Sadly, Bob Weir died this week.
He was 78 and had cancer, so not a surprise. His definitely a lived adventure, one I can’t memorialize as effectively as the outpouring of tributes.
And he didn’t owe me any money, so all good.
And I was a Garcia man myself, anyway. Anything better than ‘Eyes of the World’ popping up on a beach walk? A Garcia double, a vocal and extended guitar solo.
I was never a Deadhead, never following them around the country, eating ‘shrooms, but I knew people who were – you can tell, their heads grotesquely large from all the drugs.
I ‘saw’ them a few times, the most memorable the Chicago show cancelled because one of the drummers was sick – there are two! The crowd’s drugs timed to go off at concert start time, wandering around with What now? Looks.
Music listening my avocation: Ear buds in for my beach walk with Spotify likeds on random, background music playing the better part of the day.
But music listening different today, almost a return to the ‘50s focus on singles, before albums became a thing, thanks to streaming services.
As an aside, a work counterpart converted to CDs in 1983ish, selling all his albums – we thought he was nuts. Which he actually was, but for different reasons… Fortunately, he also went Beta for video, which kept him quiet.
Car time was made tolerable back then, particularly when a new album (or cassette) was released, listening 5-6 times, progressively liking the entire album. Or listening 1-2 times and moving on.
The key dynamic: Really listening to the entire album, even the potential B sides.
On the radio, Album 88 a godsend. Georgia State’s radio station, playing ‘80s alternative music –XTC not Stone Temple Pilots, the best alternative decade ever! – with no commercials. Learning the DJs and who they listened to, as they were allowed some programming license.
As hip-hop/rap snuck into air-time, becoming “That creepy old guy calling to complain again!”
Unfortunately, later selling their soul – and station – to public radio, proving once again that Adults ruin everything!
I drove grade school car-pool then, my children and their friends ‘subjected’ to some fine music (that’s my angle anyway) which they still recall – bands like Modest Mouse, Cibo Matto, and of course, Elvis Costello.
Have I mentioned I met Elvis?
At car-pool drop off, urging them to “Learn much and set the world of education on fire!”
I can still remember when Album 88 upgraded to 100,000 watts, serious wattage for a station on the dial’s left end, reaching all the way to Cobb County!
But I still remember the worst Album 88 day ever, learning the Smiths concert they were promoting was cancelled, their only drummer bit by a scorpion. Not sure the Adults would have cared…
Music later getting a serious upgrade with the invention of the Ipod! All your favorite songs in your pocket.
I loved my Ipod. I was one of the last 11 Americans still using their reconditioned model when they withdrew tech support, and my dormant model still on display on our fireplace.
But I left the other 10 users behind and converted to Spotify, which is the best $11/month I’ve ever spent.
Did I mention I love music?
Spotify offering all artists, all music types, all decades. Virtually all singles.
And while I converted ‘old-man grumbling’, I’m now a big fan.
Music a hoot, a delightful hoot.
Reminding of Garcia’s final words to Weir, leaving their final Dead show: “Always a hoot, always a hoot.”
Did I mention I love music?
ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC’:
Bob Weir did a lot of non-Dead recording. I liked Ace and Heaven Help the Fool. Ratdog was a good band as well.