Dickey's a guitar player in a rock n roll band- not a priest. I think everybody needs to have a few beers and a few tokes myself to relax. I'm not sure what they charged to see him- but I'm sure it wasn't a cash buster. He'll back in NYC a lot faster than most other places and I'm sure he'll make up the difference-

Two shows come to mind when I read the today's posts... 1) The first time I saw Led Zepplin was at the Nassau Coliseum when I was in 11th grade circa 1976. The tour was in support of the "Physical Graffiti" album and I belive Jimmy Page injured his finger before that tour...The band compenstaed by turning the amps up to "15" on eof the loudest concerts I've been too...I walked around high school for 2 weeks after the show with a test pattern ringing in my ears...and till this day one of best friends Steve Howe ( not "THE") Steve Howe said his ears have never been the same after that show. A year or two later I saw, Led Zepplin at Madison Square Garden and would have to rank that as one of the top 5 concerts I've seen in my life. With an acoustic set of "Goin to California"...I sat in the 10th row after hustling tickets outside to get close enough to take pictures...if anyone DG/Zep fans would like to see some them...I'll be posting them on my Facebook page soon... The second show that comes to mind is the first time I saw Bob Dylan at Stony Brook University in a gym with a tin roof...the sound was awful and couldn't even hear Dylans voice or lyrics...I called Stony Brook the next day demanded a refund...I didn't get one but not being able to hear any of the words Dylan wrote is like watching Dickey struggle to play guitar with a cut finger... The next time I saw Dylan was at the 40th Anniversary Dylan Tribute at MSG...I got in for free with my Garden I.D. and would have to rank this concert as one of the top 5 show's I've seen. So the moral of the story is it happens to the best of the best of them and I'm sure tonight's show or the show in Syracuse will be a killler... Trying to play guitar with a cut finger is like trying to caddie with a broken toe and a stress fracture which put me out of work for three weeks... I started drinking out of frustration not being able to work...so if Dickey wants to drink a bud onstage, I'll personally bring him one out of my fridge...the weather also may have contributed to an off nite...it was very humid yesterday and if there was no ac in the venue and if the sound was off than perhaps the concert hall should refund some of the tickets...don't blame Dickey...he's just a guitar player not an heating and air conditioning mechanic...maybe that pissed him off as well...it would if I was 67 and had to perform in a venue in NYC with no air condiitoning... I didn't make it to last nite's show due to the congestion on the roads of Long Island...I was a 45 minute train ride into Penn Station from Port Washington...moving my belongings out of my room there since I won't be back caddying until August...the traffic, heat and lack of funds prevented me from attending...since I had to drive to my father's house and brothers house to drop off what little I have...for folks not familiar with the roads in this area that took about 4 hours to accomplish waiting for the traffic to die down and the weather to clear... I won't be able to make tonight's gig either but maybe make the one in Syracuse...will Dickey be playing more shows this year? or is this it for the summer?

Very sad reading the GB today. I had a concert call during Blue Sky last night - I was stunned. 🙁 If y'all didn't have the best of shows at least you had the joy of being together and that's what this is all about. I give thanks for the beautiful people I've met from this site who have befriended me sight unseen. That's what means the most to me. Sending out love to all today.

Hearing the snippet of video from last night, I see the finger in question is probably the most critical finger to a lead guitar player to hurt. To see / hear him hitting the notes he did was pretty good really. A trooper. Hearing the video from the night before, his voice was not bad. I defer to that you had to be there to really opine on the whole deal. So I can't. My only down comment and I'll probably get flack for this, but: I have no issue if a performer has a beer or glass of wine before a show to calm the nerves or get a little bit mellow, or a toke, whatever. I just can't figure why one can't not partake during a 2 hour show and then whup it up after the show, I just don't need to see a musician drinking between songs. One on break between sets, OK, but the beer on the amp thing is not needed. Flame away, I still love Dickey Betts.

hard to expect that the band would be sharp, not having played all year (and probably no rehearsal). It takes time to get into "shape" Also hard to accuse Dickey of taking a paycheck he has hardly played any shows. If he simply wanted a check he'd be out there more

Good morning everyone. Last night? OK. Well, the venue was purty but the acoustics were lousy. The audience was full of young and annoying drunken boys. The a/c was great when we got in there but it weakened as the night went on, probably due to the fact that it was 100 degrees outside and we were all jiggling a bit. Yes, it was an off night. Dickey's announced he had a hurt finger first thing and you could tell he was very concerned about it from the get go. He couldn't play the way he wanted to play and it pissed him off. That, like Red Dog, says is Dickey's way. If he can't do his best, he doesn't seem to want to play at all. This is not the first time I've heard him screw up the lyrics to Blue Sky but, frankly, he's playing the damned song so many hundreds of thousands of times, I'd be bored with it coming out of my mouth too. Bottom line, Jessica was absolutely magical. That's all that mattered to me. I got one phenomenal song and I'm grateful for that. I don't give a crap about him drinking, smoking or sweating (or wearing a hat or not). I got to see some of my most beloved friends (Capn floated around some I don't know if I can actually say I SAW him or not). Time with Rainy, Pat and Jim was precious. It was great to see Barb, Bob, Kay and Nancy. I have no complaints about last night. It was what it was. It's always special when we come together, whether or not the band is on fire or not. Again, like I said, I floated away during Jessica and that's all I have to say about that. I came away happy - sweaty - but very happy.

Wow...the negativity in here...Just thought I would drop by and let you all know that the band was SMOKIN' in Utica. It is a shame that NYC was an off night for whatever reason. Just remember folks to allow people to be human. That is life. See ya in Syracuse! Pics will be up soon 🙂

I agree with Dan,Dickey is human like the rest of us and has an off night.Playing with a painful finger has got to be annoying at best.The best thing about seeing Dickey is that he has A world-class guitarist to his right in Andy Aledort,whom I would pay to hear anyways!I'm just glad Dickey is still playing!

For me, I'll take Dickey on a off night anyday. Because even on an off night he can still be magical. Besides ..remember he is only human just like the rest of us.