Archive for April, 2006

“I Hate Bill O’Reilly”: the book

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

There’s a new book, titled Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O’Reilly, based on the web site of the same name. These paragraphs cribbed from amazon:

From Booklist
The title says it all. There’s definitely no love lost between O’Reilly, host of the FOX Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor, and Amann and Breuer, founders of a Web site for which this book was named. Fashioned as an intervention to prevent O’Reilly from being any more outraged and outrageous than he already is, Amann and Breuer explore the myriad ways that O’Reilly attacks liberals but denies his conservatism, and disregards civil liberties and the simple truth. O’Reilly’s claim of “no-spin” objectivity is the primary target, as the authors cite numerous excerpts from transcripts of O’Reilly’s show to demonstrate his constant spin, contradiction, and misstatement. “The problem with simply calling Bill a liar is that one has to be aware of one’s lies for them to really be considered lies. We’re not sure Bill qualifies.” The charity ends there as the authors take O’Reilly to task for his sexual appetite (he settled a lawsuit by an associate producer who charged him with sexual harassment), his egomania (he makes constant references to his earnings, his ratings, his book sales versus those of his favorite targets, Al Franken and Hillary Clinton), and his outrageous statements (the nation’s poor should take a lesson from Hurricane Katrina and avoid poverty). Fans of O’Reilly will not be amused, but all other readers will find the book hilarious, though some may find the language occasionally offensive. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
Bill O’Reilly is a man who believes he is a voice of reason. He calls for boycotting Canada, says Adolf Hitler would have been a card-carrying member of the ACLU, and thinks Hurricane Katrina victims seen carrying televisions should be shot on sight.
Amann and Breuer – the creators of the hugely popular website www.sweetjesusihatebilloreilly.com — take a close look at O’Reilly’s own assertions and arguments — taken from his TV and radio shows, books and columns — to expose him for what he is: a self-righteous boob and a sham newsman. The ongoing themes explored in Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O’Reilly are that O’Reilly is a bit crazy, not all that sharp and, as the authors put it, about “as self-aware as a legume.” The result is a hilariously funny book, a great read for anyone who enjoys seeing a puffed-up blowhard taken down a notch or two — whether they’re an O’Reilly hater, fan, or something in between.

Grateful Dead Hour #919

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

Week of May 1, 2006

Part 1 14:27

Interview: Bill Kreutzmann & Justin Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann, Jim Winkler, et al. Kauai 1998
UNTITLED
Interview: Bill Kreutzmann & Justin Kreutzmann
Rachel Fuller and Pete Townshend (unreleased studio demo)
I’M ONE
Interview: Bill Kreutzmann & Justin Kreutzmann

Part 2 42:23
Interview: Bill Kreutzmann & Justin Kreutzmann
Grateful Dead 5/19/74 Portland Coliseum
TICO TICO
TRUCKIN’->
JAM->
NOT FADE AWAY->
GOIN’ DOWN THE ROAD FEELIN’ BAD

Support for The Grateful Dead Hour comes this week from Little, Brown and Company, publishers of Phil Lesh’s autobiography, Searching for the Sound, detailing his 40-year journey from the 60s counterculture to the loss of Jerry Garcia and beyond. Searching for the Sound, available in paperback wherever books are sold.

And from the 10,000 Lakes Festival, July 19 through 22 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. 10KLF features Phil Lesh & Friends, Trey Anastasio, The String Cheese Incident, The Benevento Russo Duo featuring Mike Gordon, Keller Williams, Railroad Earth, Umphrey’s McGee, MMW, and many more. Information on camping and and tickets at www.10KLF.com

And from eDeadshop.com, an online store offering t-shirts, hats, stickers, tye dyes, gifts and other officially licensed merchandise from the Grateful Dead, Phish, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd and many others.

Rubber Souldiers to perform May 13 in Larkspur CA

Saturday, April 29th, 2006


Rubber Souldiers, originally uploaded by dgans.

That’s me on the left, Lorin Rowan in the middle, and Chris Rowan on the right.

On May 13th, we’re all going to perform at the Larkspur Cafe Theater in Larkspur, California. I’ll open, the Rowans will close, and in between we’re going to play as Rubber Souldiers, performing a set of Beatle favorites. Showtime is 8:30.

We’re sharing a band – David Phillips on pedal steel, Josh Kaye on keyboards, Josh Zucker on bass, and Jimmy Sanchez on drums.

Photo by Barry Toranto.

Politicians & the gas crisis

Friday, April 28th, 2006

Today’s SF Chronicle has two photos on the front page, with this caption:

House speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., departs in a hydrogen-powered car … after a news conference on gasoline prices in Washington – and then gets out and prepares to climb into a sport utility vehicle powered by gasoline…. Hastert and President Bush have called for an investigation into oil company profits.

The article, by Marc Sandalow, is titled “DRIVE LESS? POLITICIANS WON’T ASK: Republicans and Democrats rail against oil companies for the high price of gasoline — but they don’t dare suggest we change our ways”

andDave covers DGans!

Friday, April 28th, 2006

andDave covers two of my songs in soundfiles posted on his web site!
Visit his Listening Lab page and you’ll hear “Shut Up and Listen” and “Down to Eugene.”
Thanks, Dave!

Vote for me, please!

Wednesday, April 26th, 2006

My name is on a poll at jambands.com, asking the question

“Which of these artists do you believe most consistently fails to receive the critical praise it warrants?”

I’d appreciate it if you’d click on me! Here’s a link tothe poll.
As of this moment, I am at the TOP of the poll. That won’t last, of course, but it’s fun to be king for a moment.

Backstage Pass video

Monday, April 24th, 2006

Justin Kreutzmann is trying to get his Backstage Pass video released on DVD, with bonus footage. From his blog, Rock and Reel:

Some of you might remember a Grateful Dead home video I did a number of years ago called Backstage Pass. The concept was to take all the bits and pieces of home movies lying around the vault and in people’s closets and put them to music. Along with the archival odds and sods I got my Dad and Mickey Hart to film a new Rhythm Devils drum thing. Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh also did an acoustic version of Dylan’s “She Belongs To Me” for the video. I think the whole short film turned out OK.

Years later an unscrupulous person stole a tape of my home movie footage. That tape has now become the most popular thing I’ve ever done in the Deadhead world. I had an idea that it would be cool to put out Backstage Pass as a DVD and include that bootlegged tape as a bonus. Was just wondering what you guys thought? If anyone has seen the Backstage films please let me know what you think and if you’d like to see a REAL version of it released.

Drop by Rock and Reel and post a note of encouragement if you’re so inclined!

Grateful Dead Hour #918

Sunday, April 23rd, 2006

Week of April 24, 2006

Part 1 38:00
Interview: Bill Kreutzmann & Justin Kreutzmann
Serial Pod 12/17/05 Asheville Civic Center
JAM->
CUMBERLAND BLUES->
CHALK DUST TORTURE->
JAM

Interview: Bill Kreutzmann, Justin Kreutzmann, and Mike Gordon
Serial Pod 12/17/05 Asheville Civic Center
SOUNDCHECK JAM
Interview: Bill Kreutzmann, Justin Kreutzmann, and Mike Gordon

Part 2 18:50
Interview: Bill Kreutzmann, Justin Kreutzmann, and Mike Gordon
Serial Pod 12/17/05 Asheville Civic Center
WAVES

Waybacks, Jerry Garcia in Humble Stumble

Thursday, April 20th, 2006

Roy Schneider’s Humble Stumble comic strip mentions The Waybacks and Jerry Garcia today.
I’ve met Roy a couple of times at the Suwannee SpringFest and MagnoliaFest. He’s a musician himself, and he’s used the Suwannee fests (with a different name) as a setting a couple of times.
I don’t get the strip out here in the Bay Area, but I read it online.

Waybacks, Garcia in “Humble Stumble”

Thursday, April 20th, 2006

And speaking of The Waybacks:

Roy Schneider’s Humble Stumble comic strip mentions The Waybacks and Jerry Garcia today.

I’ve met Roy a couple of times at the Suwannee SpringFest and MagnoliaFest. He’s a musician himself, and he’s used the Suwannee fests (with a different name) as a setting a couple of times. Nice feller.

I don’t get the strip out here in the Bay Area, but I read it online.