jw harding

Yeah Keltner on drums is great. Nice to see another 80 year old up there with Bob. Dylan has changed drummers a few times since George left, hope he sticks with Keltner for some stability going forward. But I'm sure Keltner has lots of options and will only do it as long as he wants to.

I saw Dylan in 2023 after taking about a 15 year break from seeing him. I'm in the camp of not being a fan of his current arrangements and phrasing on older songs, and after that show still feel the same. But Rough and Rowdy Ways is incredible, and those songs really suit his current sound. The new material really blew me away. Going to catch him again at the Outlaw Tour in May, and know that it was more of a mix of newer and older stuff on the last Outlaw tour, but amazing to see him still mixing it up to such an extent.

I'd go with 6/26/74 as best China>Rider ever. Really my favorite performance from their entire career. The only time they did an extended intro jam, and everything is just psychedelic perfection, particularly the feeling groovy transition jam, with Bob laying down some of his finest guitar work. Great show, Dicks Picks 12. Eyes encore. https://archive.org/details/gd1974-06-26.140081.sbd.miller.patched.flac1644

Thanks, U2! Hope Bob can summon some magic for these shows.

I don't care for the music of Dead and Co. But I imagine the video/lights in the sphere will be wild. Hoping they go with more classic imagery and psychedelia rather than the neo-hippie corporate cosplay they've turned the Dead's legacy into. Like, 360 degree Joshua Light Show, rather than dancing bears walking across the screen. I'm going to 1 phish show. Mixed feelings about how it will be musically, dreading a lot of newer material. But the spectacle should be something, they do like to go big.

Those 1st set, 2nd set albums got a lot of play back in the day. Great lineup. Anyway, here's Dylan singing Ramblin Man with Dickey: https://youtu.be/ubhasycSTm0?si=yOHw3VGajumXSlEm

The 2nd ever rendition of the full Many Worlds, I believe. Not played since it's Solid Sound debut. Love that song.

Probably lines up with Jerry calling Gregg a narc, which Gregg never got over. So yes, drugs.

In Memory of Impossible Germany. Good stuff.

Kind of slow to watching The Bear, but caught this episode recently and the opening scene really knocked me back a bit: https://youtu.be/Dhn8gQsV2GE The whole episode is great. Uses Spiders throughout to build up the tension. Probably been discussed on this board already.

Sir, this is an Arby's.

First post, first sentence, bro. But if you prefer, dislike. Sorry to offend your delicate sensibilities.

Must be annoying at times to hate the Dead, as their presence is ubiquitous throughout all aspects of American music. Knowningly, unknowingly, directly, indirectly, positive and negative, you can't avoid them. As the saying goes, we are everywhere. Don't worry haters, you are the normal ones, we are very weird. Carry on, and enjoy your audience recordings, or selections from Wilco's archive (you know who started both practices).

A few deep thoughts from last nights show: Haven't seen the band since they last played SD over 10 years ago. While they have frequented LA many times in the ensuing years, they've always been there on school nights, and given the band's dad rock leanings, that's just not an option. Also, one of the 10 largest cities in the US is not a suburb of LA. Hopefully I won't have to wait another 10. The older songs played are certainly among their best, and I would be happy to hear at any show - Handshake, War, Via, Hummingbird, Jesus, Impossible, CA, AiL, HMD, Spiders - wow!

The return of Dark California Stars seems on deck. Ripple, St. Steve, maybe some Dylan, Band tunes. I'm sure Nels is game for anything. But Jeff singing Brokedown Palace would be nice. Other possibilities: China Doll, Ship of Fools, It Must've Been the Roses, To Lay Me Down, Cosmic Charlie.