Old Timey Prospector of the Week

Bob Motherfucking Weir:

Giant of the Week



This weeks award goes to the great neurologist  amongst many other things, Oliver Sacks.  He has accomplished too much in his life to detail here, just go to Wikipedia for his biography (link below). He gets the nod this week for his clear and simple explanation of how the brain creates out-of-body experiences and religious epiphanies.  Check it here:

Seeing God in the Third Millenium

Oliver Sacks' Wikipedia entry



Dog of the Week

The Quintet 12/6/2012

The triumphant return of the Phil Lesh Quintet! 12/6/2012 First set: Set 2: Setlist: Set One: Jam > Passenger, Doin’ That Rag, China Cat Sunflower > Midnight Rider > China Cat Sunflower, Just Like Tom Thumbs Blues, Althea, Viola Lee Blues Set Two: Playing In The Band > Jam > Shakedown Street > Can’t Find My Way Home > Caution > Southern Cross > Terrapin Station > I Know You Rider, Donor Rap Encore: US Blues

Cosmic Country Cowboys

Saw the Chris Robinson Brotherhood last night at the Belly Up in beautiful Solana Beach, CA. I thought it would be a good show, but it exceeded my expectations. Great band, great jams, great vocals, great lights and atmosphere. It felt like a big rock show. At times, it seemed like we had taken a Quaalude time machine back to the 70's. This was some serious stoner rock, reminded me of the band Stillwater in Almost Famous. They looked and sounded the part, particularly the bass player. I bet that dude gets paid shrooms. Highlights of the night were covers of Dylan's Crash on the Levee, with some nice funk inflections, and a locked in and groovin version of the Dead's West LA Fadeaway. I was hoping to hear that one, and the crowd went bonkers throughout. They also had a driving psychedelic jam during an original song that was pretty much identical to the Dead's The Other One. That brought back some memories of how wild and exhilarating it can be to see that tune live, and how you can get lost in the songs. As my friend Tim said, 'I had a moment of clarity there, where everything made sense.' There's the feeling we forgot, the transedence that we chase at rock shows. Overall, their originals were weak, and like the Crowes seemed derivative of other classic rock. I heard hints of Loose Lucy, LA Woman, Shine on You Crazy Diamond, Little Wing, Hey Jude, and other tunes throughout. And the covers were definitely the highlight. Despite, or perhaps because of, their lack of originality, this is a great band to see live. Overall, the vibe and sound was 70's Jerry Garcia Band. The guitar had his cosmic country twang, and the songs were funked up versions of roots rock. Chirs Robinson is a rock star, a bit too much at times, but his charisma and vocal prowess are undeniable. Good times. The psychedelic cowboy rides again!

Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East, 2/14/70

This is video from one of the most beloved shows of all time, audio released as Dick's Picks #4, and some of the earliest video of the band out there. Certainly worth a watch:

Giant of the Week

 

For the first edition of this weekly award, I'm happy to recognize Michael Mithoefer, Rick Doblin, the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (http://www.maps.org/) and their associates for the remarkable progress made in researching the use of MDMA (ecstasy) to treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In the 1960's, psychedelic substances like MDMA showed incredible ability to treat a wide variety of mental illness, but cultural hysteria unfortunately outlawed their use, be it for recreation or research. After several decades of silence, patient but steady and significant progress is being made. Each week we see a new article highlighting this research. Recent features have been done by CNN and the New York Times (see below for links).

In Mithoefer's original study, more than two-thirds showed a significant improvement three years later; "meaningful sustained reductions." Those numbers are astonishing. With further refinements of the treatment, drugs, and research, it is hard to imagine what the future potential of these drugs are, but it sure seems like the sky is the limit. 

 

 CNN story on MDMA to treat PTSD

 New York Times story on MDMA research