Ratdog

Hey maannnn, let's go catch the Grateful Dead at the free concert in Central Park.

Well, it ain't the Dead no mo, it's Bob Weir & Ratdog. It ain't a free concert, it's about $45. And while it's still Central Park, it's an enclosed amphitheatre.

Any you know what, that's just FINE BY ME!

I'll take what I can get. Pigpen's dead over 35 years. Jerry's been dead almost 12 years, thanks to these. Four dead keyboard players. The rest of the Dead have scattered to the 4 winds. At least we still have Bobby, relentlessly playing and touring. And what's with that beard? Wasn't he the "cute one"????

But play they do... and while Phil Lesh tends to explore the outer dimensions of the music with Phil & Friends and Mickey Hart's got the "world music" thang, Bobby keeps things in the more song oriented spectrum (at least for the most part).

Shit, he even plays plenty of Jerry tunes. And the non Dead stuff sounds pretty darn good too.

And while your mileage may vary, the last few years of the Dead (let's say the post coma Jerry 1990's) were often not stellar shows. A large percentage of head's were there for the party and not the music.

There are strong rumors that the Grateful Dead bus woulda been parked even if Jerry didn't die; especially after the Spring 95 "Tour From Hell".

This Ratdog tour brings Steve Kimock back (taking the place of Mark Karan, who is battling throat cancer).

So, I can't wait! I'll be wearin' my combat boots and my tie dyed Black Flag shirt (maybe) ; so if you're at the show, don't call me "bro"! I hate that shit!

Toonage:

Ratdog live 9:30 club Washington DC 3-31-04

(disc 1):

Dark Star Jam

Jack Straw

All Along The Watchtower

Dark Star (1st verse)

Odessa

Ramble On Rose

She Says

Two Djinn

Save The Planet

Kill Yourself

Friday Grab Bag - Prison Bound!

Here's to the most American of experiences. Prison!
As of June 30, 2006--
-- 2,245,189 prisoners were held in Federal or State prisons or in local jails.

-- Over 50% of those held in federal prisons are incarcerated due to non violent (ie: drug) offenses. Yep, the War on Drugs is really working out!

- - there were an estimated 497 prison inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents; up from 411 at year end 1995.

I would suspect that many of my fellow travelers have spent a night in the pokey. Hey, it's good for character building, right?

Toonage:
Jerry Garcia 5-5-82 Oregon State Prison (whole show!)
Johnny Cash - Live inside a Swedish Prison (whole show!)
Social Distortion - Prrison Bound
Social Distortion - Orange County Jail (demo)
Dan Bern - Jail
Wanda Jackson - Riot In Cell Block 9
Leadbelly - Birmingham Jail

America part 2

The unanimous Declaration

of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

— That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

— Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

— And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Toonage:

Elvis Costello - Crawling To The USA

Team America - America, Fuck Yeah!

Merle Haggard - America First

Elvis Presley - An American Trilogy (live)

Circle Jerks - American Heavy Metal Weekend

Pennywise - God Save The USA

America part 1

THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Toonage:

MC5 - The American Ruse

Black Flag - American Waste

Bad Religion - American Jesus (live John Peel show)

The Clash - I'm So Bored With The USA (Rude Boy)

Pearl Jam - Know Your Rights (Clash Cover)

Monster Magnet - Freakshop USA