Detroit Music Update: What a Long Strange Trip Its Been

Hey Now:

28 Years ago today, I got to see the Band Beyond Description for the first time. It was at the Baltimore Civic Center and I had gotten miracled. How? The Band always stayed at the Pikesville Hilton when they came to the Baltimore area. Made sense to me because Pikesville High School was Deadhead Central, though I am sure there was no correlation. Anyway, the night before the show, Ramrod and the crew came into my cousin's restaurant, where I was employed as a busboy. The evening was slow, so we talked and they asked me if I was going to the show. I said, I had no tickets. They took my name and told me to be at will call the next day. My dad (may he rest in peace) was in the music business at that time. I asked him if he thought it was real. He said why not (something my mom has never forgiven him of-LOL) and the rest, of course is history.

I would have never have met so many of you, had I not gone through that portal. Words cannot describe the impact that the Grateful Dead and the culture attendant to it had on my life. I am the lawyer, the a ctivist, the friend, the community organizer, the spiritualist, the lover and the friend because of that moment.

I am not as fervent as I once was about being fully infused in the music. It will always be in my life and I am still planning a few festivals and of course, a healthy dose of local bands. Hell, I am going to an ecofest today with live music. With Sirius radio and the internet, I am never more than a few cosmic inches away.

Thanks to all of you for making this trip the best. See you at a show somewhere. Jerry and the Band, I stand in awe. When I first saw you Jerry, you still had hair more black than grey. You are gone, but we still carry on.

Now a reminder about the Assembly Required Show next Saturday. The Grateful Dead magic touched me once again when I moved back to Michigan in 1991. I met and loved the members of Assembly Required when I was one of the dudes on the scene in East Lansing during law school. When, I moved back in 1991, it was only natural that I would live with two members of Assembly. Mark Scialdone and Will Osler let me live in their home. The connection being solidified through my friend Kevin Shapiro, who was my dear friend Kirsten's beau. So the chain carried on,

This Saturday, we reconnect once again as Assembly Required dust(s) off those rusty strings just one more time, Gonna make them shine, shine . .