FAR OUT & WAYBACK

I was in a van being driven by a volunteer for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass when I over heard the driver replying, “Far Out Man~” with an inflection in her voice that sang of ‘back in the day’ wonder. I immediately loved this driver, whoever she was. It was a counter culture reminder of who I thought I was as kid and who I thought I wasn’t as an adult. It was an affirmation of whoever I thought I was at any given time I was just lucky to be me and to live this dream on the planet. It was a brief connection during a conversation that I wasn’t involved in but reminded me of a feeling full force. On a recent Tuesday night I caught The Waybacks at Mexicali Live in Teaneck. Three thousand miles ago I heard them in Golden Gate Park with Bob Weir. It was a great set and an interesting scene backstage with a threesome that included a girl in a silver dress with a tear in her stocking. But I won’t go there. They weren’t at the show Tuesday night while The Waybacks played. They missed this show but I was glad I didn’t. The Waybacks were way cool and it was great night of music that included a version of Shady Grove with Celtic integrity intact followed by Mr. Thompson’s very own 1952 Vincent Black Lightening. Somewhere Red Molly was smiling. At Mexicali I was with Corinne, Karen and Evelyn hoping Assunta wouldn’t miss the show, my own smile an echo of a far out smile I experienced way back in San Francisco, on an October evening in Golden Gate Park, way back in 2007.