Vacant Horizon

That trailer is intense. I was slightly stressed out about it. 

Curious, why?

I kind of get what you're saying. It seems like it's going to be an emotional ride. I could listen to Garcia talk like I listen to him play.

Very sad. He really maintained that voice. One of the THE voices of 90s alt. rock radio. Awesome time of great music, CDs, music stores. And then the man does it again in the 00s with Audio Slave. Quite the career. Makes' me feel old and a bit unnerved. RIP.

If you can make it through more than 5 seconds of John Mayer singing Terrapin Station, there is something wrong with you. Sorry. 

I'm going to Dead Co this summer. Had no interest last time around, but am looking forward to it. Not expecting anything huge. Excited to see Bobby and the Rhythm Devils. Also will be interested in what Oteil brings.

@JW-thanks for the info on Equinox. The demo on Terrapin is interesting. Would've been cool if they finished it up. Definitely had an Unbroken vibe to it.

Also,,,really looking forward to the new documentary. Not too far off.

Re: Get Shown the Light box:

 

The beginning and closing essays in the booklet are excellent, providing some great context for where the band were at in that point in time. They also make some great statements on art, humanity, psychedelics. Really dug the discussion on Terrapin, Estimated, and Equinox - will have to give that tune another listen. But the essays on the individual shows are a joke. Seems they were pieced together from internet message boards with Heads using various superlatives to describe every song as the best version ever. I guess they were trying to give a nod to the fans, but seems they were trying to force a narrative on history and culture that ultimately failed. Talking a lot, not saying anything. Frustrating, as there are a lot of Dead writers out there who could've said something more profound or interesting. Not that big a deal relative to the music, but there have been some good essays in the past. If you got the music only version, or a download, no big difference. Not really that many great pictures in the booklet either. End rant.

Did not get the set.  I'm curious about the connection of Estimated, Terrapin, Equinox. Quick summary? Thanks!

Willie Songbird! Forgot about that. Love Casal with Ryan Adams too. Very Dead vibe. The live shows sound great. 

Circles is good music, but it's just way too long. So fun during the intermissions at FTW.

I did listen to Betty's 3. I was at one of the shows. It is pretty solid besides I Ain't Hiding. The sound is amazing. Warm and cozy hippie rock comfort. Betty is excellent and it shows how good a CD/digital can sound with appropriate mixing and mastering. Chris gives a shit about this stuff. 

I guess they have a more acoustic album coming out in the Fall. Can't keep up!

My copy of Betty Blends Vol. 3 came a day early. Of course this release has the same old stellar packaging with detailed liner notes 

 

Anybody know what shows the tunes are from. Chris is sounding a bit rough on the opening track - I Ain't Hiding.

I want to pick this up, but I've heard I Ain't Hiding and it's awful. Chris is getting really lazy with his singing. Also, these guys can't really hold a jam too long. I really like their 'songs' but they suffer from lack of any sort of virtuosity. Casal is great for shorter solos. I also really wish they had a bassist that jammed and that he/she was higher in the mix. All of this IMHO of course.

All that being said, Big Moon Ritual is amazing!

Guess I should also post this in the JTE thread since that was the highlight of the show for me.

 

And I forgot to mention that as good as JTE was with the Sadies backing him, he did a 4 song solo acoustic part of his set.  It was shocking to feel his music get MORE powerful when he played solo, but those who know his live show know that's what he does and he's still doing it. 

 

Son Volt show last night in Phoenix turned out to be the Sadies opening doing their Ennio Morricone spaghetti western/rockabilly thing and then them backing Justin Townes Earle with the addition of Justin's guitar player Paul Niehaus.  Son Volt headlined.  

 

It didn't help Son Volt stand out for me that they had to go on after a fucking stunningly brilliant set by Justin Townes Earle.  The Sadies backing him were incredible!  Instead of their guitars, they switched to mandolin and fiddle and electric piano and JTE's guy Paul Niehaus  played pedal steel and slide (also on a Les Paul). They could play any style Justin threw at them, old timey blues or classic country, folk or rockabilly, and make it sound authentic.  I felt like I was watching talent on that was close to the level of Petty or the Grateful Dead or the Band backing Dylan or the Heartbreakers backing Johnny Cash, in the sense that it was just a superb pairing of a seasoned, road tested roots rock band backing a genius solo performer with musical telepathy.  Justin has such a mastery of his craft as a performer and singer/songwriter and he makes it looks effortless.  I really just hated to see his set end. It looks like this tour has just started and I don't know if the Sadies have ever backed him before, but they were tight and totally spot on. If you like either Sadies or JTE or just like solid roots rock, try to catch this tour, it was amazingly great!

Wow man! Thanks for the review. Sounds so great! Nothing better than when a concert just comes together and time stops. And when it's a surprise...even better. JTE with Sadies sounds like a killer mix. Really hope they are recording some of this. I saw Justin solo open for Jason Isbell. He is great solo. Must listen to him now!

Rusted Root

Ugh, absolutely insufferable. 

Neil would have been my candidate...had he refrained from releasing so much crap after Sleeps with Angels

Neil's run from Self-Titled to Hawks and Doves is top shelf. Obviously touch and go from there, but still some great stuff. The dude just nails it for me. That said...

Pat Metheny-incredible composer, player and person. Love everything he's done. 

(Garcia, Lesh, Weir, Anastasio :-)

A while back (August 31, 2016), jw harding posted the following:

 

I'm not a completist, don't need to hear every version of El Paso, etc. It's hard to find shortcuts to the Dead, so I love the various Grateful Dead related mixes you can find online. Here's a guy who really knows his stuff, and his tastes align with mine. He apparently had ongoing correspondence with Dick Latvala. Some really cool stuff here, and great commentary:

 

http://saveyourface.posthaven.com/

 

Well...I really liked the idea of this.  I looked through the stuff at saveyourface and liked what he was doing and the "edited" versions. So for the last 7 months I've been accumulating my own "edited" versions of my favorite shows / songs / etc from the Grateful Dead and the various Jerry side projects. I am going to try and post a new batch every week or so (we'll see). I'll use "drop-box".

 

By edited I mean I don't need to hear Lesh's harmony ever again on the 1972/3/4 I Know You Riders, but I do want to hear the soloing and finale jams. I also don’t need to hear the 6-20 minutes of “oooohhh, nothin’s gonna bring him back…” etc.  Likewise, Playin' In The Band's can be nicely cut down to 1 verse and, as such, miss the Donna wailing on the front and back ends. Also, certain jams were fantastic but inbetween the amazing moments were extended stretches of drift or tuning that is easily removed.

 

So through use of "audacity" I spliced out what I don't need or want to hear.

In addition, I frequently was frustrated with how extended jams (Truckin' > Dark Star > Comes A Time) (China Cat > Rider) (Scarlet > Fire) (etc) were split up into separate tracks.

 

My “edited” versions include them as one long track.

 

So, this is how I like it. Take it or leave it...Enjoy or not...Feedback would be great...

 

I guess this isn’t for the purists out there that want every note. I can respect that. This probably isn’t what you want as I’ve paired it down.

I’ve been listening closely to Garcia et al for over 20 years. This is the most satisfying manner for me to listen to this amazing music…

 

Here is batch one (each song is provided as separate mp3s) (about 90 minutes). There are era-appropriate photos attached with each mp3...You should be able to just drop in itunes and have a great mix (the artist, album, song name, and era-appropriate photograph are linked with each mp3).

 

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

password rogerrafa

 

1971-10-31.gd.sbd.columbus Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia

1972-07-26.gd.sbd.seattle NFA > GDTRFB > NFA

1973-02-15.gd.matrix.madison China Cat > Rider

1973-02-22.gd.sbd.champaign_urbana Playing In The Band

1974-05-12.gd.sbd_+_matrix_reno Big River

1974-05-14.gd.sbd.missoula Scarlet > Musta Been The Roses

1974-05-19.gd.matrix.portland Peggy-O

1975-03-23.gd.sbd_san_francisco Johnny B. Goode

1976-08-04.gd.sbd.jersey_city New Minglewood Blues

1977-09-03.gd.mtx.englishtown Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo 

1979-04-28.garcia.aud.palo_alto Strugglin’ Man

1979-08-12.gd.sbd.red_rocks Estimated > Eyes

1989-01-28.garcia.sbd.san_francisco Waitin’ For A Miracle

1989-02-10.gd.sbd.los_angeles Let It Grow

1989-05-07.gd.sbd.palo_alto Bird Song

this is great man! definitely post more if you do them. love the pics too. where did you get them?

Cliche at this point, but all of us knew that Trump would do exactly the opposite of what he was promising. The biggest irony is that the only real big thing the government has done in the last decades that is helpful to citizens is Obamacare. This from the president that was blamed for everything. Remember the death panels (lol)? Trump is just dispensing with this step and going straight to death.

Will this be a wake up call for the people that have been lied to for decades, held hostage by social issues that will never be changed and having no bearing on their lives? Will they realize that the Left are not the baby killers, coming for their stuff and taking their guns but are the people that actually care about them?

One of the worst things we ever did as a civilization thousands of years ago was the decision to make health care a for profit industry

Another one of the worst decisions we made was to set up a system where we are the only species that have to pay to live on the planet! WTF!

I really liked that version of Mountains of the Moon Phil did on the Other Ones '98 tour. 

China Cat came together when they added the key change/solo melody and of course the addition of Rider. Damn, hearing those first notes was AWESOME!

I actually liked the new guitar. It did have an acoustic sound that didn't bother me. I can see why Jerry liked it as it was lighter and it had a cleaner tone. He always seemed to be after the sound of an amp-less electric plugged in...if that makes any sense.

I never have been a huge fan of Truckin' besides the studio version.

I think Furthur did a pretty good job of Doin' that Rag.

If you look at the copyrights, only two songs were 'old' on Silver and Gold. Ironically, they were from the 80s! Silver and Gold, the song, was attempted for Old Ways. Even if S/G was all old tunes, it was produced well. Neil was actually playing his guitar.

Also, many creative types have a kind of comeback before the end. Regarding Dylan, would Tempest count? I know Neil has one in him.

I do remember the sound being a bit soft. For two seconds, I thought Jerry was playing Lay Me Down...alas, it was High Times.  Still good to hear. 

It is crazy thinking about a show that is 23 years ago. Damn how time flies. Had so much energy then. So much tenacity to get to any Dead/Phish related show I could. Was lucky enough that my spring break in  94 coincided directly with tour. The last few years, I found Fall and Spring to definitely be better tours. Not sure about the West coast runs though.

Regarding Dark Star, I remember that whole section of Deadbase that described the differences between DS tease, jam etc. Too funny!

Regarding Danny, I always got the feeling that Neil saw Danny as his co-leader in CH. Letting him sing a song live is huge. 

I really hope Neil lays low for a while and work on some good songs. He hasn't produced a 'rea'l studio album in years. One with good musicians, a producer and good songs. Maybe Prairie Wind? Was listening to Silver and Gold the other day and it's very hard to believe that is the same dude who has put out Monsanto Years, Storytone, Peace Trail.  I've lost track.

Listening to Set 2 from 3/17/94, St. Patrick's Day in Chicago (Rosemont). Freshman year Spring Break for me. The night before is probably better, with one of the better setlists of the era. But the playing is solid at this show too. Rosemont thru Richfield in Spring 94 was a strong 5 show run. Jerry flubs were low, some high points, solid setlists and playing throughout.

 

https://archive.org/details/gd94-03-17.sbd.ladner.8023.sbeok.shnf/gd94-03-17d1t01.shn

That first night was probably one of the better shows I saw. Definitely a highlight of 94. Way To Go Home>Dark Star...LOL

Richfield had 'the best Stella ever' right? That weird pre drums with Picasso and Victim. I really liked the first set that night. The SBD really sounds good. Peggy-O was a stand out.

Did they play graveyard shift again??

Yes. Killer! Hearing that song live was a real treat.

Excellent show last night. The new drummer and guitarist are excellent. Jay was really into it. He just exudes folk/americana. To me he is part of that lineage. Few famous old tunes played and people went nuts!

any xtras for tonight in atlanta? 

Bannon has admitted what any casual observer could see about trumps cabinet picks... that they were chosen to deconstruct their agencies. Makes total sense since so many of them seem openly hostile towards the agencies they were appointed to run.

I can't get over career politicians having platforms that involve dismantling the exact governmental programs that provide their employment. So they abolish the government and public schools. Then what? Are these politicians that stupid? Do they not understand that Trump could care less about them?

Regarding the current 'calm'... I see it as the media falling into line with Trump. It's no random thing that he is not the top story on Google news etc anymore. The press conferences with Spicer are really an embarrassment. I don't understand why the press let themselves be assaulted by him. He's not their boss. I also don't understand why they are not a united front in terms of questioning and taking him to task for basic lies. It's astonishing. Very much a different beast than the neocon era of Bush where the focus was imperialism and perpetuating a quagmire in the middle east to continue the plundering of resources. Becoming president is now a legitimate part of a company's business plan.

I really liked his digital single Jacksonville a few years back. IMO, Cold Roses could've been a classic, but it was marred by some questionable singing. Some of the live Cardinal stuff is great. Neal Casal on lead. Lots of SBDs on Archive.

This is surprising:

Where is this interview from?

Wonder if Jay would ever play Solid Sound. That would be the place to do it. Probably need some neutral turf though.

I've only heard that snippet that came out really early. Sounded pretty rockin' to me. 

I like Jay too. I've been lucky enough to see him solo the last two years. Love it! Looking forward to seen SV next month. 

BTW, I wish we had a recording of Jay singing the One Fast Move songs. Not a fan of the Death Cab dude.

 

My favorite part of many Weir tunes is Garcia's contribution. Like in the Dylan covers, Masterpiece, Desolation Row, etc., when Garcia kicks in with the backing vocals, that space right there is heaven, takes it to the next level. "You can hear them blow..."

I'm with you on that. I loved hearing Tom Thumbs, Desolation and Masterpiece. 

Unfortunately that was the only one of spring tour. I had just turned 17 but no excuse. In 77 I saw that first one 4/29/77 and Englishtown 9/3/77 and saw Garcia Band 7/12/77 in Asbury Park NJ and early and late shows at Palladium again in NYC late November I think the 27th of 77. Did manage to see 209 Dead shows with Jerry and about 30 Garcia Band. Up to 73 Wilco and will see many this year.

Incidentally, I wonder why they left Esau off of In the Dark.  Great tune and would've really rounded out the album.

Also, I hate to admit this, but I was listening to the Dead XM channel the other night when I got into the car. Sugaree is playing so I'm trying to guess the year. Garcia sounds a bit rough, but guitar is great. 83? Then a piano solo...Bruce? 91?  I'll be damned if it wasn't Furthur!! So what happens now? Do I have to bring 'supplication' to the alter of Pigpen?