Truly amazing, that is all that really needs to be said about these two! I recently attended the two Phil shows at Red Rocks, and the reuniting show with Bobby in Oklahoma. They left me speechless and wanting more. Of course, being in school, for me all good things come to an end. However, I know that Phil will still be playing that bass until the last breath he takes, and for that I am forever grateful.

I just have to agree with the other commentaries on the Trey Anastasio concert at Alpine Valley! Trey and the band were outstanding! I also read that Trey commented that Alpine Valley is "really the best place to play in the world." Whether Trey said that or not - it is true!

I hope everyone will make it out to East Troy sometime - Alpine Valley is a great place for a concert - especially when it is Trey Anastasio..

Sad but true.....Phish is on hiatus after touring for 15 years and as of now they have no plan to unite anytime soon. Fortunately, some of the Phishies are still making music - and plenty of it. Anastasio just finished recording a new album with Oysterhead, a new band comprised of Primus bassist Les Claypool and Police drummer Stewart Copeland. However, this solo show will display the talents of bassist Tony Markellis and drummer Russ Lawton alongside Trey.

If one considers how Grateful St. Louis is for The Kind, The Shwag and Jake's Leg, there's no doubt that this city certainly knows how to honor its Dead. Truckin' into town are two of the ultimate Dead cover bands. Straight out of the kennel comes RatDog. Led by former Grateful guitarist Bob Weir, the band plays a repertoire of Bob's solo material, Dead favorites and, of course, select tracks from RatDog's premier 10 track CD, Evening Mood.

This a story about my own first mystical experience with the band.  I can't remember exactly what year...82 or 83, I believe.  It was Friday the 13th and we were at the Greek Theater in Berkley Cal.  It was a gorgeous day...mid 70s and not a cloud in the sky.  This was back in the day when sold out shows were simulcast outside the facility so you were assured of a good time even without a ticket.  I was selling and trading painters hats with the steal your face stamped on top and was gifted a set of berkeley community theater stubs to get me in the shows.

I hope you are all doing well and had an enjoyable summer!  It is getting near spring here, evident by the pink flowers of the blooming peach trees.  Yet the weather in the Highlands is still very cold!  Some days, when it is cloudy or windy the temperature doesn't get much above 65, and when the sun is out it will get maybe up in the 70s.  The crops and grasses are brown and have died down, but the pine, eucalyptus and other evergreen shrubs remain as a presence of green.