Well shit. That just made my middle-aged-white-man heart happy. Eddie Vedder and I both grew up in the Seattle grunge community, and know a lot of the same people from that time. And a dear friend of mine - Monroe - is the lead guitar player for Petty Theft, a Tom Petty tribute band; several members have played with Tom Petty and members of his band, and Petty Theft has the full endorsement of Tom Petty and the band to do what they do. Tom liked them very much. And Monroe's last name is Grisman, as in David "Dawg" Grisman (yep, that's Monroe's dad), of jazz and mandolin playing fame, whose song "Dawggy Mountain Breakdown" is known all over America as the theme song for the NPR radio show, Car Talk. Monroe and I went to high school together where we played with a variety of different bands and classmates, including Chris Chaney (of Jane's Addiction and Alanis Morrisette), and Tupac. Weird little trip down memory lane.
I saw David Grisman perform back in… Maybe 1997 in Bozeman Montana. I distinctly remember that this is when I realized how much I hated hippies. His performance was awesome, I really loved the music. I went upfront to be closer and stood and watched a really great virtuoso on the mandolin. Then, some asshole in patched pants ordained with hemp necklaces and bracelets said, “hey man if you’re not gonna dance then why are you here?” Then he proceeded to spin in the predictable circles that are the hippie mating dance.” I’ll never forget that idiot. But the music was legit!