The Music is the Million Peddled Rose Blossom Unfolding to us...

...thousand petaled lotus...

Shakedown Opener!!!!!

I got that fungus ingested vision in Louisville of a 'touch of grey' breaking out somewhere in NYC... There is something special in the works for you cats out in NY (seems to me) Wish I could be there..

this run at the beacon is going to be great! how about a touch of grey opener.will see everyone at the west side brewery on 76th and amsterdam.

Looking to trade some discs while in NYC for the week of Beacon shows. Desparate for P&F 7-21-01 and 4-28-01. Anyone feeling kind enough to share? Please email me if you are interested in trading show for show or shows for shows. My P&F collection is limited to the Official releases, but I have extensive Dead SBDs, some Moe, some Ratdog, some misc...
I need hear that H C Sunshine-->Cumberland from Electric Factory again. And, like many in attendance at Hartford, I had the transcendental experience of a lifetime. Please!!!

happy tanksgiving everyone. so ready for this beacon run, going to all 7. the show at stabler arena on nov. 17th was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

happy thanksgiving, correcting spelling error, to full, cant think.

yo now -
lookin' for one extra, lonely tick for Monday...will be conveniently in the city that night...hopin' for my first and only Beacon fix!
Can you help a bro out?

lemme know if you can directly (yodavek@yahoo.com)

thanks - enjoy

- yo Dave

everyone ready! let the fun begin. the beacon is going to rock this week. be safe and have fun.

Siked! Thinkin.." Here Comes Sunshine opener..
But not really sure what Phil has in store to
set the tone for this Beacon run..
Either way, NYC thanks the Quintet for heading this way and for the good vibes and a little
fun is definitely inorder.

Help On The Way.

there gonna be a setbreak meeting or something?

Shakedown opener...I've called it since Brick started his newest contest.

Meeting some buddies pre-show, possibly at the West Side Brewery 6-6:30. We're flexible though if anyone has any other ideas.

Row CC, look for the Black Hat and #89...

Live music rules,

SI

Finally, the boys are back in town. Been far too long for us...(NO, Roseland does not count for one measly torturous night). Ah, but seven nights...it doesn't matter if its not the greatest rack of shows ever, just that they are here, and accessible and its "A RUN", a real one.

No More Do I's, Liberty, Hard to Handle, Alligator, Cucamonga, Sugaree->Sympathy for the Devil, Althea (pretty please), another Mystic, Arcadian Driftwood, Brown Eyed Girl....finish GTBT, damn that was good......

Hey now!
I have an extra for fri night Nov 30th. Orchestra seat. I want to trade for a monday Dec 3rd ticket. Let me know if you want to trade. First come first served.
Call me 516 850-9106 or post a message back of how we meet to trade.
Keith

Ahhhh. rain is gone and the sun is busting
through...Looks like one beautiful day to
see PLQ....Only 10 more hours....Jam>Here Comes
Sunshine> Blue Sky opener...
Hey Warren how about "Rockin in the Free world"
tonight.

>>Hey Warren how about "Rockin in the Free world"
tonight.

I'll second that!

65 and sunny today, is this really winter?

fun, fun, fun...

Hey, I've got 2 extra Orch for tonite, call me 212-803-3619 or e-mail rcw66@hotmail.com ... Tx, Robert

>65 and sunny today, is this really winter

Yeah this day is turning out to be like
Florida weather...Talk about welcome Phil!
Im chuckling to myself cause I almost
gave up my ticket for tonight. I was like
its raining and I got to work Tues blah ,blah....
Well those thoughts have quickly subsided.
((((((Nice Vibes Tonight)))))))
One more suggestion...Hey Phil Tom Thumb dude.

golly...it’s so WARM in New York....what like high 50s? I am coming down from my jaunt in Maine, so, it’s expected. The Way Life Should Be. No DOUBT.

Well, welcome to town boys....
Ground Zero awaits, with its stench and scars....the people of NYC need yr healin BIG TIME...I mean, it’s the city to live in, hands down, but...well....maybe you’ve heard. We had a little loss. Sure, the whole country did, but now that we’ve “smoked out” the “evil doers”....(God, if we COULD smoke ‘m out, would it solve things? Eh...maybe.), the rest of our proud land is singing along with Charlie Daniels and gearing up for a good ol red white and blue holiday season. But here in New York...well, we’re back to that new normal....but we still listen when we hear the White House wont be open for tours during wartime...everytime I descend into the subway I breathe deep...one..last... time..??? And where did that elderly woman in CT get that anthrax anyway?

Oh, yeah, oh yeah. Show reviews. Sorry. Little excited. Ya know, I mean....PHIL is here...with his most golden friends. My taste in Lewiston was too much a tease....

So...my lottery choices, picks. Normal disclaimers preceed, oc...I hope im at least paritally wrong, I realize much of this is based on absurdity, yadda blah yadda.

I Jam> Help> Slip> Comes A Time> Jam> Just A Litttle Light Box> Get Together> Bertha
II Shakedown> Night of 1000 Stars> Unbroken Chain> Jam> Watchtower> Jam> Slip> Franklins Stephen>Eyes
enc: Liberty

I’m pretty torn on whether or not that Eyes might be a Soulshine, and in truth, calling setlists at the Beacon might be a thankfully absurd enterprise. So, Ill be there in my own lil hunkered down way...that devil grin creepin cross my face. Thank you for the most wonderful seats GDTS....Ill do a little soul spin for all yall who cant be up close and personal at this MADNESS....
and wouldn’t a Let It Be encore just blow my mind....!!! Whisper words of wisdom INDEED.....

Haven't you figured it out yet?

Out of my way you piece of shi_!

S.O.S...
Any NYC zoner help a brother out...
Looking for a smoke shop that sells untensiles
around mid town or up...Don't want to try and run
to the village after work..This knuckle head
forgot his pipe. (purely for tobacco smoking
of course).....

does anyone remember if they went on stage at 8:00 or did they get a late start last time they played here?

Phil is pretty much on like clock work..

SIHead...
West Side Brewery, you say? Hope to be there...6:00?

Can I bring my camera indo the show tonight at the Beacon? Thanks jp11

You can usually bring them (cameras) in, you can't use them. Show will start very close to 8. They told me today, thorough searches.

last minute change of plans. we are going. see you all there.

Having gone to the Chicago show and the last two Boston shows, I now get to settle in for 7 shows in 8 nights 25 blocks from my house. *That's* what I'm talking about.
Have a good run, folks.
s

Yo NYC have a GREAT show !!!!!

Hello NYC,
"...don't tell me THIS town ain't got no heart!"
Would be grateful for an extra for 12/3.
Please email me at mrbwid@optonline.net.
Thanks and enjoy the shows.

"Why is playing in New York like a great fuck?" Phil Lesh, 11:41PM, Monday, November 26, 2001.

Jam->
Comes A Time->
Jam->
Help->
Slipknot(?)->
The Eleven->
Uncle John's Band->
Unbroken Chain->
Night of 1000 Stars
~~~~~~~~~~
Shakedown Street->
Jam->
Celebration
Just A Little Light->
Jam (Stop)
Jam->
No More Do I's->
St. Stephen->
Slipknot->
Jam->
Slipknot->
Franklin's Tower
~~~~~~~
Liberty

Right on Dewit--were they amazing tonight, or what? I could not believe they broke out HOTW and St. Stephen on the first night of the run--can only imagine what else they've got in store--another 6 nights to fill. Oh my God, some nights are just so special.

PEACE

looks like phil and friends raised the bar yet again.

good for you NYC!!

Hey dude. Your chance for the swift kicks for not being here.

What a killer show "playing music in NYC is like a grat fuck"-LESH 11/26/01))))))))1st set was good old nostalgic Dead tunes that are always homeruns)))especiallly HELP-Slip-ELEVEN))))UNCLE JOHNS WAS PERFECT AS ALWAYS))))))))2nd set blew away the first as far as content not set list. execpt for Shakedown,Stephen-Slip-Franklins which blew away all comprehention

good fucking time

Oh wow. I mean. well.
Mr. Lesh, thanks...and to yr bandmates there....well...
Fuck, I just have to laugh, smile, keel over grinnin picking canary feathers out of my teeth. Many, many thanks.

More on this tomorrow, now must rest (?) before I actually scurry back into the Beacon for yet another helping...But man it was KILLER!!!!

And to think...my god...this was just the first night of the run!!!!! WOW

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

All you good NYC Zoners:

Wish I was back in my old hometown with you folks - I'm drooling over these setlists and reviews (7 nights at the Beacon?!!!). Hell, has Phil forgotten the West Coast??!! Thank God for NYE!!

Hey, one question. Is the Zone correct that Jeff Pevar was replacing Warren in tonight's lineup. Is that for the rest of the run??

Sounds like Paradise isn't waiting!

:o)

Pevar???????

A couple corrections on Dewit's list:
There was no stop after Just a Little Light.
They did the 'millenium jam' before The 11.
No descernable 'jam' in Slipknot, just a turn into a more spacey interlude.

Well, I'm glad to report that things are back to normal in Philville after an off night in Oakdale.
Although, both SJF & Pukewedan said the last 2 nights in Boston were better. Not that they were complaining....

All the usual pre-show pleasantries of meeting the Zoners, very nice as usual.....
Review to follow, although this show was one of those that's so good, you're caught up in the moment the whole time & it's hard to reflect back & remember it all, especially at 3AM.

ok just got back and hear is my opinion.....the show was overall a good one but not in my top 10.Compared to Asbury or Stabler.Nice to hear uncle johns and st.stephen and liberty but....I guess I can say its the shows i been going to lately being i got to work and only can catch some phil shows..........but i am hearing help>slip>and franklin's TOO MUCH IN A ROW.don't get me wrong i love these songs and the mean alot to me but man thats enough!!!!cryptical envelopment would be a nice change or maybe a cosmic charlie or maybe a 10ac jed or row jimmy hopefully thats the last i've heard of help slip franklin's at the beacon shows....a touch of grey would be a socially significant song to jam out too in nyc come on phil!!!!!!!WE WILL SURVIVE!!!!WE WILL GET BY........

WHERE WAS WARREN? It says "All shows listed are with John Molo, Warren Haynes,  Jimmy Herring, and Rob Barraco"
What is this Jeff Pevar nonsense?

First set:

They started with a spacey, noodly 'jam' (if you want to call it that). Things picked up & they did a long Scarlet jam - I thought they'd play it.

Then they headed into a slower, get ready for the song noodle. I heard Comes A Time, then a clear Wharf Rat riff by Warren, then they started Comes A Time. Now, I thought Comes A Time was one of those special, magical slow Jerry songs (unlike Stella...), but, I found the special magic wasn't there in P&F's version, much like Morning Dew. But, it was still good. Nice vocals, nice playing. The jam out was excellent, with Warren leading the way on slide. The tempo picked up behing him, & I thought the Eleven was coming, but they were just finishing off Comes A Time with a flurish.

They headed out, I heard the Eleven again, then a short, middle-eastern type noodly space (which I always think means Blues for Allah is coming). Instead, they dropped into Help. A slightly slower more laid back version. They kicked into Slipknot & after a minute or 2, they went right into the 'Millenium Jam'. You may not know the name, but it's the jam they do before The 11 sometimes (see 4-27-01, 2-17-01 & 10-7-00). It was very good, with some great leads by both guitarists.

This led into the 11 itself, & things were really cooking. What can I say about The 11 except that it's great? SJF thought it was a little short at the end, but I thought they just shifted gears earlier, played the basic riff very emphathetically 3 or 4 times, then headed into the bluesy 'outro' of the song.

Soon, they were heading right into Uncle John's, with Jimmy playing some of his patented lightning quick riffs on the calypso like beginning. The first instrumental had Warren playing the rythym, but he was playing it so forcefully that he dominated it. The second instrumental was your standard strong start & mellow finish.

Again, they headed out & we found ourselves with a surprising Unbroken Chain, played only 2 shows previous. It had a different instrumental than the standard powerhouse version. It started off as usual, then both guitarists played rythym, & after a bit of that, Rob took a solo. Just when I thought they were going to bypass the big guitar instrumental, Warren stepped in & it was back to a more standard UBC type awesome jam.....

I thought they might end the set after UBC, but Warren started a jam in which he dominated & stood out so far, it was the closest thing to a guitar solo I've heard since Clapton in 1990.

This jam ended & 1000 Stars began, solid, rocking set closer.

I already had had an eargasm as we gathered for the break. But, I told the others "The best is yet to come".........

This show was absolutly amazing!! The band was roaring with energy and so was the crowd!! The opening jam was a dazzling array of chaotic jaming just going mad and whirling through the china cat theme and a slight hint of wharf rat. Then Comes a Time, which i personally think is one of the best songs to open a show esspecially in NYC after all thats gone down. Oh the beauty!! The build up in this song was so beautiful I was near tears. Help on the way came out of nowhere and got the crowd up and dancing. (the beacon crowd was super energized and ready for action) A short but sweet slipknot! emerged and then after a millenium jam erupted one kick ass Eleven. Nice long intro and everyones into it. This band was made to play this song! The vocals were very nice, but the music was monumental, definatly not rushed and bursting with snergy! The band was communing in the most cosmic forms, truly "bleshing." With the fast and strong pace came the calypso/egyptian strumming of Uncle Johns, a heart warming version, very well done to put a smile on yur face. "God Damn Well I Declare!" The jams settled down and Unbroken Chain came out of the ashes. This was an intense version, little rocky beginning vocals but the the opening bars were played with godlike delecacey, Phil was conducting the band, the soft melody, then Jaming! Strong and Fast! Brought back to the end, sincere Phil vocals the the outro jam, sad emotions with power. Jumping Night of 1000 stars, this song will grow on you like moss, but I'll grow, esspecially when you hear it live. Did I mention the Beacon was Loud!!??

Let the Heavens Dream a new tune.....

I heard about 15 people call it and they called it right, Shakedown St!! Boooooom! A very nice version, they were playing with it, very interesting vocal jamming near the end. Celebration came out with power, this songs wonderful, the vocal strength was overwhelming. "Speak it from the pits or the Heaven above, In CELEBRATION baby, speak it with LOVE!" Just a little light raged! great warren vocals led the super charged music, the peak of Little Light was like heavy metal, with warren strumming at the speeed of light, kinda like NYE's Midnight hour for everyone who remebers that. A 2 second break between jams brought out No More Do I, I enjoyed this song througout, glad to have it on board, the middle Jimmy solo was at light speed, very interesting....A rockin St.Stephen got everyone out of their seats and dancing and cheering and screaming and smokin and celebrating the joy of life. The band played the intro for quite some time, few minutes, playing with it first slowly then picking up the pace at PHIL's signal and boom, light speed mr. Zulu! this was one of the peaks of the show for me, the breakdown bridge of ladyfingers was pure 60's bliss. More heavy jamming, 11 teases, millenium teases, then (how unexpected!) Slipknot! the walls cave in at the opening note. this is a good long Slipy with intese jamming and breakdowns. Durring the ending when Molo shines for the crowd one of his cymbals fell off into his lap and he had to chuck it over his head! how funnY! This slipknot kicked ass, along with many other songs this band was made to play. My body just swells and puffs up from the intenstiy, dang! One of the best Franklins I have ever heard, everyones so happy and beautiful, Phils heart warms New York City.

"Playing Music in NY is like a great fuck"
Damn Straight...

LIBERTY

Sorry to create a stir. Just saw Jeff Pevar listed in the lineup under the setlist for the 26th Beacon show. Should've figured it was a mistake.

2nd set:

Now, some of you (like me or Keyshawn...), might look at the setlist & think it was a let down after the 1st set.

Not for a moment......

We were all getting ready, the band was back out, people milling around, when BOOM! Phil led the band crashing into Shakedown. His bass playing was much louder (so was the rest of the band) & that continued the rest of the show. Phil was just on fire....
I love Warren's funky wah-wah sound on Shakedown, & my one complaint is that The jam out of the song usually seems to stop the wah-wah sound to soon, about 4 or 5 minutes, & there was no exception tonight. A longer, more standard jam followed out, & led fairly directly into Celebration. I was thinking of Mrs B stuck home with the kids on this one, because she like it.

Well, Celebration has changed a little since summer. It was faster, tighter & more powerful. Some of the long instrumentals were gone & the one extended instrumental featured some nice slide by Warren. The song ended fairly quickly, no long jam out & then into Just a Little Light. A huge version, very remeniscent of last year's 10-16. Maybe a bit shorter, but rockin'. Instead of stopping, they jammed out of it off the basic riff & a jam that was kinda a hybrid of Terrapin & Dark Star began. I thought for sure Terrapin was coming......

Just when I expected Terrapin to begin, they started an up-tempo theme, which unbeknownst to me, was this new song, 'No More Do I'. It went on a few minutes, then they sang, some chorus about dying, but not a dirge-like, depressing tempo like Black Peter or Death Don't Have No Mercy. Then came the instrumental, faster paced, it SMOKED. They finished it up, headed out with a similar jam to the one going in, then hit on the Terrapin/Dark Star theme again.

I was just thinking to myself "You know I'd like a St Stephen (my 5th straight show with a Stephen). Nothing like a Terrapin scare to straighten my priorities out.....

Well, a longer space came, then, yes my daily dose of St Stephen....

It started sloooow. I was thinking they must have slowed it down, but regardless, I KNEW this wasn't the same band I saw last week in Oakdale, & it would be great anyhow.
So, they jammed the beginning. But, each time through the basic melody, it got faster. By the final time through, it was as fast or faster than any version I've seen. Phil blasting the bombs, crisp guitars, St. Stephen as it should be.

Then, the final instrumental. Of course, they'll do Good Times, Bad Times, right?
Wrong. Just when you think you have this band figured out, forget it.
But, it was a very different instrumental. It started with the standard 'Dun Di Dunt', but, they really played a powerful segment instead of taking it down & going into the usual Allman-ish riffs that end in the peak before they sing the end verse..
When they finally did bring it down & started the Allmanish part, Phil brought it to a close before the big build-up. That left me a bit disappointed, but in terms of pure intensity, it was the most high powered version I've seen.

They came out of the end & emphathetically started Slipknot. Phil hit a huge bomb to begin the jam. It reminded me of 7-21-01 in Hartford, just a frenzy of power as they blasted through Slipknotland.
They turned, & I thought we'd get the regular song in the middle of Slipknot, but they spaced around for a few minutes before heading back to Slipknot. Honestly, I was rather pleased to see just Slipknot all by itself without a split in it.

Franklin's was Franklin's, great as always. The first 2 instrumentals contained a quick St Stephen phrase, but not as obvious as all the instrumentals in Hartford. The final 2 instrumentals actually were more power rythym than leads, & of course they finished with a huge blast from Phil.

The encore was Liberty. No biggie, but of course very fitting....

So, this show was everything Oakdale was not, & I found myself shaking my head in disbelief when it was over.
And, to think some of those who came from Boston said they were just getting warmed up.

If that's the case, we're in for some fun this week. I can't wait to Saturday......

LOVE AND PEACE TO NEW YORK FROM L.A. AND KEEP ON ROCKIN' AT THE BEACON...
SHAKEDOWN WELL DESERVED AND WE'LL BET HERE IT JUST GETS BETTER EACH NIGHT!

POSITIVE VIBRATIONS TO YA ALL!!!

Bucky:

Faith restored after a brief hiccup last Tuesday!!!
Bring on the weekend!!!
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROCK A PARTY!!!!

>your chance for the swift kicks for not being here<

whack!!
"thank you sir! may i have another!"

Thanks Bucky....Sounded like a rager.
Rage on NY!!

What a great lookin' list..comes a time when the blind man takes your hand, says don't ya see even the yankees can be beaten. Lookin forward to sportin' the sox hat wed. night on broadway.. Hope y'all have a good show tonight......(jeter sucks)

The first of a long Beacon run, always a special night and Phil did not disappoint. Overall, this show was well-played with a few ragged parts, not up to the standards of Stabler Arena but how often do you get a show that good? Highlights for me included Uncle John's Band in the first set, as well as the Help->Slipknot!->Eleven. Like Bucky, I noticed the heavy arabic jamming before Help on the Way, which I also thought would lead to a Blues for Allah. Second set was real good, the Shakedown Street was highly anticipated and delivered. I'm amazed at how the quintet has turned Just a Little Light into a barn-burner, it was a bathroom break song for me when the Dead played it. The St. Stephen rocked very hard, the jams were well played throughout, the intensity level very, very high, the highlight of the show for me.

Phil seemed a bit giddy during the organ donor rap, asking how is playing music like a good fuck (it's the love). Liberty wasn't a big surprise, but it really wasn't a breakout I was waiting for, the song did very little for me when the Dead played it and the P&F arrangement didn't really improve on it for me.

Due to the luck of the draw, the last show I had seen was Stabler and we got a lot of repeats from that show last night (Help/Slip/Franklin's, UBC, No More Do I, Night of a 1,000 Stars, and of course "jam" ). Can't really complain, as they've played over a week of shows in between and some repeats are inevitible. Although I love UBC, I seem to catch it about 50% of the shows I go to. Still, all in all, a good show and a great start to what should be an outstanding run. We're not going again until Friday, but we're doing the last four shows and I can't wait!

anyone know why warren wasn't there last night?

Somehow I knew Bucky would like this show. Lot's of jamming Help, Slip, 11, Unbroken Chain, St. Stephen, Shakedown St...lot's of songs for the guys to go off.

I would agree with Bucky and his review is definititve but let me add a couple of thoughts....the show was excellent from start to finish with just a few moments of slow-down mostly from the new songs.

Comes A Time was a nice choice to open, really the only "slow" song of the night. The "Warm-up" jam leading in was noisy and cranky with Warren dropping some distorted notes which had me worried. There was talk of Warren being "burnt-out" and the opening jam had me concerned. Not at all. Warren did a great job on Comes A Time and throughtout the show. My only complaint was that he seemed to take all the leads on Dead songs leaving Jimmy the leads on the new tunes.

Anyway, after the sweet Comes A Time, the set took off big time and didn't let up until Night of 1000 Stars. The "sliptease" out of Help On The Way was superb and the jam after that was way over the top with many peak moments and the band firing on all cylinders. The Eleven was a nice surprise, I was expecting somethin tame like Friend Of The Devil but no, a big, big Eleven. This was the highlight of the first set --Help>slip>jam>Eleven. Unbroken Chain was nice too, but for me the big jam came early in the set.

Set II started out huge with Shakedown. Many were expecting it to open the show but opening the second set was perfect because the boys were already on and the shound was crisp. I was slightly under-whelmed by Warren's playing during the main part of the song but he made up for it big time during the jam out of Shakedown which was another high point of the evening.

Even the world's most epic Celebration would have paled in comparison to the rest of the show. I think this song suffers from too many lyrics. It's a long freaking song and let's face it vocals are not P&F's strong point. We all know about Mr. Lesh's vocal challenges (although I thought he sounded good last night) and Warren and Rob aren't exactly Otis Redding and Jim Morrison so while I applaud them for playing new challenging material, the band would be better suited with new songs that have less lyrics and more room to jam. I ain't really complaining because what came later in the set was worth the price of admission on its own. The St. Stephen was typically great, but the real high point of the show was the jam out of Stephen. It was long and superb. Had a couple of nice dancy points that even had me shaking my tired old Monday night bones. Then as they came back into Slipknot flawlessly, you could see everyone's jams drop in unison. It was an amazing moment. When Franklin's finally came around it was a welcome release from the intensity. Bravo!

Since this review is already so long, I won't go into my rant about the idiot in the Notre Dame cap who flicked a lit cigarette butt from the balcony into the orchestra. He should be castrated so as not to procreate. In terms of teases, I didn't hear any major ones, but before Stephen, I was sure the were going into either Ramblin' Rose or Wharf Rat which I'm glad they didn't. Ramblin' Rose would be nice tonight though. I'm pretty sure Rob teased Row Jimmy at one point too.

Wait a minute... was or was not Warren there????!!!!

From a musical stand point I dont think
I have ever heard a 1st set so well played either
at a show or on tape..Song selection is subject
to taste..But man I could not have though of it being any different.
I mean "Comes A Time>Jam> Help"..Absolutely
perfectly played!
Security? none where I was at..
Jam>Eleven>Uncle Johns...Twist and turn in jamming bliss...Molo you continue to always
amaze me...Unbroken>Night of a thousand stars,
personally wanted something different, but after
the first tunes blowing my mind, who am I to
be pickey...I say let Phil do what he wants and
all goes fine..
First set teases...eyes jam and heard some
Morning Dew in the opening jam...
I was left wondering if Phil was going to
take its easy in the 2nd set.....
Yeah right! Shakedown...I really didn't think
they do it ist show..But pow! very groovey
version and where not talking Greg Bradey here.
People can say what they want about Warren...
But that cat will get you rockin during
Shakedown... So Im think what could possiblely be
next...Oh here we go the set I thought we'd
get some new stuff and brent...Ok ok Phil I knew
you'd save something.....Well of course I was
wrong..(man does Jimmy rip Stephen....And hey how dare they leave Warren
out of the band line up on the zone set list thread...they actually put Prevar on it...

Phil,Warren, Jimmy, Rob, John....Thank you fellas
once again....Once again a stellar show!
You guys a just great....After last night I
really wonder if Bob will be able to keep up
with these guys for 2 sets....Not trying to
cause debate...But Bob don't jam like these
guys do anymore...Im tired, probably should
not be at work right now...But Im at peace
after this show but quietly and eagerly await
Friday...

Warren was definitely there.

Mr. T,
Little brother, Comes a time to love and I am hoping you're going to keep your yankee-hatin comments under wraps while we all enjoy, thankfully, a little halfstep or two. See you tomorrow nite! Look for the Smokestack.

It's sounding like Warren was there...the Jeff Pevar thing a typo? C'mon east coaters...please confirm.

Thank's Grady...

Sanford & Son

WARREN WAS THERE.....in the flesh, and I saw you Farmer lurking on the stage for that Franklin's.

Great great show, a lot of firsts my me --- St. Stephen, Help > Slip > ........ > Franklin's .

Three new tunes, i found that surprising but i thought they were all strong: No More Do I was amazing, one of my highlights and a new tune! Of course St. Stephen > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower was great, really intense. I thought Liberty was sorta weak - tight, but not much room to open up ... appropriate encore though. To the Dave that I was hanging with in the balcony area, you rock.

P.S. Anyone got an extra for Saturday?

Game 1 at the Beacon was hot, hot, hot!

Jimmy's got a brand new thing.

All night long Jimmy's getting
an acoustic guitar sound from his
Paul Reed Smith (electric).

Anyone know how he's getting this
virtual acoustic sound?

It adds a great little bite and
rootsy snap. However, sometimes
he gets a little lost in the mix.

They need to learn how to mix it better.

Its gonna be a great week!

-todd

http://bartlebymusic.com
Go here for free Mp3s and other little furry creatures!

Let's not forget the punchline to Phil's fuck joke:

"Why is playing in NYC like a good fuck?

Because of the L-O-V-E."

6 more nights of making love! Bring it on!

Left the house at the last possible minute for the 3-½ hour drive to nYc.
Made it right on time 6:30. Drop my things at my brothers, Dropped car with friend to take out to LI. Grabbed my Ticket and the set of tix for my friend. Hopped a cab to get to the show. VERY STRESSED @ this point. ..no food …short on time…worried about getting rid of these extras HOLY MOLY I LEFT THE EXTRA BACK AT THE APT!
Well no time to go back so I find a head in the lot and give her the address and call my bro to leave it with the doorman. What a dofus. Oh well lets find our friend shall we…walking around and bam who pulls my arm to say hi but SETLIST ERIC my tech buddy from last two tours pleasantries exchanged and the hunt begins again…
No don’t see them, well we said we would meet in the lobby by 7:30 so in I go. Breeze right in hit the concession stand and FINALLY get a beer and begin to relax….3…4 BAM I reach in to my pocket and find the extras I brought for my friend. 2 tix each night INCLUDING TONIGHT. NO WAY I am going to eat 3 tix so I beg the manager to give me re-admittance to the show, he does. THANK YOU SIR. Lo and behold I spy with my little eye Dewit and crew. One tix is sold for face and one for half face to the girl whom I told about the free one. Turns out she didn’t believe me, but now she does and is heading for a cab…Dewit and T and I head in.

Show starts at 8:12 Pm
Don’t really know what to expect
It’s new york…the beacon…did the band go to g0? I thought Lehigh had strong 9-11 themes running though it was tonight going to be the same? Is it better to eat a pb&J sandwhich jelly side up or jelly side down?
Opened with JAM flexing the room and sound checking the hall now that is was full
Bounced around for a while but I just couldn’t grab a thread until dark star showed up and left in 8 bars. Back to jam and then COMES A TIME. Was not expecting that. Good version thick bottom end support for Warren’s great vocals. JAM left me introspective when out of the blue HELP ON THE WAY. Was not expecting that. Into JAM into MILLINNEUM JAM. Was not expecting that. Every time I hear this my wife and I think it’s The Core by clapton. I love the funk in it. Then THE 11. crisp and clean crowd was into it. UNCLE JOHN”S BAND. ‘don’t tread on me’ Then UNBROKEN CHAIN crowd pleaser and good solid version. Closed with 1000*s and it will be a long time before I don’t associate that song with 11-17-01.

I know I walked away from the first set thinking that just because you think you know how things work doesn’t mean you really do.

Met Philophile preshow and ran into shakergirl and some guy in the lobby wearing a team phil shirt. Asked him his screen name and he mumbled something…was going to post hello’s back to the live chat so I asked him again….never did get to say thank you to him. So Hey Thanks!!!

Band on stage and BABOOM huge open with SHAKEDOWN STREET. Wasn’t expecting that. Kinda offbeat version the groove was definitely there just not the traditional tempo. Then CELEBRATION which I think fell pretty flat. It just seemed the crowd didn’t get into it. No matter JUST A LITTLE LIGHT was large and in charge.
I was standing at the back of the hall in the corner and they had this sick jam going after the second chorus and Rob is just wailing on the keys with this motion like he was doggy paddling if you get the visual. SICK SICK SICK sounds from that Hammond Organ. I turn around to send a page back to philzonelivechat and who has been standing next to me for the whole song but Jill. We just look at each other and laugh at how hot the music was right then. NO MORE DO I is next. Still finding its legs vocally but the tune is very competent. Big finish to this tune. Went for out to cool off and heard the opening strains of ST STEPHEN sounded delicate from the lobby and I am sorry I missed it. Good version of ST with some jams in the middle then power out and drop the bomb not once but twice to open SLIPKNOT proper. Worked out through this tune into FRANKLIN’S TOWER. Crowd finally got to dance.

Phil says great to be in new york (see above Dewit post)

Liberty

Personal notes
Overall feel I just didn’t find the comfort zone.
Definitely a thinky show rather than a feely show
A little to powerful in places for me actually
To hot to dance

Oh also I obviously wasn’t expecting that.

I would like to hear others comments on the sound quality. Especially upstairs.

someone please be kind and e mail me-was it Warren or Pevar at The Beacon?

>>directly into Celebration. I was thinking of Mrs B stuck home with the kids on this one, because she likes it.

Thanks for thinkin of me honey - AND for the presents you brought home. You can be sure my thoughts were at the Beacon with you too. What a GREAT show. I'm counting the hours till SAT!!!

I know the whole Beacon run will be sweet THANKS PHIL!!! - Have fun everyone. Seeya SOON

RE: Sound upstairs

I was in Row D lower Balcony and I had zero complaints about the sound. Plenty loud but not too much at all. It was crisp. I agree with those who said Jimmy was a little lost in the mix though.

BTW, the place was packed. The ailes in the loge and balcony were jammed.

hey everyone - havent taken the time to read all the previous reviews, here's my two cents, song by song:

opening jam: one of the best i've heard, maybe i was listening more closely than usual but it seemed particularly well executed

comes a time>jam: i gotta say, this reminded me of the morning dew opener at VA beach, which, though very nice and melodic and all, bored me stiff. i like the song, but i really didnt think it was a great way to open the show (a lot of singing). that being said, warren really impressed me with one of his solos, very nicely done.

help on the way: yes! i love this song, not as much as slipknot or franklins but they were really rocking on it, the beacon was going nuts. surprised they busted it out first night of the run...

slipknot: i dont know what sliptease is, it sounded a lot like the first half of slipknot to me...and it sounded pretty damn good...

millenium jam>the eleven: couldnt tell what the millenium jam was but i knew it had to be something written, it was very tight, and then the eleven tore the house down, love that song

UJB: i really wish they would play this song more often, i love what phil does with it. could definitely see this one coming back next monday.

unbroken chain: new (live) song for me, i understand its meaningful and all but i found it pretty uninteresting. and phil's singing really doesnt do it for me, i know i may catch flak for that but i find that, particularly on slower songs, his voice detracts from the music.

night of...: not the best version of this song i've heard, and i've heard a lot...i guess they really want people to become familiar with the new material, which i can understand.

setbreak

shakedown: couldnt believe it! i am in love with phil and friend's playing on this song. not much more to say on this one, it was just awesome

celebration: another one of the new ones i've heard quite a few times, i dont mind it but there are a LOT of words...

just a little light: i like this song a lot, warren played quite nicely on this, as did rob barraco.

no more do i: hadnt heard this before, didnt really grab me, guess it needs time to grow.

st stephen: another song i love to hear phil and friends play. i've heard complaints that tey play it too much but this was only my 3rd, and i must say i was expecting good times bad times since they played it from both my previous stephens. it really is the coolest thing in the world when the music stops and you can hear that every single person in the theater knows the words. the 11 jam was cool too.

slipknot>franklins!!!: again, i dont know about this sliptease business, but whatever you want to call it, it was great. right at the beginning of slipknot molo was doing some trick where he hit one of his cymbals and then grabbed it so it made a cool hip hop sound and it came flying off, which was pretty funny, especially since he just threw it behind him and kept playing...franklins was awesome, one of my personal favorites, jimmy herring took a MEAN solo, as did rob barraco.

phil's talk: he's a funny man, i love him

liberty: i was not familiar with this song at all before the tour, i guess i like it, i can see why they're playing it, a lot of emphasis on singing, but its a nice song and i enjoyed it.

final thoughts: great show, surprised they busted out help>slip>franks, shakedown and liberty at the first show, but all the better for me! i really have a problem with the volume levels in the band. i could barely hear jimmy herring until st stephen, and warren was really overbearing i thought. not that thats a bad thing, i just wish i could hear more of the back and forth that i know is going on between all the musicians. rob barraco is the man, his playing is so fluid, same with john molo, he's a really nice foil to phil. phil was good all night but for the st stephen>slip>franks he was really cooking. overall i was very impressed and cant wait for the other shows im going to. hope this wasnt too long - Nick

also big confirmation on the light middle eastern licks from warren right before help on the way, bucky. (and very accurate review as well)
to my minds ear it was a nod to Ravi Shankar and the fact that he was playing his last north american concert last night in chicago. so i heard on the npr, but I am a wing nut so who knows.

Also thought for sure a huge wave of morning dew to open rolled through the crowd and definately heard the Wharf rat theme.

And also loved the acoustic sound of Jimmy's Liberty

A few thoughts on the evening:

1. As a result of 9/11, the view coming in on the SI ferry has obviously changed. However, you can now see the Empire State Building, which was all dressed up in the red, white, and blue lights. Just an interesting little tidbit, or so I think anyway...

2. PuckEweDan- didn't get your email till this morning, I'll call you to meet tonight. Sorry if I missed anyone at WSB, we were sitting in the back.

3. Anybody see the girl in the front row swinging that thing around that lit up the song names? Has Phil actually set up a stage show as well?

4. My buddy said John Barlow was in the audience, but I wouldn't know what he looks like if I fell over him.

5. Took some photos, hope they'll come out. Maybe I'll bring them along tonight if I get them developed this afternoon.

6. This was my one buddy's first show...hell of an introduction.

7. Found myself thinking that this show might be one to send Bucky into partial retirement with some of the jams they were playing. Not full retirement mind you, but maybe he'd just stick to the fantasy camps and exhibitions...Glad to see you enjoyed the show my friend. Sorry we didn't get a chance to hook up.

8. One set late on the Shakedown opener, oh well. After the Comes a Time, I had no idea what to expect.

9. WOW

I'll be meeting my buddy around 6-6:30 at the P&G Cafe Bar- It's the place on the corner of 73 and Amsterdam. Small little dive, with all kinds of backstage passes on the walls.

Dan, I'll call you. Buck, I'll email you.

Not sure how they'll top this one, but I can't wait to see how they'll try.

Sticking to my original thought-Barracco is the man...

Later,

SI

Thanks for the reviews guys. I couldn't make last nite, but I'm now officially foaming at the mouth for the next six. One question - how was the check going in? Was it the standard perfunctory Beacon routine, or the new NYC just short of body cavity search kind of thing (I actually had my wallet searched at Roseland Oysterhead - what kind of weapon could they have been looking for in there, I wonder)?

>>how was the check going in?

NONE

sounds sweet
glad everyone enjoyed

see ya Saturday!!

Yes, Warren was there, indeed this is SOME sick joke bc, my dear ones, he was SO SO THERE....

PART ONE

Oh, well, Bucky has indeed been definitive and damned if I can really EXPLAIN what went on last night, but I will throw my two pennies in the Trevi and dish out what I can recall...

The Beacon is wonderful. Oh Yes, Phil, please avoid places like the Roseland and stick with the Palaces....went in at 7, just to gander at the world inside from my sickness seat over a couple Stoli oranj/orange...the Bud selection has been enhanced by...Bud Light. Mmmmm. Security? Ummmmm.....well....not to jinx it, but maybe they had the night off??? ;)

The show, the show....yes, yes. That wonderful Jam, musicians out there looking for IT....and that became Comes A Time. Oh God. I only heard the Dead do it once and I was too much of a baby to appreciate it....so you could say I’ve basically been waiting my whole life to hear this live. Could it be more appropriate? You could hear Comes A Time in the Jam, those drippy first few notes that lead you into that enchantment. Yes, yes, perfect for NY...we need it now...gotta make it somehow! on the dreams you still believe....Into another jam...interesting y’all heard some “arabic/bluesfor allah”, I was def heading towards that Tomorrow Never Knows place, but I can see how that might sound similar. but THEN....BAM! HELP!!! Oh, yes, oc, oc...Paradise Waits...we need the Help, Mr. Leshco, bring it on, senor....
And then the Slippy jam....(I have some strange WAH note on my scribbled setlist, I’m imagining Warren with some Power wah wah effect in that slip jam, yes? maybe.) and then....THE 11....well, yes, my bad to forget. The Eleven. Yes, Phil, boys....we know you know we hurt...on that day that changed us all forever....god that Eleven stuff was ON. I mean....well...this is where it gets hard when you are very close to the stage, when the speakers are so powerful....and you feel them all just blasting away at yr soul....
Sorry. The Jam out of the 11...well...I immediately called it the Breakneck Uncle Johns. Obviously UJB, but so FAST. But awesome, I mean, yes, now they have nodded to the pain we have endured...CAT>Help>Slip>11....but the healing is here too. The Band is here to play the tune....how DOES the song go?????
And then...Phil, thank you, ;) my UBC....Blue Light Rain, baby....all the way. Heard it for the first time at the Beacon last fall...and this was even more...well, I mean....I’m just being swallowed WHOLE by the first set. I like that I see Jimmy taking a more central role. He had a solo in this Chain that blew me away, and then oc Warren has to go in and tear it up too. Great...Warren led into what I call the Melancholy Gusto Jam...which became a Night of a 1000 Stars. New Song, I like, I like. (better than RnR blues, but Ill save real complaints for another moment.)

Lights go up...Im thinking it’s around 9:30? maybe 9:20. Wow wow wow. And we have set TWO to go!!!! and then days of this, oh glory be.....

and a quick note of the bathroom break....gotta love the Philco demo; only place I go where there’s a LINE for the men’s room and I walk right into the ladies’!!!!!!! ;)

PART TWO
Okay, so, the Shakedown was not really a surprise. Come on kids, you really think they’re NOT going to play Shakedown the first night in NYC???? But the quality of this....I mean...there was a REASON everyone was calling the freaking song....because it was just too damn apropos...and when the situation screams for the tune, quite often that version scorches. (Most recently I might speak to that LWAF>11>Terrapin coupled with the crescent moon in Lewiston...) Yeah, don’t tell me this town aint got no heart, never truer, to all yall who badmouthed THIS town...ah, well, I think no one wants to hear THAT now. (jeter sucks??? Aw, come ON....and he’s so cute...plus we all love the return of the Rocket, even up in the home of the Bean and the Cod, no? hee hee hee).
So....Monster Shakedown. Into.....Celebration...again a new song for me. I was a little lukewarm at first, I mean, hey new songs can throw you, right? Kinda like...okay, why are you playing THIS and not Eyes of the World? ;) But I was sold, Celebration is cool....and esp when you get to the Sing it from the rooftops, tenements tumbling part, it was very in the mind scheme of the show...I was digging it...in fact my poor crumpled set list says only...WOW. Okay. Then...Just A Little Light....THIS is my new Althea it seems (the song I hear at every show), and it seems rather redundant to say these guys tear it up...but ya know what, they DO....and this stuff was the best yet, IMHO. Big Exclamation Points. Forget going to the bathroom during the JALL....ain’t that saying something! Into the new new song...No More Do I...which is really a deep awesome song. I loved hearing it, reading the lyrics today, I cant wait to hear this show later and relive what was an intense musical moment. I mean, this is pretty damn powerful, jawdropping stuff. A loping melodic ballad type thing...that turns into a mighty jam... But it ain’t that classic dead stuff, but ya know what, Im okay, it’s cool, the band is great (glad yall told me they turned up the sound for that second set I thought it was just me ;) ) and everyone is ON ON ON...and then
yikes
oh my
it is
STEPHEN
Thank you for erasing (well, never erase, oc....just modify? enhance?) my first Stephen at the Roseland, dear men, and let’s face it, the audience is part of it OC...so thank yall too. YIPPEE....Oh, MAN...it was just, like...all I could ever dream about in a St Stephen...the balloons I caught were vibrating in my hands with the power of an earthquake....and yet this beautiful red balloon just sits peacfully at Phil’s feet for the entire set...(anyone ever see that old movie, the Red Balloon? i was thinking of it... Oh, I digress.) So, what would be the answer to the answer, man?
BAM!!!! SLIPKNOT
which jams out into...(and didnt I hear some Mt Jam stuff here somewhere)???
no...back into the real SLIP...falling falling twisting spinning (love this jam? I DO)
into that Franklins (thanks for the yummy Carnegie Deli size sandwich!) which is a brilliant ender....
May the Four winds Blow you safely home...
over? No....1130....really? I guess so...we howl for Phil and Warren as they exit side stage...Warren (Yes, Warren Haynes... he WAS there) flashes us the peace sign, which as he may or may not know is the new shorthand of the day, the twin towers, the 11th, the two fingers. cool.

Liberty encore. You are lukewarm? Hell, maybe I would be too (golly, I waltzed out of the Garden during a mid-90s Liberty...like, gddamn, they play this every other night, foggedaboudit....) except it’s appropriate and..helllo!!!!...the WNBA NY team??? Oh, I know it’s only me. I’ve been digging these lyrics as I drive to summer games at the Garden for several years now in a NEW way so I completely jump and dance for a little oooooooooh....Freedom!!!! Hey, it’s all about being free to be contrary, to disagree, which is what it’s all about to be an American, in some ways, and def about being a New Yawker (yes, been here so long she’s got to calling it home.)....

So, it was amazing and I have to get ready to go to another....but it’s hard to imagine it getting better, maybe just...diffferent?...ah...I wont be so up close again....but my bell has been rung (esp my poor ear drums!!!), and my soul pounded by the love that only Phil can bring....only love can Phil?

Great FUCK!!!! It is the LOVE....we have it here DO WE EVER!!!!
aftershockaftershockaftershock
;)

What check going in? Like my friend said, going to a Phil show is the MOST American patriotic thing you can possibly do in life. Set out deliberately on a mind expansion trip for four hours only to come out with new concepts of how you should lead your life. Our aura is too big, our power too strong, and our spirits too high to break us. Security at the Beacon? Less than ever before.

Hey guys. Finally got a chance to check in. I wanted to tell everyone happy holidays and hope you all had a good turkey (or Tofurkey for you vegans) feast on Thurs.

Here's to ya NYC. Sounds like a great show last night. You guys deserve this musical World Series and Phil is just the right man to deliver the goods. In some ways, I guess he would be the Ruthian character in this Musical World Series, slamming bombs over the short porch in right field. Have a good run.

I wanted to take this time to point out some of the obvious wonderful magic that this music and our scene can provide. I have been guilty of bashing certain elements of our scene on here lately. I wanted to try to point out some of the good aspects.

On fri night, after stuffing myself with fried turkey and all sorts of other southern style delicasies, Mrs. Chicken stayed at Grandmas house with Chicken Jr. and my brother and I went to Memphis (short 45 min drive) to see Widespread and the Dirty Dozen. I know they are not Phil, and this is the PHILZONE, but I ran into several people who were making their way up to the northeastern part of the country for the Beacon Run (thanks for the killer Phil/ American Flag/ US Blues lyrics T-Shirt in the lot of the coliseum and the tasty quesadillas). Also while I was there, as per our previous discussions about security, rude kids, whistlers, etc..I noticed that the security was laid back, the crowd was energetic and full of punch, but not rude, inconsiderate, or disrespectful (we were on the floor on the west side). I even saw one of the beer vendors singing along with "Porch Song". After striking up a breif conversation with him, he told me that after last years Widespread Run, he had gotten his hands on several CD's and Tapes and that he had requested that night to work. He also told me that he had gotten into that scene via the Allmans, who introduced him to the Dead, who he first saw in 95 at the Pyramid (great time that night, one of my first shows in Memphis) while he sold beer at the Pyramid, and had gotten into it from there.

I later told the security man who stood nearest to us, that I was impressed and that we appreciated the laid back and non aggressive/ discriminatory approach that they seemed to be taking. He said that he had worked as an Usher at the Pyramid in 95 when the boys played there and that he had a wonderful night, loved the music, and gained a whole new respect for Deadheads and how we acted. (by the way, this guy looked like Ned Flanders on the Simpsons...dead spitting image) He had listened to more "music of that type" since then and trys to work "Hippie Type" shows as often as possible.

As the night went on, I took time to notice peoples faces while they danced, twirled, or stood and nodded. The overwhelming impression I got was a huge smile splattered all over the delta that night. While the Miss. Valley region is not a noted bed of sorrow, my grandfather will tell you that times are hard there. Farmers are going bankrupt, Memphis is a poor town, people are down because of national concerns over terrorism. But on this night, the Mid South Coliseum is filled with smiling faces, the lot is filled with light hearted laughter, even the nearby burger joint we visited was filled with people young and old beaming with joy over the show they had just seen.

There are two points to this.

One...we can be so good and leave a positive impression when we want to. We also never know who we are effecting with our actions, and how they percieve us. These two men, neither of whom looked as if they would have ever seen or heard of a band like Widespread Panic, were turned onto them partially by the actions of the fans. Why is this so contageous? Why do thousands of people follow the Dead? These were qhestions that these people asked and were driven to check it out on their own. In many ways, we are like people of a particular faith, take Christianity....In order to win over souls for your faith, it is much better to lead by example, rather than shoving it down someones throat. When we put our minds to it, we are able to be everything that the idealistic dream of previous generation had hoped for. In the process, we leave a positive wake, and pick up some fellow Black Nike Wearing, Punch Drinking, Bone Shaking, people who are ready to get in touch with their inner dead head along the way.

The second point, and this is the part that is primarily for NYC, is a little bit more of stating the obvious. This music has the power to heal. Not to make everything ok, but to aide in the process of recovery and growth. Even if it just provides a little ray of light into an otherwise dark and shit stained environment. I haven't been to NY since 9-11. I have not seen ground zero. I, in no way, am attempting to simplify or trivialize the feelings of New Yorkers. But I do feel that for many of us who have an ability to allow sonic impressions to touch our souls, this music can provide us with hope, joy, love, and a smile. I know this much.....some of the highest moments of my life have not come under the influence of anything other than incredible live music.

Have a good run NYC. And Be Good Family!

John Barlow was there last night. He walked through the crowd in front of the Beacon, around the corner, and in the back entrance. Not a single person noticed him.
Also, if anyone's thinking of scalping, there were many tickets being sold for less than face before the show.

>Security at the Beacon? Less than ever before.

Yeah this was true, they didn't even look at
my backpack....But notice how everthing went
smooth....Cracks me up almost no security and
no trouble...Its a beautiful thing.
Lets keep it up! Again another show where I
met many kind folk... Great people, Great music..

Two more points:

1. Phil walking down the street with a scarf around him about 30 minutes prior to the show...

2. Conversation overheard between two guys behind me half way through Comes a Time:

"Did you see the Harry Potter movie?"
"Yeah, I liked it!"
"Me too, I thought it was pretty good!"

My how times have changed...

Again,

SI

funny, SI, as I was drifting off to sleep...
(For I saw HPotter on Sat night)
I was thinking...
the kids love Harry Potter, because it is a world where anything can happen, a world full of magic...
and in many ways,
thanks kinda why I love Phil and Friends....
it is a world FULL of magic and possiblity...

About last night's sound. I thought phil's bass was muddy and buzzy. (orchestra right, 12th row). When the sound is great you can hear the moment of impact of phil's pick on the strings -- the attack -- and I got none of that last night.

I walked around the joint for a sweet spot and frankly the best I could find was right in front of the sound board. I'm hoping the fidelity folks will be able to tinker with things to improve the sound throughout the orchestra. peace, hilary

I too definitely recall the Middle Eastern style jam in set 1. I noted it last night and then forgot to mention it...I actually thought I heard a bit of Scarlet or China Cat in the opening jam. I suspect Scarlet is coming tonight. Here are my wishes for tonight since it might be my last show for a while:

Cumberland Blues
GDTRFB
Ramblin' Rose
Passenger

I can't say enough how awesome the jams during and after St. Stephen were last night. Totally different but almost as good as last Beacon's Stephen>11>Stephen.

Anyone else here Rob play some Row Jimmy licks? I thought it was maybe after Shakedown?????

Does anyone have a single ticket to sell for the show next Monday, 12/3? Please e-mail me at Howard60@aol.com and I'll gladly make arrangements to pay and pick-up the ticket.

I wasn't there...but does anyone else find "The 11" ironic given the date of 9-11. Maybe there was some imagery here that someone has failed to unveil...a story perhaps?? Just a thought.

The chicken

I wasn't there...but does anyone else find "The 11" ironic given the date of 9-11. Maybe there was some imagery here that someone has failed to unveil...a story perhaps?? Just a thought.

The chicken

The 11, deliberate. Hilary, sorry you had mud, loge the bass was awesome, but some weirdness I cannot pinpoint on keys and Jimmy.

re: the 11
My license plate is "The 11". Ive had it for years. Now I'm afraid I'll have problems because people don't know what it means.
My inspiration was Monterey 68.

FYI- actually its called "the 11'" because the song is in 11/4 time......

thanks....I actually knew that ...just wondered if it was a play on the # and the date. I assume it was.

Had to be... seems like it was last nite's "theme", along with "Help", "Franklin's", "Shakedown", "Liberty", etc... see y'all tonite...

Kind of figured the same thing...but since I wasn't there, just wanted to see if people who were there, thought the same.

If this is the pattern...I am calling Touch of Grey for encore on 7th night....not till then...think of mourning (possibly),recovery, rebuilding, victory, rejoicing...songs that touch on these themes to be covered in the next few days....just a guess..we all know that Phil has his own special way of surprising all who come to the alter.

INCREDIBLE OPENER LAST NIGHT!

As most people where heading in, I hauled back to the Bear Bar for a quick one (or two). Low and behold, walking down the sidewalk 5 feet from me was Phil Lesh, his wife and two body guards! Not like he REALLY needed the body guards! Most people who noticed this situation just started applauding. Phil returned the favor with a big chuckle and wave! MAN, ITS GOOD TO BE BACK IN NEW YORK!

What a show! Got to meet a large philzone crew. Also had allot of people inquiring about the T-shirt. The fire doors remained open for the entire show. Security was very laid back. Even bar tenders seemed UP business was taking off. (i expect this to fade as the week wears on). We set philophile00 up with a room and sent him off to ground zero this morning. All around great night!

It is with tremendous anticipation I make my way into the city for the first of this massive
run at the Beacon. Unusually warm for late November, traffic is light as we cruise up the Jersey Turnpike past the new skyline that was forged two months ago. All the usual smiling faces of the Beacon staff greet our return to Rock and Roll's finest venue.
From the opening notes of the first movement, the energy is sizzling. There might have been a wisp of Dark Star and maybe a bit of Wharf Rat teased before settling into a stunning
Comes a Time. Warren, who shone with the intensity of a laser all night, played a huge solo, his sound was so rich and full and bright, like a wall of warm water splashing over your body. Jimmy turned it up a notch during the outro and they arrive at Help on the way. This song, slowed down a bit since I've seen it last, now has a relaxed super slinky feel to it. Really sharp all the way through and a mini Slipknot statement before arriving at a crisp and tight Millennium Jam. The Eleven that followed was a volcano explosion of music. So strong and powerful the energy and sound cascading off the stage with no end in sight. Then as they breakdown the post vocal portion of the tune they all begin to manipulate the time signature and seem to break off into two separate duos in rotating time with Phil dancin and darting between duos. They coalesce into a
rollicking Uncle John's Band followed by a beautiful Unbroken Chain. Both these numbers were excellent renditions and the set concluded with Night of a 1000 Stars, which was crisp, and
showing some nice signs of development and maturation. Many greetings exchanged during the
break and before ya know it, the lights dim, and the entire Upper West Side is rocked by Phil
Bomb that must have registered 7.0 on the Richter scale. The Shakedown was pumping and churning away, very extended vocal treatment on the poke arounds, then a really funky jam with
Warren providing all the chukka anyone could ask for. Celebration followed and didn't dissapoint. The Just A Little Light was spectacular, an epic number reaching dizzying heights, as if everyone in the band was playing 32nd and 64th notes. This intensity couldn't hold and resulted in a slightly rocky landing for a few short bars as they main theme subsided. Next up was another new song,
No More Do I, and I gotta say right off, I love this tune immediately. It's so much more accessible than many of the things Phil has written recently. It's got a comfortable tempo and the groove feels like something you've heard before. They song really seems to sum up the band nicely, allowing them to flex their musical muscles, quite unique in a brand new song. It's got a great chorus and you can really dance to it. I'd give it an 87 if Dick Clark asked me to rate this record. It seemed to be heading towards Dark Star, Wharf Rat, and Terrapin all at once, before settling into St. Stephen. During the introduction, the band modified the tempo each time they restarted the main theme. First fast then, slower, then fast again, then even slower, then back up to flank speed for the vocals. This soared throughout, Ladyfinger was elegant and the peaks staggering.
The answer to the answer man tonight was Slipknot. If that transition sounds good on paper you can't imagine how much better it was in the flesh. A solid workout on the minor theme slowed by Phil at one point to quiet things a bit and counterpoint the joyous celebration that was Franklin's to close this set. Massive waves of sound continue to wash over the crowd and we finally
collapse into our seats for a breather and a smoke before the encore. Liberty was a fitting choice to close this show, and the band performed this with warmth. The cool evening's breeze from the side doors usherers us out into the NY night for a quick slice and a few beers before making our way home to try and digest this show and rest for tonight's.

Til then

LB

OK-I've had all I can take and I can't take it no more. The name of the tune is "RAMBLE ON ROSE" not "RAMBLIN' ROSE". Do we all have that clear? As you were...

>>>also big confirmation on the light middle eastern licks from warren right before help on
the way, bucky.

Mrs B wanted to know what I meant by the Middle Eastern riffs.

Try working for a bunch of Turks & you'll FULLY understand......

So, too many reviews to read now, the kids are home, I'll have to read later....

But a few notes:
The sound was louder in the 2nd set. I didn't even have to cup my hands over my ears.

Jimmy may have been a little low in the mix, or was it just that everyone else was playing more frenzied? Like the 1st instrumental in UJB where Warren's rythym drowned out Jimmy's lead?
I say that, because at times, I could hear Jimmy loud & clear.

Celebration does indeed have some rather long lyrics. I wrote after Jones Beach that War & Peace is shorter....
Singing 80% of them before the one lengthy instrumental only highlighted that....

Jimmy's lead in the UBC jam was really good --- loud, easy to hear ... i think he's actually easier to hear in the more frenzied uptempo jams.

Aiko, not to fret-
Our poor brethren are obviously getting
that Dead song mixed up with the MC5's classic,
"(Love is like a ) RAMBLIN' ROSE".
All is forgiven!!
-- TuneBoy

I stand corrected.

Ramble On Rose.

Ramble on, man.

I took an old college buddy to this show-- a guy who was a deadhead in 1975, 1980, but who is now husband, father, home owner, attorney, community pillar... and who has drifted away from it all; he told me he gets to maybe one concert a year. I really thought the poor guy needed a healthy dose of the Phil & Friends vibe... He was someone who hadn't heard them at all, hadn't heard of Jimmy Herring, knew Warren from seeing him once with the Allmans, and was, I think, skeptical but curious, and open-minded. I mention all this because sometimes when I'm at a show with someone, I find my own experience can be influenced by theirs.

The first set had a very "Dead" vibe; the second set was more "Jazzy."

The show opens, as per usual, "in the middle"-- with the now-familiar freeform jam. After a time the jam rolls over on itself, and you can hear that they are settling, slowing down, "looking for the song"... which after some more jamming, zeroing in, becomes "Comes a Time." A slow opener, and a definite energy change of pace; I distinctly noted a person or two in attendance for whom the slow tune proved particularly irksome, given how they had timed their drugs, if you take my meaning... Warren of course sings the hell out of it, and then takes off on a soaring, dashing solo and suddenly they are jamming on "Comes a Time" but faster, faster, Warren taking the vibe from somber to frisky with his soaring lead work. Soon the jam has left the tune in the dust, and we're off and running. I seem to recall Barraco shining here, but to be honest, without notes I may have this confused with a later jam. Then Lesh leads the band into "Help On the Way", a great place to go. Then an extended "Slipknot!" wotkout, then suddenly Lesh raises his arm and signals for the band to change up... and seamlessly they are into another jam, not "Slipknot!", but certainly a cousin to it. (philzone.com refers to this as "Millenium Jam.") This jam goes through time signatures like I go through socks before finally, deliberately, gracefully becoming "The Eleven". A powerful performance in both approach and execution, and definitely a highlight. My poor buddy stood and stared with his mouth agape, speechless... Out of "The Eleven", of course, more jamming ensues; you don't really know exactly when the song stops and the jamming starts, but you're used to that by now. The jam is upbeat and quickly resolves itself around the chords to "Uncle John's Band", but at first I wasn't sure if it was a tease or a segue... until Warren and especially Jimmy begin leaning on the riffs, and the crowd erupts in recognition. It was a fine version; I thought the vocal harmonies were especially spot on... then a brief jam segue, and a descent into the melody of "Unbroken Chain."

I should say that for the past 2 years, every time I mention Phil Lesh & Friends, my buddy has asked, "Do they play "Unbroken Chain? I love that song!" So as Lesh steps to the mic and begins to sing, I glance over at him, and he is positively glowing. And for a brief instant, it is as if he has lost 35 pounds and grown hair.

"Unbroken Chain" contains a jam so intense that I wasn't sure they were going to finish the song, but back they drop into the melody for the end; that gives way to "Night of a 1000 Stars", at whih point my friend says to me, "Oh, I thought they did two sets, but I guess they play straight through to encore?" No, I told him. This is probably the last song of the first set.

The prospect of another set as auspicious, as powerful, as the one that was right then hurtling to a finish almost scared him a little.

The band has "Night of 1000 Stars" down, and the crowd welcomes it as an old favorite. A nice version, with a sweet, extended, dramatic touchdown, and end of set.

Whew.

During intermission my friend made an interesting observation about Molo-- comparing the "spread out" sound that he was used to hearing from Dead drumming (the two drummers) to the more compact but athletic style of Molo. Molo had particularly stood out on "Slipknot!", I think it was...

Set two begins with the thundering "Shakedown Street", and the loge is quite literally bouncing. "Don't tell me this town aint got no heart" indeed.

The extended Shakedown outro jam quickly found its way to "Celebration", the first of a sequence of jazzier tunes. Then "Just a LIttle Light", a song that (flame away) I think this band just shreds the Dead's renditions of; Warren has stolen this one and made it his own. They segue via jam into the new "No More Do I", a song I hadn't heard, but which struck me as having a very "Just a Litle Light" vibe, but without that song's crescendos. The three songs-- "Celebration", "Just a Little Light", and "No More Do I"-- were almost a single piece of music, connected gracefully by jamming segues and laying down a jazzy feel. Then, out of the timeless space, comes an especially sweet and delicate opening "St. Stephen" riff. The band jams on the chords (as opposed to the melody) for a while, then the melody is there, then the song. Then they launch into an "Eleven"-ish jam, which morphed briefly into the "Good Times Bad Times" tease from 4/30 (but no singing); then some soaring work from Jimmy and Warren that reminded me-- not an uncommon occurrence, but that's just me-- of a slow version of the Allmans' "Jessica." In fact, I am convinced that one day the guitarists are going to take the band headlong into the last third of "Jessica", and there'll be no stopping it.

Then, of course, BACK into "St. Stephen". The band finishes the song, then with a bomb, Lesh heralds the return of "Slipknot!" and that familiar transitional riff. They jam on "Slipknot!" briefly, then wander off-- so far off that I actually wonder if they are going to get back to it (as if there was any way they weren't going to finish what they'd started in the first set.) Then back into a full "Slipknot", and then, of course, a joyous "Franklin's Tower" (but then, is there any other kind of "Franklin's Tower"?)

The encore, "Liberty", was well-chosen given the fact that this was the first night of a NYC run post-9/11, but many fans were streaming out before it was done... trains to catch and all.

I found myself amazed that a band-- even in mid-tour-- can open a run this good. The sound (at least where I sat) was on, the "group mind" telepathic thing in full force.

My buddy couldn't stop thanking me. Halleluiah, I've brought another one over into the light.

>>>Then they launch into an
"Eleven"-ish jam, which morphed briefly into the "Good Times Bad Times" tease

I didn't hear either of them.

Well, the tapes will tell....

The sound level was way to high. Did anyone else notice this? I was in the 3rd row, so I'm biased, but the next night I wasn't that far back and you could hear yourself sing at least. What a great show, though. Yum yum yum. Now I sit back in Rainy Seattle. Hope you all are enjoying the rest of the shows for me!

Woza!

What if god was one of us

Did anyone notice this song's theme being noodled within the general cacaphony of the first set? I know Joan Osborne made it famous, but if you ever get a chance, hear Martyn Joseph do it. www.martynjoseph.com

He's a Welsh singer I heard for the first time at the Vancouver Folk FEst two summers ago. So, we had him out here in Seattle this past Fall. What a wonderful guy, great tunes, stirring, passionate...

Woza!

Josh, excellent review..all you have to to find new appreciation for this band is bring an old friend to a show that hasn't seen this music for awhile and watch them glow..

I thought I was going go write a long detailed review for this show, especially, because it was so precise and clear in its message and tone...

The whole show was basically a love letter and band aid to, and for NYC, the 1st set especially saying this in the song selection and emotion..

I know it sounds corny, and the shows are always that way, special, spiritual and personal but this is amplified by 100x on this nite if you care to listen between the lines...

It took until last night to really have the words and experiences of a conversation with a NYC firefighter (a friend of Dan's who really, really needed a show) i had before the 12-29 show sink in and reshape my experiences of the 1st 3 daze...

This show was simply a continuation of what was said at MSG a few years ago, i believe it was in '88. "Phil Loves NYC".

Ok, i will comment that the one, FAT note Phil hit to signal the true Slipknot jam and the immediate response of the band was one for the ages...

I sat in the loge and heard it the way Bucky did. I would add that I enjoy that Warren seems to be finding many levels of simmering and more varied patterns for moving thru the registers. I liked the way they played off each other in Just a Little Light. (I'm glad there's a bluesy flavor back in.) And I caught at least one tune when each of them was not only playing lead but also constantly riffing off each other and simultaneously playing in different, but proportional, numbers of measures that would cycle in and out of various synchronicities. Beautiful stuff. Pretty astounding. I also heard that same high clarity that I find in slow versions of Cold Rain & Snow. Now if they could add in some of that lonesome, lazy, loping sound ... how much more perfect could it get?

I'm/we're going again Sat. night. We're scattered thru the orch, loge and balc (me). Now that George has disincarnated (as I'm guessing he might put it) I wonder if the band will play Taxman or something in his honor?

HI ALL, LOOKING FOR SINGLES FOR SAT AND SUN ANY AND ALL HELP VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. GOOD SHOWS TO YA ALL ZACK

HI ALL, LOOKING FOR SINGLES FOR SAT AND SUN ANY AND ALL HELP VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. GOOD SHOWS TO YA ALL ZACK

by Josh Chasin

I took an old college buddy to this show-- a guy who was a deadhead in 1975, 1980, but who is now husband, father, home owner, attorney, community pillar... and who has drifted away from it all; he told me he gets to maybe one concert a year. I really thought the poor guy needed a healthy dose of the Phil & Friends vibe... He was someone who hadn't heard them at all, hadn't heard of Jimmy Herring, knew Warren from seeing him once with the Allmans, and was, I think, skeptical but curious, and open-minded. I mention all this because sometimes when I'm at a show with someone, I find my own experience can be influenced by theirs.

The first set had a very "Dead" vibe; the second set was more "Jazzy."

The show opens, as per usual, "in the middle"-- with the now-familiar freeform jam. After a time the jam rolls over on itself, and you can hear that they are settling, slowing down, "looking for the song"... which after some more jamming, zeroing in, becomes "Comes a Time." A slow opener, and a definite energy change of pace; I distinctly noted a person or two in attendance for whom the slow tune proved particularly irksome, given how they had timed their drugs, if you take my meaning... Warren of course sings the hell out of it, and then takes off on a soaring, dashing solo and suddenly they are jamming on "Comes a Time" but faster, faster, Warren taking the vibe from somber to frisky with his soaring lead work. Soon the jam has left the tune in the dust, and we're off and running. I seem to recall Barraco shining here, but to be honest, without notes I may have this confused with a later jam. Then Lesh leads the band into "Help On the Way", a great place to go. Then an extended "Slipknot!" wotkout, then suddenly Lesh raises his arm and signals for the band to change up... and seamlessly they are into another jam, not "Slipknot!", but certainly a cousin to it. (philzone.com refers to this as "Millenium Jam.") This jam goes through time signatures like I go through socks before finally, deliberately, gracefully becoming "The Eleven". A powerful performance in both approach and execution, and definitely a highlight. My poor buddy stood and stared with his mouth agape, speechless... Out of "The Eleven", of course, more jamming ensues; you don't really know exactly when the song stops and the jamming starts, but you're used to that by now. The jam is upbeat and quickly resolves itself around the chords to "Uncle John's Band", but at first I wasn't sure if it was a tease or a segue... until Warren and especially Jimmy begin leaning on the riffs, and the crowd erupts in recognition. It was a fine version; I thought the vocal harmonies were especially spot on... then a brief jam segue, and a descent into the melody of "Unbroken Chain."

I should say that for the past 2 years, every time I mention Phil Lesh & Friends, my buddy has asked, "Do they play "Unbroken Chain? I love that song!" So as Lesh steps to the mic and begins to sing, I glance over at him, and he is positively glowing. And for a brief instant, it is as if he has lost 35 pounds and grown hair.

"Unbroken Chain" contains a jam so intense that I wasn't sure they were going to finish the song, but back they drop into the melody for the end; that gives way to "Night of a 1000 Stars", at whih point my friend says to me, "Oh, I thought they did two sets, but I guess they play straight through to encore?" No, I told him. This is probably the last song of the first set.

The prospect of another set as auspicious, as powerful, as the one that was right then hurtling to a finish almost scared him a little.

The band has "Night of 1000 Stars" down, and the crowd welcomes it as an old favorite. A nice version, with a sweet, extended, dramatic touchdown, and end of set.

Whew.

During intermission my friend made an interesting observation about Molo-- comparing the "spread out" sound that he was used to hearing from Dead drumming (the two drummers) to the more compact but athletic style of Molo. Molo had particularly stood out on "Slipknot!", I think it was...

Set two begins with the thundering "Shakedown Street", and the loge is quite literally bouncing. "Don't tell me this town aint got no heart" indeed.

The extended Shakedown outro jam quickly found its way to "Celebration", the first of a sequence of jazzier tunes. Then "Just a LIttle Light", a song that (flame away) I think this band just shreds the Dead's renditions of; Warren has stolen this one and made it his own. They segue via jam into the new "No More Do I", a song I hadn't heard, but which struck me as having a very "Just a Litle Light" vibe, but without that song's crescendos. The three songs-- "Celebration", "Just a Little Light", and "No More Do I"-- were almost a single piece of music, connected gracefully by jamming segues and laying down a jazzy feel. Then, out of the timeless space, comes an especially sweet and delicate opening "St. Stephen" riff. The band jams on the chords (as opposed to the melody) for a while, then the melody is there, then the song. Then they launch into an "Eleven"-ish jam, which morphed briefly into the "Good Times Bad Times" tease from 4/30 (but no singing); then some soaring work from Jimmy and Warren that reminded me-- not an uncommon occurrence, but that's just me-- of a slow version of the Allmans' "Jessica." In fact, I am convinced that one day the guitarists are going to take the band headlong into the last third of "Jessica", and there'll be no stopping it.

Then, of course, BACK into "St. Stephen". The band finishes the song, then with a bomb, Lesh heralds the return of "Slipknot!" and that familiar transitional riff. They jam on "Slipknot!" briefly, then wander off-- so far off that I actually wonder if they are going to get back to it (as if there was any way they weren't going to finish what they'd started in the first set.) Then back into a full "Slipknot", and then, of course, a joyous "Franklin's Tower" (but then, is there any other kind of "Franklin's Tower"?)

The encore, "Liberty", was well-chosen given the fact that this was the first night of a NYC run post-9/11, but many fans were streaming out before it was done... trains to catch and all.

I found myself amazed that a band-- even in mid-tour-- can open a run this good. The sound (at least where I sat) was on, the "group mind" telepathic thing in full force.

My buddy couldn't stop thanking me. Halleluiah, I've brought another one over into the light.

New York Monday 11/26/01: Length: 86’/93’ Rating: 9.0 Goin’ back to NYC. This return has been long-anticipated, everyone speculating on the deep cosmic meaning of the song possibilities. Uneventful drive down, very light traffic, a pleasant surprise. Listen to the Sublime CD to put us in the NYC Gangsta Posse mindset. That guy (Bradley something or other) OD’d before his album was released and he became famous only post-humously. A loss as significant as Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Cobain. His version of Scarlet Begonias has a pretty funny rap about Dead tour in it. The usual sidewalk scene of McHustles, cops, panhandlers (one honest guy’s rap was "look, dude, I just need money"). My anxieties disappeared as we breezed past security right to the loge, where tapers were setting up front row center. Quite different from the last 2 runs where taping outside the section (and it is a very bad section here) was clamped down on here. The staff was not even looking for bribes, as was also their past practice. The Beacon now sells Standing Room Only tickets, and standing room is the aisles in the loge and balcony. Very different from last year, when the loge aisles were routinely swept clear. The Beacon has a unique design with a second balcony overhanging the first balcony housing the loge. This means more seats (first half of Loge and first 3-4 rows Lower Balcony) have half-decent (or half-assed, depending on your point of view) sound, as opposed to a few seats having incredible sound in Boston (all 3 rows of Mezzanine). The Loge is set further back, 18-20 rows, and the second balcony overhang muddies the sound a little. The second balcony is too high for good low end, but the sound is clearer there. I also remember the really bad features of the Beacon. For one, there are only 2 sets of bathrooms, in the basement and at the top. The bars are situated strategically in the hallways so that, no matter where your seat is, you are forced to squeeze past the crush of people at the bar at least once. The upstairs bathroom is so ridiculously undersized it takes 20-30’ to piss, probably a lot longer for women. Thus, I have to remember to not drink any fluids all day before a Beacon show. Then, they sell HARD LIQUOR! SHOTS of whiskey! This really lends to music requiring a long attention span! The Beacon also features a weird, stark, militaristic theme surrounding the stage. The two female guard statues are both right-handed, even though it would have been symmetrical to have the right side one left-handed. The paintings on the side appear to depict Europeans landing in the new world, with the natives watching apprehensively. Kind of makes you think about what would happen if space aliens came to earth . . .The show started with another high energy x-factor jam. Familiar territory works wonders. The sound was pretty good from the first note, not as overwhelming from the Loge as Boston, more due to the theatre’s configuration. The jam hinted at lots of goodies, Dark Star, Other One, The Eleven, and went on for 8-10 minutes. This melted into another fine but misplaced Comes A Time. The words had deeper meaning given the events in NYC. Just as they started this song, the 5 or 6 strong party of people in the row behind us showed up, each with a beer in each hand (2-fisted drinking!), and proceeded to drunkenly babble loudly and obnoxiously ("rarghablargrazzzley-bzzarararrraggh-rzzzgabllaablaazzz-zaggehzzlyarrg . . . ."). The hippie-ish kid next to us turned around and asked them to be quiet twice, then a third time, to no avail. "Welcome to NEEWW YAWWWKKKK!" I said to him! "I know, I live here!" was his reply. Too much! The jam picked up in intensity after this, and jumped into Help on the Way! Awesome, Dude! Very Topical, too! This sounded like a second set, and it was only the first of 7 shows! The Help started to transition to Slipknot, but suddenly, magically, was the Millenium Jam! An act of sheer, utter brilliance! Never dreamed of this combination. For the first few seconds, I couldn’t even place what this was. Again, when they fool me, I know it’s good. On to The Eleven, this time welcomed. I like that they vary playing Millenium with the Eleven. Again, topical. As good a version as any, high quality jamming leading to a powerful Uncle John’s. I still hold out hope that this will be broken up a la Terrapin and Help-Slip, even the GD did it a few times back in the day. During the Uncle John’s, a brutal moment of violence occurred. This sexy young couple was in the first row on the aisle dancing on each other. We were a little concerned as the mic’s I was patched out of were there. They never bothered our mic’s or screamed. It seems the person with the ticket for those seats showed up and these people refused to leave. When security asked them for their stub, the girl slapped the guard, and a total melee between both of them and the guard ensued. 3 or 4 other guards rushed them, and they were both dragged out kicking and screaming. The guard later told us they continued to fight when booted outside, and ended up being hogtied and dragged off to the slammer by many cops. Rock and Roll! (Sidebar: At both Jones Beach and Holmdel this summer, I had similar violent confrontations with people who refused to vacate my ticketed seat. Is this kind of arrogance unique to New York?) After this evil was over, the music came back out of the powerful Uncle John’s calypso themed jam to the last verse, back to more jamming, on to Unbroken, another powerful version. This melded into 1000 Stars, again appropriate. I was surprised this was the end of the set, but then noticed it was over 80’ long. Damn, this was so good, I was that lost! I realize Jimmy’s guitar sounds different, acoustic sounding. Did he change guitars or is this a different effect or setting? Similar to what Jerry did the fall of ’93 GD tour.

During the set break I notice the row in front of us is occupied by what looks like the cast of the Sopranos. 5 balding, heavy-set middle-aged Joisey Goomba guys, dressed "casually" in flannel shirts with button collars, tweed jackets, dockers. These bumps on a log sit and comment sarcastically about how breathing the air in here will make them "funny", "dese guys juz go onz and onz fuhevah . . . ". My favorite snippet of overheard conversation: "So I sez to ‘Im, ‘eehyyyyy, jus’ pay me 7 cenz a gallon, I gets ridz of it, no pruhblm’, don’ madduh whads in da barrelz, cud be wattuh, cud be toxic juz’, don’ maddah, juz relax, I takes care of Id, ‘eehyyyyy" "Huh Huh Huh Huh Huh Huh!" the rest of them chuckle. I deal with contaminated soil and groundwater from construction sites sometimes in my job, and I know 5 to 7 cents a barrel is the typical price to pay for disposing of 55 gallon drums of, say, the liquid from steam cleaning the floor drains and pits in a maintenance shop. Not really that funny if you drink from a well somewhere in north Jersey. Oh well, I can only hope they don’t go on this site . . . My shoe size is 12-1/2 EE. On to the second set. Shakedown blitzkriegs us back to NYC, another cosmic choice, on fire once again, a good long transition jam to Celebration, another good choice, after the reality of Shakedown, this song is uplifting and positive without being corny, very difficult achievement in my mind. The sound is again very good for the first night. The Celebration ends and immediately the dreaded Just A Little Light picks up. At least it is appropriate and I was expecting it. Too bad its in the heart of the 2nd set, though. During this, I squeeze through the way-packed crowd in the aisles and at the bar, up to the second balcony to see what the sound is like up there. The sound is clearer, less muddy, but has much less low end at the edge of the second balcony. It is much mellower and less packed there, though. Also much hotter, as hot air rises. Back to the Loge, the Little Light is still not over! At least I missed the Deer In the Headlights verse. This song is rendered more annoying to me since it is so long and, I have to admit, played and sung so well. Someone passes me a J of schwag, and I have an inspired plan. I puff it up Snoop Dogg style, creating a big cloud, pass it back to the guys behind me. Then, I exhale behind the cloud, causing it to waft onto the row of goombah’s in front of me. I then nonchalantly boogie to the music. 2 of the goombah’s angrily turn around, they see only the guys behind me smokin away, I’m just innocent as can be. They all get up and leave in total disgust! Wooh, hooh, I jump into that row and now have 3 seats worth of space to dance in for the rest of the show! At the end of the Little Light, they move on immediately to No More Do I. This second time ever version is much more powerful and developed than the first one in PA. This ranks up there with Terrapin as an epic, although this is more of a forlorn love song. This song melts into space jamming, nicely done, as the PA version jumped to Box pretty quickly. The jamming is themed around this song for awhile, very nice, then melts to space, very nice and mellow, then the first note of the Stephen gets everyone up and rockin in typical NYC style! WOO HOO indeed! This is just the right medicine for a city sorely in need! A great version, I don’t recall an Eleven jam in the middle as the Philzone list says, will have to listen to the tape again. So far, the tour has produced only one arguably throw-away Stephen (Oakdale). Way to go! A lot of people were grumbling about the frequency of this last tour. I can think of much worse songs they could overplay. The answer to the answer man tonight is Slipknot! Wow, I had totally forgotten about this, another sign of a good show! One of the advantages to planning the setlist in advance is combinations such as this. The Slipknot is long, and spacy, just like the oddball Ohio version, but with more late-set power. The Franklin’s nicely follows, appropriate again, rockin’ out NYC style, while deep and profound at the same time. Phil didn’t say anything special or different about NYC or what happened in his talk, probably best he didn’t. The Liberty encore said all they needed to. Overall, an excellent show, very appropriate song selection and top-notch playing. Personally, the Little Light intertwined into the heart of the 2nd set brought it down a few notches for me, but I had a typically rollicking NYC fun time, so much happened, reason enough for such a long review . . .