Hippies Take Manhattan

New York isn't all skeptics with bad attitudes and punk rockers dressed all in black. There is a very strong and vibrant population of tree-huggers, free spirits, bleeding hearts and yes even hippies. They aren't all Grateful Dead fans...but the ones that are had their eyes and minds focused on the Nokia Theatre last night to see Phil Lesh and Friends.

There have been many semi-reformations of grateful dead members and projects since Jerry Garcia dies in 1995, like Ratdog, The Dark Star Orchestra, Bruce Hornsby solo, The Dead. None of them have continued to excel quite like Phil and Friends. Each tour, Phil has invited new musicians from other great bands to join him and celebrate the music of years past as well as share in new musical experiments together.

This year the band includes Steve Molitz (Particle), Jackie Greene, Larry Cambell and John Molo. Their 7 show encampment in NY is called "The Other New York City Marathon". Last night they added Ryan Adams to their team and pulled off a great 3 set show.

As in most things, the music reflects off your mood and opens up to what you want it to. The 3rd set opener "Wharf Rat" which i predicted with the 50 year old former-head-turned-banker i was standing next to, meant so much more to me last night than ever before, especially during:

But I'll get back on my feet someday
The good lord willing, if he says I may
I know that the life I'm livin's no good
I'll get a new start, live the life I should
I'll get up and fly away, I'll get up and fly away

After 4 hours at the Nokia, many of us in a big hippie parade went 30 blocks south for 4 more hours of music lovers crack and watched Particle play for another 4 hours with Guest guitarist Josh Clark from Tea Leaf Green.

Maybe music is escapist in New York, maybe it hides reality, maybe its nothing more than a little entertainment. But, going to shows like these in a city like this is so much the Paradox that makes life fun.