ROOT DOWN!

November 21, 2008 -- Big Sam (formerly of the Dirty Dozen Brass band) and his "Funky Nation" flew up from New Orleans to play a sold out show at NYC's Sullivan Hall.

November 21, 2008 -- Lunch in New Hampshire!

Starring Captain Rob Russo

his brother Chris (he's "special")

and executive chef Bod (riding bitch).

We took out "Zero Delta Kilo" a single propeller plane from Bridgeport, CT (The Big City of Dreams) Siksorsky Aiport in search of good eats.

Flying instrument Flight Rules (navigating by instrument/radio only) Rob flew us up to Hartford and around Boston.

We passed blue rivers

and rivers of gold

using GPS to guide us to hamburgers.

After 1h 22 mins, we finally touched down in Nashua, NH! We ate, drank and were merry.

Before flying home, Rob needed to fix the passenger door, which we realized was broken mid-flight. It was cold as shit outside so Chris decided to wait in the car plane

Rob managed to fix the door, but shortly after take off, we found out that it was not closed properly.

That meant the 6 degree air outside was getting sucked into our pressurized cabin. In the back of the plane, beyond the reach of the heaters, Chris turned into a popcicle.

In the cockpit, Rob was unphased as usual, and continuted to send text messages to John McCain.

Coming home, we passed some more mindblowingly boring CT scenery.

But before landing, Rob pulled two dive bomb manuevers that nearly gave Bod a heart attack (we dropped 1000ft in ten seconds).

Getting closer to the ground, we were still in shock from our near-death experience

but enjoying a pleasant sunset over the water.

We're lucky we didn't get killed on this landing

November 9, 2008 -- Bob Weir and Ratdog take over Bridgeport's Klein Theatre and turn the typically sit-down joint into a full fledged hippie throw down... complete with twirling flower children, a shakedown street (in the parking lot) & that signature stank (no not the good stuff, more like the i-haven't-showered-in-three-weeks-but-can-i-bum-a-cig? type). Good to see Bobby still rocking the Obama gear and the short shorts!

November 7, 2008 -- U.K. funk quartet The New Mastersounds threw down last Friday in the heart of the West Village at Sullivan Hall . The lads from Leeds were joined by Boston's Otis Grove, a new member of the Ropeadope family, for a double header of acid grooves and down 'n dirty funk.

Simon Allen cooling off

Guest appearance by legendary soul-jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks

UK soul sensation Dionne Charles joins with vocals

Tyler Drabick of Otis Grove

October 31, 2008 -- Halloween and the last rage in SF!

A tourist gears up for her first American halloween.

while Cindy McCain, flanked by a vampire and b boy, has her eyes on a Williamsburg's finest.

The tourist encounters critically acclaimed painter Frida Kahlo posing for her next portrait. But instead is spellbound by a giant chocolate cake.

On the other side of the room, a big pimp demands "Pay up, hipster bitch"

Or be eaten alive by my cannibal friend.

His fatally wounded counterpart picks up on the scent of fresh, locally grown, free range fear.

The zombies join forces to feast on their new delight, Cindy McCain!

But instead are lured away by her xanax

Elswhere, a tourist and gangster board a train bound for glory.

Only to encounter a true sign of the times

Onboard the same train, Cindy and her entourage wait for their arrival in SF's Mission district.

Mexican transplant Frida feels at home here.

She is quickly picked up by a former, Wall St. broker, so broken by the credit crunch, that he will gladly sleep with a unibrow

Insane Clown Posse ringleader and American purist will have none of it.

he distracts the illegals by putting on a Ringling Bro's routine.

and alas the tourist's journey ends, by the touch of a voodoo doctor's hypnosis