Well, Bobby Weir. Where to even begin. How are we supposed to live in a world without Bob Weir? How amazingly fucking lucky were we to have been on this fucked up planet with such a divine human being and magic maker. What a fucking privilege.

I love, love, love the Grateful Dead with my entire heart and soul. I consider myself a Dead Head but my Dead experiences are dwarfed by most people who consider themselves Heads. I attended relatively few shows. There was a weird timeline in my life where I rarely went to concerts beyond some regionally local shows. I did get to see Jerry a few times and was at some incredibly memorable and infamous shows- Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, NY on July 4, 1986, Three Rivers Stadium for the wild rain storm on June 30, 1995. I did see a bunch of Dead and Co. shows thank the universe as well as the Wolf Brothers but my experiences are minimal, sadly. The Dead holds a dear place in my life as both of my brothers were serious Heads. I will forever be sad that the three of us never got to see them together. I did get to experience a few shows with my youngest brother and will always be grateful for those experiences. There is something deeply mystical, soul filling, moving, and tribal, historical, about attending a Dead show. Dancing with thousands of other people who feel the same love that you do is absolutely the best way to experience humanity. If you’ve not, I highly recommend going to see a good cover band for a facsimile, a small fraction of the love and light that was a Dead show.

And of course many, many people know so much more about the band than I do but I just feel compelled to share some of my thoughts because – well, just because. Because I loved them and I feel sad.

As I was trying to grasp the soul crushing news last night our internet was out so I couldn’t watch my saved Dead and Co. concerts on nugs I realized I could go old school and just listen. I took a gummy and spun Wake of the Flood on my fantastic sound set up. I’ve read in a few places that W o t Flood is considered a lesser Dead album. Well, it sure as hell sounded damn good last night. How could it not be when it has come serious classics- well, all classics. Stella Blue? Eyes of the World? Mississippi Half Step? I mean come on!

And the album ends spectacularly. If you are not a fan, or a Head, or even remotely interested, I urge you to listen to Bobby here.  Weather Report Suite is absolutely fucking magnificent. A masterpiece of Bobby’s singing and rhythm guitar. Stunning.

Fare thee well, Bobby.

Hope the four winds blow you safely home.

Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile.

NFA

June 2023, Burgettstown, PA