deranger

saw last Friday and Saturday nights shows. Was definitely a bummer that Greg was out but Fri's show was really awesome despite his absence. The band went the extra distance to make it solid. Sat was a bit more subdued as they had made the announcement Greg was out Saturday morning. Still good but Friday was better. There will most likely be a pair of farewell shows at MSG this fall, either Sept or Oct. They're still trying to work out the details but its fairly likely to happen.

trying to figure the first weekend. 50/50 at this point. its an awesome festival. great city.

I thought the "drug problem" was so difficult to fight because there was such incredible demand for the product. I think criminalizing drug use in the first place creates the problem.

Wow. I did NOJF in 2011 and it was awesome. Amazing city, amazing music and culture and amazing festival. Not sure exactly what circumstances your friend was in that would have him end up being kidnapped. Yes the city certainly can be rough but like any city, a small amount of precaution and common sense will usually keep you safe. I'm very excited to return to the city for this years festival. Right now I'm thinking first weekend. I'm very suspicious of whatever evidence National Geographic uses to support the claim that cheap crack is the number one tourist attraction in New Orleans.

My theory: Once Warren and Derek leave, Oteil is right behind them. Lots of extra shows this summer and the ABB call it quits at the end of 2014, but will come back for some selected, "reunion" shows in 2015/16 (probably Beacon). Its doubtful that they will attempt to replace Warren, Derek and Oteil. Warren is most likely a go with Bobby and Phil for The Dead in 2015. More Beacon shows to be announced soon.

Once they leave that's probably it for ABB. This years Beacon will probably be their last. There's supposedly a tour this summer as well and it would make sense to go out one last time. Sigh.....ah well, to be honest I'm surprised they all lasted and stuck with it this long. I figured both Warren and Derek would have left awhile ago though Warren has taken many absences from the band over the years. Gotta make this years Beacon the best ever.

I'm in for 21st/22nd. There will apparently (as always) be more shows announced.

Excellent fact checking from Rolling Stone.

Oteil not in the ABB is the worst news of 2014. damn. I hope he comes back to play the Beacon.

nice seats. I was floor but way back. great show. I miss Oteil on bass but replacement was pretty f-ing good.

I wonder if this show will feature any guitar solos?

is he a stick, mig or tig guy?

I played it safe and just bought a pair of tickets. Jay - you there tomorrow night? Looking forward to it.....

Fred Penner? You would think even on short notice you could do better than Fred Penner. Just rubbin' salt right in there eh Danny.

rotate this still has tickets for both nights, got myself a pair for the 19th. Also, pleasantly surprised to see that tickets to this show are through Ticketfly, the new small scale competition to ticketmaster. check out the article in today's star about them: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/08/13/new_ticketing_companies_turn_up_heat_on_ticketmaster_in_toronto.html

very sad indeed. He was a regular at many jams in the GTA and I was always very impressed by his playing. I was fortunate enough to jam with him a few times and he really did make everything sound better. Total pro.

fuck. just got back and got to rotate this too late. gotta get there tomorrow and get some tickets.

that's awesome!!! sell fast is an understatement

hahahahahaha. ha

the pen vaporizers that are very similar to the e-cig vaporizers are the greatest fucking thing ever. they only work with hash oil (the ones I tried) but holy shit they make smoking in public so easy. I was side stage at the Beacon for ABB in March, happily puffing away on one and it was bliss. getting the little hash oil canisters is kind of a pain but when I move to the USA in a few months, its one of the first things I'm purchasing.

http://www.thegridto.com/city/people/dan-kanter-the-man-behind-the-biebs/ some highlights for me: "Is it true that you sneak riffs by bands like Led Zeppelin and Phish into your Bieber performances?" DK: I do. I’m a huge Phish fan and they have a lighting designer, Chris Kuroda, who is just incredible—the best in the business in my opinion. For years, Justin wasn’t happy with the lighting at his shows. My wife and I brought him to see a Phish show and he was just blown away. We brought on Chris to do Justin’s lighting, so when he’s there I’ll sneak in a Phish riff to make him laugh.

I'm excited. Got some great seats last minute thanks to American Express front of the line leftovers. Anybody have any clue as to set times?

$500 000 a weekend? that's a lot of fuckin drugs being bought and sold on repeated weekends. ok just re-read that and it said DEA estimate so to be fair it could be way less than that (or way more than that) But there's no way that guy should take the fall. They couldn't have just come in a busted the real dealers? toned things down a bit instead of sending one guy up....? wtf.

I'm in for this as well, just wondering if anyone knows what the chances are for 'better' seats? I think I had heard some $85 tickets are decent, some way back.....

agreed. But hey, the music never stopped. He saw him fall over, bumped into him and he keeps playing. No matter how you slice it, that seems to be lacking in compassion just a wee bit. But the point about watching and letting Jerry kill himself with sweet sweet Persian is also fair.