jw harding

That triumphant jam/riff is a Garcia signature, reminiscent of St. Stephen, Estimated, probably a few other songs.

What a treat. Best of the 3 shows I saw this year, other 2 being San Diego and LA Theatre. Thought this show had better pacing, allowing the momentum to build throughout. No big surprises setlist wise, but I guess that means they just played all their best songs. The venue, and seats up close, certainly added something to it. Close enough to see the band well, but take in all the lights in the big shell. Things got pretty psychedelic a few times there.

Don't forget that Jerry Garcia Band double live album! Tangled Up in Blue, Dear Prudence, so many other greats.

Are you sure that is true for rock and roll shows? I thought it was only for orchestra and other classy merlot sipping type events. Don't think I've seen anyone bring alcohol in to any of the previous rock shows I've seen there, Roger Waters and Phish, and those fans love their mind altering substances.

Gotta give some more love to Torn and Frayed and Shine a Light.

The original Skynyrd lineup was pretty great. 3 great guitarists, not sure who was lead, and how much of their greatness was due to the production of Tom Dowd.

A lot of great stuff mentioned already. Will just add Sway, and all of Exile. I guess that's more than ten.

While I love the Dead, did Bob Weir really play rhythm guitar? He wasn't the lead guitarist, but don't think much of what he did had anything to do with rhythm, more providing textures or a web for Garcia to weave around. Guy is in his own special guitarist category.

How has no one mentioned CSNY yet? Pretty much any configuration of those individuals. Also, Dead, Band, Beatles.

How has no one mentioned the Allman Bros yet? Pretty much the first and best.

There is a youtube of that full show with Branford that you are referencing, I believe. The Slipknot is deep and nasty. Also, Big RxR Blues rocks!

I saw the 2nd to last Dead show, and cringed when they started my favorite tune, Terrapin. It got butchered. But then he pulled off the most amazing Visions, with all those verses - guess they had the teleprompters on for that one. Whatever the case, those post space Garcia ballads were my favorite parts of the shows, and why I could never leave early. The rest of the show was terrible, but that made it all worth while. Just wait for the "Even Mona Lisa must've had the highway blues...": http://youtu.be/xkIoj5iYTsI

You are right about the sound issues at Rosemont - one of the worst places to see a concert, but not sure if United Center is much better. Also right about those being Cutler's first shows.

There was some great stuff in that last Richfield run. The jam in Let it Grow on the first night, Phil getting weird on NFA. And the 2nd night, New Speedway bustout, plus Space>Lovelight>Stella Blue>Lovelight!!!! Hot shit.

I was 3rd row Jerry side for that show. Great setlist. Jerry did a little knee bend during Standing on the Moon. There were some sound issues that night, but great show. Might be the best version of So Many Roads...to heal my soul.

This article from back in the day does a pretty good job of describing how, at least in attitude, the Dead were the most punk band of all time: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/good-old-grateful-dead-19690823 To quote Bill Graham: "Ladies and gentlemen, the oldest juvenile delinquents in the state of California, the Grateful Dead..."

That picture is from the Jamaica festival in 1982. A friend who attended said the Dead didn't go on stage until about 3am, by that time most people had left. It is surprising to see Bob and Joe together, but Joe was a lot more than just an ignorant punk, really defies being categorized. Listen to his song Coma Girl, and it is clear he appreciates 60's culture, and references the Acid Tests. Great song. Also, Furthur covered London Calling about a year ago. Regarding the band's playing in the 80's, their demise has been greatly exaggerated. They really didn't start to stink it up on a c

Gotta include Tangled Up in Blue as one of the highlights, but every track kills. There's a great Dylan quote from the past ten years, where he says when he wants to relearn a song, he'd listen to the Garcia/Dead version to figure out how to do it. Senor too. Only Garcia understood how psychedelic that song is.

Phish's model is pretty good: sell soundboards to all shows, available for download about an hour after the show, plus if you bought a ticket you get a free copy. And they still allow tapers. Never heard of Pearl Jam's taping policy of not allowing external mics or whatever. Laughable. Not sure why Wilco is trying this expirement with the Geneva show though. Since it was on the radio and online, I would think quality rips of that show would be available.

Rolling Stone posted somethign about Roll on John being a tribute to John Lennon, with quotes from Come Together and A Day in the Life in it. It could be based on an older song though, Dylan tends to do that type of thing.

Greg Allman.

Wilco recently did a 7 minute version of California Stars with a bluegrass band sitting in at Red Rocks. Pretty sure that makes them a jamband now.

Pretty sure Bob has plans to write a book too.

I'm not Chris Rhodes, if that's what you're asking. My story from the show: behind the stage during the 2nd set, tripping hard for the 2nd day in a row, twisted. Corrina jam. Things start to get weird. The crowd starts cheering, it seems like they're singing along, reacting in unison. The music sounds really distorted, almost like the beginning of Shakedown St. I'm starting to freak out. What the fuck is going on here? A split second is an eternity. Maybe I should get the hell out of here. Then all of a sudden, the entire arena sings "Oh oh what I want to know, how does the song go?"

I'm a picky motherfucker. Don't hate the Crowes, just don't love them.