Now that power has finally been restored and I have the cleanest refrigerator this side of the Mississippi, I'm goin' truckin' in this:
They (U-Haul) promised me a newer model truck since I am doing a one-way trip. In other words, I wouldn't be getting one of their falling-apart trucks that they rent out for in-town moving. When I picked the truck up this morning, it looked like it had been sitting in the back of the storage facility for several months. It chugged and sputtered and coughed a little as I started it - as you can see, the front bumper has molded itself into a very cute frown - but the air conditioner spat cold air out in a matter of seconds. After sweating it out in my house for several days, cold air continues to be in the forefront of my little mind.I don't think the lady who rented the truck knew what she was doing. She didn't run my credit card, didn't fill out one of those long contract forms where you have to initial your life away, and she didn't even note the mileage nor the gas tank level (empty, btw). She just gave me a single-sheet computer print-out called a contract receipt. Can you get a contract receipt without getting a contract?
As I was driving the truck home, I noticed an illuminated yellow warning light..."Engine service needed soon." And then I saw the mileage... 158571. Great. Tomorrow I am going to fall out of bed, get in the truck, hit the local Starbucks and make my way up the I-5 to San Francisco. Is this truck going to make it?
And now I can't get this song out of my dead head:
"Truckin' got my chips cashed in. Keep truckin', like the do-dah man
Together, more or less in line, just keep truckin' on."
So, I decided I better dip into my dead musician files and scan the G.D. negs. Wow...I was as awestruck seeing these soundcheck photos today as I was when took them:
I am at the very back of the Coliseum...that thing is huge.
Yes, that's J.G. second from the left.
How many speakers does one little Truckin' band need?
Can you say, "Loud"?
Together, more or less in line, just keep truckin' on."
So, I decided I better dip into my dead musician files and scan the G.D. negs. Wow...I was as awestruck seeing these soundcheck photos today as I was when took them:
I am at the very back of the Coliseum...that thing is huge.
Yes, that's J.G. second from the left.How many speakers does one little Truckin' band need?
Can you say, "Loud"?
If you happen to see me puttering up the northbound side of the Grapevine tomorrow, don't forget to honk and wave. And if I'm stopped on the side of the freeway with the engine smoking, you better damn well stop.
In the meantime....
"Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me;
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it's been."
Lately it occurs to me What a long, strange trip it's been."
5 comments:
Ah yes, Owsley's famous Wall of Sound.
Brings back memories...or at least flashbacks... ;-)
Hope you've got plenty more JG pics.
And you could probably do a whole chapter on dead Dead keyboardists...
Did you call and mention the yellow warning light to the paste-eating counter monkey who signed that truck out to you? It might be a good idea, if only for the CYA value in case the thing goes *POOF* on you somewhere Hollywood and Haight-Ashbury.
Be sure to give your rabid commie a nice warm Republican hug for me. She'll hate that.
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too close to New Orleans B
Thanks for the link, Dave. Very cool diagram. How come you know everything all the time?
Yes, Brett, I had a really nice chat with a lady at the 800 number. They gave me a hotline number that I can call when I break down on the Grapevine. With regards to the hug...she said, "I'll hug your elephant if you'll kiss my ass."
I've got "two degrees in be-bop, a Ph. D. in swing...". :^)
They don't put together sound systems like that anymore!
Unfortunately, taking this beast on tour didn't help the Dead's bank account.
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