Cosmic Charlies
NEW YEARS RUN, HAMBURG
the "Darkstar", aka  The Mayday
(Brian, Andy, Greg-Drums, Pat-Keys, Richard Hills-Bass, Jon Macdonald [philler] sound/roadie )

New Years Eve 1998

1.Bertha/Good Lovin, Don't Let Go, Picasso Moon, Sugaree, Dancin, Midnight Hour
[**Outside For Firework Extravaganza**]
2.After Midnight (ie, Midnight In UK), Here Comes Sunshine, Dark Star>Lay Down Sally,
Bathtub Gin>On Broadway, Gimme Some Lovin, Scarlet>Eyes, China Doll (Greg, voc), Loose Lucy
3: Ohio (John M, voc--For Walter), Watchtower (John voc), NFA (Annalisa & Scoff, voc)>Jam
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1st Jan 1999
1.Stranger, Me & Big R, Smokestack (Rich, voc), TLEO(Scoff, voc), Bird Song, P Land(Rich, voc)
2.Samson, Easy Wind, Character Zero, Big Railroad Blues(Scoff, voc), Estimated>Other
One (Rich, voc), Stella (Greg, voc)
3. UJB>Out There Jam>Wharf Rat>Throwing Stones>L Lite>Mountain Jam>L Lite,
Catfish (Scoff,voc), Peggy-O, Mr Charlie.
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2nd Jan 1999
1:China Rider, Tom Thumbs (Rich, voc), Half Step, Shakedown, LL Rain
2: Bucket (Rich, voc), Help>Slip>Foolish, Speedway>Truckin (Rich
voc)>Spanish jam>Terrapin>Playin (Rich, voc)
3:Stephen>The 11>Rolling Stone(Rich, voc), Prudence, Runaway Jim, Sat Nite,
Fantasy>Hey Jude >Bid You Goodnight

New Year in Charlieland , Germany
Michael Fleming

You ever notice how events when they arrive never seem to measure up to how
you thought they'd be? Me too, but this New Year's in Hamburg proved to be a
notable exception, all the more so for being stretched out over three nights
without noticeable signs of strain except for Richard being a little bit
ill. Must've been the vodka.

The setting couldn't have been more relaxed. A little-ish bar called Mayday
renamed Dark Star for the occasion, a packed house each night of Deadheads
from all over Germany, Denmark and England. Tiedyes all over the walls,
candles everywhere. Balloons, streamers plus an inclusive and very
reasonable admission which included an all-night free bar and food, and none
of the stroppy in-your-face nonsense you take for granted in any English
pub. The locals couldn't have been friendlier. A big thank you to Arne,
Anneliese and everyone else who helped put it all together.

But the biggest thank you must surely go to the star attraction our very own
and deeply appreciated, though not by nearly enough of you lot out there,
the Cosmic Charlies. In a word they were magnificent, and in my humble
opinion to play for a total of 15 hours without repeating a song is no mean
feat. Well done, all of you.

Kickoff each night was around 10pm  and it continued till around 3am with
the odd short break in between for everyone to catch their breath. The
delighted smile and beaming expression on Andy's face as the audience wildly
cheerd each number was worth the ticket price alone.

Being as stoned as everyone else I of course didn't note each setlist but
some memorable highlights included a beautiful Catfish John, a Dark Star that
just flowed out of the speakers all on its own, an epic mountain jam, an
Estimated with just the right ingredients, a Saint Stephen>The Eleven that
had the walls throbbing, plus too many more to mention here. With Texas John at
the controls the sound was superb and I can't recall ever seeing the band
play with such confidence and assurance as they displayed here on all 3 nights.
A wonderful start to 99 and I'm really pleased I went along.