Tag: katie skene

“Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, oh Principessa!”

That sounds terrible.

“I’m not warmed up, man.”

And you can’t sing.

“Hey, neither could Lesh, but people still wanted to hear it.”

Don’t sing opera. Did you steal that shirt from Sinbad?

“That guy’s great, man.”

We’re talking about the same guy, right? The comedian?

“Yeah. Big colored fellow.”

Black. We just say black now, Parish.

“Oh, I don’t know about ‘black.’ Sinbad’s kinda of cafe au lait-colored.”

Stop saying colored. Why do you know Sinbad?

“After Garcia died, I stayed out on the road for a while. Sinbad needed a tour manager and the pay was right. Lot less to take care of than the Dead. The whole package is him and a case full of fanciful vests.”

Sinbad started wearing vests in the 90’s and never kicked the habit.

“Man loves his vests.”

Parish?

“Oh, hey, man.”

I need you to answer a question and no fucking around.

“Is it about Garcia?”

No.

“Cuz I got a ton of Garcia stories.”

I am aware. I listen to the Sirius show.

“I also got a bunch of stories about getting into fights with cops. You used to be allowed to do that without spending the rest of your life in jail.”

It was a looser era.

“You said it, brother.”

My question is also not about that, though.

“Well, fire away, man.”

What exactly is going on with you and Young Katie Skene?

“Gentleman never tells.”

Yeah, but you’re not a gentleman. You were on the Grateful Dead’s road crew.

“Yeah, still, I’m not saying anything.”

Oh, don’t make me talk to her.

“Up to you.”

Goddammit, Parish.

Parish.

“Oh, hey, man. How’s Precarious?”

He’s good. I need to know something here.

“You want a Garcia story?”

No.

“I got a ton.”

Well aware.

“And I got a bunch of Mickey stories, but they’re not as fun.”

I don’t need any stories about any Grateful Deads. I wanna know about the young woman you’re on tour with, Katie Skene.

“She’s far out, man.”

Uh-huh. What precisely is her job title?

“Funny story: she’s my Parish.”

She hits people?

“If people need hitting, sure. She’s good at it, too! I think she knows that kung fu stuff. And, you know, she makes sure I show up at the right venue. Tells me if I have a booger. Your basic Parish-ing. Holds my stash.”

Your stash?

“Weed and Coumadin.”

Sure.

Hey, Parish. Whatcha doing?

“Well, I was a professional roadie for 30 or 40 years. And then I was a professional ex-roadie for a while.”

You have successfully monetized a lifetime of carrying heavy shit and punching people who got too close to Garcia, yes.

“And now I’m starting a band.”

Oh, God, no.

“Yeah, man. We got a good groove going here.”

You and Katie Skene.

“Is that her name?”

Yes.

“I’ve been calling her Girl Bobby.”

Her name is Katie Skene. She plays with all the old jam band guys. I think maybe she has a grandpa fetish.

“Well, that works out for me pretty well.”