Wow the Florida shows looked great! I cant wait for Phil to bring his crew to ATL. Dickey is such a treat and 3 full sets!!! Could be the show of the tour.

Phil was kind enuff to send me 2nd row center. Anybody up my way?

Awesome seats. We're 20th row back, right of center. Unfortunately it looks like it's going to rain but hey, we're under the covered seating.

Phil looked great at Bonnaroo, and with Dickey here tonight for three full sets, I am anxious to see what they bring out.

What was the Vinyl setlist?

According to Phil at the end of tonight's 1st set, " we'll be playing 3 SHORT sets tonight"

Midnight Hour
Big Boss Man
Peaceful Valley (RA)
Cumberland Blues
Sugaree

keep us posted, thanks.

is Sco' playin tonight as well?....if so, that's gotta be INSANE!!!

Partial 2nd set info from TOO Board:

>>>Fire On The Mountain>Uncle John's Band to close the 2nd set.

3rd set was historic, just made it back!

Lovelight with Dickey, Blue sky, In memory of Elizabeth Reed (with long Phil solo, awesome) back into Liz Reed, Ramblin Man (smoker), Franklins Tower

Encore: Goin down the road feeling bad,

Awesome! Was it Dickey, John and Larry all on guitars? How about the 2nd set?

Lovelight with Dickey, Blue sky, In memory of Elizabeth Reed (with long Phil solo, awesome) back into Liz Reed, Ramblin Man (smoker), Franklins Tower


I hope its even better live than as a aetlist!

It was, incredible guitar work by scofield, campbell, Duane Betts and Dickey!
Scofield was really going after it as was Dickey.

Phil and Molo were amazing as usual.

no "mtn jam"???

This should be more or less complete. Confirmation anyone?

Phil Lesh & Friends
June 25, 2006
HiFi Buys Amphitheater
Atlanta, Georgia

Set 1

Midnight Hour
Big Boss Man
Peaceful Valley (RA)
Cumberland Blues
Sugaree

Set 2

Passenger
Althea
Scarlet Begonias>
Fire On The Mountain>
Uncle John's Band

Set 3 (w/ Dickey Betts)

Lovelight
Blue Sky
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (w/ Duane Betts)
Ramblin' Man
Franklin's Tower

Donor Rap
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad

it was an amazing show. scofield is a great addition to the band.

The setlist looks correct. The "Liz Reed" was smoking! I felt the show lacked Phil's usual continuity. For example, "Blue Sky" started with "Franklin's Tower" intro. I was really surprised to hear it end without going into "FT" then more surprised when "FT" came out of a dead stop.

The setlist posted by Java Dave is correct for song order, but not for personnel. By my notes (and recollection), all of the Allmans material, plus the encore, featured Duane Betts. (Phil's Guitar Army -- Dickey, Duane, Sco, and Larry all on stage at once (!), except for Liz Reed, which had no Scofield.) It was smokin' top to bottom! The Cumberland was great, as was the whole 2nd set. Liz Reed -- what a treat! -- featured a nice Third Stone jam as it came back from the drum/bass duet.

The Vinyl setlist, from earlier in the afternoon, was:

Cumberland
Ramblin' Man
Blue Sky
Franklin's
(E): GDTRFB

A little disappointing to get all that material again tonight, but understandable. There was a short interview session with Phil and Molo before the encore. The Vinyl show ran for about an hour, and was recorded to air at some future date on 92.9 DaveFM in Atlanta ... so keep an ear out for that if you happen to be local.

Scofield has been one of my favorite guitar players for 20+ years (check out "Shinola" or "Out Like a Light"). I liked what he played -it was always interesting - but for me it didn't feel like he was really tuned in to the "group mind" approach to Phil's music. I also missed the continuity and musical interludes/explorations between the songs - there was very little of that.

When Dickey came out the energy level picked up a notch. Dickey helped keep Sco in line! In Franklin's when Sco was soloing Dickey walked over right in front of him and got Sco to start following what he was playing (that was my take on it anyway). Rob (without headband) really dug into the organ solo on Liz Reed - sounded like he'd grown up listening to it - and it was great to hear an extended solo (with drums) from Phil.

Joan was great!

Cant wait to hear this one!!

billy nailed it. there was a slight lack of flow. the sets were just too short.

still had a greeeeeeat time with some good music, and good people.

It was a great show and Dicky Betts played great as usual. The sound was pretty good in section 102. This was the smallest crowd that I've ever seen at Lakewood. So small that they didn't even have the lawn open. The few people who purchased lawn tickets were told to take seats in the 200 sections.

Great, great night of music, folks. I really like this incarnation of P&F. I think the band does too. It was nothing by smiles, smiles, smiles from everyone onstage.

Going in I was a little concerned about what I'd been reading about Scofeild but let me assure you, those critiques are unfounded as far as I could hear. I thought Scofeild and Joan really take this thing in a new direction. It's very nice to have some fresh ideas and feelings injected into these old classics.

Larry Campbell has finally gotten really comfortable with this material...and it shows. He was just raging last night. Him and Sco really seem to have a great musical connection. Battling back and forth all night long. And Joan really eggs them on...to fine effect.

Speaking of Ms. Osborne...she has also gotten to live with these songs long enough that she now knows them very well also. It's nice to see a woman up there with some 'tude. There was one time in particular in BBM where Phil was signalling to end the song and Joan overroad his decision and the band raced back into another chorus. Absolutely wonderful.

The third set with Mr. Dicky Betts was a nice treat. After all these years Dicky can still "bring it" on the ol geetar. It was great seeing him play alongside his son, Duane. This kid can blow...he's been listening to all the right records that's for sure. I'm pretty sure he was playing his dad's gold top LP. As a father I can imagine what it must be like for Dicky to be playing onstage with his kid. It's gotta be wild.

If any of you are on the fence out there about seeing Phil this go-around...take my advice and make the plunge. You'll be glad you did.

Thanks for the reviews, can't wait to hear the tapes!!!

Safe travels to those continuing on with the tour.

Amazing show
I thought Phil and his band were running on all cylinders. 1st set- a very nice lead-in to a smokin' Cumberland Blues. set 2 was all great. Joans vocals on Althea, the scarlet>fire was just fantastic. the best I've seen Phil, Sco and Larry melding into such powerhouse of sound. Speaking of powerhouses, Can Dickey still kick it. Hells yeah. He raised what was already high octane to a level only Dickey and a few know about. When listening to the Liz Reed, I couldn't help to notice the history of the song running right through his finghertips. I've been going to see Derek and Warren play with the ABB for a few years now, and have to say that some of those songs just belong to Dickey. and how's about Larry trading licks with Dickey in a very heated LR jam - . Phil playing some very insightful bass out of drums, It was cool seeing him and Dickey up there. These guys are like the best of the best. Ramblin man was alot of fun. One thing I noticed was the crwod was really mellow. Like the crowd Tampa was so crazy I think it helped spur on the music played. But I guess there was just too much heat in Atlanta. I loved Phils comment , how he likes coming down here to sweat with us. Hey everyone in the northeast
PHIL IS COMING!
PHIL IS COMING!
Definitely check em out, this band is building into something real special.

That Liz Reed had a killer Third Stone From the Sun jam in it too..Dickey Betts still has the shit!

"This was the smallest crowd that I've ever seen at Lakewood. So small that they didn't even have the lawn open. The few people who purchased lawn tickets were told to take seats in the 200 sections."

LOLOLOL

It's the A-hole fest with a guitar player and a bassist that can't get along with anybody!!!

I also loved Larry's bonus verse in Goin' Down the Road:

"It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot, lord, lord,
It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot.
It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot, lord, lord,
And I ain't gonna be treated this a-way."

Never heard that one before. As a large footed man, I feel his pain.

Is there a troll in the house?

Unbafreakinlievable

I HAVE MORE LOVE IN MY HEART BC OF THIS SHOW!!!!

wow.

touched me some special.
second set was off the chart and the third was Stratospheric. 4th Dimension. Stage Band Dynamic TipTop Mountain Pass Notch.

LOVED IT.

Chore Boy , why be a useless tool , ????they both have gotten along quite well as we all will here without your assinine opinion , TROLL BOOGERS TO YOU !!!!!

Tell it PM,tell it.Haaaaa,let em know!

As he has overcome his own battles with booze, I'm wondering if Phil is playing good shepherd to some of his fellow musicians. We've all heard about Ryan's demons, and Dickey's battle with the juice is also well documented. Just a random thought, but perhaps Phil is trying to share the light of music as a beacon out of the darkness.

I agree that there was a slight lack of flow to the show. However, after the show (we sat 2nd row center), a roadie gave the printed set list to a chick in the front row. It was interesting to note that Viola Lee > The Eleven was on the list but neither was played. (Not that I’m complaining – It’s nice to see them deviate from a regular rotation).

This was a great show. I’m glad to see the spawn of Dickey stepping up. (I wonder where he came up with the name Duane?) I was very impressed. It took Derek Trucks a while to get to his level of playing, although Derek was younger at the time.

Can't wait to hear this show!

Dickey plays with passion and emotion, one of my favorite guitarists!

Thanks for the reviews!

How's posting a message a day after the show trolling? Oh, because I don't agree w/ you. Sorry you don't understand critisism and humor.

DB was FIRED from Allman's.
Also famous for beating his wife. What a hero.

Saw him in a BAR last year w/ a few redneck hicks.

Phil's worked through the other Allman guitar players, now he's picking up their slack & can't even sell lawn seats in ATL.

Something in the formula's not working - and that's kind of funny.

If you don't get the joke, too bad.

>>>>"It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot, lord, lord,
It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot.
It takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my foot, lord, lord,
And I ain't gonna be treated this a-way."<<<<

This would be a reference to the old rural mountain banjo versions of the tune.

"These two dollar shoes hurt my feet" and so on....

For one example see "The Original Folkways Recordings Of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley"

Allegedly Dickey was fired for alcohol or substance abuse or whatever, but its not like Gregg or any of the other members never had any problems with excess.....

I saw Dickey for the first time around the same time I saw the ABB for the time and I have to say Dickey put on a way better show. Period. That guy is one of the greatest guitar players ever.

Oh, and I don't think its that we don't get your humor so much as that its just not humorous.

Take your hatred elsewhere bud.

lighten up warren.
hatred is a little extreme.
i seriously doubt db would be a good anything if it weren't for his musicianship - but it doesn't appear that he works on it - improving it - more like hes holding on to the last threads of it. if he wasn't released by abb he would never have gone out on his own - hes not a leader, hes a follower.

Not certain if you're on the right planet here Just Pete. Dickey led the ABB for 30 years. Gregg Allman was in no condition to tie his shoes most of those years. Now Warren is leading the band. But they play Dickey's tunes.

>>>>>>I saw Dickey for the first time around the same time I saw the ABB for the time and I have to say Dickey put on a way better show. Period. That guy is one of the greatest guitar players ever.

Dickey Betts show is the Dickey Betts show, the ABB had to work things out. You should try seeing them both now and get back with us. I think your opinion might change. However, Betts is still the shit and I love his music, I just think the ABB are better. I liked what they did together, but I also like what they do now, apart.

>>>>But they play Dickey's tunes.

Take a look at the setlists. Most of those songs aren't Dickey's. And it's not like the rest of the band didn't have imput in the creation of those well-known instrumentals.

all i can say is that Dickey played extremely well this night. he lifted a "good" show to a much higher level once he was in the mix. His singing is a bit ragged...still good, but hell, he ain't 25 anymore. I'm glad i got to see him, especially playing w/ phil & friends.

Please forgive me IN ADVANCE…
This long winded spew is an ATTEMPT to share some of my “tour” with the board. (Five shows seems hardly TOUR but I think 5 is the most PZoner on MY radar caught….excepppppppt - Peggy-o, who’ll get 6 with Chitown, and then maybe Jojo has 6 too?? He fuckin mighta caught SEVEN…sneaky JOJO! DAMN YOU WOOKS!)
Ok, but in the interest of SHARING SNACK WITH THE WHOLE CLASS ---
(and for max impact I advise simultaneous stream read)
http://www.archive.org/details/paf2006-06-25.neuma nn.admkrk.35452.sbeok.flac16

--

First up WAS to be Asheville. Asheville – a road trip, not just for a SHOW, but to spend time with old good friends AT A SHOW. True friends – a good reason to drive A LONG WAY.
Then a true NYC friend offers me 12th row center for ATL bc sadly he can’t go. Atlanta….a four hour drive from Asheville…okay, DOable. But will my Asheville friends resent that I went to yet one more show instead of spending quality time with THEM? Answer’s NO….alrrrrrighty then. I corral Merry Prankster as my co-pilot bc we’ve had too many ALMOST visits. He’s IN. Nice.

I drive to Asheville via Baltimore. In Baltimore I see Donna Jean w the Zen Tricksters…see and HEAR her sing I’ll Be with Thee, Mission, let me Sing yr Blues Away, Ripple, Palm Sunday… fuckin goddamn FRANCE.
Hold ON. Sharp curves ahead….fun to drive, great view - BUT BE ALERT!

9 hour drive to Asheville where I drop off the Paw, who’ll have more fun w/ his doggie pal Coco HERE than alone in the Atlanta Westin.

Next day.
Prankster arrives by 12, we’re on the road by 1.

What a riot Prankster is. No grief, brother, FOR REAL – but I say “put yr shit in my car” and when I come back he’s packed the wagon with like 4 bags and a stove and a (thank you) cooler. All for one night! So funny. We pick cds for the ride…and I find out… he doesn’t like MULE!!! Oh dear.
Prankstah also has romantic visions of making grilled cheese in the lot. For real? DOOD -we got a four hour drive, it’s almost TWO, doors at like SIX…and it’s raining! Grilled cheese? But we both know the show starts “when we get there” whenever that is…so we stop and stop and STOP (and shop!). Four grocery stores! (admittedly 2 were ghetto crap)
And more rain.
AND TRAFFIC! Crrrreeepin along 85 or whatever the fuck for over AN HOUR. Amusing ourselves with the various flavors of 6 pack snack crackers, pnut butter cheese, grilled cheese, cream cheese, wheat pnut butter…ANNNND EVEN BETTER -
I lose the GDAMN ticketfast somewhere on the ride. We decide to check into the hotel so I can try to reprint them “w/the assistance of the concierge” – AGH - I can’t (aka the computer won’t let me) print the attachment GRERR – but prankster calls from the car – he’s found the tix, crammed btwn cds. My Hero! And INDEED – props to the young gent – MP is good to have in ATL. He knows his way about. Stellar.

10 mins on highway.
Venue exit - no traffic…then CLUSTERFUCK. Dewit has told me not to park in the tempting makeshift lots on the approach, as those folks’ll just rape & pillage my vehicle.
Heeding local wisdom, we pass them by.
We see the official ancillary lot; the main lot long since been full. We see the ANCILLARY filling UP, to the point of perhaps turning people away! GRR again.
I hear balloons.
We’re….ANTSY.
Then I see Bud E and the Game walkin alongside the traffic. THEY have parked in one of those “no dice” lots, the very lots the Game’s own WIFE advised me to nix! JEEZ.
The ancillary lot shuts just as we’re ten cars from its entrance….and IT’S FUCKIN SHOWTIME. We’re regretting the grilled cheese stops.

But we DO see Security letting the occasional car in for VIP, letting them right into the MAIN LOT….
Prankster at the wheel. He urges me, strongly, to try to work VIP. I can’t even imagine how I would begin to, but okkkkkayyyyyy -
SILVER (bullet) TONGUE TO THE RESCUE…
I tell the 20sumtin scraggly security “guards” that I forgot to print my VIP pass, but um see I had hoped I could simply pay again when I got here. YEAH. that’s it.
“G’head, and try it,” he says. “ya might get turned around but give it a try.”

We try.
And dang if we don’t freakin SUCCEED!
WE PARK AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE VENUE –
FOR FREE.
FRONT
DOOR.
(indeed, twill be a perfect spot to sell post show grilled cheese!!! Isn’t it a good thing we have all the supplies.)
We organize our pockets….walk towards arena.
MIDNIGHT HOUR STARTS.

Prankstaaaaaah – meet ya at the seats! (he’s bought four 75 cent tix and hopes to miracle folks w/m, so he’s to will call. In the end – the line was too long so he ate his four tickets - at the grand cost of three dollars.)

When I get to the seats, mid front section, I dance on the aisle till those seats are rightfully claimed – at which point I look over my shoulder and see MP jiggin it in seat N21 - during Big Boss. I go over to reunite. BIG HUGS.
We made it!!!
Now, it’s a funny song, Big Boss. You ain’t BIG – as in, SUBSTANTIAL – you just TALL, all lookin over my shoulder an shite. And FUCK IT ALLLLL - we sure do party like rock stars when work be done! Authority’s intrusive…but never on my PARTY!

I look around, check out the venue….lawn is closed. Huh. Well, it would have been muddy out there anyway, considering the soaking rains we battled on the way. Empty lawn, 75 cent tickets - I can’t believe this tour hasn’t sold out – not up north w them Phish boyz, and not even in ATL with DICKEY. Jeez. Was Warren such a draw, the Q? HM. A puzzlement.

Peaceful Valley. Pleasant nuff….. but MP tells me RA. I go get beer.

Ah, the South. Where the drug of choice is ALCOHOL…and the beer lines are WHACK! This roll at the stand all the kegs were fizzybeat unpumpable - and I actually witnessed someone QUIT right on the spot bc her supervisor was “bs”…
the next time up it was like “social hour beer line”….a convo of 10 buds moving UP the line but then again, not really moving UP with the line (GRRR) and EVERY visit, inevitably the guy who JUST FINISHED his order would turn around, see his long lost third removed cousin five back, and buy HIM 2, no can I get 3, um maybe ONE MORE? AGH!!! It’s a show, not a keg party, people!!! It’s times like those when I feel like such a Nyer. Lord, it’s simple: money beer go. AY! In this, I miss almost ALL of Cumby. Very frustrating.

SUGAREE. Okay, lay it on me, Joan! I make the older clean cut “all about the music” head to my left MOVE OVVVER. Dude, you’re IN MY SEAT. Yeah, that one. MOVE. (he does, rather irked, but by the end of THIS show we were alllll good.)
Okay, Sugaree’s where I start to TRULY FALL HOPELESSLY IN LOVE WITH JOAN. But oc we all know she “OWNS” sugaree. Heh. Has since Dead 03.

Setbreak. Short set? Yup, but there will be 3.
MP & I try to wander. House Right concessions are CLOSED. Bizarre. I call Bud E Greene, seeking a hug…and glass. No answer. We fight another beer line. We win the prize of…BEER.

SET TWO.
Strap in. Hell, we should have had the whole seatbelt/lifejacket/airmask/emergency exit FAA rundown. Put yr oxygen mask on FIRST, before helping others.

PASSENGER. Hell fuckin YEAHHHHHH!!!. Love the song, the music, the words – and that it’s PHIL’S. Great way to start a set, any set. Scofield fuckin ON IT. His sound is perfect for Passenger. Spooky power. BEAUT..
And WOW – JOAN. She fuckin gets this, full on.
WHAT IS A MAN
DEEP DOWN INSIDE
BUT A RAGIN BEAST
WITH NOTHING TO HIDE
Bam! Yes indeed. Jussst like that. The gent in front of me has glass. Good thing. ;) MP has by now split for roomier pastures (makin more room for me - HOW THOUGHTFUL no joke) and I summon the Full On HucklestompFreak
RIGHT
NOW for -
Passenger, as it should be, delivered by John Scofield: atonal, Bust the Paddock, Jagged Lightning Bolt.

What will follow?

Althea.
Ayyyyyyyyyyy Carrrrrrrrrrrramba.
Now, Althea USED to BE the song I heard at every GD run. If I saw just one show a run, they’d play Althea. If I saw 3, they’d play Althea sometime in the 3 days. (Admittedly Althea ran heavy rotation but it was actually SPOOKY after a while.) It’s a great song, on the surface about a seesaw attraction, but rife with truth that’s rarely spoken.
Hell, I ballroom danced to Althea w a bud in the “old days” at the Spectrum.
I love that the lyrics ref Shakespeare. Althea’s got history w/me, no doubt.
However when I heard Bob revive it during Dead 04 – well – let’s just say once was enough.
BUT JOAN?
Oh, I’m down for THIS….and hellllllllllaWHOOP - does SHE BRING IT!!
Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
Sco, again, with his bitter, minor twang, suits Althea well. Suits the girl who we all know, esp in THIS scene, the girl who knows about the rough rolls ahead, and knows ya gonna need comfort and sympathy…the girl who’ll call you out on yr head trips (no one messin w u but u), but whose careless rein on that same bucking bronco of candor puts everyone in danger - the girl who pays no mind to yr loner schtick….and her disdain seems to make you want her even more, bc damn it all if the CHASE ain’t a ride worth takin, esp with HER. But Althea’s not a girl to toss away – she’s one of those irreplaceable artist proofs, a rare woman….and knowin THAT puts the DEEP HEEEAAAT on ya, heat like on Broil level. WHEW.
Joan does Althea proper right fine!!! Has she met Althea too??????? I mean, she SAYS she’s tryin to catch her – - -
And the great ENDING, the coup de grace –
THAT
We’re all playin the same game w/the same booby traps
Talking crap
Forgetting LOVE -
ahhhhh
INDEED.
So, cool. I like Althea live again.

Now - SCARLET.
Again I harken back to GD days, when a Scarlet meant the immediate hope that I would get a FIRE. Love that duo (um, are there folks who DON’T?), and back THEN scarfire was a prize you could have a fine time chasing, or so I found to be true. Then, with Philco, Scarlet suddenly DID NOT mean Fire. Philco, so godd at switching it up, or perhaps shattering vintage crystal. Then Scarlet – with The Dead. Where Scarlet odds are DID mean fire…and also MICKEY SINGING IT – YUCK. Now this band DOES play fire, but they might not tonight.

End Result?
Tonight, at this moment, it’s just Scarlet. No hopes for what might follow…just the NOW.
Bueno..
Phil sings. He’s so sweet; he’s got that “unique” soulful croon we love because, in part, it’s PHIL and he’s OUR GUY.
Hunter does it again here, too - with lyrics that contain basic, elemental truth, well stated, and couched in a dance, this time a funny flirty tango of YES NO MAYBE NEVER and yet ALWAYS.
Joan chimes in on that first verse a touch, for a bit for color and Em PHA sis.
She also joins to pump the LIGHT LOOKIN RIGHT IN THE STRANGE PLACES pow-kablooey juggernaut -
Big deal statement indeed.
Sco solos. Some people don’t dig Sco, people whose opinions I respect, and yet simply: I DON’T GET THAT OPINION. But I almost hear their points now…in the Scarlet. Sco’s tone is not round like Jerry’s was. Scarlet’s a HAPPY song; Jer’s full tones suited it. Sco’s signature tweaking of the melody – his “angular playing”, as many describe it -, (I like that description…. but as it’s a VISUAL analogy I gotta believe there’s better…I’ll find it I SWEAR.)….anyway the angular here in Sco’s 1st solo grates ever so slightly…to my ears.
Vocals:
Joan and Phil: wind in willows tea for 2
J/P: sky yellow sun blue
PHIL ALONE: strangers stopping for to shake
P: EVERYONE PLAYIN…!!!!
Cool arrangement – for not only does it augment vocals for amp, it isolates vocals…FOR THE SAME DAMN REASON. Phil’s just the coolest.
More Jam.
Sco more WITH Larry now, and that’s better….creative space but with total momentum.
Sco brings it far down…pickin notes…playin w the space. Phil joins him. Now Rob and Phil.
Punch. Then Bounce. Now bounce and sway, and the guitars join….then
Fusion – Swirl. EXQUISITE..
Back to the Melody. Guitars dance around it. Phil still punchin, bouncing….into
ZOOOOOOOOM
Fire on the Mountain!!!
* GRIN *
Standing there, I find I can’t remember who sang, for Feb…but I want Joan to sing it now. : )
Old school lead in. Back to the bounce.
Oh YEAAAAH, Phil sings. Rather, they each have a verse. Phil delivers his with a playfulness that suggests years learning the subtleties of Robert Hunter.
Larry solos, but I actually I hear Rob. Rob’s such a champeen. This tour I feel Joan stole a lil of the Spotlight from him, what w her lead vocals and all, but what’s cool is often I cherished this tour’s Rob Moments as true backbone throughline strength, much as I enjoy Phil.
Joan sings her verse. She gives us the literal meaning and power of metaphor together in HER delivery (listen and you may get what I mean).
Sco solo. AND HERE’S WHY I LOVE HIS GIG. – BECAUUUSE he’s So NOT Jerry. And YET SO TALENTED. Here, he takes fire to this screeching fingernail “takin all ya got to stay on beat” HAPPY DANCE!! Racetrack at top speed and loving every minute. Then downshifting….into unexpected holes, breaks in the NASCAR pack. Down, down, and
Tenderly…BACK IN.
Larry sings. Sweet he gets a verse; as he DOES sing. And he holllahs the shaboo like a true gungho newbie. GO BAND!!!
Jam empties into a spacefilled blip be bop. Molo and Phil give the monster a spine, then Rob joins his Q brothas. Scofield pulls pullllllls pulllllllls salt water taffy pullllllls, and Larry joins for a Fire “Burn” a majestic build, a minor coronation though, not THE END –
As it’s into a jazzy funk Fire….Sco finds some southern-esque riff that suits his sound….
How, I wonder, will this short set end? It doesn’t feel like Fire will close it they way they aren’t allowing it to climax – so HOW WILL IT END?

WITH UNCLE JOHNS BAND.

I grin ear to ear. All my neighbors do too. Impromptu high fives and hugs, strangers stopping strangers. YES. YES. This set has made us blood brothers and sisters, in just the fuckin way that only THIS MUSIC CAN.

UJB -- the opening riff…Larry on mando. AHHHHH, sweetness. Thanks, LARRY.

Now talk about lyrics meaning TRUTH.
Uncle John’s is IT.
~ and I paraphrase:
Starting new things is rough going.
But people who say they got it easy be foolin themselves.
BUT FIRST OFF –
Are you kind? Of good heart?
And then -
Will you come with me? Are you up for adventure? W yrs truly?
Because SOME PEOPLE are SO WHACK – ya know?
They create forts that need defending, they protect their precious things by (trying to) keep others away!
But it’s all good, my friend…we got the MUSIC. Through it, we are all family, in some illdefined way…and when the band plays – WE ARE HOME.
See, sis, ya gotta KNOW by NOW what the GIG is…what’s FIRE, what’s ICE.
Old Played Out Tale - time is precious. Don’t hesitate. GIVE LOVE. MAKE LOVE. Anything else…is a waste of time.
(and where DOES that pesky “time” GO, anyhow?
I’ll play a song – whatever you WANT. Sing along!
(how does it go again?)
Yo BUDDY - we gotta talk, and you better listen.
Tide is rising.
And your homecoming may be
JUST AROUND THE CORNER. Could be NOW. RIGHT NOW.

It’s our anthem. I LOVE IT. Joan sings her heart out. (this may be the only unca I heard in my 5 shows? Maybe there was one in Camden…this was certainly more memorable.)
Scofield, in his way, conjures the DARK unca, the unca that cues visions of dreams untouchable, of ideals dashed -
Thankfully, Larry’s mandolin gives warmth….
And…the reprise!!! Voice. Meter. Explosion.
COME HEAR UNCLE JOHNS
With me
OR freakin GO IT ALONE –
And in the final notes the band gives us just the sllllightest taste of the ETERNAL UNCLE JOHNS POWER…
But then leave the stage rather abruptly.
Oh welllll must be that 3 set thing.

AND I SURE DIG two set breaks! This go round I DO meet up w Bud E and the Game (and friends and relations)….though they comically misled me w a House LEFT when they ACTUALLY meant RIGHT….but no worries. We still BURN THE MOTHA DOWN.
No lingerin time tho. I gotta and I WANNA get back to my seat. Short sets = short set breaks.
AND
That second set was SUPERcool, thus: I got HIIIIGH hopes (ant rubbertreeplant type) for this Dickey bizzzzzzzzz
See, I’m a Dickey fan. He’s a Living Legend. He’s part of what MADE the ABB what it was AND DAMNIT -IS. And okay, he may drink a lil much. Might affect his playin, too, and that DOES suck if you paid $$ to see him - but YO - I got faith Dickey’s the kinda guy who’d rectify that issue. Dickie is, I believe, a PRO. And – honestly – I know he’s got a domestic violence rap sheet, but I don’t throw down Huge Judgement bc I believe such things are just one bit of a BIG STORY. I hold off on Eternal Condemnation.
BUT
I’ve seen Dickie a couple times in the past few yrs, and he never quite delivers what I hope for. Charlotte Summer 02 – perfect example. Nice Blue Sky, sure, but I’d rather the Q do – almost anything.
So tonight, I’m hopin Luck is a Lady tonight; I’M HOPIN for a line of Double Diamonds, an all paylines jackpot.

Bring on
Set THRRRRRRRRREEEE (as the Toostie Roll Owl would say)

LOVELIGHT.
Cool!!! I dig that right away the band lets Joan come out and shine BRIGHT - even with the biggie SPECIAL GUEST thing. (If anything, Scofield was the person who pulled back to allow for Dickie, I do believe even leaving the stage at some points, for Liz Reed?)
Joan gives Lovelight deeeeeeeeep soul. HOLY BALOO – uhhh - she’s way better (better meaning – more soulful, vocals more unique instead of cookie cutter, and I think we all may agreee waaaay mo sexy) than Chris Robinson – eh? Just to…say…..AHEM. Yeah.
Rob Barraco – HEY NOW – he didn’t hold back either in this set, adding TONS. OFTEN.

I look at my watch. 2 minutes to 10. Beer stops at 10. ummm
Should I? Fate seems to be nudging me with the watch glance….I bolt. Get 3 more. I figure if I can’t BEAT the drinkin southnahs (it IS THEIR turf), I’ll fuckin join m!
Run back. My Ticketfast piece of paper has become a wet Kleenex in the humidity. Fuckin riddddiiiiicccculi.
Still lovelight. Joans howls, swoons, Sco bubbles, Dickie brightens.
But HEY – not too much WOW, band, not so much of THAT holy shit stuff, nun-uh, not so early.
Lovelight ends.

Joan leaves the stage..

Franklins lead in – I probly loved it but don’t remember the moment AT ALL.
I remember the Blue Sky.
Okay, Dickie. He’ll play Blue Sky. RIGHT. Sure. Of course. Don’t be stupid.
however
THERE ARE NO WORDS TO TELL YOU HOW GOOD THIS BLUE SKY IS.
Living Legend Dickie cast a spell w his soul and his magic wand/guitar, building this Crystal Blue Sky into a glistening, shimmering peak.
(At this point, I dance a smidge too hard - lose my footing and stumble a bit….and promptly give away 2 of my 3 brews. “I’m having TOO MUCH fun!” HA HA HA)

BUT settle –
FOR IT’S ONLY JUST BEGUN, silly youngins!
Time for LIZ REED.
Starts topnotch yet simply Just Exactly Perfect through the first bit (like wow album perfect)…and then LIZ GETS HUGE, MAMMOTH, BEYOND. JAMMMMYJELLLLLYSMUCKERIFIC.
PHIL DOES A FUCKIN BASS SOLO, well, Solo w Molo. Talk bout INSPIRED!! At the end,of it Dickey joins for a big Hendrix riff (R U xperienced I think)
Then back into LIZ for the bumBAbaaaBUM END.
HOLY SHIT,
The Close Encounters Spaceship landed at Devils TOWER!!!
Just like that.
Big lights, big power.
OUT OF THIS WORLD.
And may I not fail to metion - this KID was on stage for the madness, Dickie’s son Duane. Stands to reason he might beup to par with his dad –
But ALSO with PHIL LESH
And LARRY CAMPBELL
And JOHN SCOFIELD!!!
Damn Impressive. Thanks, DUANE BETTS.

Joan returns for Ramblin Man, a HOOTENANY full of joy. They even give US a verse to sing!! We do – WITH GUSTO. Wailing guitars. ROCKIN AUDIENCE. Dickey freakin LAYS DOWN.
Did he deliver, you ask? Good god. WITHOUT A DOUBT.
I notice that the stage dynamic is interesting now thatswith Joan back out. Dickie will move to play to Phil…and Joan shifts over the other direction, goofs w Scofield, balancing it. Nice.
Ramblin Man concludes…but its not the END.
Not YET.

There’s Franklin’s. PHIL, yup.THE MUSIC OF THE GODDAMN MOTHAFUCKIN GRATEFUL DEAD. Right ON. This Franklin’s is a dance fest, pure energy of the bold good kind, we’re IN IT….all of us. Transported there on the Close Encounters Spaceship.
Scofield makes himself known right away.
But PHIL – YOU SING IT.
He does, the band gives it 1000%. I’m jawdrop. Amazed.
Sco, Dickie, Larry, Duane, Phil, Rob – they JAM JAM JAM – but never did I say CROWDED STAGE. There’s a moment when Dickie turned and dueled w Sco….that was FINE, a nice acknowledgement. Brothers in Music, in SOUL.

All of us, on and off stage, are having a BLAST. Didn’t know it could be possible, really. Not THIS PURE.
That’s why I say I have more love in my heart bc of ATL. I now know there’s more bliss out there to get….and THUS and even more important – THERE’S MORE TO GIVE!!! GODDAMNIT - I’ll try to max the love! I SWEAR WILL!
Franklin’s Tower – a dance party, not southern, not jammy, JUST FUN. JUST FUCKIN MUSIC AT ITS BEST.
Music so good my mind isn’t in its OVERTHINK place, where I’d fret that this, my first show, is UNIQUE, not to be repeated….the place where I’m worrying what will happen when Sco splits….and I HAVE BEEN worrying about that.
BUT NOW….Franklin’s is coming to an end….farewell licks from the guitarists, fading, languishing….no wants to END this cool interstellar jaunt – but -
LAST VERSE, PHIL -
MAY THE FOUR WINDS BLOW YOU HOME AGAIN
Bang!!!!!!
Band big finish, Joan too. ROLL AWAY THE DEW!!! Not simply big but classic too, the old school intro/refrain, with Sco adding his unique signature Connect 4 diagonals (pretty sneaky SIS)….and yet no big BOOM end. Franklin’s….fades….but that seems right as the show IS NOT OVER.

Donor rap. (THANK U CODY!)

Encore IS….GDTRFB! oc, should have guessed.
Perfect.

I’d elaborate on that perfect but right now I’m spent. The ATL post show will have to start the Asheville chapter. Hope you dug the words, even a little.

Whew!!!

Huck that was some of the best shit I've read...ANYWHERE!!! Seriousseely. Captivating. but HOW long did that take you to write???....lol


Multiple grilled cheese stops...lol. Sounds like loads of fun. Thanks for the entertainment while I'm stuck here at "work".

Loved what you said about Dickey. Saw him last yr w/his band and they just freaking ROOOOCKED so hard!!!! WITH a fully developed Franklin's jam. Loved the way he kept smiling at his kid, very sweet.

a)wow indeed

b)thanks, inDEED

c)so did he make some phat cash selling said gc's or what?!

that was grrrrreat, thanks for bringing me back. I look forward to getting my accounts together....

the first grilled cheese stop: target. It'd been years since I set foot in a target, and I didn't think they would have cheese or dairy type shit, but it was the only place close to the house we'd departed from, so wtf, why not? too bad that we forgot what day of the week it was. Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER go in to Target on Sunday at 1:30pm. Never. The transvestite salesclerk who sold me the bread was a total trip as s/he tried to give me directions to a place with cheese nearbye. I didn't care, we had to hit the road.

yeah, next stop for groceries....
Discount Palace or some really really old Big Lots type place that had a bunch of brands I'd never seen before in my entire life. I felt like I had walked into the 70's. The place was ancient. Managed to find some cheese slices and butter. but no garlic salt or italian herb seasoning

I don't quite remember the 3rd place.

The fourth place was wal-mart. Of course I got the propane, the spices, some water, more ice for the cooler, and all that jazz. I had said at the very beginning, odds are we'll run into a wal-mart somewhere....it is the south. Quite in adventure though.

was quite beautiful how we slid on in to the perfect parking spot. I think I had scored one in the same 20 foot radius at my very first concert at Lakewood. As for the grilled cheeses, I was so out of practice is was depressing. I apologize to the good Rev. Buddy Green for giving him a sandwich that must have fallen way short what was billed. I hadn't made a grilled cheese in about 4 months....my house here in charleston didn't have a stove. And the last time I broke out the colemans might have been back in atlanta at dead tour 04. so yeah, I was verrrrry rusty. Forgot how many sprays of butter to use and musta turned out some dry sandwiches. And my timing was off and my factory was unorganized and and and.

excuses excuses. I had a great time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Can't way for the next installment. Still need to compare notes on our asheville experience

what a great review, huckleberry hound! thanks so much for writing that. so are you gonna do one for asheville now? it was great to see you but it could've been a little longer