Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: DSO in Ithaca 5/8/77

DSO did a 30th anniversary of the Cornell show in Ithaca last night and it was a high time ! They played at the State Theatre instead of at Barton Hall. The mayor even proclaimed it Grateful Dead day ! Anyway, DSO played excellent throughout the night - lots and lots of energy from them and their playing was very very good ! Highlight for me was Morning Dew - toward the end of the song was simply WOW...The entire evening was a joyous celebration by the band and fans of the Grateful Dead !

sounds great, thanks!

im seeing them this sunday, wonder if they'll recreate or do an original set?

Great day for my friends & I. Sunny and 80 degrees all day, mayor proclaims "Grateful Dead Day" in the city of Ithaca. I cant say enough about DSO, enjoyed every minute of the nearly 4 hour show. Face Stolen.

totally agree. great day/great night/great music/great people/great venue (way too hot in there though).

The jam out of MD was absolutely nuts. WOW.

Great time for sure.

listened to all, and watched most of, the show live on iclips. it sounded pretty dang good for a med-speed internet broadcast.

dso was in fine form from this vantage point. dancin' really soared with some fat effects sounding like 77 era jerry. rob was dead on with that one too.

second set was sweet. really. i can't think of another band that could have pulled this off half as well. the stephen->nfa->stephen was by far the highlight for me -- serious jams. they really did pull it off.

what a great event it must have been to attend! hats off to the mayor.

Well, here we go.... I should have just posted here in the first place....


From the start of the day, got up, went to work on a pristene day. Upper 60's lower 70's perfect blue skies, no clouds. Had quite the drive to partake round trip for work. On the way back, saw a Bald Eagle, in a really odd place too. But cool as heck nonetheless, really set the tone for the rest of the day. In came Peglet and Ro-Jimmy for the occasion. We picked up another one of my buddies and headed off to Ithaca.


We pulled in around 5 or so and made a quick stop by Barton Hall then headed into the city for a bite to eat and a quick drink. Outside the venue the place was jumpin with excitement and anticipation. So many peeps looking for a ticket into a sold out show. Kind of added that little extra to the spirit of things.


The declaration by the Ithaca Mayor just added to it all. Well time to head in....


Once inside we headed to the top of the place. There isn't really a bad seat there and the sound is phenom no matter where you are. So up and outta the way of the crazies was good spot to be....

We came in suring the Darkstar which I thought was a tape at first then people were like no they're playing. Hmmm, didn't open Cornell with Darkstar, whats the haps???? Well, they went into Ripple next and the whole place was just singin away. Beautiful....

At the conclusion, John says, "Let it be said, never trust a prankster" and the place just erupted 1600+. Then they went into the Cornell show....


Great opener in the Monglewood>Loser, but then things kinda hit a wall, IMO. I dont know if theyr were having difficulties with the humidity in the place keping thier hands from sweating, but John seemed to be OFF for a bit. He just asn't on the groove, and each time, Rob Barraco would step in and step it up, let him catch himself and would carry quite a few tunes, I thought in the first set.

I remember standing there going, Damn, this is disgraceful. I wasn't feeling it from them.I dont know if it was nerves, humidity/heat (was hotter than hell the first set) or what but something def was a miss for a while there. I had to remind myself this is not the GD, and we're talking one of the all time shows so to speak. SO set break came at a perfect time. Headed out to the bathrooms and then outside for a few to catch a couple of my friends. Really good vibe going on inside the show....

Set two came, and we headed back in. The show got off to a good start and it was good and sad not to hear their bass man try to replay Phils opening lines to Scarlet. Phew.... But off we go....


You could tell when they came out, they were more relaxed and they settled down, rob could sit back and play and John stepped it way the fuck up. WOW. The whole second set I can not say enough about. Was some of the best music I have ever seen. They were on fire, they didnt miss a beat, they didnt try to outdo themselves they stayed within what they are capable of and let it ALL hang out. The whole second set was stellar.

And that Morning Dew was spectacular. Wow, was really wondering how they were gonna pull it off, and pull it off they did. Brough tears to my eyes to see them looking out at the crowd and the place gave em what they earned that night a 15 minute standing ovation. All they could say was "Thanks alot. Thank you, wow, thank you."

Thats what it is all about