

 

69 here we come.  The opener is slow for me.  I’m making sure I have that same groove I had last night and I don’t want to bump into anyone.  I always find the early set Dews to be to heavy for where my head is at the time, but I tried to remember to dance and be respectful.  It does matter.  Beat it on down the line felt like warm up for the whirlwood of dance, energy, and emotion that started with school girl.  I was gone from school girl through death don’t.  I became a vehicle for dance, expression, and pure unaltered emotion.  My lady tried to talk to me during death don’t and I told her I can’t talk right now.  The cryptical changed my life.  I’m not kidding or overstating it.  I pretty sure the other one already had and the death don’t was dripping with raw emotion.  I cried for my dad,I cried for Bix’s mom, and I cried for people I’ve never met and will never know because I know that death does not have no mercy in this land. 

 

I headed back to camp with the hopes I’ve finding some composure.  I feel I did.  I never bubbled over with emotion at the show again but I was emotional until I went to bed.  Dupree’s was beautiful, but please listen to Jerry’s 69 Dupree's.   His vocals are majestic.  Mountains of the moon and dark star provided that slow psychedelia with the occasional  burst of raw dripping energy during Dark Star but in my opinion, the show took off again at St. Stephen and I am a Dark Star fan.  St. Stephen through Lovelight was just a blessed out mind blowing dance party.  Those on the rug and those around the rug were all bringing some serious heat with their dance moves.  I was feeding off their energy and I agree with mango so was the band.  The Eleven is one of my favorites.  It funny like cryptical, help on the way, and a few others I used to think that the more played or more popular segment of the song was most important to me.  Then I realized cryptical trumps other one.  The Eleven trumps Stephen.  Help trumps Franklins.  This is just for me.  I know others may feel differently, but it was an evolution for me.  I didn’t always feel that way.  I got a little inappropriate with the rap and made it very clear my lady would roll over.  No we didn’t have sex.  I smelled gross.  The filler was just on the same page as the show. 

 

Wow.  I can’t thank Dark Star Orchestra enough.  I had epiphanies this night.  My life has been changed.  Easily night 1 to night 2 one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. 

 

I was disinterested night 3.  I packed to leave for a hotel and did it slow.  I knew I would miss music.  We took breaks to shop.  I had got what I come for the night before and really didn’t need anything else.  My cup was pouring over.  I did eventually get down there for the 2^nd set and dance the rest of the night out with my brothers and sisters.  I could not be happier that my indifference didn’t cost me Terrapin.  It was beautiful.  It was the highlight of this show for me.  I cannot thank the community enough for helping me lug my gear out at set break.  I felt so loved.  I’m sorry you got hurt Scott. 

 

I love each and every one of you.  What a magical weekend.  Hopefully, we can make this magic again next year.  Thank you everyone for doing your part and bringing the smiles and the love and the laughter.  I see you guys down the line. 

 

Love is Real

[chuckvegas]

I know who waters all the children of the garden - this community. MC, you really tied the room together here. Thank you.

[Pete]

Once in a rare while Robert Hunter gave us a glimpse into what his lyrics meant to him when he wrote them. The depths of complexity he brought to each phrase was enormous. When we hear his songs (and Barlow's) we bring our own depths of experience and ideas and emotions. Before the music comes and after it's gone we dwell on these things but in the moment it is only us and the music, the dancers and the dance.

Thanks for inviting us into your head, MC. When we were dancing it was enough that the company was sweet, the nights were beautiful, and the music was incredible. Now we can only relive those nights in our collective memories and look forward to the shows yet to come. If we are lucky there will be many more jubilees but it will take a lot to pull off another one that comes close to this one.

[Muddy Waters]

Have not heard much feeback re: other acts at the Festival.  Would be interested in a brief synopsis for those that caught most of the other performances. 

[Tom Banjo]

I'm there for dark star. You want other opinions.

[Tom Banjo]

Dino band sounded good. Randolph inspired. Keller okay. Kung fu didnt make it. Van trouble. some dso w friends sounded great.

[PoetryGirl]

Matt Reynolds has some beautifully written songs

[HelpSlip]

 

 

I could always do without Tennessee Jed.  I didn’t relinquish preconceived notions for most of the song and I awaited the next tune. 

 

 I was feeling 76 and I thought they’d open with Samson.  I had to be there for Samson.  Its an unreal feeling I get during that song.  I am Samson and metaphorically through dance I am tearing this whole building down. 

 

Then I get my Samson and I ego trip out for a minute.  

 

Let it grow was another vehicle to ego trip out as I faught the urge to scream I AM.  

 

 Around and Around is a throw away.  Who cares? I danced and enjoyed it.  

 

 

 

I was disinterested night 3.  I packed to leave for a hotel and did it slow.  I knew I would miss music.  We took breaks to shop.  I had got what I come for the night before and really didn’t need anything else. 

 

rick you always crack me up love u brother...thanks for sharing your experience

very funny about T.Jed, didnt even try!

sry but u need the hair to be samson..

ego-tripping during shows Lol your dance moves may have been shining a little brighter this year bc aaron and i weren't there on the rugs..

Around and around surely isn't a throw away ..

 

interesting take on night3!  

[Tom Banjo]

It's an ego trip. I'm world strongest man. No hair like a girl. I think my moves suffered due to mangos absense. He knows how to push the dance. His energy is contagious.

[Tom Banjo]

I find around and around. Nfa. Plus a few other end of show post jerry ballad tunes to really be throw aways. By throw away, not much emotional connection but if you got the energy great songs to dance it out too. Saturday night and Johnny b goode be in this category too. Just my opinion.

[Tom Banjo]

And night 3. Been a long time since I felt that way but my cup was full. I'd been an anxious mess all weekend. I was happy to feel calm. I was in a place of serenity. Didn't want to disturb that. I see 50 shows a year. Doing one set while I pack isn't going to kill me. I won't be too excited in Atlanta. Place is tight. I will save the excitement for black mountain.

[Mango]

Once in while...in the strangest of places....

 

it's all about the contrast. It can be jarring coming out of the jerry ballad at times, sure. Should the show end right there? I don't know. All falls in the realm of opinion. 

[Tom Banjo]

We had an epic Johnny be goode dance session at a new years run show once. I still dance and participate if I got the energy. I usually do. I think those songs are inportant. We need to smile after the gut wrenching feeling of the ballad.

Throw away may not be the best phraseology. It definitely implies a negative connotation.

[acududeman]

We had an epic Johnny be goode dance session at a new years run show once. I still dance and participate if I got the energy. I usually do. I think those songs are inportant. We need to smile after the gut wrenching feeling of the ballad.

Throw away may not be the best phraseology. It definitely implies a negative connotation.

 

I know exactly what you mean, MC.....no need to justify......I came to the same conclusion at RFK '86 when my Wharf Rat buzz was harshed by the buzz saw of R&R.......to each his own.

[HelpSlip]

 I won't be too excited in Atlanta. Place is tight. I will save the excitement for black mountain.

 

lol we'll get good and excited for atl dont worry...platforms on the side are where to be there

 

yes aaron's dancing energy certainly is contagious ! ..

..thinking back to last year's jubilee your presence was rarely felt on the rugs ..but i suppose your head was in different place then..great to be living and loving and sharing this with you brother,,  we grow together! ..cant wait til august 

[Tom Banjo]

Last year was disaster. I shouldn't have gone but I didn't know what to do. Dso is where I go when I'm soul searching. We spent a lot of time in the tent.

Hopefully, you can make it out next year. Always great to dance with you. We won't be back in that place ever. I'm sure other horrors and dungeons of my own and the world's creation are still yet to come but I won't be returning to that particular place in time.

[Tom Banjo]

And atlanta will be fun. I plan to drive up to black mountain afterwards sleep in the rental car and then do some early morning hiking before checking into the super 8. I will be reserving my energy. It's funny torin. I'm not sure you've ever seen me dance full tilt. Before you moved to florida, we did some shows while I was learning to dance but really since I've got to a point of a serious groove I think only places we been together have been too tight for that. I plan to bring it at black mountain. For instance, portland was fun but too tight for the free form dancing I'm talking about. Black mountain gives us the space. Just need to find the groove.

It also all blends into one and you may have been there and I don't remember.

[ducats]

don't kid yourself A&A is a throwaway

[Mango]

Either contagious or repelling....kind of helps to figure out who  my friends are!

[Rude]

Set closers are to me about bringing you back to the now. Around or sugar mags or nfa or GDTRFB pull you back to reality after getting lost. Straight forward jams are always fun.....besides maybe JBG. Hmm maybe I'm arguing against myself again or feel the need to always refute ducats. Either way.......

[Tom Banjo]

I don't put going down the road in that same category. I have an emotional attachment to that tune.

[Rude]

Well 1st night I did go dance in the disco pizza liine during around and around. I was starving and exhausted.

And u know u type too much dead when your phone autocorrects the initials gdtrfb for the actual song name.

....must be the board that's autocorrecting it. Weird.

[gr8fulpair]

GDTRFB is a bad ass song with twists and turns, highs and lows. Should be in a category with Cumberland, easy wind, jack straw, etc. If you throw it away, I'll dig it out of the trash and keep as my treasure.

[Tom Banjo]

I said it wasn't in that category.

[Rude]

Jack straw is no throw away for sure. That somg can have the most explosive build up of any dead song out there. I've been jumping up and down several times during that crescendo awaiting the bombs to be dropped as they come out of jam. A fast explosive jack straw can be a 1st set highlight for me.