Always the day after my mom's!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN!!!!!!!!

Magnificent Seva Benefit- If Bobby was there he would've been the cake!
That said, I enjoyed the icing very much.
Yum!
video report on Seva benefit
The GD was there in spirit. It was repeated a few times how the organization took off as soon as the GD played the very first benefit.
here is a clumsy review




It was a fine night!
I don't have the clearest memory rewind right now- sleep deprived all weekend
but here are my thoughts-

Graham Nash & David Crosby - iconic!
Jackson Browne's "Lives in The Balance" was inspiring. He sang a few songs from his new cd. I think he closed with "Doctor My Eyes" which he sang under the Seva logo.
Bonnie Raitt is amazing. Elvis Costello popped out to duet with her on 'Love Has No Pride" - so pretty!
Elvis Costello was the surprise guest- with his own solo set as well as sitting in with others thru the night.
Los Lobos came on last, which seemed a little late for the older crowd ( Baby Boomers outnumbering Generation X ).
At one point Lobos were joined by Jorma & Jack Casady but things fell in back into place when they played NFA & Bertha (where they were joined by others). Gotta love a Los Lobos 'Bertha". Anyone else still have the CD where Los Lobos and Elvis did Dead songs - Rainforest benefit?

Sweet setbreak stories by Wavy Gravy. Peter Coyote did some introductions as did Dr Larry Brilliant (I have had the biggest crush on that Dr Larry guy 4 ever! ) ...A nice nod was directed to Paul Newman, his humanitarian efforts & his Hole in the Wall camp by Wavy before the last song of the night-"Basic Human Needs" which was lead by Wavy.
Red foam clown noses were passed out to everyone to wear for this. Yes, we put them on and felt dopey. I took a picture of Scott wearing the nose with my cell phone...he looked Gacy esque...shudder!

We had circle of compassion seats which included a lammy for an after show party in the mezzanine.
There was food - lots of food (sandwiches-pastry-fruit-drink) and a chance to schmooze with others.
A nice chance to reconnect with friends.
Phil & Krista- if youre lurking- it was great chatting with you ((heady neighbors))
Wavy, John Perry Barlow, Susanna Millman, Minkin, Barry Sless were among a dozen familiar faces floating around the room.
I'm so easily starstruck! But I did find the courage to march over to say hello to Mrs Gravy, as I had been sent my kids to Winnarainbow for like 9 Summers. Scott remarked and I agree, Mrs Gravy looks great. Wavy too- looking to be in jolly good shape
We also were given a SWEET poster commemorating the night - guess I better go find a frame before it gets wrecked.
Happy 30TH Anniversary REX
SEVA supported programs and partnerships have helped three million blind people to see again!!!!!!!!

EXCELLENT - just found a nice blog with a video from last year's Bobby sit in with Donna Jean!
I was there- it was a wonderful night!
check it out
http://grateful-dead.burningdervish.com/2008/09/bob-weir-donna-sweetwater-cassidy.html


http://www.slideranch.org/programs/events.html
The poster for this event is really cool!
...................................................

From Deadnet-

Phil Lesh and Bob Weir to Make Rare In-Store Appearance
GRATEFUL DEAD FOUNDING MEMBERS PHIL LESH AND BOB WEIR
TO MAKE RARE IN-STORE APPEARANCE AND SIGNING



Lesh And Weir To Sign Copies Of Historic New Grateful Dead Release
Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978
At Midtown Manhattan Best Buy On October 14
LOS ANGELES – Grateful Dead founding members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir will make a rare in-store appearance and signing to celebrate the historic release of Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978. The 2-CD/1-DVD Egypt collection features previously unreleased audio and video highlights from the band’s legendary performances at the foot of The Great Pyramid in Gizah. The set will be released on September 30 from Grateful Dead Productions and Rhino.  Lesh and Weir will be signing copies of the release at the Best Buy in midtown Manhattan at 5th Avenue and East 44th Street on October 14 starting at 7:00 PM. The first 400 people to purchase Rocking The Cradle at this Best Buy location on Tuesday, September 30th will receive a wristband entitling them access to meet Lesh and Weir on October 14. Please contact the store for more details at (212) 808-0309.

So a teeny comment made by one of Leah Garchik's spies got some response on the message boards...
today in Leah's column:

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/garchik/

"Friendship - the kind of long-lasting comradely love that outlives differences and spats - is no joking matter. My spy, whose comment was lightly reported Monday, was wrong about the reasons the Grateful Dead will play together again.
They're going to Pennsylvania because they're all public citizens supporting Barack Obama, and Pennsylvania polls showed that voters were dead even there.
And if they tour together again, it's got nothing to do with financial need. The premise was false; no one's hurting. The Grateful Dead is "built on true love," says Mickey Hart, "and that thankfully has come around for us once again. You cannot make the kind of music that we do just for the money." Whatever split them up has been put aside, and they are "embarking on the next step of our long strange trip for the right reasons."

Win a trip to New York or lots of fun Grateful Dead prizes!!!
at http://www.sirius.com/gratefuldead


timely blog entry over at http://www.universallaw.com/archives/129 asks "What do Bonnie Raitt & the Grateful Dead Have in Common?"

say it ain't so!

Ruby here, I am very sorry and wish I wouldn't have to tell you this,
but it's time for me to retire. Nothing horrible, it's just time for me
to go after 26 years on the same seat.

I want to tell you all that I have enjoyed every single minute
of this job and you have been the best crew of patrons any
band could possibly have. Thank you so much.

I look forward to spending more time with my family and
my children who have often thought I worked way to much.

GDTSTOO will survive. I am passing GDTSTOO@gdtstoo.com
on to my long time partner Frankie, so let me get her to tell you
what is next:

Greetings, this is a hard day for us here at GDTSTOO. The fun
scale went down a whole notch! We will miss Ruby with all
of our hearts. A few things around the office will change like
our customer service number but for the most part we
will still maintain the same pace and commitment as per
usual. Any changes will be posted to our website.
And now back to Ruby.......

I won't have an email for a while because I'm moving to the
boonies and it might be a minute before I figure that out. But I
won't totally disappear. I will drop by from time to time to check in.

The Crew of GDTSTOO
September 19, 2008

HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

Change Rocks: A Concert to Benefit Obama for America

Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA

Mon, Oct 13, 2008 05:30 PM

Look For Change Rocks: A Concert to Benefit Obama for America Tickets
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0200412BDDE26958?artistid=1258669&majorcatid=10005&minorcatid=109

Additional Information:
This is a concert in support of Obama for America and includes performances by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, as well as Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, Jaimoe, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Marc Quinones, Oteil Burbridge, and Jeff Chimenti.

For VIP tickets starting at $2,500, please email the campaign at changerocksvip@barackobama.com.

For security reasons, do not bring large bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners permitted.

To learn more
please visit

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/psuconcert

Not quite yet ready to buy that awesome GD Egypt set? Lend an ear to the "Listening Party" over on Deadnet forums- http://www.dead.net/listeningpartyegypt
...

See some Bobby over at http://www.doodvideo.com/download-video/

...........
Leah Garchik reports a Bobby (Phil & Mickey too!) sighting in SF last weekend!
in today's column.


...................
News: Americana Music Association and Relix Magazine to Honor Jerry Garcia

BMNN wrote: on Sep. 16, 2008:


The Americana Music Association is proud to announce plans to celebrate the legacy of the Grateful Dead at this week’s ninth annual conference and music festival in Nashville. At Thursday night’s Honors & Awards at the Ryman Auditorium, Jerry Garcia will be named the recipient of the 2008 AMA President’s Award, a posthumous lifetime achievement recognition for innovation in American roots music. Following the awards, the AMA and Relix magazine co-host a huge tribute show with San Francisco’s The Waybacks and The American Beauty Project, featuring Ollabelle, Jim Lauderdale, Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller and several surprise guests.


AMA President Jessie Scott of Sirius XM Satellite Radio selected Garcia for this year’s award based on his many contributions to Americana music, as part of the Grateful Dead and as a collaborator in acoustic music. “Jerry Garcia championed the roots,” Scott says. “From the Americana infused Dead albums to his collaborations with David Grisman, his love for the archetypes of American music shines through.”

Relix magazine will sponsor the musical tribute to the Dead beginning at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Cannery Ballroom, immediately following the Americana Honors & Awards. The Waybacks will kick off the evening. This Bay Area quartet has enjoyed fruitful on-stage collaborations with Dead founder Bob Weir over the last couple of years, and they’ll bring that spirit, and a very special guest, to their acoustic/electric music rooted in country and blues.

Next up, the American Beauty Project is a collective of remarkable artists who have gathered on several occasions to cover the historic albums the Grateful Dead released in 1970: American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead. They’ve earned praise in the New York Times, Variety and Relix magazine as a true re-imagining of grounbreaking songs that were meant to be interpreted and shared. The musicians include the passionate folk group Ollabelle, legendary multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell, star Nashville songwriter Jim Lauderdale and delicious singers Catherine Russell and Teresa Williams. Awards show band leader and Americana superstar Buddy Miller will be there, plus special guests you won’t want to miss.

Slated for September 17-20, 2008, the 9th Annual Americana Festival and Conference will offer seminars, panels and networking opportunities at the Nashville Convention Center by day, while each evening brings stacked Americana showcases. Legend Levon Helm will officially jump start the festivities Wednesday, September 17 with his Ramble at the Ryman, and the capstone of the festival will take the form of the annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards, scheduled for September 18 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Conference registrations cost $450 (Members) and $550 (non Members) and can be purchased at the Americana Registration Desk in the Nashville Convention Center starting on Wednesday September 17 at 3PM.

Tickets are now available for the Levon Helm Ramble at the Ryman and the Americana Honors & Awards show at Ticketmaster and the Ryman box office for $65 or $45 and $45, respectively.

For the latest additions to showcase lineups, ticket purchasing and more information about the Americana Music Festival and Conference, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

the Dead take action!
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/09/15/musicians-get-out-the-vote-sheryl-crow-ti-the-dead-take-action/

the Dead take action!
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/09/15/musicians-get-out-the-vote-sheryl-crow-ti-the-dead-take-action/

Flashback: September 1978
Thirty years ago, those quintessential Americans the Grateful Dead rocked out at the Pyramids in Egypt. Max Bell recalls the Acid Test in the desert


Great little read over at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/sep/14/popandrock3


I'm having a little flashback (definately better than a hot flash) myself to September 14th 1994!
Happy Birthday to my "baby" Noah!
Today is his champagne birthday- though root beer is more his speed.



And yes, I've heard about that the Sweetwater Sessions! No news around with details of exactly who will be there . Since it was publicized exclusively on a Phil message board, I expect that it is a Phil & Friends gig. The shows sold out in about 10 minutes - no surprise as the Sweetwater Station is even smaller than the original Sweetwater Saloon. FWIW, a few weeks ago, I drove past the Sweetwater Saloon and it's nearly unrecognizable. The new location (just around the corner)looks nice though!

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1871852/

Celebrities head to Mill Valley for annual film fest

Tue. September 09, 2008; Posted: 03:37 PM Sep. 9--Fourteen-year-old child star Dakota Fanning, Academy Award nominee Alfre Woodard and "Taxi Driver" screenwriter Paul Schrader are among the stars and celebrities coming to Marin for the 31st Mill Valley Film Festival.


This year's program, announced Tuesday at Dolby Laboratories in San Francisco, features more than 200 films from 50 countries.

Beginning Oct. 2 and running through Oct. 12, the 11-day movie marathon includes a documentary series, a VideoFest and a multimedia installation devoted to the work of director Ingmar Bergman.

Presented by the California Film Institute, the festival is a showcase for independent films and is considered one of the premiere non-competitive film festivals in the country.

Fanning, acclaimed for her breakthrough performance in "I Am Sam" in 2001, stars with Queen Latifah in the opening night film, "The Secret Life of Bees," an adaptation of a novel by Sue Monk Kidd that was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Prince-Bythewood will be on hand with Fanning for the screening.

In addition to Schrader and Woodard, Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump," "Munich") and Swedish actress Harriet Andersson, an Ingmar Bergman movie icon, will be honored with tributes that include on-stage interviews and clips from their films.

British actress Sally Hawkins, who stars in Mike Leigh's new film "Happy Go Lucky," a festival selection, gets the annual Spotlight Award on Oct. 10.

Clips from Roth's latest film, "The Curious Case
of Benjamin Button," follow his Oct. 11 tribute.

A screening of "Adam Resurrected," which Schrader directed about a Holocaust survivor, screens after his Oct. 7 tribute.
The festival wraps on Oct. 12 with a salute to Woodard, who stars in the closing night movie, "American Violet, " playing a courageous African American housing project mother fighting racism in the Texas justice system.

Comedian Bill Maher challenges organized religion in the other opening night movie, "Religulous." Along with "American Violet," "Lemon Tree," a drama about a conflict over a lemon grove bordering the West Bank and Israel, screens on closing night.

Continuing the festival's tradition of combining films about music with live performances, "The Wrecking Crew," a documentary about a legendary group of hotshot Los Angeles studio musicians, will be followed by a concert featuring some of those ace session men at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley.

A concert at 142 Throckmorton with the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Elvin Bishop, Dan Hicks, Rob Wasserman, Lydia Pense of Cold Blood and the house band Moonalice, follows a screening of clips from the 1972 film "Last Days of the Fillmore."


This year's opening night gala takes place at the Mill Valley Community Center. Closing night festivities are aboard the California Hornblower during a bay cruise that begins and ends at the Sausalito ferry dock.

Screenings and events are scheduled at the CineArts at Sequoia, 25 Throckmorton Ave. in Mill Valley, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth St. in San Rafael, and other Marin venues.
For tickets, call 877-874-MVFF (6833), or go online at MVFF.com.

Damn Sam Presents in San Francisco
The 4th Annual Ed Rosenthal's Wonders of Cannabis

Oct. 25 & 26, 2008
Golden Gate Park - Botanical Gardens - Hall of Flowers
San Francisco, CA

Featuring:

Ed Rosenthal
dead prez
The Golden Gateways
featuring: Steve Molitz (Phil Lesh and Friends, Particle), Michael Kang (String Cheese Incident), Jay Lane (Ratdog), and Steve Adams (ALO)
Joseph Israel
Jack Herer
Ngaio
Ironmonk & the Band of Brotherz (w/ Jay Lane of Ratdog)
Triple Cobra
and still more, TBA

For tickets and more information visit:

http://www.wondersofcannabis.com

Happy 70th to my Dad!

Clout: Grateful Dead & Allmans to rock for Obama


By Daily News Staff
Philadelphia Daily News
THIS FIRST item is for our readers with gray hair, ponytails, tie-dyed T-shirts and VW minivans: The Dead are getting back together, man! Here in PA! For Obama, man!
And they'll be playing on a bill with the Allman Brothers Band!

Call it "Rock for Barack."

Because this involves both Democratic politics and band politics, it is all very fluid at the moment.

Here is what we know: Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart are scheduled to perform together for the first time since 2004 on Oct. 13 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.

Guitarist Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers (and Government Mule) will fill in for Jerry Garcia with the Dead since Garcia is, well, dead.

However, at the instigation of Democratic activist Donna Gentile O'Donnell and Obama's Philly rainmakers Chris Lewis of Blank Rome and Mark Alderman of Wolf Block, the Allman band has agreed to sign on for the mega-fundraiser.

O'Donnell is on the board of the Big House Foundation, which is the Allman Brothers' charity and got the ball rolling when she broached the subject of an Obama event with Haynes.

"The music industry has always played an important role in every presidential campaign . . . .Frank Sinatra and John Kennedy; the Allman Brothers and Jimmy Carter; and anyone who hears Warren's "Unring the Bell" understands his commitment," O'Donnell said. "The Pennsylvania Obama campaign is thrilled to have such great, heartfelt support by so many talented musicians. We just want to make sure we do it right."

The local folks are worried the Penn State venue may be too small with inadequate highway access. They hope the event can be moved here or to Pittsburgh.

Bob Weir & Ratdog will play at the
following performances:

Monday, November 3 at The National Theatre
in Richmond, VA. All ages are welcome.
Doors open at 7:00 PM. Showtime is 8:00 PM.
This is a general admission show. Mail order
tickets are available at $34.00 per ticket.

Wednesday & Thursday, November 5 & 6
at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC.
All ages are welcome. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
Showtime is 8:00 PM. Reserved seats are
available at $47.50 per ticket.

Tuesday, November 11 at the Kirby Center
For The Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
All ages are welcome. Showtime is 7:30 PM.
Reserved seats are available at $43.50 per
ticket.

Wednesday, November 12 at the New Jersey
Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ.
All ages are welcome. Showtime is 7:30 PM.
Reserved seats are available at $53.50 &
$43.50 per ticket.

The first mail in dates for these performances
are Friday, September 5, through Wednesday,
September 10, 2008.

Have a great weekend!
The crew of GDTS TOO
9.5.08

"Now is the time past believing
The child has relinquished the reign
Now is the test of the boomerang
Tossed in the night of redeeming"

Robert Hunter

Can you trust a guy with a cleft chin?

My husband, my sons, my brother , my Grandfather and the Bobstar all have them!
((((dimpled chins)))

http://caulkischeap.com/2008/04/05/cleft-chin-guys-do-you-trust-them/


Bob Weir & Ratdog will play at the
following performances:

Saturday, November 1 at the Carnegie Music
Hall Of Homestead, Munhall, PA. All ages are
welcome. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Showtime is
8:00 PM. Reserved seats are available at $63.50
per ticket.

Saturday, November 8 at the Orpheum Theatre
in Boston, MA. All ages are welcome.
Showtime is 8:00 PM. Reserved seats
are available at $40.25 per ticket.

Sunday, November 9 at the Fairfield Theatre
Company, Bridgeport, CT. All ages welcome.
Doors open at 7:00 PM. Showtime is 8:00 PM.
Reserved seats are available at $81.00, $66.00
& $46.00 per ticket. Taper ticket price TBA.

Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15
at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. All
ages are welcome. Showtime is 7:00 PM.
Reserved seats are available at $43.50 per ticket.

Sunday, November 16 at Memorial Auditorium
In Greensboro, NC. All ages are welcome.
Doors open at 6:30 PM. Showtime is at 7:30 PM.
A limited number of Circle of Gold tickets
are available at $54.00 per ticket. Reserved
tickets are available at $39.00 per ticket.
(Best to use double money orders if you are
ordering Circle of Gold tickets)

Tuesday, November 18 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in
Clearwater, FL. All ages are welcome.
Showtime is 7:30 PM. Reserved seats
are available at $41.00 per ticket.

Wednesday, November 19 at Hard Rock Live
@ Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. All
ages are welcome. Showtime is 8:00 PM.
This is a general admission show. Mail order
tickets are available at $42.00 per ticket.

Saturday, November 22 at Mizner Park
Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, FL. All
ages are welcome. Showtime is 8:00 PM.
This is a general admission show. Mail order
tickets are available at $42.00 per ticket.

The remainder of the tour will be
announced soon.

The first mail in dates for Munhall, PA,
Boston, MA, Bridgeport, CT,
Upper Darby, PA, & Greensboro, NC are
Thursday, September 4, through Monday,
September 8, 2008.
The first mail in dates
for Clearwater, FL, Orlando, FL &
Boca Raton, FL are Thursday, September 4, 2008
through Friday, September 12, 2008.

Tickets are still available for October 30 & 31
in Westbury, NY. Check our website for details.

Hippy September!

And a hearty welcome home to all the Ratdog peeps!
Enjoy your weeks off as I'm sure it's deserved!


Need a Bobby fix?
click here as that blog will direct you to where you can view Bobby among others in the film "Hellhounds On My Trail: the Afterlife of Robert Johnson".

Ready for Dead tour?
http://www.glidemagazine.com/articles/53861/the-dead-to-tour-in-spring-09.html