Grateful Dead Cobo Arena

The Grateful Dead outing at Cobo Hall last Sunday had all the trappings of the psychedelic 60's, with an almost-full house of longhaired, heavy-toking music lovers ("flower children" was the term used way back then) settling into their seats for a musical program that would feature the Dead for four full hours.

Lead guitarist/guru Jerry García, guitarist Bob Weir, and bassist Phil Lesh, the only original Dead still left in the group, were up front as usual. The first couple of tunes served to warm up the band and audience, then it was into such recognizable sonas as "Sugaree," "Ramblin' Rose," and "The Seal," along with the everlasting Grateful Dead extended jamming.

Garcia's note patterns were the center of attention, the rhythm section held on adequately but not spectacularly, and organist/pianist Keith Godchaux (with the band since the legendary Ron "Pigpen" McKernan merged with the universe) had problems fitting in musically during the two-hour long first set- this seemed to be ironed out later. Partner Donna Godchaux provided strong harmonies to the Garcia/Weir country-flavored vocal treatments.

A somewhat tighter and more energetic second set featured further jams and Dead originals, and they finished in customary 60's styie with "Good Lovin," "Dancin' In The Streets," and "Not Fade Awav."

-Jim Tomlinson

Robin Eichleay Macomb County Community College

A warm handful of poets, poetry lovers, and friends gathered at Macomb County Community College's Sterling Heights campus last Wednesday evening to hear the words of Detroiter Robin Eichleay in one of a series of brave poetic events that are being organized this year with the help of MCCC instructor Bill Cox.

Eichleay has been writing poetry at least since the early 60's when he was at WSU's Monthieth College and reading and making poetry books at the Detroit Artist's Workshop, just off campus. Never one hanker for an ivory tower, he has since been active in film work, advertising, design, publishing (at the Detroit River Press), and as a novelist.

Still, his writing is as refreshing and entertaining as it ever was. He started with some poems he'd written last fall. They were extremely clear, thoughtful, and slow, like a man working very hard, trying.

Then came a love poem from last winter, presenting the image of love making with none of the all-too-frequent languid contortions. These are acrobats bounding off walls for the hell of it. The language