Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Jackie Greeen 3-29-08

Jackie Greene had a CD release party for his new work "GIVING UP THE GHOST" this past weekend. The Empire Center in Sacramento sold out, maybe 800 people. Not many heads! Since Phil announced the addition of Jackie to his line up I have been on a tear catching Jackie shows. The kid kills it every night. Jackie played plenty of tunes off the new disc such as Like a Ball and Chain, Downhearted, and Dont Let the Devil Take Your Mind. As well as older tunes like Mexican Girl and Tell me Mama. All of these tunes Phil has incorporated into his repertoire. As a matter of fact I believe Phil has played more than 20 Jackie tunes at P+F shows so far.If thats not a testament to the depth of his work I dont know what is. Im sure other tunes off the new album like I Dont Live In a Dream, Animal, and Ghosts of Promised Land (all played Sat night) will soon join the P+F rotation. This kid is based in the same roots as the boys (blues,folk bluegrass and western) and since his playing with Phil I have seen a definite psychadelic styling emerging in his music and his shows. He has multiple projects going on with his own band as well as the Skinny Singers w/ Tim Bluhm and P+F. 100 SHOWS A YEAR IS NOT UNUSUAL. He is tight with Los Lobos and Steve Berlin produced and played on his last 2 albums. On his latest venture Phil, Larry and Dave Hidalgo all play parts. His drummer Bruce Spencer at one point played with Melvin's JGB. To top it off at any given Jackie show Mic Gillete and George Brooks of Tower of Power will join the lineup. So lets see some more support from the dead scene because the crowd at Jackie shows is a little to tame if you know what I mean. Jackie plays at the fillmore SF April 10th and then tours the country. jackie-greene.com

Thanks for the review Barry.

Jackie w/ Tim Bluhm is playing near me up in Humboldt on Tuesday 4/8. I'm sitting on the fence as to whether or not I should go, but your review is pushing me more in the direction of YES.

Did he do one or two sets in Sacto? About how long was the hometown show?

I see that Barry Sless is sitting in with Jackie at the Fillmore show on 4/10 (see http://www.nelsonband.com/ -- left column). Wish I could make that one, but it's simply too far a drive for me.

Funny you should mention that because it is a little bit of downer. The shows last around 2hr. I cant really say its enough time and I am not usually ready to drive at that point. I imagine he will come out and play a little bit with Tim. Sometimes after the band does an encore he stays out and plays a short acoustic set. I did see him play without an opening band in Tahoe and he played two sets check it out
http://www.archive.org/details/JackieGreeneLiveAtT heCbc especially track 8 Lord mistreats me and tell me if it doesnt have a Legion of Mary sound to it. Now I can only hope Phil rubs off on him and we start to see some longer shows.

You're right about one thing Gary...that's a pushy review.

Thanks for the review, see ya at the Fillmore

Thanks for noticing Odessa! Ill let you know how the Fillmore show goes,

I'll form my own opinion thanks.

Barry might need some help forming his own opinion. His review reads like a pre-packaged press release. Really doesn't get me interested in seeing Jackie at all. Would much rather hear an honest account of the show, a REAL review rather than be spoon fed some thing from Jackie's marketing crew.

And that link to Jackie's site contains these poetic words of wisdom from Jackie's blog

"It helps us have a good time to see everyone having fun. Get drunk, get wild, get stupid. Fuck it, have some fun!"

Jackie fans gone wild? Fuck it, I think I'll pass..

Last thing I wanted to do was mix it up with a bunch of heads on the internet but now you have me going. 30 years of seeing every formation that the Dead could throw at me and was never let down. Throughout it all the creative processes were always flowing. Somewhere along the line someone would always have a complaint. Recently I was taken aback after Phils Mardi Gras show when somebody was bitching that the show went to long. Are you fucking kidding me! I know its not Phil's first new line-up since Jerry died but he seemed enthused and I was going to check it out. Well 17 shows later I realized the Deadhead mentality isn't the same. I thought we used to be the most educated music fans out there. I see hardly anyone at the shows that know any of Jackie's music. Don't people care to explore new things anymore. Do you want to just go hear some nostalgia show. Nothing fresh and exciting. Well looking at Phil's arrangements I dont think thats what he is trying to put out. Seeing Phil at 68 playing 4 1/2 shows till 2am can't get any better. So dont I feel fortunate that I dived into Jackie the way I have and now these shows are killin it for me. Oh yeah before I forget I dont speak for Jackie. I read that in his blog as well and I can only imagine he is looking for a little more partying at his shows. I did say the crowds are pretty tame.
So like Barack said at the Warfield last month just sit down and enjoy the show. I on the other hand will be one of those Deadheads GONE WILD!!!!

I was at the show in Sac. and I saw very few heads at all, mostly older folks like myself, the taper guy had an Obama shirt on. Wish the band took a break so I could of talked with a few of the people there. I even bought a CD. All in All I had fun

Seemed like a decent enough review to me, thanks for the effort.

is there now a style guide for reviews? if so, please advise. if not (which there shouldn't be, with freedom of expression and all that), then thanks for the review and commentary, Barry!

My apologies to the zoner who wrote the review. Sounded like a press release to me. Maybe Barry's got a future in the biz..

>> if so, please advise. if not (which there shouldn't be <<

Nothing formal, but for myself, personally, if I think you're condescending and arrogant, I'm likely to call you on it.