Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: 7-22 SCI Greek Theater hoedown

Anytime you get a three band lineup like yesterday's
Greek Theater show, you know you're in for a special treat.
Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Railroad Earth and String Cheese tore it up. Warm weather, a huge crowd(much older and less sketchy than usual) and musical sparks flying from everybody.
HBRSB opened the show as many were still filing into the venue. They got the crowd up and dancing immediately. Their hour long set was well received and featured a guest appearance by Billy Nershi, who came out for two tunes, including a ripping Cumberland Blues.
By the time RRE came out, temps in the venue were pushing 90 degrees and the place was packed. A hearty crowd welcome greeted the band. Obviously, RRE has a lot of fans in the bay area. Maybe it was the heat or perhaps the band was tired but they just seemed a little sluggish. Nershi made another appearance late in the set that helped pick things up.
What can I say about Cheese that hasn't already been said. You either love them or you hate 'em.
Knowing the band is about to head off into the sunset, I definately wanted to catch one more show. I couldn't have picked a better sendoff. Right out the gate, the boys were on fire. They kept the techno crap on the back burner and delivered up tempo americana.
HBRSB came out and jammed with SCI during the 1st set. RRE did the same in the 2nd set. Everybody came out for the encores, including a 10,000 voice
Will The Circle Be Unbroken. A goosebump experience for sure.
Outside the Dead scene, is there another band out there that can get 10,000 fans up on their feet, dancing for an entire show? I couldn't help but feel like I was back in the '80s at a Greek Dead show. What a great feeling and what a wonderful day!

HBR > RRE > SCI = stringjam trifecta.

Thanks for the review. Would have loved to see that one. Would have fit right in -- I'm older and less sketchy than I once was.

((((ClusterPluck))))

Warming up...




First time I've seen Bill play this guitar, is it new? Bill played it with RRE and then Todd played it with Cheese, so I'm wondering who's it is, I liked it!

Great pics. Have any more to post? Bill also played a Telecaster at some point during the day.

Great review Jeff, but I thought Railroad Earth was a bit stronger. I did find them a bit more sedated that the April tour, but wonderful nevertheless. The "Mourning Flies" with Nershi was gorgeous.

I too was having Dead at the Greek mid-80's flashbacks! The cluster plucks were great and the Cheese always delivers as does their audience. IMHO, the Cheese carries the torch of best relationship with it's audience since the Fat Man rocked...

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Thanks for the extra pic posts. I've got a big grin this morning. Still reeling blissfully from yesterday's show.

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Honky Tonk Tequila -- song of the day!

(I really liked that super fast Cumberland, too, but HTT is where it's at!)

I also thought Railroad Earth was stronger. I really enjoyed when they came out to play with SCI. That was the Highlight for me. Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day in the BAY. 2 shows down 2 to go, and I can't say I've been disappointed at all.

Yeah, Emily, that Gretsch was a true beauty. My eyes were all over that guitar as soon as it came out. Super nice guitars. I think I pointed it out to the heady guy standing beside me. That guy, whoever he was, kept the crowd nicely lubricated for the whole early afternoon. Great guy, but I wonder if he made it through the day.

And such an amazing day it was! I'm glad I got there early, 'cause the stage manager was tight, if not early on performance times.

SCI was good. I loved watching Nershi do his RRE introductions while holding that cold beer. You never see that anymore -- performers clutching a beer on stage. Fun! I also got a kick out of the start>stop>restart on account of *someone's* capo being on the wrong fret. Hey -- even the pros make silly mistakes, and it was fun to watch the band laugh it off.

RRE was also good. I was around three "rows" back for their set. I like the Greek because I can get to the rail w/out blocking anyone's view on account of the stage being taller than me. (Certainly seems that way!) The subwoofers were right there on the floor, though, and that bass was waaaaaay "bassier" than any bass guitar can play -- especially an acoustic one. I liked that Luxury Liner a lot. (I am sure I heard Cheese do Luxury Liner in the past, and my new band isn't shy to bust that one out from time to time).

Where we start is where we end, though. I really enjoyed that Butter set -- again. As I said in the post above, that Honky Tonk Tequila sounded like it was taken from the songbook of my childhood. It was really Honkytonk! I don't think I could write it any better. I had that same response the first time I heard that song at the Fillmore, too. Can it be that I have a favorite Butter song??? And then they closed it up with Cumberland Blues that could have been called the Cocaine Cumberland Blues. They must have only had 3 minutes left on their alloted slot, 'cause they played it faster than I've ever heard before. And it was FUN that fast!

One of my favorite things about yesterday was getting to sit there with my friends making tour plans.

My weekend of Ozzy > Left Coasting > Phil Lesh > Butter, RRE, SCI was perfect, and there was no better way to end it than at the good ole' Greek Theater. Thank you everyone for the vibes!

Temp was about the same yesterday as it was 19 years ago at the Sunday GD show (foolish heart opener I think). Great time hanging on the “hill rail”, one of the few areas where you can stand flat on the grass and set you beer down. The original soundman for SCi was good, but hats off to the Boardman yesterday because the sound was phenomenal.

Good to see the RRE / SCI collaboration.

wow great pics...

cool to see butter and RRE at the greek...

kind of surreal actually...

brings a smile to my face...

photo i took from lawn

and another........

a couple youtube clips my friend paul posted from saturday's show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_NY99XhAc0&NR=1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=D9EC7_NLtd4

He cracks me up with his little wink...

My SCI/RRE/HBR Greek Theater 7/22/07 pics are here:

http://www.molecularmusic.org/gallery2/sci07/

End of a decade of seeing SCI for me: 1997-2007

^^
same here, 97-07
about 9-10 shows

It upsets me to know end that RRE wont come north of the border to Toronto. Heck...they doent even come close!

Bastards!

It upsets me to know end that RRE wont come north of the border to Toronto. Heck...they doent even come close!

Bastards!

Awesome pictures, Susan! Thanks!

I love this Sue Weiand pic! That's what I'm talking about!