Bike Ride, DSO, Vacation
What a week!
Started things off with three days of bike riding from Chico to San Francisco; 190 miles.
Day one was 83 miles from Chico to Dunnigan.
It was hot, dusty, and not all the roads we took were paved. We were out there from 9 AM until 6 PM but made many stops to take pictures, look at wildlife, and rest. We thought about camping out the first night, but after all those miles and no camp ground in the area, we decided it best to get a room.
Day two was Dunnigan to Lake Berryessa, covering about 60 miles. It was an up and down day on many levels. We met a couple of people from Chico on the back roads out of Dunnigan when they stopped us on the road for a chat. Hey Joyce and Mike from Durham! There was lots of wildlife along the trip since we were in farm land. Unfortunately, there were also hunters shooting quail, which isn't a problem for me, but Mat is not a fan of hunting or hunters. Me, well, as long as they eat what they shoot, then I'm cool with it.
It wasn't long before I had a similar problem as Mat when we happened upon kittens on the side of the road who were laid to rest most likely because the owner didn't want them anymore. As a cat lover, it was a very painful experience for me.
The ride into Berryessa wasn't bad but it was uphill. We arrived in time to get settled before a friend from Willits, Evan, arrived with food and beer. Evan, thanks a million, you made the day!
Day three took us from Berryessa, through Napa to Vallejo where we caught the Baylink Ferry to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. We had hoped to make the 2 PM boat, but ended up arriving at 3:10, leaving us 10 minutes to catch the 3:20 boat. A couple of beers later, we pulled into SF. We and our newly founded buzz then rode around SF to the Sunset District where we were staying with a friend, Christian. Christian, thanks for the hospitality!
Day three was Monday and also the first night of the shows. I was dead on my feet after the ride and we barely had time to order a pizza and shower before heading off to the show. To get to the show, we took the N-Judah train over to Civic to save some $$ and the environment, of course. Oh, we were there for three nights of Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead cover band who play recreated Dead shows, song for song.
The show that night was awesome, if you closed your eyes, it was the Grateful Dead. They recreated a show from 03-16-73 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y. (Fri). The set list is as follows:
Set 1:
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Jack Straw, Wave That Flag, Looks Like Rain, Ramble On Rose, Box Of Rain, Beat It On Down The Line, They Love Each Other, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Mexicali Blues, Bird Song, Playing In The Band
Set 2:
Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Loser, Big River, Don't Ease Me In, Me & My Uncle, Dark Star > Truckin' > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia
After each of the shows, we made a point to stop by Tommy's Joynt for sandwiches and more drinks before hitting the train back to the Sunset. Yummy!
Tuesday I was up early as I hadn't broken my work-week sleeping habit. I spent the morning wandering around the Sunset, going to coffee shops and the beach.
After arriving late the first night, we decided it was best to head to the show early and stand in line. We arrived early enough to check that there was no line at the venue and then headed over to the Edinburgh Castle Pub around the corner for beers and fish and chips. Afterward, we returned to the venue and were first in line, which helped us secure balcony seats directly above the stage. In line we met a taper and Mat was able to barter with the guy so that he could trade for the three shows we attended. Needless to say, I'm eagerly awaiting the CDs for which I'll use to lay over some of the video we took.
Being the first night we stood in line, we were able to people watch. As compared to the mostly acid tripping crowd on Monday, Tuesday was a bit more mellow. Granted, all the same dealers were cruising the street selling their wares, but it didn't seem as crazy as Monday. Tuesday's show was also a little different as DSO didn't recreate a specific show, but instead created their own set. Another great show, set list as follows:
Set 1:
Help On the Way > Slipknot > Franklins Tower > Music Never Stopped > Roses > King Solomon's Marbles > Masterpiece > Foolish Heart > Lazy Lightning > Supplication > After Midnight
Set 2:
Stranger > Visions > Easy Wind > Crazy Fingers > UJB > DS > Blues for Allah > Let it Grow > Cosmic Chuck > Alligator
E) Dedicated to Dr Albert Hoffman--Lucy in the Sky
Wednesday, show three. I was getting into the hang of things at this point and our day was much like Tuesday. In the line early, chatting with people about shows, songs, and rousing the band was they would walk between the venue and the bus. Mat was able to get most of the autographs of the band members on his two previous ticket stubs; too cool.
After getting inside, it was time to hit up the merch table to get a t-shirt and a poster. I got number 123 of 300 in the signed poster set of the DSO tour and someday, I'll get it framed with my 3 ticket stubs. After taking our seats in the balcony, we met and talked with the people around us which is always a treat. This last show of the stint brought the house down. The show was originally from 11-17-78 Uptown Theatre, Chicago, Il. (Fri).
Set 1:
Shakedown > Mama Tried > Mexicali > Peggy-O > Cassidy > Tennessee Jed > Passenger > FOTD > Miracle
Set 2:
Bertha > Good Lovin > Ship Of Fools > Estimated > Eyes of the World > Drumz > Terrapin > Around
E: Casey Jones
last "Casey Jones": 12-31-77 [63]
Filler: Midnight Hour > Brokedown
NOTE: The only song which was played more than once during this three night set, was Bertha!
So, great run of shows at the GAMH for DSO, so much so we talked about trekking to Portland tonight to see them again for two days and then to Eugene for another. Better judgment will undoubtedly keep us from making the drive.
Thanks to Mat's wife, Chichi for being in the City and for driving us back to Chico. Also, thanks go out to Mat for being a great travel partner.
Next Bay Area DSO shows will probably be in October and then possibly some New Year's shows. I've got my fingers crossed.
Started things off with three days of bike riding from Chico to San Francisco; 190 miles.
Day one was 83 miles from Chico to Dunnigan.
It was hot, dusty, and not all the roads we took were paved. We were out there from 9 AM until 6 PM but made many stops to take pictures, look at wildlife, and rest. We thought about camping out the first night, but after all those miles and no camp ground in the area, we decided it best to get a room.Day two was Dunnigan to Lake Berryessa, covering about 60 miles. It was an up and down day on many levels. We met a couple of people from Chico on the back roads out of Dunnigan when they stopped us on the road for a chat. Hey Joyce and Mike from Durham! There was lots of wildlife along the trip since we were in farm land. Unfortunately, there were also hunters shooting quail, which isn't a problem for me, but Mat is not a fan of hunting or hunters. Me, well, as long as they eat what they shoot, then I'm cool with it.
It wasn't long before I had a similar problem as Mat when we happened upon kittens on the side of the road who were laid to rest most likely because the owner didn't want them anymore. As a cat lover, it was a very painful experience for me.
The ride into Berryessa wasn't bad but it was uphill. We arrived in time to get settled before a friend from Willits, Evan, arrived with food and beer. Evan, thanks a million, you made the day!Day three took us from Berryessa, through Napa to Vallejo where we caught the Baylink Ferry to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. We had hoped to make the 2 PM boat, but ended up arriving at 3:10, leaving us 10 minutes to catch the 3:20 boat. A couple of beers later, we pulled into SF. We and our newly founded buzz then rode around SF to the Sunset District where we were staying with a friend, Christian. Christian, thanks for the hospitality!
Day three was Monday and also the first night of the shows. I was dead on my feet after the ride and we barely had time to order a pizza and shower before heading off to the show. To get to the show, we took the N-Judah train over to Civic to save some $$ and the environment, of course. Oh, we were there for three nights of Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead cover band who play recreated Dead shows, song for song.
The show that night was awesome, if you closed your eyes, it was the Grateful Dead. They recreated a show from 03-16-73 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y. (Fri). The set list is as follows:
Set 1:
China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Jack Straw, Wave That Flag, Looks Like Rain, Ramble On Rose, Box Of Rain, Beat It On Down The Line, They Love Each Other, El Paso, Row Jimmy, Mexicali Blues, Bird Song, Playing In The Band
Set 2:
Promised Land > Bertha > Greatest Story Ever Told, Loser, Big River, Don't Ease Me In, Me & My Uncle, Dark Star > Truckin' > Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia
After each of the shows, we made a point to stop by Tommy's Joynt for sandwiches and more drinks before hitting the train back to the Sunset. Yummy!
Tuesday I was up early as I hadn't broken my work-week sleeping habit. I spent the morning wandering around the Sunset, going to coffee shops and the beach.
After arriving late the first night, we decided it was best to head to the show early and stand in line. We arrived early enough to check that there was no line at the venue and then headed over to the Edinburgh Castle Pub around the corner for beers and fish and chips. Afterward, we returned to the venue and were first in line, which helped us secure balcony seats directly above the stage. In line we met a taper and Mat was able to barter with the guy so that he could trade for the three shows we attended. Needless to say, I'm eagerly awaiting the CDs for which I'll use to lay over some of the video we took.
Being the first night we stood in line, we were able to people watch. As compared to the mostly acid tripping crowd on Monday, Tuesday was a bit more mellow. Granted, all the same dealers were cruising the street selling their wares, but it didn't seem as crazy as Monday. Tuesday's show was also a little different as DSO didn't recreate a specific show, but instead created their own set. Another great show, set list as follows:
Set 1:
Help On the Way > Slipknot > Franklins Tower > Music Never Stopped > Roses > King Solomon's Marbles > Masterpiece > Foolish Heart > Lazy Lightning > Supplication > After Midnight
Set 2:
Stranger > Visions > Easy Wind > Crazy Fingers > UJB > DS > Blues for Allah > Let it Grow > Cosmic Chuck > Alligator
E) Dedicated to Dr Albert Hoffman--Lucy in the Sky
Wednesday, show three. I was getting into the hang of things at this point and our day was much like Tuesday. In the line early, chatting with people about shows, songs, and rousing the band was they would walk between the venue and the bus. Mat was able to get most of the autographs of the band members on his two previous ticket stubs; too cool.
After getting inside, it was time to hit up the merch table to get a t-shirt and a poster. I got number 123 of 300 in the signed poster set of the DSO tour and someday, I'll get it framed with my 3 ticket stubs. After taking our seats in the balcony, we met and talked with the people around us which is always a treat. This last show of the stint brought the house down. The show was originally from 11-17-78 Uptown Theatre, Chicago, Il. (Fri).
Set 1:
Shakedown > Mama Tried > Mexicali > Peggy-O > Cassidy > Tennessee Jed > Passenger > FOTD > Miracle
Set 2:
Bertha > Good Lovin > Ship Of Fools > Estimated > Eyes of the World > Drumz > Terrapin > Around
E: Casey Jones
last "Casey Jones": 12-31-77 [63]
Filler: Midnight Hour > Brokedown
NOTE: The only song which was played more than once during this three night set, was Bertha!
So, great run of shows at the GAMH for DSO, so much so we talked about trekking to Portland tonight to see them again for two days and then to Eugene for another. Better judgment will undoubtedly keep us from making the drive.Thanks to Mat's wife, Chichi for being in the City and for driving us back to Chico. Also, thanks go out to Mat for being a great travel partner.
Next Bay Area DSO shows will probably be in October and then possibly some New Year's shows. I've got my fingers crossed.
Labels: Dark Star Orchestra
posted by Tony Rocha at
5/02/2008
0 Comments
