The Grateful Dead

[Vacant Horizon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTBZuulCoPo

 

 

Absolutely hilarious.  Hitler responds to Dead 50th plans.

[redstripe]

maybe the scale of this endeavor will motivate Trey to practice...

[jw harding]

Trey will not be ready to play.  Nobody ever solos in these shows.  They just dick around and are almost inaudible.  That Trey St. Stephen is an outlier.  JK kind of started soloing by the end of Furthur.  Jerry soloed the entire night!  Hornsby, Mickey and Billy will lay low.  Phil will nail it, as he does every night.  Bob will sing well, but pull they tempo way down.  They will be under-rehearsed and play tunes they never rehearsed.  It will be a slog.  I feel like I should go to maintain my Dead credibility, I know I'd just be pissed.  I do have some hope they pull it off though.  Really tighten up a setlist and that Trey actually solos (which he doesn't even do anymore in his own band or phish).

 

RE: soloing, I always went to see phish and the dead to hear the tunes I loved, some experimentation AND the fat, linear, complete solos they'd do.  That's been gone from these two bands for almost 20 years now.  Started with phish in 97.

 

Sorry to rant   :-)

 

Trey always solos pretty well the various times I've seen and heard him play with Phil, so don't think that St. Stephen is an outlier - maybe a bit over the top due to his altered state of mind at the time though. To say that Trey doesn't solo anymore is overstating it just a bit. He may play differently now, and focus more on rhythm but that allows for some real group improv. As the music has changed, some people don't like it, others still do. Since 95, I've paid some attention to Phil and Friends, particularly the Q, which at times suffered from too much soloing.  

 

Musically, I think it will be fine, mainly dependent on Bob's tempos and brain farts. Bruce should help energize it some too, as he did with Jerry. I wouldn't expect any groundbreaking music though. High probability of a good time enjoying some classic songs with a unique gathering of people for one last hurrah. Still not enough to get me there though - the traffic, weather, crowds, expense, people freaking out, etc. I was at Deer Creek in 95, and knew better than to go to see Phish's "farewell shows" at Coventry. But then again, I'm not worried about maintaining my Dead credibility...

[Vacant Horizon]

I think it's really just a problem with hesitancy and not knowing the songs.  The Dead had played those songs so much that the arrangements were fairly tight.  This is what's been missing from all the post-dead stuff.  The Q just noodled.  Herring plays solos all night, but doesn't nail it when it's time.  I saw Phish in '12 and it was a joke compared to what that band used to do.  I get the evolution, but no longer for me.  All the solo parts were either f'd up, hesitant or non existent.  

 

Alas, if the 09 tour is any indication of what this might be, then I'm out.  And I could give a shit about Dead credibility…but any real fan wants to still support these guys and is interested in what they're up to.  So, to not have an inkling to go would be interesting.

 

If I had to choose, I put Pat Metheny in the lead spot.  His sound is such that it would totally fit, but not be a Jerry clone.  AND he get those dudes to pull it together.  Not to mention some rocking solos!

[radiowilco]

Trey will not be ready to play.  Nobody ever solos in these shows.  They just dick around and are almost inaudible.  That Trey St. Stephen is an outlier.  JK kind of started soloing by the end of Furthur.  Jerry soloed the entire night!  Hornsby, Mickey and Billy will lay low.  Phil will nail it, as he does every night.  Bob will sing well, but pull they tempo way down.  They will be under-rehearsed and play tunes they never rehearsed.  It will be a slog.  I feel like I should go to maintain my Dead credibility, I know I'd just be pissed.  I do have some hope they pull it off though.  Really tighten up a setlist and that Trey actually solos (which he doesn't even do anymore in his own band or phish).

 

RE: soloing, I always went to see phish and the dead to hear the tunes I loved, some experimentation AND the fat, linear, complete solos they'd do.  That's been gone from these two bands for almost 20 years now.  Started with phish in 97.

 

Sorry to rant   :-)

I think your selling Trey a bit short here - I think he has the requisite chops and confidence to do his part.  I am a long time Burlington resident having seen my first Phish shows back in the days of Nectars and Hunts.  That said, my first Dead show was at the Maine State Fairgrounds in September of 1980 and I saw most of my shows (some 150+) between 1982 and 1985.  After I began to sour on the scene as it grew big, ugly and out of control -- I had no interest or desire to "engage" with Phish in the middle/late 90's as they pushed from the club scene to large arenas.  I would check out the band from time to time (I did see the first musical costume Halloween show in Glens Falls where they played The White Album), and Trey's playing always impressed me - it was the rest of the band that did little or nothing for my ears.  A few years back - they played their first show in Vermont in years at the Champlain Fairgrounds - it had been years since I had seen the band live, and I must say, Trey really blew me away with his guitar work.  Again, I think of all the choices for the Jerry slot - he is easily best suited to get it done.

 

I hope the run is well played and folks get their money's worth - for me, there are way too many variables that could make the three days a total shit-show... I just don't happen to believe that Trey is one of those variables. 

[jw harding]

I wasn't interested in the 09 incarnation of the Dead either, but some friends were in town and we hit the LA Forum show. They had seen the Chicago show the week before, and reported it was terrible, as was the consensus for much of the tour. So expectations were low. But from start to end, we were blown away. Cream dream setlist, but most importantly the energy was high throughout. Rock star Bob was on fire. Maybe LA on a saturday night will do that. That was 6 yrs ago, but I think they'll rise to the occasion, if not be overwhelmed by it. 

 

As for Trey and Phish, I can understand that fans who originally got hooked by his manic guitar playing find something lacking with them now. For me, they've been getting progressively better since 09, playing at their best level since 98. An off show here and there, but pretty impressive after 30 years. My last few shows have been Vegas Halloween weekend and Tahoe the summer before. Those rank among their best shows and jams ever. Something about Nevada shows I guess. 

 

I'm fairly critical about music, to put it mildly. I hate 99% of everything I hear. But I suppose it's more about taste and expectations with certain music. 

[Vacant Horizon]

I think your selling Trey a bit short here - I think he has the requisite chops and confidence to do his part.  I am a long time Burlington resident having seen my first Phish shows back in the days of Nectars and Hunts.  That said, my first Dead show was at the Maine State Fairgrounds in September of 1980 and I saw most of my shows (some 150+) between 1982 and 1985.  After I began to sour on the scene as it grew big, ugly and out of control -- I had no interest or desire to "engage" with Phish in the middle/late 90's as they pushed from the club scene to large arenas.  I would check out the band from time to time (I did see the first musical costume Halloween show in Glens Falls where they played The White Album), and Trey's playing always impressed me - it was the rest of the band that did little or nothing for my ears.  A few years back - they played their first show in Vermont in years at the Champlain Fairgrounds - it had been years since I had seen the band live, and I must say, Trey really blew me away with his guitar work.  Again, I think of all the choices for the Jerry slot - he is easily best suited to get it done.

 

I hope the run is well played and folks get their money's worth - for me, there are way too many variables that could make the three days a total shit-show... I just don't happen to believe that Trey is one of those variables. 

 

I agree with these points.  Trey is the shit!  There was nothing like a Phish show in the first third of the 90s.  Trey is capable, no doubt.  If it was clear that Trey was gonna nail Help on the Way the way he nailed Rift circa 1992 then I'd be there for sure.  Alas, I think it's going to be one of those 'lets just jam and see what happens'.  Not to mention the other elements that I'm too old to deal with.  Shit show is definitely possible.  Now, if things go well and they do an official release of the shows, then that'll be a nice surprise :-)

[Vacant Horizon]

 

 

I'm fairly critical about music, to put it mildly. I hate 99% of everything I hear. But I suppose it's more about taste and expectations with certain music. 

 

Couldn't agree more!  For the record, Trey does still play really well, just not what I'm into these days.  Definitely taste and expectations play a big roll.

[Dmada]

I think they got trey to make sure the stadium was full, as I suspect they may have some trouble selling out three nights with kimock or JK on lead.

Same with the GD billing-gotta make it a dead show so they fill the place.

 

I am 100% uninterested in this event.  I may be a fun time in a great city, but the grateful dead is long gone IMHO.

[Vacant Horizon]

The Dead 5/9/09 is pretty good.

[jw harding]

The Dead 5/9/09 is pretty good.

 

Yeah, the playing lives up to the setlist. People were freaking out. Nothing tops Jerry's playing and singing, but overall the show tops most of the shows I saw with him in the last few years. Great energy. The Forum is a cool  place too.

 

https://archive.org/details/dead2009-05-09.akg-483-461

 

Set 1

Disc 1

01.Intro

02.Viola Lee Blues >

03.Bertha >

04.Viola Lee Blues >

05.Caution >

06.Viola Lee Blues

07.Black Peter

08.Cosmic Charlie

Set 2

Disc 2

01.Intro

02.Jam >

03.Shakedown Street >

04.New Speedway Boogie >

05.Scarlet Begonias >

06.Fire on the Mountain

Disc 3

01.Drums >

02.Space >

03.Dark Star >

04.Wharf Rat >

05.Dark Star >

06.Satisfaction

Encore

07.One More Saturday Night

 

Particularly good show if you're into Jerry songs. No real Bob songs until the last 2. Although he did sing on several of the others, or shared vocals. 

[jw harding]

One of the best things I've seen written about the shows so far:

 

http://www.jambands.com/features/2015/01/23/10-reasons-why-trey-anastasio-is-the-worst-choice-for-fare-thee-well/

 

TREY DOESN’T “GET” THE DEAD What Phish does is so silly. I’d like to see Trey step up and make some REAL music, like composing a rock opera about turtles who run a train station.

[Vacant Horizon]

The boys have been lost since Jerry died.  He was their spiritual and musical leader…probably begrudgingly.  

[Muzzle of Dan]

One of the best things I've seen written about the shows so far:

 

http://www.jambands.com/features/2015/01/23/10-reasons-why-trey-anastasio-is-the-worst-choice-for-fare-thee-well/

 

TREY DOESN’T “GET” THE DEAD What Phish does is so silly. I’d like to see Trey step up and make some REAL music, like composing a rock opera about turtles who run a train station.

 

 

Funny article.  Well written sarcasm and satire going on here.

[worldrecordplayer]

The boys have been lost since Jerry died. He was their spiritual and musical leader…probably begrudgingly.

I wouldn't say that Phil has been lost. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Lammycat]

Lost? Strange take. All of them have been steadily (Billy more sporadically) making/playing old and new music the past 20 yrs. I don't get what you mean. 

[jw harding]

Phil has had a pretty clear direction, wanting to branch out and play with as many people of possible spreading the Grateful Dead gospel. Mickey is still into the world music percussion thing. Bill just likes to play Dead music, with a New Orleans twist, not into breaking any new ground. I think it could be argued that Bob is lost, he's just not a very good band leader. Last time I saw Ratdog they were just a mess. And what is with the double bass thing he was doing with them for a while? Not too mention playing with a DJ for a while. But I imagine all these strange choices somehow make sense in his mind. 

[calvino]

I enjoyed the double bass the last time I saw Ratdog - it took awhile to find both Rob and Robin in the mix, but as the show went on - I did and it sounded pretty cool.

[Lammycat]

Weir/Ratdog has been the most consistent and dedicated band (to playing live tunes, at least) since '95 over any of them. Whether you like the music or not is another matter. There have been ebbs and flows in Ratdog's music, imo, just as there were in the GD or P&F or a lot of other bands. The DJ Logoc phase was cool, too. Kimock was in the band for a spell when Karan was out and the band was tight as hell.

[jw harding]

Ratdog has been touring most consistently, but their music has not been consistent. I'm sure Kimock's playing elevated them, but Karan was weak. Last time I saw them they slogged through already slow songs like Birdsong at a snails pace, with the rest of the band watching Weir and wondering what the hell he would do next. They seemed lost, unrehearsed. It sounds like Bob just shows up and plays, Chementi is the band director. Heard Karan tell the story of how Robyn Sylvester was chosed as the new bass player. Bob had no say, basically the rest of the band chose him and Bob was fine with whatever. 

 

Certainly a matter of taste, but Ratdog was BORING! And that DJ Logic shit was terrible. It was just turntable scratching on top of the songs, not integrated at all. Wish Bob would focus more on his songs than Jerry's too. Hopefully Bob's time off the road has helped him, seems like it was much needed.

[jw harding]

Should also add that I liked the solo acoustic stuff Bob was doing for a little while, as it focused on his songs. The shows he did with Chris Robinson and Jackie Greene were fun too.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Boring, unfocused, noodly...I have read a lot of these criticisms of Ratdog shows over the years and always been a bit surprised. All the shows I have seen of theirs (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008) have been really quite good. I'm lucky to have caught them on nights when they were "on," I guess.

 

Weir solo on the AmericanaramA tour was excellent. I was right on the rail in Florida, and he surprised me with his vocal energy. But yes, apparently he was in dire need of a break after all those nights on the road.

[NoJ]

Heh.....I forgot about the DJ Logic stuff. I actually saw one of those shows back in '01 or '02. Logic was fairly low in the mix so it didn't really matter.

[Vacant Horizon]

Lost? Strange take. All of them have been steadily (Billy more sporadically) making/playing old and new music the past 20 yrs. I don't get what you mean. 

 

They have been playing, but nothing has really taken off.  I just see them all as kind of losing their way.  At the same time, they have been active and others might see it as the opposite.  However, really pulling something together and being a force like the Dead were died with Garcia.  That's my point.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

Dave's Picks #13 is up, for all you a la carte folks:

 

http://www.dead.net/store/1970s/daves-picks-volume-13-winterland-san-francisco-ca-22474?intcmp=home/carousel1