to all (6L,318,25),
last night's phil show was the best show ive been to yet. everyone was amazing, and as phil said, "unity is possible", as he commented on the coming together of himself, bobby, mickey, and bill K of the originals. was truly an experience watching three wizards coming through the crowd before new years dressed in costume and riding on a gold floating chariot.... and it only got better when those three wizards turned out to be bobby, phil, and mickey coming out to jam the hell out of kaiser.... bottom line - it was a phenomenal experience for all, only enhanced by the boomin atmosphere which all contributed to.... the 30th was damn good too.... latus

Hey Eli,

I'll certainly second all you've said here - you summed it up nicely. I thought the 30th was a fantastic show and was slightly concerned that somehow New Year's would not live up to my expectations (after an idiotic decision to part with my Phil NYE tickets of the year before to hang with my friends going to the Other Ones - all right, someone go ahead and rag on me!). However, that thought proved to be pure nonsense as they really put on an awesome, mostly mind-blowing show (the New Year's wizard parade and the Crusader set was great from both the visual perspective and the somewhat different musical twist it added as well - plus seeing Bill & Mickey up there having a blast). I can only say it was a fantastic way to end the year.

Happy New Year to you and all you other fine PhilFreaks!!

Long live Phil and the Quintet!

One minor correction, the wizards were Phil, Weir and Molo.

As far as I am concerned - the spectacle at NYE was one of the lamer attempts I've seen having witnessed every possible NYE spectactle since Grateful Dead '86-'87 NYE. Pushing an oddly decorated platform around and through a squished audience cannot even attempt to equate with the antics of Bill Graham dressed as father time in any number of NYE spectacles.

What was great about it was the outcome - not the actual spectacle. To see the Grateful Dead united was a heartwarming result of these vague and unmoving waning moments of 2001.

Just my .02..

anyone have the cd's?? wanna trade. the wizards were a treat, we had first row on the balcony, almost dead center...the shows were phenominal. that true magic energy only the grateful dead can inspire really came out. if oyu have the shows, please email me jesi@saber.net and we'll work a trade. thanks.
larry

First off the Corndog set was lame - had the feel of an aging lounge act - seems like their name should be plastered on a Holiday Inn marquis somewhere in Kalamazoo Michigan for an extended engagement. The first NYE PLQ set was very solid from start to finish. To say that the second set (i.e. Crusader Rabbit) rose to the level of cheese would be an insult to dairymen and cattle everywhere. The NFA and Truckin' were solid and the novelty of seeing Billy and Micky getting off on the gig was nice but wore off quickly. From there on, it went to crap. During Playin', Bobby was so anxious for it to end it was painful. The Wheel never really came together and the Sugar Mags without Warren was so unispired it looked like Jimmy was about to fall asleep. It only picked up when Warren stepped back out on stage. Very weak show when compared to Phil's epic 3 set performance last year.

This show was wonderful. I was lucky enough to catch some of the NYE shows in the early 80's and these shows have reached mythic proportions in my memory. I have not been to a NYE show since 82-83 (I believe that was the year of the giant mushroom.) The show this year ranked right up there. The only thing missing was Jerry, but I think he was there in spirit.

For me this show had a sense of coming full circle from those early days when I was first getting into the Dead, when I was a skinny teenager on the floor trying to get as close to the stage as I could, to now when I am a little older and heavier and trying to find a good seat upstairs. Still I found myself dancing past 2 am, still I find myself grateful for the experience, still I find myself energized to continue this dance through life. The show on stage was a coming together of the old and the new as well. A celebration of the differences and the similarities. In this palindrome year of 2002, I think it makes a lot of sense to be both looking backwards and forwards.

Thank you all for making this a truly memorable experience.

P.S. The wizards were Bobby, Mickey, and Billy. Was it me or did Phil look surprised to see Bill?

NYE at the Kaiser was one of the best shows I've seen in years. I have to completely disagree with Ted who felt it was one of the "lamer attempts". I too was at all the NYE shows from '87 until their unfortunate conclusion after Bill G. passed on but why would anyone try and compare them. For those of you out there still trying to find the "same feeling" we all did with Jerry and the Dead, it's time to snap out of mourning and move on. Phil, Bobby, Mickey and Billy have all had to do that and we should take their example.

The first set on NYE at the Kaiser set the tone. They were on fire. The second set was simply awesome. Again, I don't know where Ted is coming from or what people so critical are looking for from this group but if you didn't find it that night, it's time to give up. There were thousands of thrilled heads and many outside so feel free to make room for them. Ted, that Wheel you bashed was probably one of the better arrangements of the Wheel I've ever seen. Even the Dead had problems pulling it off and the ending would sometimes get weird. I loved the way they re-worked the Wheel and the ending vocals was a fabulous idea.

The third set was more of the same. Fantastic Help with the surprise Dark Star out of the Slipnot! was too much.

Overall, if you have been able to move on and enjoy the music for the moment, the energy from the community and the general good vibes, go see Phil and Phriends! I've come full circle having been a horribly critical fan getting upset that Jerry didn't peak the Scarlet the way he did on such-n-such date to, now, really enjoying the wonderful music these magicians can create.

Thank you Phil!

Someone settle this, like Less Than. Mickey was NOT a wizard, he came out from the back, Molo was, and dropped his costume in front of the drum kit, Phil was, and we all know Bobby was because he kept the cape on for NFA. No drugs, no alchohol, good vantage point...

Cheese, that was the crap in the city all weekend right?

Phil was not in costume!! Phil was on stage with his arms around his lady when the unveiling happened.

Happy New Year! From where we sat, Bobby, Mick, & Bill were the wizards. Just saw some pictures that seem to confirm this, too. The whole show was fantastic, start to end. I'd love to write more, but am still floating, meandering, etc. Will attempt more later--so many highlights.....Tedeschi-Trucks has incredible soul, Bunny (all the remaining Dead--don't even want to hear about other "members") back together again (yay!), Phil digging Dereks' jams, the usual care and professionalism Phil & Friends give the music. It was ALL there! Fantastic NEW YEARS EVE!!!

Let 12/31/01 be an official SBD release!

Sorry Dewit but I can neither confirm or deny who was or wasn't under those wizard hats. All I know is that there was magic in the air. Simply stunned by some of the really great thinks that happened that night. And there is no doubt in my mind that CRSB pulled that rabbit out of their hat with style.

I will say that I saw Jill and Phil hugging and kissing on the drum riser at midnight like two schoolkids. kinda cute actually.

Someone settle this

Dewit,
sorry i have to disappoint you. i had the 3 of them pegged as they moved behind the taper section. Mikey, wearing the wristbands i picked out first. then it was Billy, with his white hair sticking out of the back of the hat he was wearing. and who but Bobby will dress as the Sorcerer from Fantasia, and try to keep the costume on while he was fiddling with his guitar.
(someone showed me a good pic of that)

i did wonder why the 2nd drum kit was wheeled onstage during the break until someone near me mentioned that Billy was in town. Mikey was a happy surprise.

I guess I need to go back to drugs. I didn't see that...

The wizards were Bobby, Mickey, and Billy. Phil and Friends were on stage as the wizards ripped off their costumes (partially for Bobby). I was ten feet from them when they took the costumes off. Mickey was really enjoying himself, jumping up and down as he played.

What a show! By the way, for those who don't like Ratdog's set on 12/31, I would suggest you listen to 12/30. In my honest opinion, it was a much, much better set, one of the best (the best?) Ratdog set I've ever seen/heard).

Phil and Friends were on fire both nights. What a show!

the wizards cast their spell and walla - the rabbits jumped out of the hat!!! "the real other ones" - YEEHAW!!! LOVE IS REAL - NOT FADE AWAY - and the smiles and laughing and energy on stage, etc. proved unity was the theme.. hugs all around after set.. they obviously are behind phil and his amazing friends.. by the way.. forgive them if it wasn't the best set YOU ever saw.. for most of us who don't split hairs it was amazing - just be thankful it was a good start to a grateful formula hopefully we'll all see more of.

phil - if you ever read these, thanks for another truly memorable new years after a crazy year.. and for your efforts to pull it all together.. you carry the torch in style with class and a great show every time.. playing all the songs we longed to hear, and amazing seasoned jams that are on another level.

it's always fun to compare sets and stats from shows.. but try to stop comparing yesterday to today or tomarrow.. afterall - isn't our scene that overall really matters and the coming together these shows provide us?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2002!!! - and PLEASE pull more rabbits out of that hat!

The wizards were Bobby, Mickey and Billy.....who else?

It was great to see Phil and Mickey shake hands on stage....such a warm and fuzzy feeling all around.

PS - And the Ratdog from 12/30 was the best Ratdog I have ever seen

Ditto on Ratdog on 12/30, I heard at least 3 "phil or nothing" enthusiasts saying that they needed to give Ratdog another chance after 12/30. Although not as strong on 12/31 I did LOVE Scarlet

As far as who the wizards were? me thinks them all to be wizards!

CRSB was beautiful, loved to see them all play together, but it was the 3rd set with Warren that I think really stole the show. Help/Slipnot/DStar/Terrapin!! What energy, what bliss I felt. Celebration as an Encore?!?!

"Celebration, you know it's true
There was no one until there was you
You say where, I'll say when, we'll
Get it together and begin again
Like recognition of lovers and friends
In celebration that never ends"

Never ends is right, 3:00am PST before Franklins wrapped up the night.

Thanks to all kind souls that made my first west coast show such a good trip. Peace to all.

Now that we've settled the wizards....

Was that a NYPD or a NYFD uniform shirt that Phil was wearing??? It was a touching tribute...what class.

I was pretty close and I think it was a NYPD shirt, one of the guys that was fixin Molo's drums for him while during the CRSB set had a NYFD hat on, I thought it was touching too!

DAY BREAK ON THE LAND


see yall' on tour

see ya there O1

Ratdog's sets both nights were great. The first night's Help>Slip>Frank and the second night's Stanger and Scarlet couldn't have been better. And DJ Logic, surprisingly,...... worked. Especially on songs like Stranger.

The Crusader Rabbit set was also great. Very high energy and beyond all my expectations.

You Bobby-bashers need to quit traipsing around the venue trying to look cool and find your seat, and give him a good listen, because Ratdog was on.

ps - I thought Phil was wearing an Oakland Raiders t-shirt.

Ratdog was better than I thought they'd be but ... DJ Logic sucked, way too loud and the same annoying tone from song to song until the bass/drums part

hate to say it but DJ LOGIC did not use the same tone the whole night. NYE he did use a simple scratch for most of the night but the 30th he added lots of textures that were very subtle.

On the surface it worked very well IMHO.
personally the scratch I like is in warren's voice.

> DJ LOGIC did not use the same tone the whole night. NYE he did use a simple scratch for most of the night but the 30th he added lots of textures that were very subtle.

One of which was a sample of Jerry singing Scarlet during Ratdog's Scarlet on the 30th. Talk about spooky.

>really<

I gotta listen for that.

>really<

No. Actually, it was Franklin's during Franklin's. Sorry, I just got back and it's all still a blur.

I don't know when this will ever be settled, but I could have sworn the wizards were Phil, Bobby, and Billy. I first able to ID Phil because of the trademark wristbands. If Mickey had on those wristbands those guys were really trying to confuse us.

With all due respect, I saw Kimock and String Cheese this last weekend and this show just blew doors on both of them (IMHO). Not because of some nostalgic dream come true, but because of the quality of the music. -Thanks Phil and everyone else involved.

mickey always wore two red white and blue wristbands.
Phil also wore two. On the same arm back to back.

and Jackstraw, your right when you say there "were really trying to confuse us" they have always been testing to see who is "in tune" or not.

These shows are deeper than you think!

12/31/01 post 1: Pre-show, Derek, Ratdog: New Year’s Eve, well, it only happens once a year, so where else would I ever be? My word for tonight, as coined by Jill, is going to be SCHWILLED!!!!! I took a liking to the fresh squeezed OJ last night, so tonight decided to stash in the crotch a half pint of 151 to freshen it up with. Yeeeehawww! No rain on the walk in today. Arrive around 3-ish, line is around all 3 sides of the Kaiser. I decide to at least walk the line to see if I can catch up with (no, latch onto) someone familiar. Hey, a familiar face is always a friend in line! After scoping several possibilities, I go past the front of the line and turn around to head back. At this point, I am confronted with the classic dilemma of a split-second decision that will put me on the high road to cosmic uber-cool-dom or doom me to a lifetime of Morton Downey reruns. As I head back up the line, the BGP Bluecoats move the beginning of the line up the ramp. This creates a lot of movement and confusion. I am immediately swept up in a sea of line scammers who have been lurking behind the row of parked cars for this very moment and opportunity. What do I do? As Brat Pitt says in 12 Monkeys: "Opportunity Knocks, the time to act is NOW NOW NOW, BUY BUY BUY, monKEY monKEY!" (hands Bruce Willis the Key) So, of course, being the least coast lowlife that I am, I resist not at all and let the 4 winds take me home again right into the line with all the rest of the scammers. Hey, its New Year’s Eve! Man, when Uncle Bobo and Willie were around, this never happened. And you west coast sheep that have waited in line all day, when the line moves up, move up with it! If all you can do is stand there in your hands-on-hip, aghast, shocked, open-jawed pose (yes, this is really what happened!), leaving a 50’ gap, whose to say whats right and wrong in these confusing times we all live in? Before I ever went to shows out west, my more experienced friends used to have a term for west coast gigs: SWISS CHEESE! As in, an east coast scammer will find more ways to scam than there are holes in swiss cheese. That term stuck with me for a loooong time in my many travels! I will point out here that I am only after about 2 square feet of obstructed view space in the inside of the tapers section, so I can have a hassle-free show, unlike last night. I did not take seats or up front space from anyone. My only alternate would be to get Paxil (the Social Anxiety Disorder drug). Hey, if Prozac is Pot in a Pill, then Paxil must be Nicotine and Beer in a Pill! Derek Trucks is on first tonight. My 4th time seeing him as opening act and pretty bored with them. Very similar show each time. He’s an excellent guitar player, the rest of the band is good, but they’re just not that original. No better or worse than a hundred other bar bands playing similar music. If anyone doubts me, I will send off CD’s of some of the local Hartford area bands (Zywacks rule!) I have archived over the years (one guy is now Dickey Betts’ bassist). And Hartford is one of the lamest cities in the country for arts/music/etc. Caught in the bipolar NY-Boston black hole. OK, I’ll be really evil: As in any profession, and especially in art or music, it helps to have a famous last name as a catalyst . . . Now on to Bobby. WARNING: Bobby fans, cosmic uber-hippies, and Ned Flanders: STOP READING THIS NOW! Its interesting to note that last night’s Ratdog set was, for me, how shall I put this, not an unpleasant experience (and I told everyone who cared to ask, and took quite a ribbing for admitting it!). Tonight, though, well, it started OK with Stranger, but that ended in the typically Bobby manner then Cheezy Answers gave us a pretty good idea of the caliber of the rest of the set. I tried to wander as much as I could (also during Trucks) without losing my spot (as had happened to me last New Year’s to some preppie couple who didn’t even understand the concept of taping). So, I couldn’t even tell you what he played. There was a REALLY bad Aiko (give this one up, this is so pathetic). The DJ I didn’t mind too much, certainly better than listening to Kearan (sp?) endlessly cop Jerry licks. Dude, go get yourself an original guitar sound. Or play in Dark Star Orch. The end, from the DJ/bass solo on was particularly painful. Painfully loud, too. I usually am more akin to his new songs (unfamiliar material is always better than garbage I already know, as it has yet to become garbage), but tonight, this was just too much. Then, Touch of Gray, the ultimate annihilation! OK, I’d had it, and started into a time-honored Nassau Coliseum trick. See, you dance with your hands in the air above your head, but your fists are clenched in "the finger"! I used to see this by the dozens during set-killing Round and Round’s back in the day. I wasn’t even going to stand up for this, though, and did it to my own private hell audience of one (well, actually Lady TC and Taper Rob had to put up with my negative nellies, bless their souls!). When that "Schwag-dog" finally ended, it was like a crushing heel of oppression was lifted from my neck! Ahhhh! On to Phil! Oh yeah, sometime early on in my wanderings, I was directly adjacent to the classic "over-squirted vial accident", with the hapless victim holding a palmful of water (wink wink) without a clue what to do with it. I bet a few people were wondering why they were eating wads of toilet paper tonight (it was at least my idea). Happy New Year!!! YOWWWZZAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

12/31/01 Post 2: Phil Set I: We did get the semi-official word that Rabbit was from 12 to 1, with a 3rd Phil set after that. Phil starts around 10:15, Midnight Hour out of the gate, OK, this divulges to jamming, similar to the Beacon version, but then Susan Tedeschi is on stage and they are back to Midnight Hour. She belts out the reprise with Warren pretty well. Nice to see her do something with Phil besides Lovelight. Suprisingly, the Midnight Hour divulges once again to spacey jamming, Susan is still on stage, hamming it up with Phil, they are totally goofing around with each other a lot. This is cool to watch. In Boston, she was sparring vocally with Warren, here, her attention was all on Phil. The slinky, snaky jam that rises here is the obvious Hard to Handle intro., but it is so difficult to recognize as it is played so differently each time. I didn’t index my tape for at least 2 minutes, then told TC he was FINALLY getting his Handle! The jam kept rising and rising to more and more Hard to Handle riffs, but every time they approached the brink of breaking into it, they pulled back to more jamming. Wow, this was utterly stupendous! As Homer says, what’s a good word for "YUMMMURR-CCKPLUR-ZZZCCKK!" They finally bust into it, very high energy version, Susan duals lead with Warren on the first verse, solos the second verse, more jamming, still in that funky, snakey, sexy, groove space jam so well adapted to this song, Warren on last verse, they end one hell of a version! One note is Rob was on B3 all the way till the last few minutes of Hard to Handle, when he switched to piano. Viola Lee socks us back to the show with a bang. Quite an attention-grabbing set, well, it is less than an hour ‘till, and everyone, including me, is getting schwilled, so that’s what the doctor ordered! Damn, I need a new drink and an empty bladder. Viola meanders into teases of Milestones, Blues for Allah (I really don’t expect either of these at this time), then punches into the Tons of Steel, yes, I’m outta heah! Unfortunately the Tons is way too short, and I am snaking back down the Coliseum’s switch-back ramps when it fans out into jammy-ness (the only line-free bathrooms are upstairs). It is interesting to hear how the music reverberates through this building. You can hear it, but you can’t tell where it is coming from, as if the music were a part of the building itself. HEAAVVVYYYYY!!! Hey, who said I couldn’t have a cosmic moment once in a lifetime? Am back in time to index before the Viola Lee verse (if it had been Just A Little Light, it still would have been the Deer in the Headlights verse!). Viola dissolves again, quicker this time, to a pretty well done Mr Fantasy. Better than all the Fall versions. This goes back again to Viola, figure that’s it, but off into the final Viola jam transitioning into Cosmic Charlie! Good Choice! That will put people on a mellow keel for the lead-in to 2002, now less than 30’ away!

12/31/01 Post 3: 11:50 pm on: After some brief wandering and talking, I look at my watch and its 11:53! Wow, nothing’s happening, I am used to past New Year’s with 15-20’ of buildup. Or is my watch way fast? So, soooo schwilled! Then, in the back right corner, they are dismantling the screens around tonight’s suprise. 3 Wizards on a pushed cart, towering over the crowd. The music is from Fantasia, the part where Mickey chops up the broomsticks delivering water. The cart rolls right behind the tapers section, they are looking down right at us! I am preoccupied as my 3-hour tape is jammed (NEVER using 3-hrs again EVER!!! It was even a SONY! And I had ff/rew it in the deck all the way) and I must untangle it from the heads and get a new tape rolling. Try doing that in this situation, in a typical New Year’s Eve state of mind and body (try holding your hands steady at all . . .) By the time my tape is rolling and I stand up, they are on stage and have been revealed to be Bobby, Mickey, and Billy! Hey, joyful reunion and all, jeez, even an old nut like me almost cracks at times like this. Now if only we can get Dickey Betts back in the Allman Bro’s. . . . After a very hurried countdown (again, my watch said 12:06 at this point, but I thought it was only 3’ fast. Did anyone else notice?), several minutes of onstage joyfulness, they launch into Not Fade Away, Billy and Mickey on mini-percussion setups behind Jimmy, Bobby in the middle. Its very loose and funky, very percussive driven, so loose someone starts singing the "My Love is Like A Cadillac . . ." verse way early. Fun. Bobby’s guitar is CRANKED, just for you DNC people! Both verses and first verse reprise are done, then the jam goes into Truckin’. Bobby’s voice sounds really hoarse. Is there a little Peruvian Marching Powder going around, eh? Oh, probably just a cold - silly, innocent me. Well, hey, it is New Year’s, and I am certainly pretty damn Schwilled by now. Just standing up is quite a challenge. Hideaway is touched upon after Truckin, there is a Bobby Smokestack tease, then it dissolves to a Playin reprise jam to start Playin. The Playin jam is without a doubt the high point of this endeavor. The jam is meaty beaty big and bouncy, as they say. There are teases of Let It Grow, China Doll, the Weather Report intro. Jimmy sounds very Jerry-like with frenetic runs countering massive percussion. Rob plays harpsicord, but soooo much better than Wince ever did. This reminds me strongly of the 5/26/93 Playin’. Sadly, the Playin’ reprise brings us back to earth. Wheel is pretty good, gets sloppy at the end but recovers with a very original interpretation of the last verses. Oh yeah, the Sugar Mag added some time to the set, too, and Warren was there for the end at least. The extra percussion made the Playin jam soooo good! Not to mention Jimmy! Overall, a pretty good set, the emotional factor overwhelming the dry analysis. Oh, yeah, my New Year’s paper hat was the one with the Schwilled mouse drinking from a straw. Couldn’t be more appropriate. Phew! After about 15-20’, what seemed like a lifetime (hell, I wasn’t going anywhere), they return finally to a Help On the Way-Slipknot, then jazzing into - Dark Star! Derek is on stage way right, next to Warren, not sure exactly when he arrived. They do specifically start playing Dark Star way before the first verse. Much 3-guitar-assult space jamming, not too many specific teases, this is pure Dark Star, the purest, unfiltered, undiluted Star in the galaxy! I was always wondering if they’d do an unbroken-up Star, well, here it is! Dark Star V2 goes into Terrapin Arabic Jam pretty quickly. A surprise to many when they go to the "Inspiration" verse. It was for me the first time I saw a half-version. Good dissolve into No More Do I. This is really powerful. Several verses by Warren, then Jimmy solo first, then Warren solo (I think). Then a Derek solo after next verse. Tasty! Someone earlier tonight was telling me one-on-one they thought Bobby’s new songs were better than Phil’s, I was too Schwilled to remember who, but damn, they deserve to be "outed"! ‘Nuff said! They go into the Uncle John’s very quickly, similar in energy and power to 12/30’s set enders. During his talk, Phil thinks he’s in trouble introducing Susan ‘Trucks’. A popular ‘60’s lounge lizard song is teased very briefly between Celebration and Franklin’s (little help, people?). Franklin’s is by itself, without the end of Slipknot. Both versions are again really well done. Done just before 3 am. I am totally annihilated, I can’t even move, let alone stand up and walk 13 blocks. One more victory in the war on brain cells! Hey, if I make it far enough in life for it to matter, just pump me full of pharmies, play loops of Phil and pre-‘78 GD, and leave me in front of the staring window! Maybe they will have cyborg bodies by then for consciousness transfers. Oh, as for the show, well, a New Year’s show is beyond mere ratings, this third set satisfied my craving for all the best goods at the end, so I certainly go home a very very happy camper indeed! Oh yeah, the sound got much much better by the end, truly transparent, good job new guy! I also noticed all the speaker cabinets are totally new, but the mixing board seems the same. Somehow got nudged out of the Kaiser by Bluecoats, made it back to the hotel in one piece, last one back, too, unusual for a taper and all. Then, another 2-1/2 day odyssey of a trip home, all with newly incubating (at the highest level of contagious-ness) severe flu! Hey Bucky, I probably infected hundreds if not thousands of people in 4 different airports on 3 different planes, all without once snotting any bars!

"These shows are deeper than you think!"

I'm confused by that remark. I really don't think that whether I knew Mickey wore his wristbands one on each arm, and Phil one on each, has any relavance to my spirituality. Even if they did switch wristbands to confuse us, I harly think they were sending a message or testing how "in tune" we were. That's what the music's for, right??

You've never met me and have no idea of what this music means to me. As both a performer and observer of live music it has, personally, become my highest means of spiritual ascension. I remember walking out of Shoreline many a moon ago thinking, "what must it be like to actually perform that music?" (the boys were ON that night). I thought that if it feels so incredible to hear it, it must be that much more amazing to actually serve as a channel for it. I bought my first guitar shortly thereafter and have been playing ever since. Music became my life's passion, obsession and even religion.

Back to my point: the transcendent quality and magic of this show surpassed many of those in recent memory. This includes several other bands that I respect. My friends and I agreed that this may have been the best show we have seen the boys put together since the Dead. I just wanted to express my thanks to all of the musicians who made this night so special - not have my spirituality questioned.

What a wonderful trip for me!
If your reading this Phil, I was the guy who asked to shake your hand as you were going to the limo after the first show. You politely said "sure", and threw your hand out to me. I was the only one to shake your hand before you got into the limo, and I just want to say thanks. As a DeadHead from Hampton, Va. with over 150 shows under my belt, this was a real treat for me to meet you, and you are so down to earth and very kind.
Thanks for all the great memories, and thanks for the reunion, it was very nice.......until next time, Peace and love,
Tony P. - Hampton, Va.

I don't know when this will ever be settled, but I could have sworn the wizards were Phil, Bobby, and Billy.


Hey Jackstraw9.... definately Mickey, Billy and Bobby..


I wasn’t even going to stand up for this, though, and did it to my own private hell audience of one (well, actually Lady TC and Taper Rob had to put up with my negative nellies, bless their souls!).

hey Sideshow, not a problem.. we all go thru these things at one time or another.

BTW, great recap of NYE.. sorry you had tape problems during the parade.

Highlight of the evening for me happened well after the show ended, while standing in front of the altar and shaking hands with Phil, thanking him and wishing him a Happy New Year.

Special thanks should go out to the PhilZone crew for their incredible work in desiging the Altar and the huge success of the 1000 Crane project.( and all the fun with the face painting too )


taperrob

Set timings: Trucks = 82', Schwagdog = 92', First Phil set = 79', Crusader Rabbit = 64', 3rd set + Encore = 88'. Also, there's a clever "Happy Trails" jam with Sugaree riffs mixed in after Tons of Steel. I was still wending my way back in from the bathroom at that point, only noticed it after a second or third listen to the tape.

Did anyone else experience the 4th dimension that night?

hi
I came over from Australia especially for this show, never having been to a Grateful Dead, Phil Lesh or any related show before. I mainly came as a Warren Haynes fan, but I've always like Phil too. Have to say I was absolutely blown away by the music, and my expectations were bloody high (having come 10,000 miles). Derek Trucks and Ratdog also really blew me away (I had very low expectations of Ratdog!).
I have to say that I was surprised at how much the night revolved around drugs for most people. I've got nothing against almost any drug in most situations, but when so many people are catatonic or almost passed out, and are definitely way too far gone to be able to appreciate the music, you have to start wondering if they care about the music at all. By 3am I would say that most people around me were essentially comatose, and defintely not getting in to the music. I just thought it was a bit sad really - the drugs they'd had in a smaller amount might definitely have enhanced the music, but most people just seemed to be deterimined on getting completely wasted.
Is this normal for a Phil concert, or is it moreso on NYE? Am I just being naive?
I really think all three bands from NYE would get off on touring Australia - playing small, intimate venues to crowds who have been waiting 30+ years to see them. Come on down! There are some awesome bands you could jam with.

i dont think thats the norm...it took me 45 min to find a rolling paper in ashville

Comming from a novice, this was round two for me on NYE @the Killer Kaiser.... From my eyes it was Billy, Bobby, Mickey, riding the float.... Who cares,... Nobody will know......Does anybody have comments about Touch Of Grey????? give me a call 602-625-6500..... If you saw a guy doing jumping jacks,,, that was me.......

Hey Now All!
Incredible NYE's ! Sideshow I too heard the Happy rails jam @ the end of Tons of Steel....Others I mentioned it too or showed my setlist too thought I was just high--->NOT! Also fennario I too went into the 4th dimension! CR definitely seemed like they did some rehearsal time...though I wish Bobby would let everyone jam more! Truckin, Phil's bombs, brought back that feeling of long ago....the buzz in the crowd during CR's sets was nuts. I am now kind of bummed I saw the DNC sign too late in the afternoon to meet everyone! The PLQ a collective force that creates a vortex using sounds with the divine or some other very curious dimensions. Thank you Phil,Rob, Jon, Jimmy, Warren, Bobby, Mickey, and Bill for all the magic sounds and vibes. The Spirit of Jerome could be felt all throughout the HJK the whole Night/Morning. Peace & Light all JR

Another observation - During the Terrapin Part 2, they showed on the projection screen circle images of Egyptian antiquities, sarcophagus, hieroglyphs, temples, etc., just like they did at Chicago during the Blues for Allah. So it can be said that Candace and Co. did the strongest Blues for Allah tease of the run. As for drugs, indeed, New Year's Eve has a lot to do with it, hell, I've always been for moderation, but even I could barely stand by the end of the night. Advice for your Aussie ass, never go to a NYC gig if you REALLY don't want to see trashed people!

i third the happy trails theme after tons of steel.
very apparent on my tape also.

pugs

Ripping the front face of the High Camp tram at Squaw Valley a new asshole

Gabe, Did we discuss how high everyone was while outside in the smoking section, or was I just so high I imagined discussing relative states of consiousness with some young australian guy. You are right though after about 1:00am nearly everyone had that familiar pale flushed complexion and big saucer eyes. It actually got a little scary for me, but once again the music put everything in perspective and brought us all home safely. It is magic.

Enough time has past now that I can still say the same thing I've said since CRSB took the stage, and that is that the CRSB set was the best moment of my life. I have cried at shows before (Pink Floyd, BB King), but this one went beyond the tears, right into the 4th Dimension. We were right on top of the float as it was being prepared during the set break. We recognized Mickey's two wrist bands, Billy's white hair and Bobby's sandals. Even still, when they disrobed, I had an unprecedented emotional response.

Reading everyone else's comments, I realize there's a BUNCH I missed. I didn't get teases from DJ Logic, but enjoyed his scratching during Ratdog. I did see Candice's Egyptian graphics, but did not recognize them to be teases of Blues for Allah (how 'bout Candice, btw - WOW), I missed Phil smooching, and missed the handshake between Phil and Mickey (which I really wish I saw). I DID see the hug between Bobby and Warren (initiated by Bobby), and I saw the NYPD costume Phil was wearing. The drums during CRSB were heavy in places, and I can still her them in my dreams. 12/30 was the best Ratdog show I've been to, though I whish he would let people improv more (RD & CRSB). Did anyone else see Bobby trying to force Molo into a change, Molo refusing, so Bobby taking his hands off his guitar and standing there scowling? Rob Barracco is a ROCK STAR. Tell me that wasn't the greatest night of his life! During CRSB, my notes say, "they found the right guy," referring to Warren (and Jimmy). I say it out of love that I did not miss Jerry. This wasn't his band, and he would want us to enjoy the music, not say, "not the same w/out Jerry." In fact, I think he'd be really sad to still hear people saying that. Help>Slip>Dark Star? Wow, man. Frank to end the show. Yeah. So much love in the air! Unreal.

(Alex, I wrote your email on my tiara, which I promptly lost. Please write to me!)

The music never stopped.
Unity is possible.
Doogels

i think these musicians
are starting to get the hang of
keeping up the momentum
when the crowd dosen't

after many long hours of review , i have come to the conclusion that the Wizards were YOU.
LIGHT