And the politicians throwin’ stones.


During the day I go to National Geographic headquarters to see the progress of my book and to view the new photo layout. This is so exciting for me. As many of you know I am now working on the history of field recording from Edison to the deadhead tapers. From March 15th,1890 to the present. The amazing stories of these heroic men and women who have gone to the far corners of the world to record and preserve our great musical legacy. A grand picture book, National Geographic style with my narrative. I am writing it with the help of Karen Kostyal, a staff writer at NG. She is talented and a hard working researcher. Standby for a next summer release.

Big night in DC. This city really needs our energy now more than ever. Many of my friends in the Congress show up . These are the folks that come through with funds for music therapy, music in the schools, the environment. Civil rights laws, etc ,etc.. Sen. Pat Leahy and his wife Marcel. He is wearing his Grateful Dead jacket that we gave him many years ago. Sen. Boxer and her husband Stuart and daughter Nicole. They are so sweet. She had just given a passionate speech that day on the Senate floor and was in great form. The first sisters ever elected to the House, Linda and Loretta Sanchez were there along with Congressman Pat Kennedy and his friend Diane. Even Sen. Bill Frist and his wife from Tennessee shows up. National Geographic people, Library of Congress folks. Peggy Bulger and husband from the American Folklife Center. What a hoot.

Hunter is getting so good. He has a great set. He has a lot of guts getting out there in front of 18,000 people just armed with an acoustic guitar and voice. He is really getting the hang of this type of arena tour. The music is smooth and powerful with inventive transitions emerging at will. The grease is starting to show.

I sing Down the Road and Iko tonight. Down the Road is perfect DC with the Union Station verse and the Kennedy verse. Patrick Kennedy was delighted to hear this song.

Ramrod is a spirit and energy that is beyond description. He doesn’t talk too much, but when he does you listen. I remember one time we were riding across the country in our old metro truck and we crossed about 3 state borders without a word. Good friends don’t have to constantly chatter. He is such a great hang and the man who has watched my back for over 30 years. He has never made the same mistake twice. There is no better friend and equipment manager in the world than Ramrod. He makes it look easy. Tonight I throw a bad stick over my head to get it out of the way and he reaches out casually and catches it as if we had choreographed it. Oohs and ahs all around. I didn’t see this as I was drumming,, but I was told after the set by the amazed visitors on stage.

Interesting drums tonight. We decide to use the drums as a transitional piece tonight as opposed to a full blown, in your face, knock down-drag out, drum suite. This is a first for us and it works beautifully. The front line plays along with us for a while then retreats for a bit, then joins us for the ending and back to feed-back.

Cosmic Charlie was the surprise tonight. This song has an interesting history. Jerry and I cut the basic track of it for Aoxomoxoa. We never could quite get it right back then for some strange reason, so we retired it from our working repertoire. In rehearsal we all play it beautifully and it seemed so easy after all these years. We all marvel at this fact. I think we were making more of this than was necessary. Tonight it went down just fine.

Mountain Girl shows up and needs a ride. She hops on my bus and we make tracks. We stay up for hours just jawing, catching up on old times, Talking about the kids, Jerry stuff, Pig Pen jokes, all over the map. She just loves this band. She is our biggest fan and supporter.