jw harding

I love Grayfolded. My favorite and most listened to Dark Star. No boring parts, just peak after peak. Infared Roses - love the Crowd Sculpture track. Really reminds me of the feeling of being in a Dead parking lot, drugs starting to take effect. The rest of the album you need to be pretty high to absorb.

Steal Your Face has to be the worst way to get into the Dead. As a double live album, you expect it to be amazing. But the reality is a muddy mess. I still have a hard time accepting a lot of those great songs, as it was my first introduction to them.

Sets seemed on the short side - a couple first sets with just 7 songs. One set had only two songs after Space. Thought they would try and squeeze a few more in considering this would be the last time. Think they could've done a bit more given the occasion and expense involved. They just don't give a shit.

One interesting thing about these shows is they were pretty much just standard Grateful Dead shows. They didn't really do anything extra or special, other than some fireworks, and putting a few second set songs in the first set. Drums>Space at every show. Could barely get a second encore out of them. Kinda cool they went out just doing what they do best, but hard not to hope for or expect a little something extra. Muscial highlights for me of Chicago shows: 1st night: all of the first set, great energy throughout, but particularly Music Never Stopped. When Trey hit that intro lick, it

What a night! Hope everyone had an amazing time! That's all I got.

Strange song choices second set pre-drums last night. Seems they're gonna leave a lot of great ones on the shelf. Tonight is gonna be huge, the peaks in Terrapin and Rider will be earth shattering.

Last night exceeded my expectations. Certainly stepped it up a notch and more rehearsed than in SC. First set has incredible top to bottom, particularly the Music Never Stopped. Trey's intro lick in that tune, and his guitar throughout were insane. Partying with friends, so didn't notice flaws sounds like others did, but certainly they seemed to be more patient and allowing the jams to build, despite a few hiccups. Not sure why they're playing Mason's or New Potato, with so many other classic tunes on the shelf unlikely to be played. Would prefer not to hear Let it Grow in the back half of a s

I expect a lot of the stuff from first night in SC will get repeated - Truckin, UJB, Dark Star, Other One, St Steve, Dew - some of their classic tunes. From the 2nd night, Eyes and Sugar Mags. Based on an interview with Trixie Garcia in Billboard, there at least seems to be an awareness amongst insiders that Trey needs to be more assertive, so hopefully he will attempt and be allowed to do so. Regardless, it ain't gonna be 8/27/72, but it should be a fun time.

Bob only sang 4 "Bob" songs last night. I'm sure most of us prefer Jerry tunes, but wish Bob would sing more of his own, and let Trey and Bruce handle more of the singing duties. And no Estimated Prophet in CA on a Sunday is fucking stupid. Playing was better last night, not crazy about the setlist. Seems they're saving the best songs for Chicago. Hope they rehearse them in the meantime.

Trey has a tendency to be hesitant and deferential when sitting in with bands. Seems to be the case here, especially with this band being so uncertain. He needs to take the lead more, rather than let Bobby steer the ship. Warren Haynes would have no problem doing that, but it would've become the Warren Haynes show. Highlights of the first set were Alabama Getaway with Trey singing lead, and Hell in a Bucket, when Bob tried to end it but Trey just ignored him and kept on ripping. Trey is more engaged and energetic when singing, like on Cream Puff War last night. They need to let Trey and Bruce

That setbreak music was one of the highlights for me. Sounded like Dead or Jerry Band studio outtakes. Real good stuff. Show was ok. Nothing to great or terrible.

You can also stream from youtube, nugs.net, and pay per view on most cable providers. Not sure of the price difference amongst carriers, think some are HD some SD. I pre-ordered all 5 nights a while back for $80, seems pretty worthwhile to me. Getting antsy. Opener predictions: Playin They Love Eachother Dark Star Stranger Fuck it: Mind Left Body Jam

Mayer at this point would likely deliver more note for note perfect solos, but to my ears kind of generic and empty. With Trey, greater risk and reward. He can hang with them if they take it out there. Mayer can't. I'm not sure these shows are meant to take it out there though, seems it's more about celebrating the great songs. Hoping for a few moments of dancing on the edge of magic at least. My opinion, like much in the Grateful Dead world, everyone has a different perspective and preferences.

That's very cool. I've heard similar stories about Jerry in the early days babysitting tripping fans.

Apparently there was a hippie 60's band out of Portland, OR by the name The New Tweedy Brothers. I guess there is no relation to Jeff and family, as there was not actually anyone in the band by the name of Tweedy. Just kind of random. Anyone heard of them? Apparently they shared a bill with the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver on this date in 1966. I guess by now they'd be the Old or the Dead Tweedy Brothers. Some relevant links: http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-new-tweedy-brothers-mw0000569460 http://pnwbands.com/newtweedybrothers.html http://www.gdao.org/items/show/831127

Pretty heavy Franklin's Tower vibe in the this Hiss Golden Messenger tune Lucia. Mellow 76 groove: https://t.co/4baZQdfiwU And one that gets a bit of a Dead jam going at the end: https://t.co/xcNAywg7If

It is a very cool article, rare to see such an in depth and behind the scenes look at the band and their fans. It was also included as the liner notes to Dick's Picks 31, but cool to see what the hard copy looked like, and I'm sure nice to have it as a keepsake of the experience. Link to the article here: http://www.gdreferencesite.com/dp31.html

Seems Pitchfork is even getting in on the Dead hoopla. I follow this writer on twitter and he's got a good music blog, knows his stuff: http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/789-invisible-hits-decades-of-dead-garage-psych-in-67/ Aquarium Drunkard has had their Dead Notes thing going for a while: http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2015/06/03/dead-notes-the-printed-word-volume-i/ And a blog I enjoy with a nice Dead compilation: http://walklikeagiant.blogspot.com/

Must've been quite a sight to walk in and see the Wall of Sound at your first show. Were you able to appreciate the sound quality, or have any recollection of that?

Listening to this 74 for show for the Dark Star> Slipknot> Stella Blue: https://archive.org/details/gd74-07-25.sbd.miller.12656.sbeok.shnf Anyone ever see the Wall of Sound? Kind of a toss up to travel back in time and see either a Wall of Sound show or an Acid Test. Some great reviews on the Archive: I attended this show, and over 100 more after it. My recollections: The hall was cavernous and totally dark when we arrived. Some seven or eight of us were seated on stage left, about halfway up and halfway back. The music had already started, but all we could hear was swirling noise

The four disc set looks pretty nice, so much better than any of the other "greatest hits" releases they've done in the past.

Slow reveal. Rollingstone.com has some more details, interview with Lemeiux. Would be nice to have the book and packaging, but looking forward to free download.

Details on the Dead's big release for the anniversary: http://www.dead.net/store/special-edition-shops/50th-anniversary-shop/30-trips-around-sun-box#.VW3Sk4F9e2A.twitter

Robinson plays Minglewood Blues, and it is pretty ripping.

What songs stand out? Seems like a pretty standard greatest hits radio friendly set. I don't think it would be possible to have a bad set of Stones songs, but for $2 million you'd think they could bust out Torn and Frayed.