If it makes it easier to remember the 10 Commandments of music forums, just try to picture Johnny Cash coming down from the mountain with stone tablets that read: 1. Thou shalt not create duplicate posts. 2. Thou shalt not quote the post above thee. 3. Thou shalt not decree any band thine greatest. etc.... Hope that helped!

According to the narrator of the show I watched, even at informal pub gatherings, the musicians are expected to be very familiar with the proper structure of the songs. Although it sounds like they are "jamming", improvision is not encouraged and usually a veteran player scrutinizes the rest as they go. Living in suburban New York, I have had little exposure to this part of culture - but it was very interesting and enjoyable to view and hear. I seem to be getting much more out of exploring music going backwards in time...

I just think it's a great song, and imagine that I would enjoy any version of it. It gets me fired up, for some reason. I saw a special on Ireland last night, where they said traditional Irish music is the most infectious and spirit lifting.

They should definitely get more airplay, way underrated by most. And I've never heard their version of "Whiskey in the Jar" on the radio, although Metallica's version is not bad...

I don't know anything about his sense of humor, but what a bass player! Best ever???

I just realized that my wife has me watching too much "LOST" on TV! Any thoughts on Kingfish?

Didn't the remaining members of the Grateful Dead call themselves "The Others" or something like that? I see Bob Weir's band is called "Ratdog" - I'm assuming they do alot of Dead material, do they do any Kingfish? I pretty much only see Hot Tuna the past few years, got tired of the high ticket prices and sloppy efforts of other old groups...

The only time I saw the Dead, they did the entire Terrapin Station and alot of drumming, it seemed. It was very different than all the live recordings I had heard, previously. I really like Cold Rain and Snow, Fire on the Mountain, Me and My Uncle - stuff like that. It's a shame that the radio only plays Casey Jones - that's a poor example of what's great about the Dead.

"Toys in the Attic" was my first rock album. I'll never forget my parent's stunned look when I blasted "Big Ten Inch" for their listening pleasure.

Well, it's 40 years after, now. What's changed - less "hairies"???

Well, John Henry told his captain that a man ain't nothin' but a man - but before I let that steam drill beat me down, I'll die with a hammer in my hand, I will die with a hammer in my hand! See, they were singing about him - even before he was born!

Chris Squire is an extraordinary bassist!!!

Blackmore is somehow involved with a new German restaurant that opened down my street. The name is "Village Lantern", and the menu and bar have scenes from that album. Our server kind of made a funny face when I asked about him, but the food and prices were pretty good.