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From The Editors

Howdy all,

By necessity I must be brief because my glorious newborn daughter is asleep in my lap and I have to put her to bed. Suffice it to say, Caroline Barrett Budnick was born February 27 at 2:20 AM, 6 pounds, 13 ounces. She's doing swell as is my wife (who went into labor during the third quarter of the Celtics-Knicks game- not at the game but during it- a story for David Saslavsky, venue of the month editor). The first music my daughter heard "on the outside" was from Van Morrison's Greatest Hits which we played during delivery. The first show she heard was The Slip at High Sierra Music Festival which I threw on next. Like any proud dad with a forum, I will have a photo of her up here very soon, so stop by again...

Oh yes, we have a fine issue too- things seem to be picking up each month. Say hi to Rob Turner, new Roadtrip of the month editor, and send a get well note to Sister Mary Carmen, Ghosts of Jam Bands Past editor. Brand new, crappy Mikey too :)

Finally, coming very soon, the announcement about the jambands.com tour which will take place the first two weeks of June out here in the east (we hope to go west in the fall). We're going to do mail order ticketing and give away all sorts of freebies so stay tuned.

Until then enjoy a juicy issue and don't forget to tell me that my daughter is super cute :)

later days and peace,
Dean

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This past month I took one of the best vacations of my life.

Making the decision to quit my job and do my own web projects full time meant that I had a certain level of freedom. Which in this case was the freedom to decide when I wanted to take some time and see some shows, friends and loved ones...or just clear my head for a while. When you think your life is really hectic, and you step away for a little bit, you gain an amazing perspective...live music is really that good.

I landed in Vegas 10 hours after my original plane was supposed to land and made it to Legends Lounge just in time to relax before The Disco Biscuits hit the stage. Having never been to this club before, I was quickly amazed by the prevelant vibe of pure kindness which filled the air. Flying into Vegas I was thinking thoughts of evil money-hungry casinos...yet when I found myself standing in Legends Lounge, it was a kinder, gentler Vegas. (and they did have some nice blackjack machines). So, my hats off to you Rudy, and your entire staff who made me feel completely at home in your off-off-off the strip palace!

The band took the stage with a resounding applause and quickly got the night rolling with Frank Zappa's Pygmy Twilight which seemlessly segued into the song of songs, Basis For A Day (see Oct '98 editoral). Maybe it was the air, maybe it was the water, but there was something really special about the night already...everything was just 'on' and it was one of those shows that you know you'll be remembering for a while.

When a band takes risks, and experiments with sounds in a way that noone else will, the potential for payoff is that much greater. I find that music can sometimes be about trust. How much do you trust the musicians to be able to commit yourself fully to the evening and give them your undivided attention so that you'll really have a chance at getting 'it'? When everyone trusts, and everyone pays attention and is involved, amazing things happen. The band feels it, the audience feels it, the tapers rejoice!

Finding a show where you can trust what is going on, and give yourself to it fully is not always an easy task. But when you get to the level of comfort where things start click, when you decide that you are unconditionally involved and have no restraints, the moment is yours for the taking!

Enjoy that moment.

Peace, Andy Gadiel (gay-dee-el) andy@gadiel.com http://www.gadiel.com webmaster@jambands.com