Nick Ritrovato - Formerly Wybf-Fm

Happy Big 8-5 today (May 24th) to Bob Dylan!

As we know not everybody makes it that far, and Bob is still going strong to boot! A whole mess of tour dates were just announced that will keep him busy for a good part of this year, including an upcoming date at the Mann Center here in Philadelphia in July.

I've seen Dylan five times, the first was 7/8/88 at the Mann, w/GE Smith, Kenny Aaronson and Christopher Parker. The next two were at the Tower Theater October 1994. The only time I ever saw people rushing the stage at the Tower. At the very end a whole mess of kids jumped on the stage causing Bob to leave the stage.

The next two were at the TLA South St. June 1995 in between Grateful Dead dates Dylan had scheduled last minute to keep his band in ready shape. And in true Dead-style, many if not most of the songs had long, drawn out, guitar jams built in, with the exciting, explosive drumming of Winston Watson.

Will I ever see Dylan again in person? Who knows.

Dylan can be annoying, such as last September's Farm Aid where he only allowed footage to originate from cameras situated far from the stage instead of up close. It was like watching a bootleg cellphone video on YouTube from the balcony. C'mon Bob, do better next time!

Happy Big 8-5!

(songs in comments)

A Happy belated Big 8-0 this past Sunday (May 10th) to Donovan Leitch!

Known by his professional name Donovan, the phrase "flower power" was coined in 1967 to describe his folky music.

I've only seen Donovan twice, two days in a row, March 1997. A Friday night at Borders Books and Music in Bryn Mawr, the next night a Saturday at the TLA (Theater of Living Arts) South Street Philadelphia. Donovan was promoting his first new album in a lot of years "Sutras" produced by Rick Rubin. I got a CD signed and a couple "flats" signed.

The Borders signing was very memorable. Just as Donovan was about to start to play a short set of classics with attendees sitting on the floor, Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian from the Ho***rs show up and sit down on the floor right in front of the man himself. They show up with an actual Hurdy-Gurdy, a Renaissance era musical instrument celebrated in song by Donovan. How cool is that?! They did get him to sign it later.

Donovan's last appearance in Philadelphia that I'm aware of was December 2005 at the Keswick, I couldn't make it. But a co-worker did go and reported back the next day. He did play with a band behind him, which he didn't employ at the TLA show I saw in '97.

I read his autobiography from around 15 years ago and it was a great read, providing insight into alot of legendary moments, his early days, hanging with the Beatles in India in 1968, etc.

Happy Big 8-0 to the Hurdy Gurdy Man himself, Donovan!

(songs in comments)

Happy big 8-0 today (May 7th) to Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann!!

Unfortunately opted out of The Dead and Co. the last couple years of that band's existence, Bill, Mickey Hart, Tom Constanten, and I guess you can throw Bruce Hornsby in there too, are all that's left of the Grateful Dead.

Bill's and Mickey's free-form "Drums/Space" segments in the second set of Dead shows were always incredible, experimental and different, like the rest of the Dead, never performed the same way twice.

Happy Big 8-0!!

(songs in comments)