02/14/09 WigJam (Dead tribute) @ MexiCali Blues, Teaneck, NJ

I had planned a Valentine's Day of snowboarding culminating in Mexican food and surprise live Dead music. We never made it snowboarding, but the rest of the day turned out nicely.

01/21/07 The American Beauty Project (American Beauty) @ WFC Winter Garden, New York, NY

American Beauty - Sunday, January 21 at 8:00 p.m.:

Box Of Rain - Toshi Reagon
Friend Of The Devil - Mark Eitzel
Sugar Magnolia - Jim Lauderdale and friends
Operator - Jorma Kaukonen and friends
Candyman - Jay Farrar (Son Volt)
Ripple - Dar Williams and Dan Zanes
Brokedown Palace - Ollabelle with Larry Campbell
Till The Morning Comes - Espers
Attics Of My Life - Larry Campbell with Teresa Williams and Rob Barraco
Plus instrumental interludes by: Andy Statman, Tony Trischka, and Sex Mob

The Sunday edition of this two night tribute seemed even rowdier than Saturday, confirmed at the conclusion when the emcee announced that the cavernous Winter Garden had actually reached capacity.

The more raucous vibe was likely due to the more upbeat tunes of this album compared to its folksier predecessor. Especially impressive were the Klezmer-inflected instrumental interludes.

The steady ascension of American Beauty to the top of my favorite albums list can be traced back to this night.

01/20/07 The American Beauty Project (Workingman's Dead) @ WFC Winter Garden, New York, NY

Workingman's Dead - Saturday, January 20 at 8:00 p.m.:

Uncle John's Band - Ollabelle with Larry Campbell
High Time - The Holmes Brothers
Dire Wolf - Larry Campbell with Teresa Williams and Rob Barraco
New Speedway Boogie - Catherine Russell
Cumberland Blues - The Klezmatics
Black Peter - Jim Lauderdale with John Leventhal, Brandon Ross and friends
Easy Wind - Tim O'Reagan (the Jayhawks)
Casey Jones - Railroad Earth
Plus instrumental interludes by: Tony Trischka and Andy Statman

The American Beauty Project was an ambitious tribute concert featuring various artists interpreting the Dead's landmark 1970 albums.

The shows were free, and the venue was the atrium of the World Financial Center Winter Garden, resplendent with glass arched ceilings and view impairing artificial palm trees.

The encore featured a full ensemble take on "Knockin' On Heaven's Door."

03/18/04 Dark Star Orchestra @ Mexicali Blues, Teaneck, NJ

12-01-1973 Boston Music Hall, Boston, MA; w/one drummer (Dino)
Set 1: Promised, Sugaree, Mexicali, Tennessee Jed, L. L. Rain, China Cat> I Know You Rider, Big River, Brokedown, WRS Prelude> WRS Part l> Let It Grow, Casey Jones
Set 2: Around, TLEO, Me & My Uncle, Don't Ease, Bobby McGee, Half Step, Playing> Uncle John> Playing, Row Jimmy, Greatest, NFA> GDTRFB> Saturday Night
Encore: None
Filler: The Weight

DSO is the premier Grateful Dead cover band. They play full show covers, meaning that they will play a replica of a previous Dead show, often adding filler at the end. They occasionally play an original setlist of Dead songs.

My dad treated me to this show and I ran into an old high school/Israel friend.

The highlights were the covers of covers "Bobby McGee" and "The Weight."

I also saw the world's most perfect ass in tight white sweats.