How will you celebrate your 71st Birthday? Most-likely not like Phil Lesh, of the Grateful Dead.

The picture apove is of Furthur, the most recent incarnation of the Grateful Dead, led by the original bassist Phil Lesh, and original rhythm-guitarist Bob Weir. On March 15th, Phil Lesh celebrated his 71st birthday, which is something his former bandmate and dear friend, Jerry Garcia, did not reach. Touring at age 71 is not typical for most musicians in any regard. He acknowledged "another year" with a concert on March 12th, titled "Furthur and Friends," giving the crowd the ability to take part in the celebration. Those in attendence received a free cupcake and were given to opportunity to sign a monstrous birthday card.

The lasting impact and timelessness associated with the Grateful Dead, their music, and their massive, community-like following, is a basis for grassroots artists and groups in terms of strategy. A testament of this is certainly Phil & Bob's mutual drive to continue performing the music he's become tightly-knit to and built his career around. When I got the chance to see them in Ames, Iowa at Stephen's Auditorium in Novemeber 2010, I jumped for it and paid the surprisingly high ticket price without hesitation. Musically, it was an eye-opening experience, dismissing any previous negative reservations about the band and their music. (