NOT ROCK
This week, I want to take a moment to rant about what doesn’t rock. In fact, it sucks. The Gathering of the Vibes has always featured super talent, all in the same spirit of a genuine love for music. In the past, I’ve given many kudos to the Vibes for its line up. But this year I’ve got a huge bone to pick – not about who is on deck, but who’s not. Why isn’t the Dead headlining? It just doesn’t make any sense.

When Jerry Garcia died, a huge loss was felt nationally; thousands upon thousands mourned. For over 30 years, fans followed the Dead not just because they couldn’t get enough of the climactic jams or intense heartfelt lyrics, but because a Dead show was a community of friends. In 1996, a year after Garcia’s death and their last show, the good people at Terrapin Tapes, a media distribution company for concert tapers, decided to throw a memorial party at SUNY Purchase. Their goal was to perpetuate kinship and fill a void. As such, they named it the Deadhead Heaven: A Gathering of the Tribe. In ‘97 the festival relocated and became known as The Gathering of the Vibes.
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