Vacant Horizon

Nickel Creek covered that tune pretty soon after the album came out.

We just saw Gillian and Dave as acoustic duo and they once again had us mesmerized and blown away at not just their locked in harmonies, his stunning fingerpicking, and the authentic living representation of archaic folk music but even more by the deep well of collective consciousness from which they seem to draw, making simple folk music feel like a profound cosmic experience.

 

Agreed. I can be totally enthralled by Jay Farrar, Welch/Rawlings, Tweedy and Neil Young in the solo acoustic setting. 

I do, its because they are using the mid 80's template when the GD were at the height of their popularity with regard to the structure of the shows.  also, mayer is bringing in a lot of young fans who were never into the Dead before

 

Caught the tour opener last sunday at MSG  and really enjoyed it and I am a big skeptic when it comes to the post Jerry GD world.  Got lucky with the set list and the tempos and thought Mayer (who I really wanted to dislike initially) did a real good job.  guy can play that guitar and wasn't copying Jerry which I usually find to be a big turn off

Good points. I also think it is because they are a band and not 4 dudes from the Dead playing with other musicians for a tour. Mayer is really into these songs where as Haynes and Herring were just there to play their lead-style guitar to fill in. Same with Trey at FTW. I also think there was a lot of buzz and momentum created by FTW which helped them. Definitely helped Phish. To keep this going there has to be some new blood that keeps it interesting rather than rehashing. Although, I know many see it as rehashing. Furthur was very tight, but very weird with JK in the uncanny valley of JG. 

I go back and forth with D/Co. If I'm in the mood for very mellow slow Dead-ish music, I like it. Oteil and Jeff are definitely adding something to the music rather than just playing along. Bob is Bob now. Ultimately, this is what the core 4 have been searching for over the last 20 years. Not replacements, but musicians who could fill the open spot with their sound and have it sound good with the music. To be a new member of the band. Make it continually interesting. Sure, I miss Phil, but Oteil in that spot has been very compelling. If they lose the drummers, Joe Russo would be totally compelling in that spot.  Does that make sense?

FWIW, I got free tickets to a recent Eagles concert (I know, but I love 'em:). Of course Frey was missed, but Vince Gill is the heir to that place in the band. He was excellent and the band didn't miss a beat. In fact, they seemed more like a band than they ever had because Henley's arch competition was gone. Henley was totally comfortable playing all Eagles and Joe Walsh songs.  

I saw Don't Look Back on TV a couple weeks ago. That whole Dylan/Time Magazine interaction kind of made me hate him.  He was a raging asshole and liar to everyone outside of his clique at that time, and maybe always has been. 

 

He redeemed himself somewhat in my eyes, via Tom Petty's death, thanks to my listening to Traveling Wilburys so much over the last week.  He has a sense of humor on those tracks that is sorely lacking in Don't Look Back.

Has Dylan made a statement?

In the Don't Look Back era it's like Dylan was pissed that he had become Dylan. He writes Masters of War and then claims not to be a protest singer.  ?

I set you up for that one. Saw the Shandling video too. Great stuff. Need more high celebrities hanging out videos. 

Loved it. Could've watched that for hours. Didn't know Petty smoked like fish though. Damn.

i really wanted to like Black Country. Thought it might tone Bonamassa down. Not so. Of course they are going for a Zep vibe. Their first single is pretty good.

"Great music for people that know nothing about music" JW  Couldn't agree more. Like the people that go see Neil Young and wonder why he didn't play Teach Your Children.

He's a BLOOZY guitar masturbator.

The Joe Satriani of the White Boy Blues.

He could be great, but he has absolutely no dynamics. I can see him doing a Zep kind of thing with some eastern acoustic tunes and some more rock and roll riffs that are not turned to eleven the whole time.

Let's Hear it for Rock and Roll

 

 

I bet. The YHF will probably be the most elaborate and best selling I would think. 

Yeah, that's it. 

YHF will be interesting given the demos that did come out from that. Venus Stop the Train, Not For This Season etc.

Wasn't My Words a BT era? Also, wasn't there an AM era song called Rock Rock or something? Not sure why the Golden Smog tunes are on there. I'm sure there's more in the vault. This might be the beginning of the reissues of all of the albums.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be buying at least a couple more. I couch-toured the 8/2 show(didn't buy the mp3 combo), and loved it. 

Yeah, that was a fun one. Just had a good vibe to me. I'll be curious to see how Dick's goes. Wonder if they'll be able to keep up the momentum.

This was an amazing feat. 236 different songs over 13 nights. The brain power and talent to be able to pull that off, 4 individual musicians in sync over that amount of material, performed in front of 18,000+ people, is beyond comprehension to me. Regardless of what one may think of their music.  

 

Having watched or listened to most, what would be your top 3 or so suggestions to buy. I bought the Red Velvet download, and did the pay per view for last Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm pretty sure I want to have the last night. Any others you suggest? Short of all 13.

Good question. I'm trying to figure that out myself! I'd recommend;

7/23-Played very well. Maybe best It's Ice ever and the Wolfman's>Twist>Waves is top shelf.

7/25-The jam-filled night. Lawn Boy is taken to the outer rim. Some flubs here and there on other songs. Sample is even jammed out!

8/2-My favorite. Just had a good vibe and again all was played well. Whole 2nd set was incredible (Mike's>O Holy Night!). Maze was classic 1.0

Let us know what you think.

Listened to most of the shows live. Streamed a few too (legally). First thing that stuck out was that the band practiced. They practiced Mound, Foam, It's Ice etc. These are songs they have been f'n up for years and it has been a major obstacle for me. As a jaded vet, I missed the precision from 1.0. The other thing about these shows was that the band was rested and in a groove. Jams, basic playing, harmonies, risk taking...all in high degree. By the last third of the shows it really was like 1.0 again. You knew it was going to be a solid show no matter what and the surprises were the meat of the show. I actually prefer 3.0 jams these days. More mellow and exploratory with lots synth and bass stuff added in. This along with the 1.0 precision and tightness made for a highpoint in the band's history. An amazing accomplishment. Congrats to the boys and the phans for making it all a success. And to those who went every night, God Bless. Not sure if I could've done that even when I was 21!

FWIW, auds of these shows sound excellent!

Love Neil. Not downloading Spotify. I can wait a few weeks.

Why no spotify? LOL! I have a love hate relationship with it. It's overwhelming and takes away the fun of buying new music and letting it sink in. On the other hand, it has everything!

Looking forward to this release. I don't think it was mentioned in his biography which i find curious as it does discuss Homegrown etc.

For those interested...

 

2017_08_04_Edited__Garcia__et__al__Batch_05

 

 

1966-01-08.gd.sbd.san_francisco        King Bee

1972-07-26.gd.sbd.seattle        Dark Star > Comes A Time

1972-08-27.gd.sbd.veneta        PITB

1973-02-22.gd.sbd.champaign_urbana    GDTRFB>OMSN

1973-02-26.gd.sbd.lincoln        Big RR Blues

1974-05-25.gd.santa_barbara        Tennessee Jed

1974-05-25.gd.santa_barbara        US Blues

1976-06-12.gd.mtx.boston        Lazy Lightning > Supplication

1975-11-22.garcia.aud.st._paul        Roadrunner

1979-05-04.gd.aud.hampton        Half Step > Franklin’s Tower

1979-09-02.gd.sbd.augusta         Let It Grow

1981-08-28.gd.sbd.long_beach        Shakedown > LSailor>St.Circ>Wheel>Jam>Never Trust

1983-03-31.gd.mtx.warfield        Feel Like A Stranger

1985-03-28.gd.mtx.uniondale        The Other One > Black Peter > Sugar Magnolia

1987-08-22.gd.sbd.angel’s_camp        Hell In A Bucket

Batch06 Teaser

 

    1979 and 1980 were great years to play at parties for people that kind of know the Dead but not really. It is uptempo and features a lot of pay-off apexes. The show from Providence on 1980-09-04 features a very jazzy yet uptempo Supplication > Estimated > Eyes. The soloing is very fast paced and loaded with apex after apex. I recently put this on during a post “Dead / Co.” show in chicago and it most definitely kept everyone awake and moving. Similarly, the 04 May 1979 Half Step Franklins features very uptempo soloing from Jerry that just draws your attention. The Half Step has a beautiful apex from Jerry that really is, well, just amazing.

    The 22 August 1987 Hell in a Bucket shows the band in fine form for the late 1980s. Limitations aside, the band could still provide a nice punch in 1987. This version of Hell delivers.

    What could have been…It seemed that in 1979 the band teased the concept of Let it Grow becoming an improvisation vehicle a few times. The 02 September 1979 Let it Grow is just that. Following a well delivered reading of the necessary song portions, Jerry really stretched the themes as the band wandered through his direction. Its very similar to the 1979 PITBs. Really interesting stuff here with lots of apexes and passion.

    The Jerry solo on the 31 March 1983 Stranger features a lot of unique note patterns and reaches an interesting apex and conclusion.

    Shooting fish in a barrel, the 22 February 1973 GDTRFB>OMSN is the band at its rockin’roll best.

There are certain versions of song/jams that really need no description because the legend and date speak for themselves (e.g., 19 November 1972 PITB; 28 September 1972 Other One; 18 July 1972 Dark Star). The 27 August 1972 PITB obviously meets this criteria.

    The Other One from 28 March 1985 has a pretty cool jam after the first verse that gets way out there and settles into an echoey / feedback fog that is worth hearing (as is the following Black Peter Sugar Magnolia). I love Jerry’s singing on the 1985 Black Peters…

    The King Bee from 08 January 1966 Fillmore Acid Test is really interesting. The soloing from Jerry shows how young he was with forming his solos but also shows that unique ability to nail an apex with his flavoring. Really cool stuff. Maybe it is the mix but I can’t really here Bob at all during this. Also, really cool to hear Pig egging Jerry on at several points during the jam.

    As I’ve mentioned before, the June 1976 shows were a bit rough – in my opinion. There were bright spots though. The 12 June 1976 Lazy Supplication is fantastic. The space into Supp starts slow but builds to a great peak. Weir’s delivery of Supplication is confident and tight.

    Despite being on hiatus from the Grateful Dead, Jerry certainly kept busy – arguably more busy in 1975. After Legion of Mary, the fall of 1975 Jerry shows really cooked. The 22 November 1975 Roadrunner smokes. In an alternate universe, this is probably what post Grateful Dead (with no 1976 reincarnation) would have sounded like…could have been worse…

    The 28 August 1981 medley of Shakedown, Lost Sailor, Saint, Wheel, Jam and Never Trust is 31 minutes (edited from 45ish) of pure bliss. The Shakedown apex is delirium, the Lost Sailor Saint is arguably the best I’ve heard (c.f., 06 September 1980?), the Wheel is nailed as almost a ballad, the ensuing pre Never Trust jam features psychedelic blues as  with the Never Trust. All in all, this description epically fails…it must be heard…Again, this is fantastic Dead to play at a party with people who kind of like the dead as it is very fast moving – almost like caffeine…

    Tennessee Jed and U.S. Blues from 25 May 1974 are well done but a hair sloppy – exceptional nonetheless. Anyone else think that 25 May 1974 and 08 June 1974 sound eerily like 1978 Dead? There is a “neatness” I generally hear in the 1974 shows that isn’t quite there with these two…

    The Dark Star Comes a Time from 26 July 1972 had some amazingly beautiful and intense moments inbetween some very drifty and nearly absent moments. I did my best to edit this into a coherent structure. The band (in particular Jerry) sounded very high for this portion of the show. When he sounded focused the jamming was really worth hearing…

    Find me a better Big RR Blues solo than the 26 February 1973 version and I’ll be impressed.

    And…a 40 minute-ish teaser for Batch06.

    Enjoy…

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ueelr6x7km5rl40/AADvNa3cgvFVjmDSJLEwXfqUa?dl=0

 

password rogerrafa

 

 

 

 

These are great! Thanks so much. PM'd you about an idea I had.

Nick Lowe opening for Wilco in '11 was great. He is a classic.

So sad. May the Tweedy's claim their space and time to care for themselves and grieve as they will for Bob. Rest in peace great conceiver of musical genius.

Been listening to Dylan's Standard releases again for a bit and I just threw on Moonlight from Love and Theft --- fit's right in. Great tune - Moonlight.

Those standards albums are pretty cheesy, but that band is so good. I listen just for that. Also, Love & Theft is great! Miss is one of my favorite Dylan tunes. Also, Tweedle comes of great live.

Listening to the last JGB release lately, 11/23/91. A lot of good stuff. One great thing about JGB, all amazing tunes, though smaller repertoire. Jerry's soloing towards the end of Shining Star reminds me of those 77 Comes a Time's, just peeling off flurries of notes, though not quite as extended. I think the crown jewel has to be Dixie Down. The Band's version is a contender for all time great songs. Jerry's version is so different, not better, but just as good. So soulful, spiritual, a hymn. I think you can learn more about the South from that tune than any history book can teach you. When the tune is over, you feel like you've been through the Civil War. The emotion just pours out of Jerry 's guitar. Then Melvin kicks in with that church organ, Jerry joins him with the rapid strumming, they bring it to a peak, and there you have it. It doesn't get any better than this, sports fans. Jerry Garcia brings it home every time. 

I agree man. Pure Garcia with JGB. Lucky to see them a few times. It was such a classy set up too. He could play those covers as his own.

I don't know how to say this with out being cliche, but this album really solidifies the Tweedy/Dylan comparison. Has there ever been a songwriter like Tweedy before or after? I don't think so. Where the boomers had Neil Young, Springsteen and Dylan gen-x has Tweedy, Farrar and Hood(?). IMHO of course.

Hitchhiker release slated for August 4th !

(2017).

Good to know! Release day automatic buy for me.

I guess I technically agree, but when seeing a post jerry lineup live (and hearing the band mimic the jerry conceived solos) it is nearly impossible not to compare. If they were reformulating the music (the way the Grateful Dead did with most of their covers) it would be easier to avoid comparison. But, alas, the Dead / Co. is far from reformulation. Ideed, quite the contrary, it appears to me that their intent is to perform as the Grateful Dead.

 

Which, again, is fine with me. I enjoyed the music and had a blast and I'd go again. I was just trying to provide commentary on what I heard.

 

Hats off to the band, and hats off especially to Mayer. I was impressed with his abilities. I expected less and found more.

Interesting points. I've never really thought about the post-jerry stuff that way. I will agree, all the incarnations have lacked any sort of group formation. Especially the Other Ones and the Dead. It was always about pulling in whatever guitar player as a guest and never forming a real group. Phil kind of got there with PLQ and I guess, to some extent, Ratdog. As the core 4, no. Not really sure what to call Furthur...The Dead Tribute to the Dead? Bob has said that he wanted D/Co to pick up where the actual GD left off. Not sure if that has been the case. 

To your main point @Winterland, there really hasn't been any solid group formation with all of the members since the loss of Garcia. I would've loved to have seen a fairly headstrong guitarist join the band and take some leadership role as well has writing and recording original material. A real continuation of the band. It would've been cool to see that and motivating to keep up with. I'm not sure who that guitarist could have been. Someone who fit, but wasn't a clone. And, over the years this band would've come to some group cohesiveness. One can dream.

FWIW, anyone listen to that XM show called Tales from the Dead or something? Heads just calling in talking about 'whatever' with David Gans. Love that shit. Our favorite Brit was on there yesterday.

I loved that video they had in the early 80s. Can't remember the title?

This article is everything you need to know about the current state of American politics:

 

Trump Supports Cry Basis After NPR Tweets the Declaration of Independence

No doubt. The satire in the comment section is great. You could say anything and attribute it to 'liberals' and the right would go apeshit. The stuff they come up with is incredible. Mentally ill?

I found it funny POTUS tweeting about Charlie Guard, but he has no regard for the millions of his citizens who will die because of his parties awful Healthcare bill. And really if you think POTUS gives two fucks about this boy you are an idiot and so easily fooled I feel sorry for you.

I had one of these right wing dudes tell me that liberals kill while conservatives 'let die'.