Let's get this party started

Once again, we are ready in the SF Bay Area. Tar_w please lead us on!

Jam, brown eyed woman

I went last night...can't wait to see what they do tonight

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women

Mama tried, alligator

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator

There's some unreal jammin going on.

Gone wandering

Birdsong

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong

Phil singing birdsong

Jam, high time (jackie singing)

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time

Casey jones

That ends the set

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

End of 1st set...

Alligator! Sweet.

Feel like a stranger (jackie singing) to start the 2nd set

I got my sitting on top of the worldm jackie singing larry on fiddle

Take your mind? Just don't let the devil take your mind

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger
Sitting On Top of the World

Playin in the band with jackie singing. This one is for u spacehed. Haha

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind
Playing In The Band

Jam, darkstar

Jam, brainfart, darkstar

I'm a llittle out there please excuse

Golden road

Uncle johns band

Phil and the boyz are in my head and heart again tonight with this setlist. It's uncanny i tellz ya!! Elisa(Green Is The Colour), hope you made it to see Phil for the first time out there and got to hear this!! You rock Phil and thanks so much for the tunes!!! You da bomb or you lay da bomb or something like that : )

Thanks again to Tar_w

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind
Playing In The Band >
Jam >
Dark Star

Thanks again to Tar_w (& Puff)

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind
Playing In The Band >
Jam >
Dark Star >
New Potato Caboose >
Dark Star >
The Golden Road >
Uncle John's Band

Sugar mag

This place is loud and rockin. High energy

Thanks again to Tar_w (& Puff)

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind
Playing In The Band >
Jam >
Dark Star >
New Potato Caboose >
Dark Star >
The Golden Road >
Uncle John's Band >
Sugar Magnolia

Thanks again to Tar_w (& Puff)

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger >
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind >
Playing In The Band >
Jam >
Dark Star >
New Potato Caboose >
Dark Star >
The Golden Road >
Uncle John's Band >
Sugar Magnolia

last Alligator before tonight: 02/24/06, PLF, Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA

last High Time: 07/09/06, PLF, Bethel Woods

last New Potato: 10/28/06, "Phil & Trey..." Vegoose At Night, Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV

That's set. The Olsons say hello

Donor rap, band intros,dire wolf (jackie singing)

Thanks again to Tar_w (& Puff)

Phil Lesh & Friends
Friday, May 9, 2008
Philmore, Denver, CO

Set 1
Jam >
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Alligator
Gone Wanderin
BirdSong
High Time
Casey Jones

Set 2
Feel Like a Stranger >
Sitting On Top of the World
Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind >
Playing In The Band >
Jam >
Dark Star >
New Potato Caboose >
Dark Star >
The Golden Road >
Uncle John's Band >
Sugar Magnolia

Donor Rap, Band Intro's
E: Dire Wolf

Larry on pedal steel

That's show. Phil knuckles all around

Thank you so much Tar-w. Head West!

No last Alligator 11/10/07 nokia

Opps sorry that was operator....

[I wrote this on the Update thread in the Other section.]

I'll write more over the weekend. While the show had plenty of fine moments, in the end, while very enjoyable...there just wasn't a single moment where I was musically blown away.

To these ears, for example, while it was cool to hear Alligator, it sounded like a dress rehearsal. The tempos were uneven, and Phil really didn't have a good handle on his lyric delivery...it just felt sloppy to me. Like at Red Rocks, while I enjoyed overall, I was a bit musically underwhelmed by the first set, with the last two songs easily the best because they were played solidly.

I was also wondering if Phil was trying to get me from seeing Ratdog.;-) While it was nice to see the experiments, Stranger just didn't work for me overall. However, the next song, Sittin On Top Of the World, may have been the best song played that night, as the changes were crisply executed -- Mt. St. Molo kicking it well -- and there was clearly plenty of practice there.

Playing was merely ok...but after the final chorus, Larry missed his cue and the next 10-15 seconds were painfully awkward, trying to come in but hitting some clams in the process -- a rarity for Larry for sure. The jam took awhile to get going, but with some meandering in direction.

It was also very nice to hear New Potatoe, and the band showed very nice restraint...my second favorite song of the set. Afterwards, however, there were five minutes of soft space that generally disappeared into the audience chatter. That said, the band regained their momentum by a chunky Golden Road and a well executed and spritely Uncle John's Band.

I will get flak for this, but I'm sorry folks...I thought the Sugar Mag closer was Phil's version of Ratdog...and a dud! Numerous sloppy and uneasy moments, and to be frank...it was sorely missing Bob Weir!

While the Dire Wolf encore was pleasant -- the only time Larry played pedal steel -- I felt like I had received a "I Fought The Law" encore.

Please don't get me wrong: There were some fine moments, but right now if you asked me if I would travel outside Colorado to see this band, it would be for reasons more social than musical.

However, this was miles superior to the Ryan Adams disaster three years ago!

Just pulled in and have finished my cereal. Show was excellent start to finish. Opening the show with Jam was reminiscent of the Q days. On the rail again and I could here some of Phil's instructions to the band through the stage monitors. He outlined the jam, and as it progressed he would direct changes through the on-stage com system.

Segued into BEW. Played really nice. Phil sang "And the old man is getting on" part. Mama Tried was also excellent -- Jackie vocals. Then came a song a couple of us discussed pre-show that we hoped might be played. Thought it was break-out for this incarnation, but I see the post above. Liked it. Strong playing all around. Gone Wandering and Bird Song. Again, no complaints. I like all of Greene's songs. Need to pick up some of his CDs. High Time. A High Point in the set. Is that my lower jaw on the ground? I think so. Casey Jones finished out the set nicely.

Wow, Stranger opens set II. Is this an all time break out for Phil? Sounded great! I can hear Molitz. Another pre-show possibility comes up next with Sittin'. Larry on fiddle. A song off Jackie's new album next (according to a chick behind me). I liked it. Playin' never really takes off, but sounds good nonetheless. Some nice jamminess, and the beginning of the most psychedelic stretch of Phil I've personally experienced.

Dark Star -> Potato -> Spacey Jam (more needle nose string warping from Greene) -> Dark Star that fades into space (Jackie piss break somewhere in here). Phil brings it down real low. Then lower. Then lower still. The fans were loving it, but I suspect Phil lost some first timers during this entire stretch. I was guessing Passenger would blast us out of deep space, but it was Golden Road. Can a person hear Golden Road too many times? I think not.

Uncle John's Band next. I wonder if I have ever heard this song without a vocal miscue? And I mean EVER! It must be a tough song to perform. Sugar Mags ends the set. Place was happy and bouncing to the tune. Dire Wolf encore w/Larry on peddle steel and Jackie on acoustic. Show over at 11:09 according to the clock on stage. Time for more, but the lights come up. I tell you, I like China->Rider, but I was glad to get these two shows in without either. There seems to be some rule that any Dead related band must play those when in Colorado.

Overall two excellent, excellent shows in Denver. Probably the best pair for me since 10/24 and 10/25 2000 at the same venue. Got there before noon each day and was on the rail both nights. Well worth the effort. We're in for some good stuff this tour. You all can officially really look forward to what is coming your way. Have fun!

^^ You all can officially really look forward to what is coming your way.

I am..6 years goes by so fast (since last So Cal show)

^^ Have fun!

I will do whatever it takes..

Thanks for the prompt reviews you 2..

...

Everybody comes away from a show with something different. Last night’s show wasn’t as relentless and frenzied as Thursday’s show but then again how could it be? But it was no less tasty and well played ~ full of set list surprises that indicate that the Warfield run and beyond is indeed going to be very special. The Fillmore was jam packed, perhaps twice as crowded – at least to these eyes and the joint was furnace hot. The first set contained some rediscovered gems like Merle Haggard’s Mama Tried just for starters followed by Alligator. Jackie Greene has really grown into this band and the word on the Fillmore floor was simply amazement at his transformation since last year’s Denver shows. Likewise for Greene’s take on High Time where he dug deep into the Garcia sung classic. It was the second set where the musical alchemy really began to take hold. One of the things that sets this band apart from previous incarnations of Phil bands is their introduction of Bob Weir classics into their repertoire and the Feel Like a Stranger that kicked off the generous second set was surprising as it was well played. Again, Jackie Greene ruled the roost with Playing in the Band and the set closing Sugar Magnolia. But it was the amazing Playing > Dark Star > New Potato Caboose > Dark Star that kept folks talking about this show way into the wee wee hours. By the time the band roared into Golden Road ~ it felt like we were blessed with another great set and we were because while that tune felt like it was going to close the set, but Phil and company just rocked on with a sublime version of Uncle John’s Band before finally closing with a high octaine, kick ass Sugar Mag. The sound in the sardine packed arena was as good as I’ve ever heard in that room and the energy was truly intense as the joyous heads shimmied, swayed, twirled and jumped up and down in orgasmic bliss.

Warfield here I come…

Awesome show. I went with two of my friends who missed the first round with Jackie Greene. (Their last time at a Phil show was the Ryan Adams incarnation.) Like Pete, I love the new "Bobby" songs the band has pulled out. The last time I saw Phil perform Sugar Mag was when Grahame showed his chops in Philly in 2003. (Hi Joyce!!!)

Reiterating... AWESOME SHOW!

>> Thank you so much Tar-w. Head West!

We are!!! and we can't wait. We will be at the final Sunday Philfield show and look forward to meeting you if you are there.

Thanks to the zone for listening to my setlist babble and allowing me to bring setlists realtime. It was a perfect way to break in my new blackberry 8820 with wifi. The last two nights were incredible and the West Coast has 5 days of complete fun ahead.

May 9th, 2008 torrent up already.

http://cotapers.org/torrents.php

These Colorado tapers are serious. Thank you for your work!!

I appreciate all the reviews (pro and con). Guess This means that Ratdog is going to have to tackle "Pride of Cucamonga", "Box of Rain", "Passenger"...

Thats a weir-d thought... Bobby singing Box of Rain. Kelly is sitting here cringing

Please keep Bobby out of this!

Thank you.

Love reading all of these reviews - thanks!

Last night was again very tight and the group really plays well together. Jackie seems to have some guitar chops which I really didn't see last year in this format. Excellent vocals. I don't think he used the pliers last nite. He was yanking on strings but I looked carefully then and did not see any. But who knows I can't see everything Would like to see Larry take over more but I am sure he will as needed.

Thought it was cool to see Phil and Co. play some "Bobby" tunes. Hadn't seen those since Jerry so that was moving for me. In fact that seemed to be last nite's theme. I was almost worried I'd hear Throwin' Stones as the second set closer!

Preferred the raw energy and anticipation by the band on first nite but loved both evenings.

Thanks for the reviews folks, getting jealous over what looks like two great shows! Got all five nights at The Warfield! Can't wait, see you there, love Bruce Weber(eddieboy)!

kinda hard to "keep bobby out of it" when we have "the eleven" (very different from a bobby version), "other one", "playing", "sugar mag", and "stranger"!!!

loved hearing the bob songs personally(though "stranger" was kinda WEIRd) and love the way the band plays them with energy and respect.
it was clear (IMHO anyway) that the absence of the "you know its gonna get stranger.....sometimes you just know" and ".....lets get on with the show" was a respectful deferrance to bob, and while many seemed confused (and ready to cheer away as we always do for that line) at first, there also were alot of smiles at the apparent sign of respect and the nifty musical coda that was played at verse end instead.

good stuff.

ps- bringing bob into it DOESNT have to be a competition. whether its here or ratdog.org, it just makes me sick that we all seem to have a favorite (i do too, but does it really matter who when i love 'em both?) and many of us feel the need to hammer the other guy. werent BOTH these guys in the dead? thats what i saw and heard all those years
shouldnt we just appreciate that BOTH of them are still touring and playing music for us?

pathetic that the mere mention of bob's name makes people defensive and fearful of the (generally) inevitable pathetic juevenile argument that follows.

we're like the democratic party. we all need to unite

Yeah, and peeps I hope will appreciate the treat of getting to Pheel the wonderful bass lines on those songs, that otherwise we would never experience again !

The Sugar Magnolia rush last Fall was such a thrill - people don't realise how much of what they attribute to Jerry's sound was actually coming from the sonic augmenting with the warmth of Phi's bass tones. Sometimes in life there is no finer ending to a second set than this song :-)

The only other opportunity to hear them would be if they went back to a The Dead type thingy. And whilst hearing *that* bass pheel back in 2003 was a major highlight for me, including on the new Bobby material too like October Queen/Even So etc...

Which I wouldn't want to see happen - I's in the 'dont bring back the Dead except for odd occasions camp'. Not to say I don't miss the Rhythm Devils/Space though...

So I view this increase in Bob material as a positive sort of 'get over yourselves and enjoy the big picture' move :-)

So if some peeps want not to get over it and to set up rivalries, well, maybe you're missing one of the points why these songs are getting played ;-)

The pliers were definitely used. No where near the extent of the previous night though. No broken strings and for less than one minute. I'm pretty sure it was during the exit of Potato. You'll hear it on the tapes. There will be a particularly harsh grinding sound during a quite stretch.

I think it must have been a typo, but P&F has done Sittin' On Top of The World almost a dozen times.
First time 3/29/02 @ The Warfield as far as I can make out and last time 6/27/06 at the Ryman in Nashville to the best of my knowledge. Anyway both shows looked very impressive especially for the kick-off of what should be a great spring and summer of unbelievable music from Phil and the new Q. Can't wait for Penns Peak into Penns Landing.

last SOTOTW: PLF, 07/19/06, Starlight Theater, Kansas City, MO

last Stranger w/ Phil: The Dead, 08/08/04, Tweeter Center Waterfront, Camden, NJ

So nice to post an opinion. Even better to read them. Bob's better at this or Phil is better at that. Phil's playing Bob or Bob's playing Jerry or Phil's playing Jerry. Im Grateful they are all playing Dead. Eyes of the World know that "some times the songs that we sing are just songs of our own". Stranger is just as much a song of Phil's as it is a song of Bob's the same is with Uncle John's Band. I dig folks picking apart as far as who has the right to sing a "Bob song" or a "Jerry song".
What you can't forget is these songs were simply Grateful Dead songs, songs of their own.
I saw Bob and Phil in the summer of 07 in Va. Both show were off the hook, maybe i got lucky and caught two great shows.
This year i skipped Bob in MD after seeing, reading reviews on his shows. Bob was the engery of the Dead in a way to me. And it looked like Ratdog was lacking this past fall. Phil looks like he's killing it. Mixing in the Bob tunes. Just seeing Stanger in a set list is has me craveing to see Phil.
Phil has got it. He has a J.G. back in his band and this kid is winning over the masses. By recruiting J.G. Phil put the youth back into the Dead tuns that Bobby used to give us. Good job Phil cant wait to see you in Richmond and Allgood.
But folks take the Boys for what and who they are. The are the Boys that made these songs,tha are now songs of our own.

I agree that this looks like a great kick off to another great Phil tour.

Last fall the band grew tremendously, imho. I saw the Chicago run, then Camden, then NYC. The progression was remarkable. While all the shows were great, the tightness and looseness of the band improved to the point where Nokia left me wishing for more.

Now with some new tunes brought in, though they are old standby 'songs of our own', I am psyched to hear the renditions evolve in the current lineup.

I am looking forward to checking out the Ratdog set at Mountain Jam. I had written them off after seeing a couple of horrible shows several years back, but I have heard some very nice music from them as of late. It would make me smile to see Bobby making some nice music again.

Phil, see y'all in VA, PAx2, MA and NH. And we are bringing the whole family!

>>>>He has a J.G. back in his band and this kid is winning over the masses.

did'nt kno Jackie left the band and

ymmv

I traveled to Denver from the east coast for this pair. Been on the bus since 1986 and got 150 shows from 87-95. I have now caught this band 7 times since this past Fall and literally cannot get enough. I have seen/loved all of the different P&F lineups since 1999 save for Kimock (boo hiss on missing that) and for me this takes the cake. Jackie Greene is one hell of a soulful cat and is now fully comfortable in this band and his leadership role within, actually he has been since the last few nights of The Nokia. Papa Jer is smiling down upon this band and gracing us with his spirit. JGe's High Time was off the charts! As others have mentioned Steve Molitz has really blossomed as well and I give him kudos for that sweet Doin' That Rag that Headband used to sing with the Q. I have always been a fan of Larry Campbell's tasteful playing going back to Dylan's band about 10 years ago through the early 2000's and Molo just may be the most talented and egoless rock drummers out there.

For me night one was "the tits" in song selection but also where the jamming went as they were more cohesive but second night was no slouch just didn't feel that the jams were getting to the same peaks. Also the house was on fire night 2 as it was pretty packed as opposed to the first night (guess the word got out) and we were dripping with sweat all night. The vibe in the Denver Fillmore was magical both nights as heads young and old were jamming to the sweet sounds of the good ole Grateful Dead 2008 style with warm hearts and beaming smiles. Did anyone catch the Gimme Some Lovin' teases in set 2 on night 2 or where those just notes in my head? Also what about a Pride of Cucamonga tease as Larry sat at the pedal steel before the Dire Wolf encore?

Have fun in LA and the Warfield ya'll you guys are in for a treat. Can't wait for Boston, NH, Jones Beach?, and Gathering of the Vibes! Shall we go you and I while we can....

Not too much to add to the reviews, shows were scorching, literally and the music wasn't bad either.

At least until the right stack blew towards the end of the second set.

Be interesting to hear how that sounds...

SBDs should be OK though I would think.

Met John Olson, Tar and Kelly. Must have hit Box 11 too early and never made it back.

Did I mention it was hot!

My body temp had to have hit 103 by the end of Casey Jones.

The other thing I didn't see mentioned was the inordinate length of the Set Break, had to have been 45 mins +

Folks crowding down early and packed like sardines with no air moving, until finally the boys came back out.

Personally, I had a great time overall; Cali, here they come!