Oh, first one in. Hometown show in CT. Nice theater... should be a very comfy show with awesome acoustics. 10 days to go.

Dave

got that home-cooked, better than mom makes phil stew a-brewin!!
mmm mmmmmm good.

(hope yr hungry)

anyone know how security is at this place?

the oakdale is a no smoking venue.
which of course means nothing!!
last time i was there (for phil) i don't think they checked us at all on the way in... however my memory has done me wrong before...just be cool on the way in and there shouldn't be any problem...
peace and love, and happy toking!
randy

Hi everyone! I can't believe it's only a week until the phil crew moves into my home state of Connecticut. Hope the show is a good one (and what phil and friends show isn't a good one?) and I hope to see you all there! Peace!

You cannot count on security being lax anywhere on this tour. Alot of venues wont allow backpacks. Call or check first.

Howdy

Is anybody from Pittsburgh driving up to the show on Tuesday? I need to get home for Thanksgiving, and want to catch this show, but I can only afford a bus, which means I won't be back in Wallingford on time.

Hello, all.

This will be my first Phil show. I am taking a bus up from New York City to New Haven, then taking city transits to get as close to the theatre as I can. I am very looking forward to this, was looking for people on here that I can run into up there. markpernotto@hotmail.com

-remarkable.

So, This is the Philzone. I will be popping my Phil cherry at the Oakdale next week. This will also be my first show having any members of the Dead involved. I never got a chance to see the Dead, and that is really the only regret that I have in my 25 years of existance.

I am reluctantly going to admit that I have been to some shows of that PH... band. I know there seems to be some anamosity toward PH... fans, but just as all Muslims are not terrorists, all Phish fans are not rude, inconsiderate, jerks.

Music is the glue keeping all scenes together. And I am pumped as hell to get to the Oakdale for the show.

Thanks for listening....

Stephen

Hey folks!
The Phil train moves to my hometown!!! I'm a Wallingfordite and am incredibly pumped to see the boys in a venue I can walk to from my house. If y'all were wondering, a great local eaterie/bar would be Archie Moores on Center Street, about a mile from the venue. The Oakdale is a beautiful theatre. Used to be an open air summer venue, but now that structure serves as a lobby of sorts to the new, state of the art venue. Saw the Allmans there tiwce in 99, you wont find better acoustics. Any travelling Phillers, if you need any info on the area, you can just drop me an email at teague.dwyer@maine.edu and I'll be happy to help. Can't wait for the groove!!!

Teague Dwyer

Looking for a 12/3 Extra, PLEASE!

Unable to even try for tix due to meeting...would be very grateful for the opportunity to attend the 12/3 Beacon show. If you may have an extra please email me at mrbwid@optonline.net.
Many thanks.
-Mike

man, this show seems to be packed.. and i'm left with no tickets..
anybody got 2 extra tickets?? PLEASE...reply back at kajith@hotmail.com

Just about 3 days now, the sets have been amazing and i cant wait!

Phellas,

From out of town. I will be coming up from New York City to New Haven on Greyhound, and I have been able to get a way to get to Wallingford, but where my hotel is (I hated to do it, but there are no campgrounds!), it's about four miles from Oakdale theater. Anyone really really wanting to give me a ride after the show to my hotel room? Will pay reasonable rate. Or will there be taxis? Kind of worried about going to a new place not knowing anyone. Can't wait for the show!

318.288.0862

-remarkable.
markpernotto@hotmail.com

I am sooooo jazzed for this show. The setlists have been very interesting, an awesome mix of the new Hunter/Lesh jams, some very nice classics, and some of the very fitting cover tunes. I am so excited because this band has blown me away for the last year, and this tour looks like no exception...the Phil/Molo intereaction is so reminiscent of the Lesh/Kreutzman anchoring of the past, and I swear Warren is weaving some mean mojo... I was so prepared for him to be just another Allman noodler, but he has stepped up mightily in the past year. He has started pulling back some of the spacey sliding, and snapping out some nice finger picking, and really melding with Herring. It's hard not having a true rythm player, but they have really come to blend together effortlessly. Rob is the best keyboardest since Brent...period. My 10 year old daughter is coming to her first show here...and I am almost jealous that she is going to experience this whole scene for the first time,..but with Phil's rebirth, I guess we all are re-experiencing the magic...whether Newbie or Oldhead, it sure is a sight to see, and amazing to hear..

Dave

Next up.....WALLINGFORD, CT!!!!!! I am soooo psyched for this show. Luckily, Tuesday is my last day of classes up here at Eastern Conn. State University, so I get to go home first and then head off to the show. Can't wait!!!

Oakdale is suggesting we get there an hour ahead of showtime. Men, not a bad idea, given some of the lines to be searched and groped...

I want to hook up with people, but have no idea when I can leave to get up there. Maybe half-time? Will be sporting my better halves so am more pumped than usual. We got to hang at Stabler and now Oakdale. Doesn't get better than that.

We will most probably be in the lot pre-show, and most of you know what my car looks like if that works, and more importantly, the traffic on 287 is light.

Hey Folks,
Anyone have an extra (one) for the CT and Boston shows? Leaving the morning on 11/20 so let me know asap.
Kindly,
Tony

Bloomer@adelphis.net

Anybody got some easy directions from boston? travel time, lots, etc? any help would be greatly appreciated!

Rio,
Take Mass Pike to exit 9 (Sturbridge). Take 84 West to 91 South (left exit right before Hartford). Take 91 South to exit 17 and merge onto Rt. 15 South, otherwise known as the Merritt Parkway. Go about 5-7 miles to exit 64, take a left off the exit and the theater is about a mile down the road on the right--lots around the theater-there's nothing else nearby so you'll have no problem parking. I'm heading from here too. Should take no more than 2.5 hours.

howdy friends can someone with a taper ticket bring my equipment in for me.i have a front row balcony ticket.i have a sony pcm-m1 and a sony 959a.warning i checked with oakdale no equipment gets through security without a taper ticket.if anyone can help i would appreciate it. thanks wayne

Can't wait for tomorrow! If anyone has not seen a show at the Oakdale, it's a great place to see a show. If Phil & the boys play only half as good as they played at the Meadows (7/21/01) we'll still get one helluva show! Looks like we could hear Cumberland!

You people are sooooooooooo lucky to get to see P&F. I wish I could be their with you guys, shaking my bones! Each P&F show gets better & better with age. Just like a fine bottle of wine. Well enjoy the show you lucky people! Fare Thee Well! Uncle John

Astro Weather
November 19 2001
10:26 PM Time Zone is 5 Hrs. Includes daylight time if applicable.
Wallingford, CT

Applying Moon Sextile Sun
This is a time of harmony, balance, and opportunity. It’s a good time for decision making.

Applying Mercury Square Uranus
Communications are interrupted and subject to breakdown. Transportation matters are unstable. Shocking news, attacks on authority figures, controversy, innovation, and protests may occur now.

Applying Venus Trine Jupiter
Confidence and feelings of prosperity move events along now. Large group celebrations and events such as meetings and weddings are successful. People like each other.

Applying Mars Conjunct Uranus
This is a time for bold initiatives and breakthroughs. Engineering and technological issues move center stage. Strong-willed persons dominate events, new leaders are chosen, and campaigns reach full swing. Plans for the future are formulated and some technological firsts may be implemented.

Applying Saturn Trine Neptune
This may be a time of notable developments in the art and music world. Otherwise, resignations, labor difficulties, boundary disputes, and government policies on safety or security matters are current issues. There is a need to make sense out of chaos and seek closure where needed.

Applying Neptune Conjunct Uranus
This transit marks the beginnings of significant cultural changes. The old reality crumbles; the underdogs eventually emerge as winners, though this may take years. What was previously seen as solid, turns out not to be. Peculiar obsessions with ideas and beliefs at this time lead to bizarre social episodes. Artistic, religious, and intellectual circles move in radical directions and make major changes. Political systems collapse or weaken.

Applying Pluto Sextile Uranus
This transit suggests the emergence of movements for social reform and change. People are strongly motivated to change attitudes toward traditional values and they will crusade actively for this.

Don't get me started.......

How about, lets not read anything into this and just spend 4 hours high on music. Bucky, where are you eating? Email me an address. I have to get up there far earlier than I anticipated.`

Now is the time for the planets to align and the atincipation of the mashed potatoe gravy train to come into full alignment with the turkey breast cosmos. Sourdough biscuit asteroids will come into full contact with the green bean casserole comet. And we all fall into an aura of pumpkin pie.

All of this leads toward an extremely large cosmic feast and a three hour nap on the couch of the universe.

Hee hee......Happy Thanksgiving All.

Peace and love

Tea Minus 7 Hours Till Phill....

I am so pumped.

Woo-Hoo!

6th row center I can't wait for tonight see y'all there The Oak is usually pretty chill for shows like this although they have been strict in the past for other shows Phil in 00' was rippin and security was givin no troubles so let's all hope for a repeat performance of how security was for that april 00' show here.

Forrest

From what I understand there is no "lot scene" allowed at the Oakdale...

Pre Show Possibility- to get somethin "shakin'"

Old Dublin
171 Quinnipiac St
203-949-8022

Right on Pinman, keep it coming if you care to...thats very relevant with Phil and Friends being continually inspired by celestial events and working with these natural occurances, as they did with the Planet Jams this Summer...

All i have to do is sit by the ocean to know astrology is far from a belief, it is science.. planetarty, moon, and star positions affect our bodies and moods as us strongly as they do the tides..we have alot of liquids in us, usually extra liquids for shows..rise and fall..

Everyone gets to direct their own movie, believe it if you want or need it...

advice: psssssst..the balcony is cool...shhhhhhh

time to stretch, early pre-show rituals..safe travels everyone...meet you at the music, as always..

Gencs,
Last time for Phil there was not an "organized" lot scene, however, people were milling about selling their wares, albeit more discretely than let's say at Great Woods or the Meadows.

I predict Trey and Bobby at tonight's show in CT.

I wish I could go.

Thanks for the tips Bostonian!

6 and a half hours!!!!!
AH HAAAAAA!!!!
Smoke 'em up baby!!!!
Phil RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROCKS!!!!!

>>>All i have to do is sit by the ocean to know astrology is far from a belief, it is science

'The Heavens declare the Glory of God'


As Tina Turner said to Mel Gibson at the end of 'Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome', "Ain't we a pair!".......

Oscar & Felix got nothing on me & you, buddy!

BTW, the lot scene was pretty average last time at Oakdale.
I didn't see anyone get hassled.

I am at work and I can't concentrate on anything but tonight's show. What should I do???

The only thing helping is this Boston Music Hall 4/8/71.

Leave.

T minus 1.5 hours until departure...who will I see on the MassPike? I'll be the one in the blue VW Jetta with the dead stickers-see if you can figure out which one

Thanks for the sound advice.

getting ready for tonight!!:-)--time for the old setlist guessing pool with the friends. calling Phil shows has been much tougher to guess than dead shows(where for the last 15 years every song was generally slotted to a certain area of the set)......PLQ really mixes it up ....anyway in no paticular order......
China Cat,
Blues for Allah,
Soulshine,
Stella Blue,
I am the Walrus,
Pride of Cucamonga(not done on this tour ...yet)
Mirror of Thalassa,
Dire Wolf,
And it Stoned Me,
Dark Star,
Cumberland,
Hard to Handle,
Stronger than Dirt(not done on this tour ...yet),
New Speedway Boogie

(14 songs is around tour average)

The best thing about the PLQ is that I'm probably totally wrong about most of these....they blow my mind a little more each tour:-) -- have a great show--

getting ready for tonight!!:-)....anyway in no paticular order......
China Cat,
Alligator,
Soulshine,
Birdsong
I am the Walrus,
Pride of Cucamonga(not done on this tour ...yet)
Get Together,
Dire Wolf,
And it Stoned Me,
Tom Thumb Blues,
Cumberland,
Hard to Handle,
Dear Mr Fantasy,
Fire On The Mountain

(14 songs is around tour average)

-- have a great show--


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Add a Message

Pre-setlist musings:

Relative to the predicability of dead setlists. I seem to recall reading that as the dead scene grew larger and larger, they developed the 80's/90's format and song placements to insure a relatively consistent level of quality at a show. It's kind of hard to drive enough energy to get 15K+ up and going when you play a 40 minute darkstar. my theory is that P&F may have realized that during this past summer tour and have made an effort to stick with the nicer, more intimate venues, so that a place like stabler (approx 5K) is the biggest they'll play. Thoughts?
and Setlists!!!! Come on - it's almost ten o-clock!!!!!!!!!
D

Setlist per TucanSam at 11:13 PM (EST):

Jam> Scarlet > Jam > Fire > Jam >Beautifuly Broken > Jam > Speedway > Tons of Steel

Jam > Scarlet > Jam > Fire > Jam >Beautifuly Broken > Jam > Speedway > Tons of Steel > St Stephen > Revolution

FYI-I just (11:15pm 11/20)bought tix for Fri and Sat Beacon shows at Ticketmaster.com. They are standing room only section BUT I WILL BE INSIDE. Get em while u can.

2nd :: Jam > Scarlet > Jam > Fire > Jam >Beautifuly Broken > Jam > Speedway > Tons of Steel > St Stephen > Revolution e: Soulshine

Hey pholks!
Just in from the Oakdale. First set was kinda slow. Well played, but slow. Second set was some of the best Phil and Friends yet! Rivaled the second set of Hartford, but the tapes will tell that tale.
Setlist:
I.Jam>
Ramble On Rose
Mississippi Half Step>
Jam>
Lay Of The Sunflower
Dire Wolf>
Jam>
Sunshine Of Your Love

II. Jam>
Scarlet Begonias>
Jam>
Fire On The Mountain
Jam>
Beautifully Broken>
New Speedway Boogie>
Tons Of Steel
St. Stephen>
Revolution
E:Soulshine

A little late, I'll post more tomorrow, but highlights were an AMAZING Sunshine Of Your Love, the Broken>Speedway>Tons Of Steel was magnanamous, and St. Stephen was jammariffic!

Keep that vibe flowin'
Teague Dwyer

Oops! I forgot Rock And Roll Blues before Sunshine!
It goes:
Setlist:
I.Jam>
Ramble On Rose
Mississippi Half Step>
Jam>
Lay Of The Sunflower
Dire Wolf>
Rock And Roll Blues
Jam>
Sunshine Of Your Love

II. Jam>
Scarlet Begonias>
Jam>
Fire On The Mountain
Jam>
Beautifully Broken>
New Speedway Boogie>
Tons Of Steel
St. Stephen>
Revolution
E:Soulshine

that was my first phil show.
i will be back for more.

"one way or another"

there's my ramble on rose opener! gimme some rose, gimme some candyman, to sink your ship of fools.....lets hear less beatles more band!

....they even busted out 18 million trillion billion tons of steel....gentlemen start your engines? i dunno////////life is a carnival...looking forward to the music never stopped when the new years ball drops, because the music never stops

.....wish we were there tonight, go go east coast.

It is way too late for me to do this, but wired from drive to Boston. Nice licks in Dire Wolf. Sunshine took the cake. Beautifully Broken was awesome, and for me the show took off from there. Very very good.

Met tons of folks, some of whom its been way too long coming-you are everything and so much more than I ever anticipated. It was an honor. Matt, how cool you were between us, Bucky and Mrs. B, finally, SJF, Puck...Jill...just too cool. Great venue, no celly zone though. Sorry.

One sour note. The F...N Whistler was there. Right next to me. I was nice the first time, Please stop that, please. Less nice the second time, he was a bastard, I asked him to stop again, he told me to go to the balcony. I asked security to take him to his seat. Aron got more room to air guitar and the rest of the folks were happy. That guy is a jerk.

most folks get it but he is distinctively rude.. i have lots of p+f out of new york area with someone who whistles way too loud.. like he's adding something to the music.. if he reads this -nothing personal but ya really got a problem brother.. it's very rude and comes in at a level of no-class.

meanwhile phil is driving the bus now and we lucky few get to see the best band of now carry the torch with the best yet to come!!

here comes NEW YEAR'S... phil rules.

oh yeah - i'm callin' sugar magnolia at 12 midnite new year's eve.. though the music never stops!! happy holidaze everybody!!!

Whistler question--does he strike y'all as someone who happens to enjoy whistling while listening and doesn't give a rats ass about anyone else's good time? Or is he whistling kind of hoping to piss people off?

Either way, nicely handled Dewitt.
New Speedway...jealous!!!!!!!!!!

Phil and Friends in Wallingford – Overall a good show. As always, nice jamming and a nice song selection. I would prefer to hear fewer Warren Haynes songs though. A really great Sunshine of Your Love (with very trippy graphics) to end the first set and a phenomenal St. Stephen>Revolution to end the second set. I think it was the Hey Jude album version of Revolution not the single w/ the extra George Harrison lead. Dare I say I’m getting tired of hearing St. Stephen? Three Phil shows this year thus far and three St. Stephen’s - Roseland, Jones Beach and Wallingford. Come-on guys, I saw well over 200 Dead shows and only managed to catch the 1/10/79 Nassau and 10/13/83 MSG St. Stephen’s. This is getting tired and old, NOT!!!

On a more cynical note, if I could possibly be any less cynical, sometimes the shows seem to attract some real yahoo assholes. The Yahoos in CT are a little different than their Suffolk County Long Island counterparts but Yahoos nevertheless. The main difference is the CT Yahoos had the opportunity to go to Miss Porter’s Finishing School but failed-out by the time they reached ripe old age of 6, next they were rejected by Andover and Exeter and never actually got to see the inside of Smith, Bates or Holyoke.

My apologies if you recognize these people and my sympathy if you know them. First there was the 300 –350lb, 4’ 10’’ woman who showed up with a handful of beers accompanied by her way too drunk friend and both proceed to scream and whoop at the top of their lungs during SOYL. We were sitting in the tapers section, so no doubt you will hear these two for ever lasting posterity. The drunken guy was pushing me out of my seat/space from my left side and kept offering me his one eyed monocle. And for the ultimate crowded feeling, shoving and pushing me from my right side was this Bozo (not to be confused with a yahoo) with a straw hat on. He offered me the use of his hat for use of my binoculars. When I told him I had Conjunctivitis he said “oh man is that contagious”, no Pink Eye is not contagious at all, I didn’t have Pink Eye anyway, so against my better judgment I decided to do the altruistic thing and share my binoculars. Mr. Bozo passed them to his old lady and his old lady passed them to who knows whom and then before I knew it they were several rows back nowhere near where I was sitting. A word of advice to the Yahoos and Bozos, and a little paraphrasing from the Beverly Hills High movie: short, stupid, loud, drunk, smoking, overweight and a big Taurus bullring through your nostrils is very unbecoming and no way to go through life. If you’re going to go to the show try and be a little be considerate of your neighbor.

In between sets I decided to zigzag my way past security and sit in front orchestra with all the CT Beautiful People and VIPs. What a difference 20 rows make. There were no screaming drunk Yahoos or Straw Hat Bozos to contend with and ruin a perfectly nice show.

Yeah, New Speedway, it was nice. He just attempts to whistle as if in rhythm with the music, NOT. It is loud and really obnoxious. He ruined half of the recordings of spring '00 and fall '00 from the Beacon. God help him if I run into him again in Boston or NYC.

I wish I could give a better review in here. From Beautifully Broken on sort of went into that trance state, where I got removed from life. TC and I gave this song some really high accolades after Hershey, but that performance pales in comparison to last night. The song has aged, lots of timbre, lots of depth. From then on the show sort of morphed to whatever plane you chose to be on.

Teases, and there were so many. Forgive me, (us), we didn't have pen or pad (a big first, trust me). Heavy Dark Star tease as sort of part B to opening jam. After Fire, we got a huge Crazy Fingers tease that killed me, into Dark Star, Shakedown, and Rider teases I think. May have the order mixed up. Elinor riff appeared more than a few times, but not so sure it really is Elinor, maybe just a convenient segue after all of this time. Also heard strong Lucy in the Sky...let's face it, if they don't play it it really is a figment.

Was hoping to get the Dark Star over with-Sorry Bucky, it really should have been last night.

That was a hilarious post Howard. I am upset that i can't make it to any phil shows this tour, it sucks. Work sucks. But thank you to all those kind people who post reviews and setlists of these shows, so that I am able to drool over my keyboard. ARGHHHHHHHHHH!

HUGE Crazy Fingers tease. I got completely in the Crazy Fingers mode (Rob does a great job singing it) But then, there it was - Gone

Thank you. I try to amuse. One correction: Rock and Roll High School, not the stupid TV show Beverly Hills High. Who could forget Sean Penn and My Favorite Martian???

hey phil, thanx for making me feel good about music again.
peace.

>>>Second set was some
of the best Phil and Friends yet! Rivaled the second set of Hartford, but the tapes will tell that
tale.

Hartford when?
Maybe 2000, but 2001?

When my sides stop aching from laughing so much, I'll post my thoughts......

....whew, that was a good one.....

Well, here's my take:
After some nice fellowship with some of the Zoners both inside & outside the show, we headed to our 4th row seats. Once again, I noticed the sound is louder about 30 or 40 feet away from the stage than it is in the front. That's the 3rd venue I've been close at, & all 3 were like that.

They opened with the usual jam. First, it hinted at Truckin/TOO then a little Birdsong before settling into an extended Dark Star tease. Then , they fell into Ramble On Rose, and a disturbing trend was set that lasted until the final song of the 1st set: No room for any extended jamming, either in or out of the songs.

They stopped & followed it up with an underwhelming version of Halfstep. It was no match in intensity for either of the other times I've seen it (see 11-10-99). They finally kicked it into gear after the "Across the Rio Grande" part & went into a bit more of Dark Star before we got 'Forest of Fenario. Limp is the best way to describe this song. I can't imagine it could ever be good, no matter how the band's playing that night.

Next, we got the ultimate can't do anything with this song, Dire Wolf. Enough said.
So, now maybe they'll kill us.....


Nope. Instead we get Rock-N-Roll Blues.
When I heard the name of this song, I figured it's an upbeat rocker. Wrong, slow, lazy go nowhere ballad. They headed out of it & started a big Crazy Fingers tease. "That's it! I'm going to the bathroom" I told my wife. I couldn't take another slow ballad.
Luckily for me, they changed course, & upon my return, they headed into Sunshine Of Your Love.
This was great, probably the highlight of the night. Warren played some great double time, & it rocked. Finally.

All told, though, this was by far the weakest 1st set I've seen by P&F.
But, we still had hope for a killer 2nd set.....

Like I have posted, this was my first show. I will be back, but not to a connecticut venue. The crowd was a bit rediculous in the mid-orchestra, but nothing could harsh my good time. We had to put up with a freaky biker jerkoff who thought he owned the whole section. I loathe people like that (biker or not I AM NOT STEREOTYPING). no good vibes at all.

The Phil twist on Half-Step and New Speedway was refreshing and intense. My hightlights were Sunshine, New Speedway, and Revolution.

Thanks to the kind head who was hookin up the brown candy in my glass all 2nd set. Thanks man!

I could have sworn I heard a Norwegien Wood tease in the St. Stephen jam as well...

but I could have been fucked up

>> I could have sworn I heard a Norwegien Wood tease

That's been the tease all tour long...I heard it at EVERY show I hit. Maybe they're hinting at a Paul appearance at the Beacon or something

Howard,

Nice post.

Also, I think you mean "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".

Spicoli and Mr. Hand.

One more thing...I just gotta ask Bucky: "Sunshine of Your Love" the highlight of the first set???? Haven't we all heard that one on the radio enough?

Sure, P & F do it differently and can rock it out, but what's with these obvious covers?

Now...."Tales of Brave Ulysses", that would be something, but personally, I could leave "Sunshine of Your Love" to drive time radio...

what does the whistler look like?
i'm going tonight and i know the security there.
they will tell him to shut up or leave.

Now, the 2nd set was decent, but hardly what I've come to expect from PLQ (haha).....

As far as it rivalling Hartford this past summer, give me some of what you were taking......

They started with a nice jam in which Jimmy was taking most of the leads & very swiftly playing them might I add. Warren was adding some funky rythym type riffs.
And, BTW, it's true that Warren's stepping back more & giving Jimmy more room.
The jam hinted at Cassidy, then we got another Scarlet (3 in 6 shows I believe). Scarlet was it's usual self & the jam out headed towards a bit of space where Warren played some interesting slide that was a little reminiscent of the bird chirping in Mountain Jam, or as SJF put it, "the crickets".
They then headed rather standardly into Fire. Solid, but no more than average (at best) jamming in the 2 instumentals. An odd thing I noticed was Warren sang the 3rd verse.

Fire went out without returning to the Scarlet 'coda', they headed into a little more space, A Blues For Allah tease, then Beautifully broken. Nicely played, I prefer this over most the new songs. While being another slow ballad, it packs a bit more punch & has a kinda haunting sound to it. I especially like where Warren plucks the string with his thumb when he sings "broken"....

This ended & they went right into New Speedway. A slightly faster version than last years, & was well jammed. Probably the best of the 4 I've seen, but hardly a show stopper IMHO.
I also noticed another bad trend developing: Each song in the 2nd set was a song I've seen previously in the first set.....

This trend was highlighted by the next song, Tons Of Steel.
Now, I must take FULL responsability for this one.
On the way up, I mentioned that someone had posted last week that they hoped Phil would break out Tons. SJF said "That's it, you just cursed us".
I guess he nailed that.
The song itself had some energy, not much jamming, & was no big deal.

They stopped, then started up St Stephen & ran my streak to 4 straight shows (but I can't buy a Viola).
Honestly, I thought it was slower than usual & they were just going through the motions. They finally did kick it in at the end & the last instumental was excellent & finished with a big build-up.
They then went into another high energy, no jamming song to end, Revolution.

The encore was Soulshine, & was rather perfunctory....

So, yes there was some good moments, some rather poor song selection, and it just seemed like an off night, where being 'regular' & not special was all the band could muster.
A FAR cry from the epic Hartford show this summer.

Some of the comments fellow Zoners had this night:

"This tour is no match for last fall" by somebody who's seen every show.

"They didn't have it tonight"

This is nothing I need to ever hear on tape" (by me)
"Yeah"

"I spent most of the first set in the bathroom"

"I went to the lobby during Dirw Wolf & didn't come back until SOYL"

"Warren's tired. You can see it. He's been playing for a year straight"

This was by far the weakest of the 10 two set P&F shows I've seen.
Heck, 2 of the 4 one setters (11-13 & 14-99) blew this away.....

It was the only time I've come out of a full P&F show where I didn't have that blown away, natural high that comes from an eargasm.

Warren's been doing Norweiggen Wood every show since my first show on 11-10-99.

And, yes, I believe it was in there several times, including St Stephen's last big instrumental.

I agree with JD. Last night the crowd reacted most strongly for the two covers, Sunshine and Revolution, and I started to wonder why it seems these guys get more of a crowd reaction for these tunes than Dead tunes? I was not impressed with the tempo nor the song choices last night-Ramble on Rose, Beautifully Broken, Tons of Steel, Soulshine and last, and certainly least, Lay of the Sunflower-wow does that tune suck. Overall this show was average at best-the highlight for me was Scarlet-Fire. Let's hope for better in Beantown.

So does anyone have a clue why Phil
does his shows so close together..
Why doesn't he take a few days off between
citys...I think they should rest up...
Hey Bucky reading your review sounds as
if you would like to give up your Beacon
tickets...May I be the first one to step up
and take them from you?

WOW - I'm surprised at the so-so reviews of last night....

I thought it was a great show! Maybe not as great as Stabler, but still a KICK-ASS PLQ show!

and fwiw - I absolutely love Lay of the Sunflower.

to each their own, I guess : )

I concur buckster, I saw Buffalo and Albany and had that same non-blownaway feeling leaving the shows.By far the weakest phil shows i'v seen. yes, warren seems tired and the song selection is kinda lame. must be saving "it" for new york.whats with all the ballads? don't murder me?... what happened to alligator? new potato? foolish heart? pride of? in albany they did both ends of thats it for the other one but NO cryptical!!! what the F*ck.I also spent some time in the John during those blistering versions of ramble on, r&r blews,dire wolf ect, ect, hate to bitch so much but...

Days off are expensive. That's not a cut, just a fact of life. It costs money to keep these guys on the road, lots of it, so income is neccesary. Besides, they're here to play, that's what they want to do. Some nights are better then others, it just sounds like this was an off night. Hope everyone who had a so-so time gets to see one that rips it up like saturday at Lehigh. I also wonder about the absence of New Potato and Alligator, hope he hasn't put them on the shelf (especially New Potato) but it seems like that might be the case.

>Hope everyone who had a so-so time gets to see one that rips it up like saturday at Lehigh.

Agreed second set Stabler musically was the
shit....Im siked for the Beacon myself and have
know worry....
For me I never thought every song needed to
be a long jam....So little break song like
Dire, FOTD or any non jam tune is a nice
treat and rest...Even the Dead never jammed out every song during a show..
Boston Im sure will be taken up a notch...
After reading about Maine and this show Im
glad I decided on Stabler... Can't forget
here Phil is a 61 year old guy and in most
cases blowing away 25 year old bass players
with his energy...So to expect him to jam out
every show of tour is a bit much...

Bill, did you really just say Buffalo wasn't very good? Good Lord, man!

i caught 3 straight viola's in a row from spac, hershey and buffalo.i'll trade ya two viola's for them stephens.i don't think phil remembers what he plays in a geographical area, such as my 300 mile radius where i heard 3 violas in 3 months.

i liked cumberland but it paled next to the epic beacon version from last fall,hard to handle was kinda cool but like i said, 3 viola's in a row man

Baaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
When a "St. Stephen" (which MOST CERTAINLY DID lack the "oomph" of the last 2 I saw; Roseland and Hartford) can only lift this show to average...that should tell you ALL you need to know about last night.
Tease this...tease that...play next to nothing.
It WAS cool seeing Dan, SJF, Jill, AND the venerable Buckster and Mrs. B!! LOL
And a tip of the hat to Frankie Fazool!!! LOL
Well... two more coming up at the Beacon with a prodigal son coming home to PARRRRRRTYYYYY for the weekend of the 1st.
Round One...they JUST manage to eke out a draw on the Scorer's Cards.
Round Two and Three up next.
New Yawk RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROCKS!!!!!
New Yawk RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRULES!!!!!
JETS IN FIRST PLACE!!!
WooooooooHooooooooooooooo!!!!

Keysh - YOU rrrruuuullllleee. Having a date with my husband AND seeing all my Zoner friends is ALWAYS such a highlight for me - despite the level of play or song selection. It was great to finally meet Dewitt and Ames (along w/ friend Mike) and party with everyone else again too. Jill - really hope your feeling better honey. You guys are all very special. See you on 12/1 and 12/2 at the Beacon!

As for Phil and the boys last night - I absolutely LOVED SOYL and also enjoyed the Zeppelin GTBT rifs in the St. Stephen instrumental. I do concur with the other show opinions that most of you already voiced - yes - including my husband. Nonetheless, I think we'll keep our Beacon tickets, Carlin.

SJF - you get home allright??? Check in ok? Had a great time - see you real soon.

What a show! Ramble on Rose, Mississippi 1/2step, and sunshine of your love TOTALLY ROCKED the first set. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, they launch Scarlet>Fire! With that, the second set took off and didn't slow down! For my first show at the Oakdale, I was blown away by the sound and the acoustics. I can't wait for them to come around to Connecticut again! I hope the lucky people with Beacon tickets have fun! See ya later!

You know, I really think that Beautifully Broken has become Warren's Wharf Rat. He showed more soul and more energy last night than he had when I saw him in Hartford...he may even have lost a pound or two. It's also nice to see Jimmy stepping up and handling so many leads...a nice show, but the theater shows are all about the tightness of the band and less about the free-wheeling jams and near-telepathic changes and segues...I would love to hear these shows again and I'm sure that I will find more to appreciate and reflect on than the first live impression leaves...they are a working, touring band, and some nights shine less brightly than others..but we love this music, and thank god they're still bringing it.

Dave

I'm fine MrsB, thanks...what a looooong nite..Bucky, MrsB, and I arrived back at the commuter lot after the show around 1am..there was a layer of frost on my truck..So I unlocked it, fired up the engine, and hopped back into the Buckmobile while things warmed up..

After a minute or 2, i hop back out, ready to open the door to my truck, waving bye bye to the B's who are pulling away and whoa....its locked! NO!! My drivers side truck door can have problems closing all the way sometimes, gotta give it a good slam, but this never happened b4...*&%$#$%&^%#@%$!!!

We call AAA, drop MrsB home, go back and they don't show up until 3am...ouch..Thank You Bucky and MrsB, you are good friends...

Here's some 11-20 highlingts from a weary mind..

*Meeting up with the Zoners, before, during and afterward was like, a total treat, dude..

*The opening jam didn't move me physically but was a great example how this band seems able to play several songs at the same time..Phil was doing a gentle slow Other One line while the guitars intertwined through a whole other theme territory with sharp, bright lines that Dan was pointing out, and i agree, as similar to Steely Dan...

*Mississippi 1/2 Step had some very nice guitar interplay in the 1st part of the end of song jam and then they slowed to a near stop before building it up again in double time to a furious climax...very nice

*the jams into and at the end of Sunshine of your Love had some crazy swirling psychedelia going that was the 1st set highlight..

*When Phil was warming up for the 2nd set he kept playing the King Solomans bassline, a bit of a tease...i agree with the other teases mentioned and add Blues for Allah which was right in front of us then vanished into the night...

*The Jam to open the 2nd set was my favorite of this show. They came out focused and funky,
Warren playing some fat counterpount R+B riffs through a heavy sound effect while Jimmy went to town...

btw, Jimmy is taking a lead role this tour more so that any other tour since Warren started, which is good news to my ears...

I dig Warren but he was dominating the lead role increasingly and for some reason now, on this tour, he has shared more leads with Jimmy during the 2 shows I've seen so far..Maybe thats why folks are saying he seems tired but I saw him consciously hold back and play very, very excellent rhythm and counterpoint leads..

*New Speedway had a fast, perculating tempo that moved things along at a brisk pace...

*"What would be the answer to the answer, then?" >"Revolution" hmmmmm

*Soulshine: I think I prolly coulda have left home happy after simply hearing Warren belt out the word "Soul" on this one..that was awesome, i cannot even describe it except to say he put tons of emotion into just one word...this vocal gift kind of reminds me of someone else...

my MVP for this night goes to Mount Molo who was a rhythm madman this night...how the hell does he DO it?

I'm new to this. Hello everyone! Saw the show in Wallingford. Nice time. Great 2nd set. First set...well...awesome Sunshine of your love!!
To me it's about the music and dancing not making fun of people and the state I'm visiting. After reading some of your messages I promise to not whistle or be over weight! lol Take care and see you out there!!

IMHO
YES Hartford this summer was the best PLQ I have seen so far!!! This show was OK!! Very straight forward first set: with the exception of Sunshine Of Your love. The second set seemed like a more honest attempt at the music. ULTIMATLEY - It is the best music you are going to hear in a live environment!!!! All this bickering - - - - - Please tell me where we go for better music???????????????????????????? Bucky - I told you I would post. (It was nice to see you at the show)

>>>this vocal gift kind of
reminds me of someone else...

Me?

>>> Drop me a line, you need some tapes/CD's.....

I'm forever in your debt for 4-23-00.

Mrs. B:
YOU RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRULE!!!!
Always did.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey all you local homeslices~it was great seeing y'all as well: truly a hometown show like I have never experienced, this has SO been the love tour...

& Bostonian, I owe you so big time it ain't funny...

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN TEASE DURING THE OPENING WARM-UP,....DARKSTAR,TOO,RIDER ELENOR RIGBY,TEASES ALL NIGHT LONG.AND A ST. STEPHEN JAM IN THE 1ST SET

Wow, geewiz...fine tunin' that discerning ear, I see!
Hmmmmmmmmmmm..."Stairway To Heaven"...now THAT would be a SWEEEEEEET 1st set Opener after a nice, eXXXtended jam!!!!

damn, i just figured out what SOYL stood for.
its got its own abbreviated title and everything...

and for all you folks dissing on ramble on, in my very own opinion, it's one of the most eloquent rock songs ever written, a great opener.

...should be retitled "Ramble On Blows".

LOL!
Amen, Keysh....

Boy, I can't tell you how many shows I saw where people came out saying "Best Ramble On ever". Or, "Did you catch that 5 minute Other one jam in the middle of Ramble On?" "Ramble On Rose was AWESOME!", etc......
That song wasn't even a biggie by last days of The Dead standards.

But, Sunshine Of Your Love's no good?

Somebody missed the bus when it came by.......

Dudes,

The only chumps who missed the bus are the two loudmouths shouting for "Sunshine of Your Love" (er, excuse me, SOYL) at a Phil Lesh concert. Come on, that's the most predictable Cream cover of the lot. You dudes will probably be jonesing for a tasty "Taking Care of Business" next.

As for your "Ramble on wasn't even a biggie by last days of The Dead standards", who cares if it was ever a "biggie"? What does that mean anyway? Biggie to who, You? Big deal!

Go listen to Europe 72 already, Ramble on is a great song even if you don't hear your precious "other one" jam in the middle of it.

Personally, I'm not listening to music so I can talk about it with my homeboys after the show and say things like "Ramble on Rose was Awesome!"

Check this out: Ramble on is a mighty fine song. Lyrically, it is a great piece, full of little poetic gems rooted firmly in traditional Americana songwriting. Musically, it pays homage to wonderful folk, bluegrass, and country traditions. And all you can say is "Ramble on Blows". Geez, go figure.


It's funny to think that I missed the bus because I dig a good time grateful dead song but don't care to hear some "played on the radio everyday" old Cream cover. Whose bus are you talking about anyway?

Go listen to "Fly like an Eagle" or something.

>>>>You dudes will probably be jonesing for a tasty
"Taking Care of Business" next.

I'd take it over half the songs played in Oakdale Tuesday.

Are you going to tell me SOYL (sorry too long to type it out) isn't an epic 'classic rock' tune, AND a great jam by P&F besides?


>>>Go listen to Europe 72 already, Ramble on is a great song

I was a Deadhead for all of 4 months & all I'd listen to by then was 'Prelude' > Morning Dew & Truckin'; Maybe Sugar Mag & China > Rider off my Europe '72 eight-track.....

'If the song don't jam, playing it's a scam'

>>>>Are you going to tell me SOYL (sorry too long to type it out) isn't an epic 'classic rock' tune, AND a great jam by P&F besides?

Initially I did say that P + F does rock sunshine of yr love out, but there are so many other covers I'd rather hear. Classic, epic rock song it is, but also full tilt overplayed classic rock radio fodder. I think Revolution is the same way: great song, but do I want to hear it at a Phil show? I dunno, it's been on the radio (and lets not forget commercials) enough already...

>>>I was a Deadhead for all of 4 months & all I'd listen to by then was 'Prelude' > Morning Dew & Truckin'; Maybe Sugar Mag & China > Rider off my Europe '72 eight-track.....

Too bad, you missed out on 'it hurts me too','he's gone', and the sweet hank williams cover 'you win again'. Pretty good stuff, best on vinyl.

Anyway, to each his own. I guess there's lots of different ways to look at jam.

The best thing about He's Gone was the jam out of it.

PS Revolution isn't a pimple on the butt of SOYL.....

The homage payed to "Ramble On Blows" here reminds me of an instance that I was personally present for on October 15, 1983 at the Hartford Civic Center.
Those of you with Deadbase can verify that THIS particular night was the second of only THREE times that The Dead played "St. Stephen" from January 10, 1979 through July 9, 1995.
Now..."St. Stephen"...at the time...was the ONE song UNIVERSALLY pleaded for by all of us 'heads.
That night, a Saturday, after playing "St. Stephen" out of the "Space"...as we're walking out on a euphoric cloud, one 'head was singing...at the top of his lungs..."HEY! little Saturday night"..."hey little Saturday night".
Aftr such an EPIC piece of music such as "St. Stephen" was played less than 30 minutes before...and, you have to remember that "St. Stephen" was NUMBER ONE on THE most wanted list...to come out of that show singing such ORDINARY TRIPE as that, is absolutely INCOMPREHENSIBLE...AND INDEFENSIBLE.
Same with "Ramble On Blows" on November 20.
Why the emphasis on the fact that "Sunshine Of Your Love" is played on the radio?
Is Phil and Friends version played on the radio?
How many of us (although I AM one) have seen "Sunshine Of Your Love" PLAYED LIVE...OTHER than by Phil?
THAT is an AWESOME song...played with a GREAT DEAL of psychedelia by this incarnation of P & F!!!
To come out of a show PRAISING "Ramble On Blows", and DENIGRATING "Sunshine Of Your Love" is not only ridiculous, but short sighted as well.
Why aren't you railing against "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"? THAT is played on 'PLR and 'HCN every bit as much as "Sunshine Of Your Love"!
And PAL...I DON'T shout at song titles at shows...that's for the amatuers!
And maybe...just maybe Phil wil pull out "Sweet Wine" from Cream.
Listen to THAT, JD, and then YOU go "Fly Like An Eagle"!!!
What the ESSENCE of what The Grateful Dead WERE "back in the day"..were songs like "Crytical>"The Other One"..."Dark Star"..."Viola"..."Dancin", etc....AND ALL the JAMMING therein!!
NOT ditties like "Ramble On Blows"!
THe JAM rules...and if there is no room for JAMMING (i.e. "Ramble On Blows") then, musically...they are WASTING TIME!!
Theirs and OURS!!!!

Slight ammendment.
IF January 10, 1979 IS counted for "St. Stephen" then it was played FOUR times.

Try de-caf, boys.....

BTW, Keysh, I much preferred the 'curb-hanger' to Mr. Saturday Night after 10-15-83. Remember I yelled "Jump!" after he stood at the curb for ten minutes looking down?

Oooooohhh yeahhhhhh!!
That's right!!!
AH HAHAHAHA!!!
I remember now!!!
But...Mr. Curbhanger wouldn't have illustrated the point I was trying to make quite as well, I think.
At least in MY fog addled mind!!!

Hey...there's no such thing as De-Caf!!!
WooooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
RRRRRRRRRRRRROCK A PARTY!!!!

>>How many of us (although I AM one) have seen "Sunshine Of Your Love" PLAYED LIVE...OTHER than by Phil?

Go see your local bar band.

>>And PAL...I DON'T shout at song titles at shows...

Easy now, CHIEF.

>>NOT ditties like "Ramble On Blows"!

The very mention of "Ramble on Rose" seems to incite in you a grand and great hostility. This is kinda funny.

>>THe JAM rules...and if there is no room for JAMMING (i.e. "Ramble On Blows") then, musically...they are WASTING TIME!!

I enjoy the JAM as much and more than anyone, including you. I also like the lyric "I know this song it ain't never gonna end".

>>What the ESSENCE of what The Grateful Dead WERE "back in the day"..

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I see where this is going.
See ya swami.

Well, JD...I'm glad you've come to your senses and acquiesed the obvious.
Lyrics...in The Grateful Dead...AND Phil 'N Friends...are SECONDARY to the actual MUSICAL NOTES being played.
THAT'S where the REAL magic resides!
What do you think the lyric "I know this song, it ain't never gonna end"...is referring to...the words...or the MUSIC????????????
JAM ON, JD!!!
JAM ON!!!!!!!

I always thought the great thing about the dead was the diversity of their music. Something for everyone. But I guess I was wrong and they were usually just wasting my (and thier) time.

JAM, JAM, JAM
INTENSITY, INTENSITY, INTENSITY

And, Mu, you're right, they were often wasting precious jamming time with first set dribble.

one mans dribble is another mans slam dunk

this show was a bit uneven but my personal choice is to pan for the gold nuggets that were there and take that with me as the lasting memory, as opposed to the rocks..

the most subtle whisper often carries carries much more intensity than the loudest sledgehammer crash.....think foreplay and lovemaking, my friends...

methinks you mistake LOUD for INTENSE...big difference

ramble on, gentlenmen

best Ramble On Rose is the MSG one from 93.

This show had great moments. Of course we can all go back to the lean years where the only option was Ratdog.

Muadib:

Of course you are right when you say that one of the greatest facets about The Dead WAS their diversification.
However...when you get right down to what they were all about...what would be the defining penultimate attribute(s).
That they could play Folk Ballads...Country Music...Bluegrass...which, of these three styles, the way The Dead played them, not one of them carries THE TRADEMARK of The Grateful Dead (i.e. the improvisational and exploratory jamming)...
Or...would you point to those VERY improvisational
pieces of music..such as the aforementioned "Cryptical">"The Other One"..."Dark Star"..."Viola"..."Dancin'" (which is ANOTHER over played COVER SONG, right JD???)
What The Dead could do with THOSE pieces and others ("Lovelight"..."Good Lovin'" in the OLD days with Pigpen) is LIGHT YEARS beyond ANYTHING they could do within the confines of "Ramble On Rose"..."They Love Each Other"... "Peggy-O"..."Ship Of Fools", or any number of SONGS.
SONGS are NOT necessarily "pieces of music".

>Lyrics...in The Grateful Dead...AND Phil 'N Friends...are SECONDARY to the actual MUSICAL NOTES being played.

hmmmm.... i wonder why they bother singing those stupid ole' lyrics then.

Me too...Cinderoo...me too!!

>>"Lyrics...in The Grateful Dead...AND Phil 'N Friends...are SECONDARY to the actual MUSICAL NOTES being played."

Tell that to Hunter...Maybe we could ask Phil, seems to me he put a lot of thought into the lyricsw for "Unbroken Chain" and all of his songs, for that matter.

SJF:

There IS a GREAT DEAL of difference, as we ALL know, between "LOUD" and "INTENSE".
Songs such as "Comes A Time"..."High Time"..."China Doll"..."Morning Dew"...are, as I'm sure we would all agree...INTENSE, while not being classified as "LOUD".
These are NOT to be confused with "Ramble On Rose"..."Dire Wolf"..."Peggy-O"...or others of that ilk...which are NEITHER intense NOR loud.

Keysh, you should have stopped after:
"Muadib:

Of course you are right"

LOL

And just HOW MANY "lyrical songs" HAS Phil written in the last 36 years?????????
Tally them...and then compare that number...or in terms we can ALL relate to... compare the number of HOURS of "lyrical songs", to the HOURS of instrumental improvisation contributed BY Phil in the THIRTY YEARS of The Grateful Dead..or the last TWO YEARS of Phil 'N Friends.

Point goes to YOU, Muadib!
LOL

Oh, by the way:
My namesake...Keyshawn Johnson is playin' on Monday Night Football tonight.
It is TOTALLY my PLEASURE to see that, going into this week's slate of games, Keyshawn has THE MOST yardage of ANY receiver in the NFL, BUT....
there are NO games won by total yardage.
Keyshawn has managed, thanks to HIMSELF forcing Parcells hand 2 years ago in a contract demand, and being traded to a team (Tampa Bay,) which uses him as NOTHING MORE than a blocker and a decoy...that along with his outstanding totals in yardage gained, to NOT score a SINGLE POINT this season.
Not ONE!!!
Which...when he played against the Jets last year (2000) was a VERY significant number for him
ONE catch...ONE yard.
Waaaaaaay ta go, Keyshawn!!!
Waaaaaaay ta go!!!!
AH HAHAHAHA!!!
KEYSHAWN SUCKS!!!!

>hmmmmm....i wonder why they bother singing those stupid ole' lyrics then
cause what fun would church be then
as we grow w/the music things change THE MUSIC offers its self to interpretation and reinterpretation its a beautiful thing

some of my favorite stupid ole' lyrics
and its just a box of rain I DONT KNOW who put it there
I DONT KNOW dont really care
gonna get there I DONT KNOW
I DONT KNOW but i been told
I DONT KNOW maybe it was the roses
life may be sweeter for this I DONT KNOW
I DONT KNOW i just dont know if im going back agian
goes to show you DONT EVER KNOW
never KNOW now, just dont ever KNOW,sure DONT KNOW
well you get the picture its fun bieng a know it all
speaking of songs that jam(improv)well playing in the band PLEASE and lets not forget the great possibilities of day job

"Playin'"? A resounding YES!!!
"Day Job"? I HOPE you're kiddin'!!!
LOL

A damn good show; excellent jamming, a pretty good setlist and they didn't deprive us of Fire on the Mountain (as they have been known to do)!! During the Fire intro, Phil plucked that bass like he was playing with the rest of the Dead.
However... we seemed to have a whistler in the midst which sounded none other than the infamous jagoff last time they played the Beacon. If someone is whistling near you and refuses to quit, feel free to set him or her on fire.
Soulshine was a typical encore for them to play... pick another Allman bros song... PLEASE (not to mention they did a good job)!!
Not to be any more cynical: security sucked on the way in, they searched EVERY SINGLE PERSON including my dear grandmother.
And for those of you whining about the Clapton cover (yes Cream, i know) you shouldn't be so lucky. Good tunes!!!

>hmmmm.... i wonder why they bother singing those stupid ole' lyrics then.

>Me too...Cinderoo...me too!!


damn...i really need a saracastic bastard icon or something when i type. i love hunter's lyrics and think they're just as integral to the dead/p&f experience as the jams. course...i do love those jams but think the lyrics often provide a story, a mood for those jams to follow. and i bet you sing "one man gathers what another man spills" at the top of your lungs every time they play st. stephen.

>And just HOW MANY "lyrical songs" HAS Phil written in the last 36 years?????????

you've heard/read phil's lyrics. that explains a lot about how many he's written. did ya notice that phil asked hunter to write lyrics for the 7 song-cycle he composed this summer? not a request from a man who finds lyrics unimportant.

Cinderoo:

My agreeing with you was also done "tongue-in-cheek".
One thing though..."St. Stephen"...for MANY, MANY, MANY of us "old timers"...who were on tour with The Dead TWENTY YEARS ago, or more...IS the "Holy Grail".
Something, as I mentioned in my post of 11/24 at 7:00AM, that was played EXACTLY FOUR times from the night of January 10, 1979 through the night of July 9, 1995.
That's one day short of SIXTEEN and ONE HALF YEARS!!
See, most people (now, that's MOST people...not ALL) that I've seen at the Phil shows in New York and Connectcut since November 10, 1999 at the New Haven Coliseum, are probably between the ages of 20 to 35. I'm 41. Just HOW MANY people currently on the Phil Tour can say that they were following ( by this, I mean attending multiple shows on a given tour) The Grateful Dead in 1981...or in the case of "St. Stephen", in October of 1983, which is the month...and the ONLY month that "St. Stephen" was played by The Dead (October 11; October 15; October 31) in those 16.5 years!
If (and I WILL tell you...I do NOT sing ANYTHING at shows...not out loud anyway) some of us "old timers" are yelling out, "one man gathers what another man spills"...we've paid our dues and I feel are entitled.
You guys who NEVER saw The Dead play "St. Stephen"...which I would hazard a guess is probably approxiamately 8 to 9 out of every 10 people attending Phil shows, just don't realize JUST how lucky you are...and how special it REALLY IS, to hear Phil play THIS particular song on a consistent basis.
There are VERY few (like ONE!) songs in The Grateful Dead's, and subsequently, Phil's repertoire, of THIS stature.
"Dark Star" COULD be categorized in this manner...but what would you say are the MOST integral elements of THAT?
The words...or the musical notes being played???

Can I have your autograph, Kesh?

keyshawn....st. stephen is the holy grail to most deadheads i know, whether they're old farts like yourself ;-) or young punksters who just started seeing the dead in the mid-80's like myself. and i would counter your argument that because you saw that '83 st. stephen, you know how lucky you are and i don't with....i never saw the dead play it and i'm damn excited to finally get a chance to hear it live. i would say i'm more aware of how lucky i am because i never saw the boys play it and all the other wonderful stuff (The 11, New Potato, etc) that i love so much from the early years.

Keyshawn,

With every post, you sound more and more like a quasi-scientist poop, obsessed solely with your own status as a grateful dead afficionado. At times, this borders on complete authoritarian mumbo jumbo, but it is funny in an amateur night at the apollo sort of way. Have fun.

Aw, now JD, that just AIN'T right.
My intention has nothing whatsoever to do with MY status...all I'm trying to point out, which has now been going on for approxiamately a year now...
is that I think that Phil and Friends is BETTER...HOTTER on a NIGHT BY NIGHT...TOUR BY TOUR basis, than The Grateful Dead were in AT LEAST the last TWENTY YEARS of their existence.
What MAKES them better, in my opinion, is a combination of the INTENSITY in which they play...AND the song selection.
From 1976 on...The Dead could NOT approach EITHER of those levels that P & F have reset the "bar" to AND display EVERY NIGHT.
Even on an "off night", which I believe 11/20/01 was...they were still good...just not GREAT.
Go back and look at Deadbase..tell me the LAST TIME The Dead played "The Eleven"..."Viola Lee Blues"..."Doin' That Rag"..."New Potato Caboose"..."Blues For Allah"..."Cosmic Charlie"...hell, even "Golden Road".
For ALL of those tunes it was DECADES...NOT
days!!!
Cinderoo...I tip my cap to you darlin'...your reply regarding "St. Stephen" is EXACTLY what I had hoped to hear. THAT warmed the cockles of THIS old man's heart!!!
And Rev?
The line for autographs starts to the right...on an 8" x 10 action glossy...$10...on all other "tools of the trade" (i.e. pipes...papers...chicken claw "clips".."power hitters which MUST have the motto "Onward through the Fog" displayed prominently)...$20.
LOL
:+))

>>>mmmmm....i wonder why they bother singing those stupid ole' lyrics then
cause what fun would church be then

You should go to my church.
The jams rival Phil when they catch a big wave of The Spirit.....

Cinderoo: Is that nice calling Keysh a sarcastic bastard? Now where's your 'Peace, Love & granola Bars' Deadhead values?

BTW, you didn't miss a thing if you didn't see The Dead do St Stephen but saw P&F do it.
Phil's versions are better than ANY the Dead did after the spetacular 1-22-78 version. Except the Oakdale one....

AND, if Keyshawn yells "One man gathers what another man spills" near me this weekend, I'll tell him to PLEASE shut the hell up.......

Now WHY the F**K would I do THAT, Bucky???
You KNOW I'll be "speechless"!!!!!
AH HAHAHAHAHA!!!

>Cinderoo: Is that nice calling Keysh a sarcastic bastard? Now where's your 'Peace, Love &
granola Bars' Deadhead values?

i was actually calling myself the sarcastic bastard. i did call him an old fart though....which it seems he took as some sort of compliment.

peace kind rainbow brothers

>>>I think that Phil and Friends is BETTER...HOTTER on a NIGHT BY
NIGHT...TOUR BY TOUR basis, than The Grateful Dead were in AT LEAST
the last TWENTY YEARS of their existence.

I agree with you, doctor keyshawn.

ps- now you my as well go back to ignoring me like everyone else does around here.

did someone just say something?

Hell JD...I'm not ignoring you. It's YOU that spurred THIS conversation ON!!!

i know you aren't ignoring me, keyshawn, i know...so in my own way, I'm thanking you for carrying on like you do. I've actually enjoyed your posts, and appreciate the rich conversation. spur it on i do!

ain't nothing but a post killer.

Kesheeee, r u sure you're not that 350lb drunk Heifer who screamed at the top of her lungs during SOYL, that is inbetween your duties of not formerly Receiving for Gang Green?

And JUST WHO the F**K are YOU, Howard???
I'll meet you outside the Beacon Saturday!!
It's POWER SMOKIN' JOINTS at twenty paces!!!!

Get a life putz

>>>Get a life putz

Oy Vay*


*Goyum spelling.....

Could this be the dreaded return of Phil McWade?

Actually, Key was sounding a little Sal-y there
"HAHAHAHAHA" ad infinitum

Boy, Key is 6 whole years older than me, what an old timer!! He got to the dead 4 whole years before me....does that make me cooler at a younger age?


Just keyed in to this thread, and gotta say my piece even though I'm just a pup. What sets the dead apart for me over any and all is their cosmic americana. Songs that they can play for 20 minutes and sound like they've been around since 1920. If I didn't care about songs like Tennessee, Ramble on, BEW, Ship, Stella, Dire Wolf, TLEO, etc, I'd probably like phish. Craftsmanship is a beautiful thing.

Just out of curiosity, and not with any sarcasm or diss intended, what do you see that merits noting Comes a Time as a great work and dismissing Ship of Fools as drivel? I probably prefer Comes a Time (because of the lyrics), but they both touch me in the same way....just surprised to see such a distinction made.

Long live Europe '72!!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to respond when Keysh kicks my ass cause I'm going to be out, but I got one thing to say to you, dude.....

Have a good fuckin' time this weekend!!

To ME..."Comes A Time" is just a more BEAUTIFUL, more meaningful song than "Ship Of Fools". A much more rare one too, back then.
"Ship Of Fools" always had a way of killing momentum...where "Comes A Time" seemed to PUSH the momentum...Jerry's lead at the end is simply mesmerizing!!!
And...as far as the weekend goes...how could I not have fun?!
A prodigal son returning home for the party....2 nights in New York!!!
Who the HELL is better 'n US?!

Hey...backonthebus:

My first show was September 1, 1979 in Rochester, New York at Holleder Memorial Stadium.

That makes you as cool as me!! Bet you're all having fun fun fun right about now

i had fun, good music and people, the security people were searching everyone but did a damn poor job of it, any idiot could have made it past them, i really want some songs from the show on tape, mp3 or something, if someone could help me out here id appreciate it

Wallingford CT Tuesday 11/20/01: Length: 75’/101’ Rating: 5.0 Hometown gig, alas, worked all day Tuesday, gotta work Wednesday, then go to Boston, so really gotta take it easy tonight. Had some fun in the lot before the show, saw some friends, did the social thing a little. Had to paint a smile on my face and not bash the Albany and Maine shows too much. Just emphasize the VT and PA positives. Jill was very ill with stomach virus and slept the pre-show festivities off. Getting in was a royal hassle, as they were checking taper tix by section. Inside, they were not letting anyone leave the section with backpacks. They were acting ultra uptight and harsh, as if we were all named Osama! We had to give up trying to stealth up front, along with most other tapers, and the section turned into a cluster fuck as everyone tried to set up there, in the back row under the balcony. I had to give up my two 3rd row center tickets to two dirtbag scumbuckets so my friends could set up in that shitty spot. Then, they wouldn’t let me into that section with an up front off to the side ticket stub. At this point, I had TOTALLY HAD IT WITH THIS FUCKING SHITHOLE MUTHERFUCKIN PLACE, and I was not shy about letting anyone and everyone know it. Of course, this was the night I chose to wear my Team Phil shirt, which means I was misrepresentin’ and not giving a flying fuck about it. Then, the show starts. Muddy and disorganized at first both sound and playing wise, the first jam stumbles into Ramble, really pumping my bad mood up. After a pause, ½-Step is somewhat redemptive, and the jam out of it sounds a tad better musically and sound-wise. This goes into Lay of the Sunflower, again a pretty neutral selection to me. Another pause and Direwolf, again a neutral selection. Then, Rock & Roll blues, at this point, I have HAD ENOUGH with the half-assedness of the song selection, being the tour has yet to produce a Cucamonga, Keep on Growing, Midnight Train, etc. Despite decent lyrics, R&RB is the lamest of the new songs, too much like Push Comes to Shove for me. The set-capping Sunshine of Your Love was way too quickly repeated after Albany and was the worst version ever. Warren pulled a Bobby by prematurely singing the first lyrics only seconds after starting the song. It had no jamming, developed no power or energy, and petered to a close. That’s It? Clocked in at 9’. Set over? They seem too ashamed to even say goodbye. Weak. Set break found me again not able to go to the rear section due to overzealous nazi security, so I bitched to no one who cared to hear how much this venue sucks. This is my hometown venue and all I can say is BOYCOTT THE OAKDALE!!!!! I would ONLY ever go see Phil here again, and, again being my hometown gig, I hope he never plays here again! The worst is the new theatre was built with state tax money after the owners complained about the Meadows receiving so much public assistance, so the state obliged with largesse for the Oakdale. Now, they are owned by the same evil Internet corporate oligarchy. Nice to see our Republican governor believes in corporate welfare for his fatcat buddy’s BOO HISSS!!!! I also witnessed a guard off to the extreme left watching kids light up, then confiscating their stash, obviously for personal use. They also were telling people to SIT DOWN. I mean, come on, what the fuck? OK, the second set started adequately with a jam that led to Scarlet. The sound and energy were improved. The Scarlet was workmanlike but unimaginative. The subsequent jam moved predictably into Fire. No teases or meanders. I thought I could have been listening to a 1994 GD version and not known the difference. Fire ended with a meltdown instead of the usual Scarlet coda, moving into Beautifully Broken. This was a bit lame, after Lay of the Sunflower was played already in the first set, and being so late in the second. This would be like getting Stella and Peter in the same GD show. This segued quickly to New Speedway, which finally was played with exploratory laid-back energy. The highlight of the show for sure, and one of the better versions I’ve seen. This dissoved to a space with Blues for Allah teases, but I knew it was too late in the set for this. Then, the inevitable set massacre ensued with the abrupt pounding charge into Tons of Steel. OUCH-HARSH REALITY! I booked for the bathroom, very depressed, having disliked now 3 of the last 5 shows and the last 2 in a row. This has become the "diminished expectations" tour. Saw some friends in the hall and mocked the Tons hard, very hard, very very hard, HAD IT HAD IT HAD IT. Back for the pause, yelled for Stella Blue, Black Peter, Tennessee Jed, wanted this suck-fest in the suckiest venue ever to end already. St Stephen ensued, hey, everyone’s rockin’ out, having a blast but me! A fight ensued in the aisle between a drunken whistler/clapper and the quiet people in the adjacent seats. Pow! Into the rockin Revolution closer. Uck! "Smokin’ and Rockin’", that’s my canned response to anyone enthusiastic about a show that I hated. Whistle through your teeth and spit. In my case, hard yellow lungers, tour flu getting worse, damn, is this really worth it? My only evil satisfaction is that I’m sharing it with everyone I shake hands with. I Called the Soulshine encore, much to the dismay of Dan, using the tried and true method of thinking of the worst thing they could possibly do next. Used to work great in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. Lets blow this clam shack. Jill’s stomach illness returns full force, and I drive back home and back to work. Glad I didn’t even run my deck this night. Maybe will hear it someday when I give a fuck, and when someone forcibly places it in my hands. Again, I have to keep telling myself I am really glad Phil is even alive these days . . .