jw harding
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Everything posted by jw harding
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Nice live 1970 compilation on reddit by some knowledgeable folks if anyone is interested: https://t.co/IetqriQftv
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Pretty sure there was a Furthur show or two at RCMH. I recall some show a few years back where Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, and Larry Campbell sat in for a song or two. Maybe that was somewhere else? Agreed on the rough spots during these shows, particularly with the vocals, but they have been more endearing than detracting. They started to flub the second verse of Dark Star, but Bob had a nice recovery and made a change that seemed to suit the psychedelic non-linear nature of the tune. Also don't particularly enjoy Bob singing the big Jerry ballads, but liked that Standing on the Moon. The
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Saw acoustic Hot Tuna do Operator a few years back. Think Jorma covered it on a recent album. So, kinda similar to the Bob and Phil thing. Tuna's version made me realize that the music to Operator is basically a rip off musically of Fishin Blues, the traditional popularized by Taj Mahal. Listen and compare. Have enjoyed the Phil and Bob stuff a lot so far, nice review in Rolling Stone that captures the magic and misses pretty well. Think the set with Trey finally delivered on the hope that never came through at Fare Thee Well. When they opened up that Jack Straw, I felt a tingle go up my le
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Axl. Donna Godchaux.
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Not a huge Hot Tuna/Airplane fan, but did love Jorma's Blue Country Heart album. Feels like it came out yesterday, but over 15 years old at this point. Jorma and Jack have been playing music together for over 60 years. Outside of siblings, doubt that is longevity is something very many others share.
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I did not watch the Barlow wake, but did accidentally stumble across a picture of the scene online. Sad. I'd imagine those that did watch will be reminded of it every time they hear Cassidy, so good luck with that.
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A cowboy turned Harvard dropout turned India vagabond turned Millbrook resident with Leary turned coke dealer turned Grateful Dead lyricist turned political activist (and Cheney supporter) turned internet pioneer. The guy did alright.
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Another man's done gone Circle songs and sands of time And seasons will end in tumbled rhyme And little change, the wind and rain
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I think I did recall you saying that, but think I've heard it in other reviews as well. These first set kind of songs, the reasons for preferring certain versions can be very personal. Regardless, I love a good Jack Straw.
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Agree with these thoughts on 78 and 76. 78 had great highs, but pretty rough at times too. The 12/31/78 show is a great example. The first 2 sets are kind of a mess, with the exception being Fire. But the 3rd set is peak Dead. The 7/8/78 Red Rocks show is of course a classic. The Other One I previously mentioned is from Dicks Picks 18, 2/5/78. Garcia's energy is off the charts, but the train is about to go off the tracks, the band is not all on the same page, which makes it all the more thrilling.
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Yes, too loose in 78. Heard an Other One from a 78 Dicks Picks recently that was phenomenal, with Garcia going nuts, but barely holding it together. Listened to some of that Red Rocks 78 box set over the weekend, same.
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I'm not sure who Mickey's drum coach was, but Terrapin producer Keith Olson made him get one (as he couldn't stay in time), and he was on the road with them in Spring 77. Then Mickey broke his wrist shortly after the tour.
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Regarding Dave's #25 11/6/77. Good show and worth a few listens. Amazing the drop off from the Spring, when they sounded so tight. Now they sound a bit unhinged, on the verge of falling apart, which is not entirely bad, but kind of surprising. It works well on an explosive Truckin. Not sure about Jack Straw being among the best ever, but it is good. Probably prefer the restrained early versions or the over the top Garcia pyrotechnic versions of the last several years, but that's just me. But just surprising how much different they sound compared to the Spring. Mickey's injury and loss of hi
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I made a 12 cd set that is pretty righteous. Feel free to download: http://walklikeagiant.blogspot.com/2015/01/ Imagine all the bad trips caused by seeing Kevin McHale's armpit hair. Frightening!
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Felt like 30 Trips is about as good of a compilation of the Dead as you're gonna get in 4 discs. Liked it a lot more than the So Many Roads box set, which was a bit all over the place. Some issues with sound quality variation throughout for sure though. And not something I'll listen to very often, except for possibly disc 2.
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Maybe I'm not being clear, but kind of seems like you're selectively responding to what I'm writing. There are abundant recordings from recent years I enjoy listening to. Their jamming has evolved really well even with Trey's decline in technical ability. I was at Tahoe Tweezer. I was at Halloween 2014. They're up there with the best I've seen them in 25 years. I thought Fuego was a great album that holds up with their best. There are still a few great songs here and there. But the ceiling is so high, and the bottom is so low (bad songs). I have very few expectations for the band at this po
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Like I said, I liked Fuego a lot, and that was released less than 2 years before Big Boat, I believe. So they have the potential to evolve as a band and still write good tunes at times - their jamming styles certainly has evolved. Unfortunately that is often not the case with the songs, with intricacy, mania, humor, and non-sense being replaced with overly earnest, simplistic, and cliched verse, chorus, verse songs. That is not the band I fell in love with, and such a drastic departure from their identity, I can't help but react strongly to the new songs. If your expectations for a band do not
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The new years run was pretty excellent overall, and finished off a strong year for them, particularly if you lived in the NYC area, with 17 shows at MSG. First set on 12/30 and first two sets on 12/31 were highlights. 3rd set was up and down, as is often the case. I thought Fuego was a great album, and was really disappointed with Big Boat. They got pushed outside their comfort zone, tried to write songs meaningful songs, which is not their strong suit. Some of them are ok live once you get past the composed part and get to the jam. At least they are still getting it done live, but these emo
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Rang in the new year with a video I had never seen before, 12/30/77. Second set is hot and weird, particularly a jam in Eyes that gets out there. Much of the set was released on Dicks Picks 10, as a bonus to the 12/29 show. Highly recommended: https://youtu.be/yqZP8ihyfs8
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I like the Little Martha intro, not sure why an Allmans fan would want to skip that. The audience sing-along at the end is nice too.
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2/15/73 Dane County is a popular starter tape. Here's a pretty special stretch of music. 5/25/72: Uncle John's Band -> Jam -> Wharf Rat -> Dark Star -> Sugar Magnolia The Jam is really Dark Star, and they drift seamlessly into Wharf Rat, which really hits home how similar the music is to the two tunes. Then following the Wharf Rat they do go into Dark Star. The Dark Star is about 34 minutes. Really enjoy the buildup from Dark Star into Sugar Mag, which they did a few times on this tour.
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For future reference, seems like GD curriculum would be: 101: Europe 72, Live/Dead, Working Man's, American Beauty, Reckoning, Without a Net, GD Movie 201: 8/27/72 (Sunshine Daydream) 6/9/77 5/8/77 12/19/73 (Dick's Picks 1) 8/13/75 (One from the Vault) 8/24/68 (Two from the Vault) 5/19/74 5/2/70 8/6/71 6/10/73 Ladies and Gentlemen Steppin Out Formerly the Warlocks Infrared Roses Long Strange Trip doc From there, it would probably be graduate level courses focusing on specific eras/tours - Fillmore Box, Europe 72, Spring 77. Going through all the Dicks Picks.
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The 8/6/71 Hollywood Palladium show that Shug mentioned is also a great recommendation for the casual fan. The Dead at their most rocking. That Hard to Handle is one of their great peaks. The audience recording is actually probably superior to the soundboard release that Shug mentions, as it really captures the bonkers energy in the room that night. One of the few times I'd take an aud over sbd.
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There is video of much of the show, which has kind of been hobbled together into a documentary called Sunshine Daydream. Probably available on youtube, it was officially released just a few years back after being an underground thing for many years. May be The Dark Star, and certainly recommend enhancing your consciousness to fully appreciate it. It will take you places. Not sure if this is serious or not. I listened to it when it first came out, but not much since. The Dead at their weirdest in the late era, playing with the midi effects. I do love the Crowd Sculpture.
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Agree on the GD Movie. Thinking Without a Net to get some exposure to late era electric Dead when they were at their peak in that period, and the Eyes with Branford makes it a keeper.