THE DEAD

my sister just let me know she go a ticket for this one.

the 30th used to be famous for a much more powerful show, w/out the hoopla of the new year..

we'll see if this is still true..

FOR THE FAITHFUL..

In the four night run I saw in 91 (last GD NY run) definately 12/28 was "The Show". I'm still looking for a good recording of that one. Sat Night//>Jack Straw Openner and //Sat Night to close the show. It was something special. I remember The Playin Jam went all Bluesy and everyone was lookin at each other wondering -- and then the first 'Same Thing' since 12/31/71 just shy of 20 years was let free. What a show!!!! Tight from start to finish. This did not happen often in the 90s. Also after seeing 25 shows that year with Hornsby playing piano, a close friend in Marin asked me what my one wish was for these shows was and I said 'no Hornsby'. As we walked in on 12/27 and there was no Piano he said, 'looks like you got your wish'. This is not to say that I did not appreciate Hornsby, he helped Jerry through a difficult period after Brent died. He pushed Jerry and Jerry often seemed to be having a good time playing with Bruce, but when you start playing happy chords during 'Black Peter' you have to get your sensibilities checked.

I know this is mostly off topic but I say it to support the above statement that in NYE run, often the shows before NYE overshadow the NYE show. This was not the case last year as there was only one show so they just packed it full of goodies

any advice for a lot vendor thats never been to the oakland area?

>any advice for a lot vendor thats never been to the oakland area?<

be prepared for folks to line-up at 5:30pm

pretty much the usual stuff otherwise:

keep most of your stuff stashed in your locked vehicle.
and don't let security see you carry your stuff to-and-from your wheels/be prepared to lose whatever they nab you with....

and it sucks when it rains/is flooded

The circus is back in town!!!

"Everybodys dancing in a ring around the sun.."

is sikuru playing tonight?

It will be sad to see Joan and Rob's last few shows. It started to come together quite nicely.

Passenger to open 2nd set

have fun everybody

2nd set to open with Passenger. I feel we will get one more Days Between out of Joan.

Gr8fuldad,

6:45 out in foyer Sec 201

-Sid

The Dead, Oakland Arena, 12/30/03

#-w/Greg Osby

Set 1:
#Shakedown Street> Jam>
She Said She Said
Cryptical Envelopment>
Loser
#Strawberry Fields Forever> #Jam>
Loose Lucy
#Scarlet Begonias>
#Fire On The Mountain

New to the board. I've checked out a bit of the info over the past 6 monthes. Think that it's amazing to have a great person like Taperrob to always keep you up to date with correct setlists. It always seems like a animated and often intelligent discussion. Just wanted to wish everyone a healthy and fun '04 and to say

" At this moment I'd rather be in Oakland with all my past tour friends. Having another unforgettable night>day>night."

New Years with the Dead always as one long sustained jam for 60hrs. So here's to a happy and musical New Year.

The Dead, Oakland Arena, 12/30/03

#-w/Greg Osby

Set 1:
#Shakedown Street> Jam>
She Said She Said
Cryptical Envelopment>
Loser
#Strawberry Fields Forever> #Jam>
Loose Lucy
#Scarlet Begonias>
#Fire On The Mountain

Set 2:
#Jam>
#Unbroken Chain> #Jam>
#Even So>
#October Queen> #Jam....
#Estimated Prophet> #Jam>
#Uncle John's Band>
Drumz>
#Jam> #UJB (reprise)>
#Jam(Joan vocalizing)/Space>
#Sugaree
Donor Rap
Touch Of Grey

just got back from the show. great first set. totally smokin. loose lucy stands out for me as great vocals and really tight. the jams were really good too. especially leading into uncle john's band and right before the space -> sugaree.
which, by the way was a very rockin cool sugaree.
there were also some great keyboard jams/solos in the first set. finally they let the hammond ring out and rock like in the brent years.
scarlet was also pretty sweet.
everyone in the arena was really nice and mellow and even the security folks seemed to be having a real good time.
i think tomorrow will be maybe even sweeter.

This show was wonderful! Right before the lights went down and the band came on stage, the band all got together and had a group hug. That set the tone for the night. The performance was very enthusiastic, with the songs nicely sung and the jams purposeful. Unlike some of the earlier Dead shows from this summer which tended to meander, this show felt like it had a purpose and stuck to it very consistently. Phil was grinning from ear to ear the whole show it seemed like. After the encore, the band had another hug together on stage and thanked everyone. Joan gave Bobby a big kiss. Given how happy everyone looked and how nice the music sounded, it's hard to imagine that half these nice people have been sacked!
Osby added some very nice solos to a number of the jams. The transition from strawberry fields to loose lucy was really smooth. The sugaree that closed the show was humongous. Joan improvised an additional verse for it. The whole thing was so powerful, they had to stop there. When Phil was done with his rap, he wanted to start touch of grey, but no one else was on stage. So he simply started to play, and gradually the other guys wandered on stage and joined in.
We've been really lucky between PLQ and the Dead to hear so much good music this year! I'm psyched for tomorrow now.

>>>>We've been really lucky between PLQ and the Dead to hear so much good music this year!

Amen brother.

Is this going to be released via MunckMix?

Yes

Dont tell me this town aint got no Heart..



Cause you just gotta polk around !

It was a very nice show. Out in the lot was the most vendors Ive seen at a show since Jerry Died. Everyone was friendly and in good spirits.

Once inside I was surprised to find it only half full or so. They REALLY should have played these shows at the Kaizer Aud. It is a much beter venue and would have been the perfect size venue for a crowd this size. (Plus I would have been able to walk to a show which would have beeen sweet).

The band came out and opened with a good high energy Shakedown. The rest of the set was smooth with not too many jams. They ended with a Scarlet that started with a slow tempo and built as the song went on. A pretty damn good jam went into Fire. My girldfiend has never heard Mickey sing Fire and when he started rapping she said, "That just isnt right". Pretty funny. It was a strong version though. I amm sure it was a regualar length first set but it felt short.

The second set started with a Jam that led into Unbroken Chain that had some strong mid-section jamming. Then they did Even So> October Queen. Which was very tight but would have been nice to have a more uptempo selection here.

A nice jam led into a MONSTER Estimated Prophit. It was a creepy muscular version that just dripped with...er...whatever you call that energy that the dead can produce.

I enjoyed the Uncle Johns Band that led abruptly (but artfully) into a fantastic drums. One of the best I have heard for a long time. I dont care what anyone says but Mickey is the man!

Later one of my fiends who was a dead show virgin confided in me that she almost lost it during drums. She said she felt like she was being taken over.

Drums led into a jam which turned into UJB reprise. It really felt like the drums was part of UJB and they where simply continueing on with the sond. How does this song go...

Then a very trippy space materalized. I like when they mixe it up.

They closed the set with a very good Sugaree. Joan really is a great addition. Very powerful and emotional singing.

Touch of grey was high energy a good close to a good solid show.

A couple of notes:

-When the band came out Bobby said something to the effect of "Joan Osborn Everyone", with kind of a sarcastic voice, seemingly aludeing to the rumors.

-Rob and Jeff played on every song.

-Phil's base was mixed wayyyy to low from my vantage point on the floor. I like a loud Phil.

As I cruised down from the BART station to the Collisum last evening at around quarter to seven, I was struck by the lack of cars in the parking lots, especially the north lot which used to be the heart of Shakedown Street. But this is not the "Grateful" Dead that your parents used to groove to. While the lots were mighty empty close to show time, a Shakedown Street mall was situated on the sidewalk leading out from the main entrance and ran through the north lot. Dozens of merchants hawked everything from ice cold Sierras to blankets bearing the Shroud of Jerry. In fact the music that was played loudly from the car stereo leading up to that sidewalk all played Jerry Garcia in some form.

Inside the area revealed a less than sold out house; the upper deck completely empty, while the side seats were availble in what was once known as the Jerry zone were plentyful. The balloons for NYE were hung throughout the cieling and a not very well concealed space saucer hung over the soundboard.

As the lights dimmed, the band came out and exploded into Shakedown. Imploded was probably the better term as Bob Weir sucks when singing Garcia songs. That was even more evident when he sang Loser. What's with this guy? Here's the front man for what was once a beloved band. When Jerry Garcia was alive, Bobby would get to do every other song. The guy has a well respected cannon of treasured Dead songs and what does he do? Sings Garcia all night- and shitty at that. Like I said this ain't The Dead your mommy and daddy used to dig.

Joan Osbourne proved to be all class as she demonstrated she is the only one there that can actually sing rightiously. Joan's rendition of The Beatles "She Said She Said," was the best played song of the evening. Rob, Jeff and Jimmy, joined by saxaphist Greg Osbey, tried their best to give the songs some life. It was obvious that these guys do not rehearse. If the defination of a jam band is to play every song sloppy, then The Dead are the kings of jam.

I predict that this band will continue to reap the law of diminishing returns for each of its future tours. The novelty of being back is now beginning to wear itself thin as these tired old guys are being run over by bands such as Phish, SCI, Widespread Panic, and Gov't Mule. Who's going to travel great distances or follow the band from city to city? The fans have other bands to spend their shrinking dollars on and I predict that the Dead's audiance will continue to dwindle.

This Dead NYE show is being sold on TV and radio ads that have been in daily rotation for the past two weeks. When was the last time a DEad NYE show didn't sell right out of the box? This morning KFOG had Bobby and Mickey on telling folks all about the lore of NYE past. It is also interesting while these guys are telling old Bill Graham stories that for the first time Bill Graham Presents is not promoting the Dead's showcase NYE show.

Maybe that's because this ain't The Dead that Bill Graham used to boogie too.

or maybe it's cause BGP got sold to clear channel?

While it's true that BGP was sold to ClearChannel, the San Francisco company is still called:

Bill Graham Presents

"as these tired old guys are being run over by bands such as Phish, SCI, Widespread Panic, and Gov't Mule."

I could not disagree more. While those bands you listed are good (with the exception of SCI), none of them have that special something that only phil and the guys can produce. I feel incrediably lucky to still see these guys. The GD, JGB, PLQ and the Dead are the apex of human acheivment in my opinion. Its much more than just music and that flame is still burning if you know how to look.

Maybe the dark is from your eyes?

Another wonderful coffe stream at work to end the year. Thanks TR!

>>Rob and Jeff played on every song.


not true, on a few songs it was just Jeff or just Rob... ie. the Strawberry Fields.. just Rob on the electric piano...


and Bob skipped a verse in Loser:

Don't you push me baby, 'cause I'm moaning low
Well I know a little something you won't ever know
Don't you touch hard liquor, just a cup of cold coffee
Gonna get up in the morning and go


and Joan added a little something extra to the last verse in Sugaree.... sounded sweet..

Thanks for the correction TaperRob and thank you for the effort you put into spreading the music. While it is obviously fun for you, I know it entails personal sacrifice and you should know that your efforts are very appreciated.

why do i always have to read negative shit on this board when i read a review of the show i missed? Wizard you're fucking right! The dark is from Carrot top's eyes. He has no idea what he's talking about. Why were you even there? If you wanted to waste your time and my time you could've went to see SCI or Widespread Panic and wrote a meaningless review about their show. These two bands have no right to even be mentioned in the same breath as the Dead. As far as i'm concerned the setlist last night is making me kick myself for not being in Cali. I've never seen a bad show from the Dead. Yeah some are better than the others, but I don't get the whole negative shit. The only other show i could've even wanted to see last night besides the Dead was Phish's, and i usually wouldn't say that cause i felt their shows as of late havn't all been as good as they could be, but their setlist last night def rivaled the Dead. Hope everyone has a blast tonight! Happy New Year's! I wish i was gonna be there to enjoy the ridiculously psychadelic Dark Star,Lazy Lightning, Caution, and Born Cross Eyed (just a few of my favorites that i'm sure will be played tonight).

Ok heres my take of the day. Very nice lot scene mellow not a whole lot of shakin on shakedown street but some. $15 to park the car seemed a bit excessive but that's just me. no line to get in walked right in at 6:30 and walked right up to the stage (Philzone of course).The opener was hot, he said she said seemed to be talkin to all of us rumour mongers out in space.Strawberry feilds was real nice as well as scarlet>Fire(Mickey??.) I thought the set was a bit short at just about an hour. 2nd set smoked, real nice unbroken chain and then it lifted off with estimated thru sugaree. The Joan zone is an aquired taste I guess. The classic flub in Uncle John's Band and Bobby's reaction were priceless. Touch of Grey encore we love and miss you JERRY. Easy exit and I'm ready to do it again.Overall I'd say it was a good time I thought the sound wasn't that good with Phil and Jimmy being a little low in the mix.
BTW if anyone finds the sweater I lost my wife wants it back.

>>>are the apex of human achievement in my opinion.

Right behind the atomic bomb and landing on the moon.

An early Cryptical...does that mean O.O. tonight?

"you could've went to see SCI or Widespread Panic and wrote a meaningless review about their show. These two bands have no right to even be mentioned in the same breath as the Dead."

You're right. My bad.

Those bands are not only better, but they're on the way up!

The Dead is dead. Long live Jerry Garcia! Unfortunatley, Jerry will not be making an appearance tonight. And that, my dear, is the difference. When the best songs are done by Joan and Mickey- That says it all!

I'm sorry that you can't tell the good shit from the bad. But that's your problem!

"I'm sorry that you can't tell the good shit from the bad. But that's your problem!"

Your right. There is ABOSLUTE TRUTH when it comes to music and you are the one who knows it. Please accept my apology. Hopefully someday I can be as wise as you.....On second thought, if knowing ABSOLUTE OBJECTIVE TRUTH about music were to make me enjoy SCI more than the magic last night, Id rather stay ignorant.

If anyone should be singing Garcia - it's Weir
By the way - this seems to be relevant lately...

ah, the 80's bird. all style, no substance. much like bobby. (easy, just kidding...not about the bird though)

anyone who was bored last night should have stayed home. period. the dead are doing what the dead have always done best -- jamming with their friends and fans. full respect to phil for keeping this thing going. it's about positive energy, love, music, and community.

anyone who is a fan of *sugaree* (or joan, for that matter) get your hands on a copy of this show.

peace

>>>while the side seats were availble in what was once known as the Jerry zone were plentyful.

If you paid attention, that section was entirely taped off. It was special seating for someone or some group.

Anyone hung up on the parking lot and how many cars are there is trying to prove a point. I''l take The Dead over some mindless noodling, lyrcially challenged other jam band that would charge more if they could. Stay home.

>>>>>>>>The Dead is dead. Long live Jerry Garcia! Unfortunatley, Jerry will not be making an appearance tonight. And that, my dear, is the difference. When the best songs are done by Joan and Mickey- That says it all! <<<<<<<<<<<<


That is to perfect. the dead should call it quits IMNSHO. Carrot top nailed it!

You know i wasn't there....but i'd like to point out that crypical>loser>StrwberryFields has got to be the worst segue in history...it's right up there with LadyWithaFan>>TenneseeJed>Terrapin ... or Potato>Rooster>MorningDew...from what angle does this may sense?...can someone please tell me?

The Road goes on forever

amongst the journey of the Dead

>>You know i wasn't there....but i'd like to point out that crypical>loser>StrwberryFields has got to be the worst segue in history



you are right, you were not there, so shut up...

and if you read the setlist right the first time, there was a full stop after the loser, no segue.....

"The Dead" sounded great at the Oakland Arena last night. I went in with low expectations but they were wildly exceeded. The setlist (see below) was solid, with the highlights being the Shakedown opener (don't tell this Oakland resident that this town ain't got no heart!); 2 Beatles covers in the 1st set (She Said She Said with Joan Osborne on lead vocals was especially good); a kickass Scarlet>Fire (my personal favorite, especially the Scarlet); a nice long Uncle Johns>Drums sandwich (mmmm, drums); and a monster Sugaree closer. Joan Osborne only sang lead on 3 songs (the Beatles tunes & Sugaree). It was my first time seeing her with them and I thought she was a nice addition. It was particularly sweet to see the drummers together again; along with Phil, they are still the best rhythm section in rock and roll (with apologies to Santana). Greg Osby added some very nice texture on sax, but seemed reluctant to take charge with solos, with only a couple of exceptions. Bobby flubbed the lyrics to UJB then later bonked himself in the head (seemingly pretty hard) with the neck of his guitar to punish himself during the "How does the song go?" line, which was pretty funny. The Arena was only a little more than half full, so the upper deck was completely empty, and it was relatively roomy and comfortable on the floor. It wasn't the greatest show I've ever been to, but it was definitely a lot of fun and I'm glad I went! Happy New Year Every One!

>>If anyone should be singing Garcia - it's Weir <<

Major steaming pile of bullshit! Based on what? Seniority? Fuck that. Jerry always said he served the music. Joan or Rob singing Garcia/Hunter tunes serves the music better than Butcher Bob's attacks.

Caveat: I was not at the show last night. With that said, I will not be paying money to see "The Dead" ever again. It's not worth the price nor the time. Something about Bobby just gives me bad vibes. There is way too much of a commercial element to The Dead. After all, they do sell anything they can. Yet, Phil CONTINUES to give away shows for free. Question for anyone who might have been there... is Rob still "banned" from singing? It seemed he barely got a word in during the summer. Then I go to some fall Phil and Rob is tearing it up. What gives? And as far as songs like Shakedown are concerned, IMHO, the only person who can do any justice to them is Warren (Joan does do some good stuff on some of the songs though). Hearing Bobby sing Shakedown is just the biggest let down EVER. Some people say you shouldn't criticize it. Well, that's well and good.. BUT that's our job. I go to a show for the music, not to do drugs, not to get drunk. If the music ain't there, why go? I think all my bitterness boils down to the fact that Phil's life would be much better spent (in the eyes of some of his fans) playing with PLQ than with "The Dead."

>>you are right, you were not there, so shut up...

Hey Rob...why the rude comment?

I've never been derogatory with you. Or have I?

Don't you think I deserve a little more respect that this?

Honestly, it hurts my feelings when you respond to me that way?

>>and if you read the setlist right the first time, there was a full stop after the loser, no segue.....

Whether it was a segue or not, Rob .... It's just another example of Bob's baffling sense of song flow...he always lets me down

Best "Even So" EVER.
(Best boomers ever?)
The crowd was mostly *Lifers*.
ALL good.

I was there... it was good... very good...

good show overall did anyone else notice Bobby kick jimmy after the 1st set? He walked over to him and gave him a little kick. Anyone else catch this?

I'll continue to see the dead in any form as long as they continue to play ... but i feel ratdog and plq are better avenues for the music ... SO FAR ... but who knows ....

I think they are changing the dead again because they know its not good enough ... that's exciting and alright with me ... joan is very overpowering ... i'm sure she has her own carrer in mind as well

you know its funny ... when jerry died, i thought the only person that could fill jerry's vocals was Willie Nelson .... Who could have guessed that philband and the dead would eventually tour with him ... and still he sang not one jerry tune ... it really seemed like willie didn't know any of the dead's music at all ... i guess i was so close but no cigar ...

can't you hear willie singing....to lay me down... must have been the roses....uncle john's band.... friend of the devil....need i go on?

what a shame .... when he came out, they played mostly covers that he would be familiar with, and he didn't sing ...

too bad ... would have been historic for me

>ah, the 80's bird. all style, no substance. much like bobby. (easy, just kidding...not about the bird though)

hmm, I seem to recall that _______ & ______ were doing a lot of substance in the '80s.

although not furthur from the trvth, could be a j/k if you let it...

Hmmmm, well I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, so here is mine in no particular order.

First the venue. It was actually good to back in the Arena after all these years. Saw the Stones and Springstein after the renovaton and it freaked me a bit not to have the old place and the vibe that had evolved over 10 years of shows. I am not saying its better than the Greek or Kaiser or the Garden, all of which I have seen many shows, but with new lounges and the wider seating and yes, fewer people, the place just seemed comfortable. I heard through folks in the know that they had looked into moving to Kaiser but couldnt because NYE was already booked. For this 42 year old head, I liked having cushy seats 5 rows off the floor at half court and the nice leather chairs in the lounge areas. Yeah, Walton was in the way during the second set as he was hanging in the roped off "Jerry section," which was reserved for the laminate folks the same way it used to be on the Phil side, but we got around that.

Anyway, even though only about 6000-7000 folks were in the room, the boys made it seem small very fast. I wont review all the music, but I thought the playing, particularly Jimmy's soloing was just awesome. He really has come along way and having Greg Osby to play with added something that at times was I thought was missing during the summer run. While the first set did seem to have that cd, random, shuffle feel, the second just flowed along with that vista cruiser feel that marks many of the best shows.

This was definitley a stong show despite the flubs, of which Weir, in his inimitable fashion made light of. I liked his guitar wag to the audience when the band came out to start the show.
This music really is about all of us, so it gets me off when the band acknowleges the audience.

This show made me feel home. Its good to be back.

Bill,

I'm with you on the Willie Nelson thing. I was thinking exactly the same thing. He was born to sing those songs...

Brokedown Palace would have been swell....

Even Stella Blue.... Any of the Garcia tunes for that matter...

Not sure why it didn't happen...

Willie could have easily learned a tune or two, but for some reason he must have had reservations about it... Maybe his Lubbock buddies would have looked at him funny singing with those acid eating hippies... But he never seemed to care too much what people thought.

Anyway, I agree with you. I think it was a hugely wasted opportunity.

Yeah Steve...yah know, I thought it almost disrespectful that he didn't sing a garcia song.

I think the first time he opened for phil was a few years ago in camden, NJ. It was really obvious that didn't know who they were. He had to ask before he announced them as next.

Ok, he's willie nelson, his career has been well outside that of the Grateful Dead, but since then he has played at least 20 shows with them, including phil and the dead. Why didn't he sing a few songs?

I was really disappointed. I think I would have cried if he had put his heart into a few garcia/hunter songs. What a perfect singer for those songs. I guess he'll never sing them, and we'll never know why.

well I just got back from a week vacation away from the chilly Pittsburgh weather [though it was pretty cold and wet after the show on the 31st]. After reading the negative reviews on here I immediately was reminded of this older kurmudgeon-type that I was talking to on the walkway from the BART station to the arena. He was saying how he'd seen 300 shows with Jerry and how this was all so disgraceful now with ticket prices and the venue not being sold out and the band sucked now without Jerry and how he rememberered the good ol days and blah blah blah...

so, being in a particularly good mood myself I just let him bitch and moan and cry about everything that was wrong with the Dead scene and after he paused I simply asked him why he was here then. And he said that he didn't really know what else to do for New Year's.

I smiled and told him I hoped he found some way to have a good time in this hellish atmosphere.

But my questions to all of the negative nancies out there are this: why bother coming if you don't have a good time? don't you feel that all of that negativity that you're harboring is going to effect some other people at the show and why would you want to spread negativity through a scene that you [at least at one time] loved so dearly?

Any ways, I thought the show was great, good shakedown opener, kindof strange to have a stand alone cryptical [ I thought for sure we would get an OO on NYE] but the loser that come out of it was so fucking hot that I almost forgot they had played cryptical, I saw them play loser for the 1st time in Vernon this summer [at least I think it was the 1st time] and Bobby has come a long ways with the vocals of this song since then,

The scarlet jam was really inventive and to my ears it sounded like they were slipping in some china cat teases before the second reprise. fire was nice with the addition of Osby even with Mickey's catterwalling. I've actually come to terms with his vocals on fire in sort of a strange way, it sounds to me as if he is almost TRYING to sing the song as ridiculously as possible and usually the jams are so good that I almost forget that Mickey's going to start bellowing again and so when he does I end up busting out laughing, and laughing is a good thing so it's not so bad for me: I dance and laugh, could be worse.

UBC was excellent, one of the best versions that this band has played. I even enjoyed Even So and October
Queen, Jimmy played the shit out of the pair. The Estimated was the highlight of the show for me, crazy jams and a very spacey vibe,

The Sugaree to end the show was actually the first post GD version of the song I've heard that didn't make me want to shoot myself in the foot. The encore was fun and short, full of energy and it reminded me of the beginning of summer tour and I was smiling ear to ear on the way out thinking of all the great memories these guys have given to me.

And I'm smiling just as big now listening to the show from the 31st on the computer radio thingee. I can't wait to get these two shows on disk!

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL, I love this band and I feel bad for any one that doesn't because you're missing one hell of a time.

it's still the greatest show on earth

The 30th was a crazy show for me. I'd taken a whole bunch of paper, so my take on the show might definitely be scewed. In any case, I'll offer up my review for anyone who might be interested.
I don't remember what time it was that we got in to the show, but I remember that it was during loose lucy. I was seriously bummed to learn that we'd missed shakedown and cryptical. oh well, what can you do I guess. I actually got a ticket for free outside, so I didn't feel too bad about missing the beginning, but it was still weird to only hear three songs and then the set was over.
The unbroken was great. I was definitely not too happy to hear the two bob songs that were next. Actually, I was surprised they played them. Estimated was definitely awesome. I can't remember the last time I'd seen the dead or the other ones do this and hearing it at the coliseum in the state I was in was definitely mind-bending.
UJB was the highlight of the night for me, by far. The jam leading into it was seriously intense. they kept doing the opening G-Bm-C-D chords and then stopped for a breif second and then started the song. During the opening jam, my mind was really going crazy. I was thinking how those chords were really ingrained in my soul. It also occured to me that if there was ONE jam that definied the GD sound it was probably these changes in this song. In any case, I definitely can't properly explain it - but it was a great moment for me.
Sugaree was great too. I always liked joan and I always thought she did particularly well on this tune. before this show, I thought the rumors about her leaving were bullshit, but over the course of the show I began to think they were definitely true. I took these lines, 'just don't tell them that you know me', and, 'please forget you knew my name', etc as meaning that after joan is gone and goes back to being a pop-singer, don't let the rest of the world know that she was a part of OUR crazy scene! The bombs phil dropped at the end of this song were the loudest I heard in years (he would, however, top these tomorrow night).
I'm not even going to get into my thoughts during the encore. I was definitely feeling some really weird energy going between joan and mickey and it kind of bugged me out. In any case, this show pumped me up for the next night, for sure.
we hung out in the lot for a little while and then crusied into SF to check out STS9. All in all, it was a great night and certainly one I'll never forget.
yeah, I agree, Bill, it's still the greatest show on earth ...

I was there 12/30. I had a great time and that's really what it is all about. Having a good time.

what was the music being played during the beginning and intermission...real cool

Wow!!! These two shows were just the sweetest experience. It was a real treat have such a small crowd in that big room. What a great range of ages there too, just as many folks with grey hair as folks in their twenties. The whole vibe was incredibly mellow and subdued... very churchlike. And also VERY psychedelisized.
The first set had a strange flow to the songlist, but had a nice kalidascopic quality that touched a lot of musical bases. I thought the energy definetly had that classic build-up, where they started as a rock band playing songs ( and Shakedown really did rock the house right at the start of the show) and ended with an epic Scarlet/Fire as some sort of magical cabal stealing the faces off the audience.
Met a few new friends during the setbreak, great conversations.
The second set was absolutely EPIC!!! A massive Unbroken Chain that just floored me. I couldn't even dance, I was so absorbed by the music. It was a very cerebral set, in my opinion. Greg Osby sounded great. Listening to him play off the Dead made me think of old-time Dixieland jazz, the interplay, and playfulness.
The two Wier tunes that followed were sure bigger and fuller than when he does them with Ratdog. Phil added a lot to those tunes. They both had a dark introspective quality that provided an interesting counterpoint to the otherwise joyful vibe of the evening.
The rest of the set was just a mindblowing tour-de-force that I personally feel rivals any of the Grateful Dead's best sets. It's so nice to hear them playing with the energy and power of their youth, and the subtlety and grace aquired with age. It was also neat to see how much a lead player Kreutzman was, changing musical directions at every oportunity, and very much leading the band at times in the jams. This set was massive, and I especially enjoyed Joan's treatment of Sugaree.
It was amusing when Phil started the encore with nobody else on stage, and to see the rest of the band running in order to jump in. A great rocked out Touch of Grey, sounding very different from the version they did with Garcia.
All in all, a joyous night for the ages....

trial

trial