The Grateful Dead

[Shug]

http://www.headyversion.com/song/314/grateful-dead/lazy-lightnin-supplication/

I'm not the only one!

[jw harding]

http://www.headyversion.com/song/182/grateful-dead/money/

 

http://www.headyversion.com/song/341/grateful-dead/samba-in-the-rain/

 

http://www.headyversion.com/song/343/grateful-dead/easy-answers/

[Shug]

I'm curious, do those who don't like Lazy Lightining also not like Feel Like A Stranger, which is what I would expect since they are pretty close together in my opinion.  If you like Stranger but don't like Lazy Lightning, I'm curious as to what you see as the difference between them?

[jw harding]

Those two songs are not in the same league. Some similarities in sound, but Stranger is so much more of a developed song with an incredible jam with all members weaving around each other, the vocal jam, big build. Lazy Lightning is a pretty thin half-baked idea, corny lyrics, no big payoff. 

[Shug]

Its interesting how people hear things differently, because the way you described Stranger is exactly what I hear in Lazy Lightning.  They both have the characteristic Bobby weird time signature, they start out with the main vocal parts, complex and interesting musically, they both lead into a big jam.  On LL, Phil holds the melody in parts while Bobby slashes, Jerry blazes and Brent punctuates the jam with staccato bursts and flourishes of B-3.   They weave around one another, building and coalescing  into an intense crescendo, capping it off with a vocal rave up from Bobby and then ending it tight and sharp.  As for lyrics, corny or not, they are about the same topic and they both have the same level of sophistication, which is not much, as is appropriate for the subject matter!  Each to his own and something for everyone, I suppose.

[jw harding]

Either it moves you or it doesn't, ain't no way to explain when it doesn't happen.

[Shug]

Yep, that's usually what it comes down to.

[EMF]

I watched some of the free Deadco stream and various clips from the tour and while it's not terrible, I find that it lacks energy. I also think Mayer was mixed way too loud in the streams and he has a tendency to over-play. And while oteil is a fine bass player, I miss what Phil brings to the table. Probably a fun night out but ultimately empty musical calories

[calvino]

You're joking, right?  or you're trying to get the resident Weir proponent (me) all riled up?  Ha ha ha!  I thought I had posted a ways back my treatise on how I think Garica plays better when he doesn't have to sing lead vocals with Lazy Lightning and Let It Grow being two of the best examples? 

 

I love Lazy Lightning, at its best its got the blazing Garcia leads, slashing chords from Weir, a catchy little melodic riff, intricate and precise ensemble playing from the rhythm. section and the keyboards (better in the Brent years, IMO) and a jam that just cooks along like a fast Italian sports car on a winding mountain road.  What's not to like about all that?  I've heard some say they don't like the lyrics, but they don't bother me at all.  Chasing girls is one of the main themes in rock 'n' roll from the earliest days of Chuck Berry and the Sun Studios gang all the way through and Lazy Lightning and Feel Like A Stranger are right in that tradition.  I got no problem with it.

 

Not like its gonna convince anyone who doesn't like the song, but I think the version from Go To Nassau (May 1980) is excellent as is the one from the Greek in '82.

 

When I wrote the bit on Lazy Lightning, I was listing to the Go To Nassau release. 

I love Feel Like A Stranger. I just find Lazy Lightning a bit cheesy. 

 

1st night at Wrigley was lot of fun. Due to a train snafu, we missed the 1st three tunes.

2nd set was definitely a good one.

 

 

 

Set II

Shakedown Street bw >

Dark Star bw >

St. Stephen bw >

China Doll ob >

Lady With A Fan jm >

Terrapin Station bw >

Uncle John’s Band reprise >

Drums/ Space >

Standing On The Moon bw >

Piano Intro >

Help On The Way jm >

Slipknot! >

Franklin’s Tower jm

 

Encore:

Ripple * bw jm

US Blues bw jm

[EMF]

Bill Kreutzman is a criminally underrated drummer

[i'm only sleeping]

^yep

 

I am usually very skeptical of the fan hype in the cd booklets but...the Comes a Time from Buffalo 9/5/77  is really as described: "heartwrenching, otherwordly, pure emotion, astounding, heartbreaking, the most stupendous", etc. I coldn't agree more! If you know about a better version, please let me know

[Vacant Horizon]

i am curious - does anybody really like "Lazy Lightning"? 

 

YES! Studio version is great too. The end of Supplication is a bit goofy.

[Vacant Horizon]

You're joking, right?  or you're trying to get the resident Weir proponent (me) all riled up?  Ha ha ha!  I thought I had posted a ways back my treatise on how I think Garica plays better when he doesn't have to sing lead vocals with Lazy Lightning and Let It Grow being two of the best examples? 

 

I love Lazy Lightning, at its best its got the blazing Garcia leads, slashing chords from Weir, a catchy little melodic riff, intricate and precise ensemble playing from the rhythm. section and the keyboards (better in the Brent years, IMO) and a jam that just cooks along like a fast Italian sports car on a winding mountain road.  What's not to like about all that?  I've heard some say they don't like the lyrics, but they don't bother me at all.  Chasing girls is one of the main themes in rock 'n' roll from the earliest days of Chuck Berry and the Sun Studios gang all the way through and Lazy Lightning and Feel Like A Stranger are right in that tradition.  I got no problem with it.

 

Not like its gonna convince anyone who doesn't like the song, but I think the version from Go To Nassau (May 1980) is excellent as is the one from the Greek in '82.

 

The played in the 03 incarnation with Herring. Not to bad. Don't think bob could play that now.

[EMF]

pretty cool little interview with Bob Weir including some very cool Wilco content:

 

>https://www.amoeba.com/whats-in-my-bag/detail/967/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=VideoCopy&utm_campaign=BobWeirWIMB

 

Happy 4th everyone.   

[Vacant Horizon]

http://www.jambands.com/news/2017/07/02/bob-weir-i-kind-of-lament-not-having-put-in-more-rehearsal-time-for-fare-thee-well/

 

Bob regrets not rehearsing enough for FTW in new article. FWIW. Not sure if it is from same article above. 

 

BTW, went to see Dead/Co. in Atlanta. Had a really good time. Good mood, good friends etc. Have tried to listen back to a bunch of shows and not really feeling it. I really thought I was getting on the D/Co train. I really do like some of the spacey stuff with Jeff on the synth and Rhodes. 

 

Phish tour next! 

[mountain bed]

There's something to be said for being at the show. A good time is a good time and we all need to have fun! That said, things just don't hold up for me on tape to justify the expense and time necessary to follow this band. YMMV, as they say, but it doesn't quite make the nut for me.

[calvino]

Yeah - I don't listen to Dead & Co. boots, but seeing the band live is fun and each of the shows that I have attended (I saw 4) have been pretty great. Mayer and Oteil bring a lot of energy  to the stage and their playing suits the music.

Bobby has been sounding great with them, also. The whole scene around these shows has been great, too - I can't say that for various other incarnations (with Warren, etc.).

 

But if I want to listen to these tunes at outside of a live situation - I play actual Grateful Dead shows.

[Vacant Horizon]

It's funny, I was on this huge Dead/Co. kick last month before and after the show I saw. Now I just don't care. It's weird how tastes change fast sometimes. I wish Phil would do a residency in the south. Really miss seeing him. Some of his recent shows I've listened to repeatedly.

 

Concerning Bob with Dead/Co....his playing is less rhythm and more like a lead player. He's definitely moved more into that role over the last few years. He just plays these little riffs. His voice is going though. Sad to say. He always could be counted on for solid vocals.

[calvino]

I thought his vocals were fine this past weekend. Yeah, he definitely has lost a little punch, but for a near 70 year old - he is sounding pretty good.

 

Now listening to 7.5.81  and he is sounding great (Saint Of Circumstance).

[worldrecordplayer]

I've always been a fan of Lazy Lightning. Feel Like a Stranger, not so much 

[worldrecordplayer]

^yep

 

I am usually very skeptical of the fan hype in the cd booklets but...the Comes a Time from Buffalo 9/5/77  is really as described: "heartwrenching, otherwordly, pure emotion, astounding, heartbreaking, the most stupendous", etc. I coldn't agree more! If you know about a better version, please let me know

That Comes A Time from Buffalo is a classic. One of the reasons I've always preferred Buffalo to the previous night's Cornell show. There's also a great version on Hundred Year Hall.

[jw harding]

I think we've come full circle and Cornell is now underrated because it's been so overrated in the past. Jerry's rapid fire soloing on the Buffalo Comes a Time is insane, but it doesn't come close to the power of the Cornell Dew, right? I'm sure people will disagree with that, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around the rationale. 

[calvino]

The Boston show has always been my favorite in that May 5th to May 9th Run

[worldrecordplayer]

I think we've come full circle and Cornell is now underrated because it's been so overrated in the past. Jerry's rapid fire soloing on the Buffalo Comes a Time is insane, but it doesn't come close to the power of the Cornell Dew, right? I'm sure people will disagree with that, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around the rationale. 

Not "full circle" for me. I've been a fan of the Buffalo show from the first time my ears heard it, which was many years ago. Love that Buffalo first set every time I hear it, whereas the Cornell first set doesn't do that much for me. The Cornell version of Dew is of course magnificent, and I'm not knocking the show, but from start to finish I take Buffalo every time.

[winterland121072]

So I attended the D/Co Wrigley Field shows this past Friday and Saturday eves...

 

I've never really liked any of the "sans garcians" arrangements.

 

I enjoyed "fare the well" because I'd never heard Trey play before and I just locked onto what he was doing (e.g., I'll never forget the Estimated into a monster jam that slowly and beautifully melted into....Built to Last).

 

Wrigley Field is a very cool venue especially when it isn't loaded with rabid Cubs fans. Indeed, the scene was profoundly friendly from a fan perspective (not surprising) but also from a security perspective. There was __loads__ of refer everywhere and literally inches from the plethora of security - and I didn't see anyone get hassled. Also, just the normal deadhead gait / swagger / dance walk / trance walk didn't get hassled by security the way I used to see it (used to get hassled myself) back in the late 80s). And, the venue was very cool itself.

 

Music wise, my group was sitting in the reserved floor section behind the general admission area. None of us could hear Oteil all that well, but when we did he was impressive. Also, his singing on China Doll and Comes a Time was very impressive. He has an amazing voice.

 

Weir sounded great for being 69(?). His voice seems strong and his rhythm present. It was hard to tell if his guitar playing was too much lead in form.

 

It was my first time really even hearing John Mayer. I was impressed with his guitar ability, but he has a ways to go with the grateful dead song / jam form. I think his highlight was the solo on China Doll. It was perfectly delicate and apexed beautifully. Overall, though, it was the jam songs where he sounded weakest. He did a great job in generating momentum but frequently apexed too early, or not enough, leaving very awkward transitions.

 

This brings me back to Weir and whether he was trying to take the lead too much. I really don't think that is what is going on with Dead/Co. I think the person taking the lead is Jerry's memory or Jerry's shadow or Jerry's interpretation of his songs. It just sounded like Mayer wasn't taking the reins and leading the band through the jams / songs, but rather he was trying to peak / apex when he was supposed to based on when Jerry did. I know that there is necessarily a certain structure to the songs, but it sounded like he was mimicking too much. It kind of led to Dead Cover Band sound at times. My issue with previous versions of the "sans garcians" is that weir and lesh took to much of the lead direction which was something they never did. That may be what's limiting Mayer - who knows. It just seems like something is lacking...

 

Yet, I had a great time with my group. We rented an airbnb one block from wrigley on addison...

 

I'd see them again for sure. It was a load of fun. It will be interesting to see if Mayer improves. Funny, most of the people i was with or spoke to thought the two shows were excellent - solely based on the set list.

 

After the first show we went and saw melvin seals and terrapin flyer - that was fun. We were supposed to go to Kimmock at 1:00 at Metro but I got falafel instead.

 

Before the second show Mr. Blotto played on the veranda - Mr. Blotto was fantastic. Bill Walton got up with htem and danced...

 

Also, during one of the shows I left my area to take a leak, and wandered past the cubs dugout...I looked both ways - saw no security - and darted down the stairs into the dugout and into the players area where i found a urinal...after I finished voiding there were two security guards who immediately escorted me from the dugout...I just over did the "deadhead walk" out of the dugout and that was that...