Celebration
Cumberland
R&R Blues
Tennesse Jed
Real Thing
Passenger

Jam>
FOTD (!)
Welcome to The Underground
Dire Wolf
UJB
Sugaree

1K Stars

No breakout?

short but sweet

lots of teases in between, like a big fat China Cat right at the end of UJB

they had a 10 pm curfew and were to start at 7:15. they did start a bit early, but ended right at 10.

btw NO Taping Allowed was the policy.

took some time to get that squashed

The great setting of Aspen in the fall, combined with an "opening night" freshness, noteworthy singing, and superb Jimmy jamming made for a real good time. If this is indeed one of the last performances they handled it with aplomb, though that seems likely with the joyous vibes emanating from the stage. Molo was smiling and shaking those drums all night...

Stage was set up at the base of Buttermilk mountain. Note to skiers: Buttermilk used to be known as dinky but there's some pitch there at the bottom, creating a nice amphitheater effect. The 1st set wasn't set exactly "A" material but served as a good warm-up. In that beautiful valley after a short hiatus, Celebration sounded perfect...fine tight jam out of it, looked like Cumby all the way and it was. R&R Blues next with the instrumentals at the end really picking up. Candaces's sky blue lighting on stage as the horizon started to darken worked really well...when the red lights came on and it was...Tennessee Jed. Lots of fun. Real Thing was nice, followed by Passenger, in which during the first solo Phil and Jimmy took over, thundering bass bombs and staccato Fender notes reverberating over the valley as the distant lights in the mountain homes started to come on.

2nd set started with a tight power jam, just the way we like it. No noodling, just determination right out of the chute. A lilting jam began and a buddy thought it was UJB, but I've been fooled by that too and figured on Friend because of the Western motif. (Though he must have been on to something.) Phil had thrown a leather coat by now, it was starting to get chilly, and his vocals on Friend were ESPECIALLY good. Someone said his singing was better at Alpine too. Guess he'll be doing a lot w/TOO, but for whatever reason the enunciation and pitch seemed really on tonight. The harmonies too!! They did the typical long jam before the final verse, making you temporarily forget what song it was. Then WTTU. Not bad, and I liked the hypnotic jamming at the end.

Then an extraordinary moment of Jimmy jamming, sounded like the middle of Playin', with unbelievable speed notes, faster than I've ever heard him if that's possible. And that led into what was for sure the centerpiece of the show, a showcase version of UJB. Super LONG and fast calypso opening, superb three-part harmonies (w/phil doing "Ain't no time to hate," and "Anybody's choice" perfectly) and a just stupendous final jam, before the last verse. That final jam was more intense and intricate than the Dead ever did it. No offense but if anyone thinks the Dead ever came close to what we heard last night in that knarley ending part they need their ears checked. GD on steroids, as someone said.

Sugaree closed, with great slide and singing by our man Warren (WARREN ROCKS). Then 1K stars as encore and you really could see the stars tonight....Plus all the "stars" in Aspen. Who knows if they were there? Didn't run into to any.

Did see some of our own kind folks though, including our neighbor Headlight who just ducked his head in with a plateful of danishes, Dewit, Schnee and others. Thanks for the room Headlight.

This show was more than a "warm-up" for RR. In fact, I doubt I'll have as good a time though they're sure to breakout some good stuff...

Thanks Georgie. Can't wait to hear what tonight brings. A beautiful Colorado evening w/ Phil & the boys. WOW! :*)

http://www.aspendailynews.com/

>>btw NO Taping Allowed was the policy.

have no fear, Sideshow was there.

Tapes were made.

Good job, Sideshow!!

From the minute I met Rastafari and his incredible fiance, the trip was gonna be a good one. Temperature range from 42 to 85 to 38 from the time we landed at 8:30AM til I went to sleep at 9PM...we had gorgeous sun in Denver, and some nice hail atop the Continental Divide, blind ess turns, and a remarkable woman at the wheel...good conversation and some trinket purchases from an Indian woman atop the divide, a very funky Arby's...and I met friends I wish to keep around.

After spending the morning with a someone I hadn't seen or partied with since '79 in downtown Aspen, I returned to meet Zen, the surely one of the greatest friends you can ever have at my hotel. A little romp around Snowmass Village and a meetup with Leda and Ali from Terrapin, then a little poolside, and prep for the show.

Met Brian Williams, Sundawg and his wonderful woman, Brad and Karen, Andrew, eventually Headlight and Carol, Frankl, and LT and GT in front of the venue at the hotel. Later hooked up with Georgie and Doug, Taper Rob...and if I missed anyone, I am so sorry.

Sorry if the setlists don't jive with what people construe to be a hot show...it was a hot show, and the only "issue" I had with it...when you play in a venue that beautiful, with Mother Nature displaying everything she has...you are going to have to deal with the dilemma. The copper to deep purple mountains, the previous rain producing every shade of green known to man on the trees and landscape, the skies, the clouds...the colors, every shade known to man's eye...and once the stars were out, Candace mimicking Mother Nature by displaying a repeat performance in technicolor...

The finest venue to come in a long long time...the show was incredibly fun, with moments of magic, and a vibe not to be beaten...no cocktail parties going on...everyone just smiling and dancing. I had more fun that night than I have had in a bit, and all made the drive to Denver that night fly by. I scared the shit out of Zen, but...hey Brian educated me on some wild Colorado history along the way. You can be my wing man anytime my friend.

The jams didn't do it for me during the first set, more cohesive in the second set, but the true standouts, the songs...Passenger, Friend, a killer UJB and Sugaree, one of the best. This show was truly great...truly great.