Happy Halloween









Golden Road to start things off

Cream Puff War

Thank TR

Many thanks taperrob, great to see Barry holding a guitar!

what a start!!

It Must Have Been The Roses

It Must Have Been The Roses with Teresa Williams!

Next Time You See me

Mason's

Casey Jones. End of set.

Great vibe from the band. Three guitars at times is a bit much. A little more rockin' sound w the three. Overal not the tightest set, but good setlist and right on for this Halloween party space.

Nokia Theatre, NYC 10/31/08

Set 1:
Tuning>
*Golden Road> Jam>
Cream Puff War>
Cold Black Devil>
*It Must Have Been The Roses
Next Time You See Me
*Mason's Children> Jam>
*Casey Jones


* w/Teresa Williams

GREAT to see Barry on guitar as opposed to just sittin' down! If it continues it will certainly elevate these shows considerably....yowza!

Cryptical

Whats Become Of The Baby

[edit]

Phil Lesh & Friends bottled water

how much?

Nokia Theatre, NYC 10/31/08

Set 1:
Tuning>
Golden Road> Jam>
Cream Puff War>
Cold Black Devil>
It Must Have Been The Roses
Next Time You See Me
Mason's Children> Jam>
Casey Jones

Set 2:
Scary Jam (Phil off stage reading possible Edgar Allan Poe)>
Boris The Spider>
Frankenstein
Cryptical Envelopment>
Down In The Valley Woe>
The Other One> Jam>
Whats Become Of The Baby>
Cryptical> Jam>
St Stephen>
Gimme Shelter

Donor Rap/Intros

enc:
Werewolves Of London

Thanks for the great pics Taperrob! Even though my Halloween is bittersweet lonley night tonight, you made my evening.
Wish I could have been there.

That is better than candy any night!

Heynow. The register couldnt locate my username so i made a new one, from LL24 to LL66.
The show cooked tonight i believe. Heres some video of tonite. Either im a lil buzzed or this came out great.
Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLu_DpvjbPM

Nice clip. Great to see Sless playing lead, doing his Jerry-esq thing. Even without him (Sless) going full tilt, it's nice to hear him play off Phil and do things that Larry & Jackie can't do, to take it to pyschedelic places. Molitz doing some interesting things in that Other One also, kind of giving it a spooky, halloween vibe.

Anyone know if Sless will be with David Nelson next weekend in Santa Cruz?

Thank GOD for Sless! C'mon Phil its a different, band with him on board..he adds something called, psychedelia...and that's a good thing

I think that you're going to get your wish as I hear that these will be Larry Campbell's last shows.

Phil brings a guitar player to New York!!!!

>>Anyone know if Sless will be with David Nelson next weekend in Santa Cruz?

yes he will be there.

Other One > Whats Become of the Baby Jesus > Cryptical *SICK* I always knew Molitz would have a song named after him.

Barry showed 'em how it's done, in a big way. larry and Jackie played some nice blues guitar which is where they excel.

I FELT THE INCESSENT YAPPING NEARLY RUINED YHE SHOW. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE BAND REFLECTED THAT LACK OF FOCUS.

IF WE CAN GET AN AUDIENCE TO 'close the circuit' INSTEAD OF BLOWING IT, WE WILL HEAR SOME MIND BLOWING MUSIC THIS RUN.

sorry for the run on caps. I forgot I don't have to shout over the music, LOL. ;)

can someone tell me the start / end times of the show last night?

guessing by the posts times in this thread by taperrob I'd say 8:28-11:58ish

Interplanetary music totally nailed it. Don't remember a chattier crowd ever. We tried moving several times to get away from the talkers but no luck, they were everywhere. Still had a good time though. Nice set list, well played. We're not going tonight, but my wife and I are really looking forward to celebrating our first wedding anniversary with Phil and all the family on Sunday.

It was a beautiful Fall Day in NYC. The leaves were a-changing and Central Park was filled with lovers and kids as pint-size super heroes. I opted out of the Phillies victory parade in the hometown and got into the city just before lunch. I had a beautiful walk with my iPod on shuffle going all the way from the Financial District to 90th St. Great people watching! On Halloween in NYC, you can never tell for sure if some people are in costume or just eccentric dressers year round.

It took forever to get inside the venue. I got there a little after doors opened and the line was wrapped around the block. A total cluster-fuck with the sidewalks filled with waiting Deadheads and passersby asking "what are you waiting for?...who's Phil Lesh?" I remember this happening last Fall too. But the band didn't go on til around 8:15 so we had plenty of time. The pat down at the entrance was pretty thorough, but if there was security inside the Nokia, I didn't see them at all last night.

The first set was very strong. The boys were wailing out of the gate with a party-starting Golden Road with Molo throwing in some metallic double bass-drumming. This came arguably to a full stop and an intricate jam started with Sless and Campell weaving lines around each other. Throughout the night i was surprised how clearly all three guitarists were present in the mix. I feared it'd get messy, but the sound is great in the Nokia. You could tell what each player was adding to the stage. Molitz was often low in the mix, but he got cranked up when it counted.

The jam led into Cream Puff War. Molitz handled the vocals and seemed a bit tentative on them (he rarely seems to sing with confidence with the Friends.) That aside, it seemed well played and it was great to hear the song live for the first time.

After Cream Puff, we got what to my ears was the unexpected highlight of the evening--Jackie's "Cold Black Devil." It seemed funkier than normal. Jackie was on fire on guitar and vocals; truly looking possessed in the ghoulish black and white "corpse paint" he wore for the first set. Molitz took a great organ solo on this tune and the floor around me was whipped into a dancing frenzy. This song, by the young upstart of the band seemed to get the crowd more worked up than any of the well-played classics that surrounded it.

During Sless' pedal steel solo, I wrote in my notes "Frankenstein quote." My gut told me maybe we'd get the full song later in the show...And during the outro jam, Larry and Jackie teased "China Cat" but things mellowed out into a waltzy, very slow "Must've Been the Roses," super countrified with Sless on the steel and Larry on fiddle. A well-played breather amidst the funky rock-out intensity of the rest of the set.

The other bluesy, funky highlight of the set was a Jackie-led "Next Time You See Me" with the impetuous Greene crossing the stage to challenge Larry to a guitar duel. Te two of them stood inches apart trading phrases in good-natured competition.

To close the first set out, we got "Mason's">jam>"Casey Jones" with Jackie and Teresa seeming to have a lot of fun during the accelerondo part at the end. They seemed to just barely hold the vocals together and seemed at the edge of doubling over in gleeful laughter. The song and the set then ended with an unexpected (to me) bluesy coda.

Second set started a lot like Halloween '07: with Phil off stage doing some sort of scary spoken word while the rest of the band played a spooky space, trying to reach climaxes in time with Phil's phrasing. Unfortunately, I didn't understand a single word Phil said. I could tell he was speaking, but it sounded all garbled/mumbled. I remembered it being a bit garbled last year as well, but this seemed a notch down. And unable to catch any words, this segment dragged on just a little too long. After the Space we got another repeat Halloween treat from last year, "Boris the Spider."

Then we got the Halloween treat bust out that was teased in the first set, "Frankenstein." This was a longer looser version than the OTHER jamband version I'm familiar with (the one by Phish.) I really got a kick out of it. It was ragged, energetic seat-of-the-pants fun with a great Molo solo in the middle.

Then we got a really tightly-played "Cryptical," Phil's vocals sounded strong and clear. This morphed unexpectedly into Jackie's "Down in the Valley Woe" with Jackie on acoustic and Larry on acoustic slide guitar. The acoustics added some great textures. The song was really well played by Jackie, who was now alive again having washed off his make-up during set-break. But there was weird delay/reverb on Jackie's vocals and they seemed really disproportionately loud in the mix.

"Down in the Valley" morphed into the "Other One" with Larry sticking to the acoustic slide. There was no Phil bass-roll intro and the version seemed a bit low key until after the first verse. Phil did a mini-roll and the whole band seemed to climax. Near me on the floor was a woman dressed as a cow. Somehow she was able to bring in a cowbell AND a drum stick. This had the potential for becoming very annoying, but I think she actually added to "the Other One" doing a few tasteful cowbell accents that gave it that late 60s Billy+Mickey sound. The tapers were right behind her, so you'll all probably get to hear it.

The "Other One" turned into the rhythm-less ether of "What's Become of the Baby." Teresa came out in a black hooded cloak (actually on closer inspection, just an XXL zip-front hoodie!---ah the fine art of improvisation) and she traded verses with Phil, singing clearly and powerfully. Between the vocals, as the band droned and hovered, Larry and Barry soloed. The whole thing was really pretty, but I wish I could've had a quiet room to sit down in to soak it all in. The crowd got chatty and frustrated. Someone near me tried to start an NFA-clap, and another guy shouted "play a SONG!" This was essentially another 10 minute space that put the momentum of the show on hold.

The crowd as a whole seemed grateful when the band brought it back from the ether with a brief "Cryptical" reprise and then launched into a jam that ended in "St. Stephen." People seemed to have a lot of pent up energy and danced and sang along hard for this one. It was a bit ragged, but certainly fun. During the really Allmans-esque transition back to the vocals after the instrumental middle segment, the band didn't seem to all be on the same page and Phil motioned for them to try it again. And with a raised stick to cue the band, Molo made sure that everyone hit the transition together on the second attempt. I got really excited that the band came close to falling apart, but still held it together without letting intensity dissipate.

The set ended with an intense "Gimmie Shelter." Jackie and Teresa shared the vocals. But Teresa really stole the show at this point, throwing her whole body into the "It's just a shot away!" ending that made this version a keeper

The encore was the expected, welcome "Werewolves of London." Jackie and Molitz shared vocals, though Molitz missed his cue and came in late on the first verse he was supposed to sing. It was a ragged, fun version.

And that pretty much sums up the 2nd half of the evening-- --- ragged fun with glimmers of tight brilliance thrown in.

>>Barry showed 'em how it's done, in a big way. larry and Jackie played some nice blues guitar which is where they excel.

>>>I FELT THE INCESSENT YAPPING NEARLY RUINED YHE SHOW. NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE BAND REFLECTED THAT LACK OF FOCUS.


It WAS pretty yappy down on the floor.

I couldn't figure out why until I (belatedly and somewhat hazily) noticed the mean ave age was younger than most P&F shows.

I blame Halloween – kids were out to party which is not a bad thing just a noisy thing

Still, I had a great time –I really liked Gimme Shelter, but was not so big on the scary jam, but I give Phil points for thinking out of the box

Sless def. adds a level of richness that IMHO I really responded to

Naturally my broken foot is paying the price for all the dancing last night

Thz for the reviews

Lady SI hope your foot feels better

I had a good time, too!

Always a good time. Great to be with 'my people', always.

Some people need home training. Being young is no fucking excuse.

Teach your children...some fucking concert ettiquette.

As you were.

Ha, I won't let a little broken foot slow ME down

Tonight it is 6 Flags Fright Fest :P

I will say - if it is a tradeoff between yapping during the sets and seeing NYC on parade in Halloween gear, it's one I can do once a year

Saw some **wild** costumes

I knew we were in for it when, on the Ferry, we spotted a guy wearing bloody scrubs, holding a bloody baby doll in one hand and a bloody vacuum cleaner in the other.

An abortion doctor

Oh, boy

Then there was the vampire with a blood covered mouth. Not too original until you considered the life-sized naked blow up doll strapped upside down (doll facing his crotch her crotch in his) with blood smeared in her privates

Freaking NYC

In the show, the biggest costume was the light up Empire State Building. Not too conducive to dancing.

On stage, Jackie looked zombie like which was fun.

Zoners ranged from story book characters, flight attendants, inmates, song themes, thugs, Simpsons characters, biblical figures, tourists, and more! The lady selling the merchandise was wearing a pro McCain tee shirt with a backwards B on her cheek and a black eye. The hottie Nokia bartender’s costumes seemed to consist of a little material possible. They sold a lot of beer last night.

Thanks TRob!!

PLF Bottled Water???

Great reviews - Thank you all.

Not only was it chatty, but the sound IMHO left a lot to be desired.

The delay speakers back in the seated section were barely audible.

The sound overall was muddy and far too low. You could barely here Molo's high hats.

You could barely hear Phil's low notes.

The vocals were too low on the mix.

It was not nearly loud enough at all...leading to chattiness.

I sat right behind the soundboard...Dead Center.

There was nobody staffing the board or adjusting the mix.

I just don't get it at all.

I'm not one of those that likes the music blaring...but another 10-15dbs was required last night.

The music was competent the 2nd set took off at Frankenstein....turn it up!

Started a review thread earlier but I see the party is over here.

It is 11 in the morning and I have not seen any real reviews of the show so I figured I would start this thread (and with great hesitation I will add). Guess the enthusiasms to do so are limited and I need not guess why. Went to show with great seats, Goldenrd behind soundboard. Even with great seats and the chance to see the band up close I went with limited expectations especially after last years dubious Halloween show. Song selection in the first set was very good. Seeing Barry sless on both pedal steel and guitar all night was the highlite. Musically though the set was not great and perhaps unremarkably mediocre at best? Having sai this I was optimistically looking for a better and hotter set 2.

Started off set 2 in the orchestra about 15th row dead center. Anticipation was high but like a balloon with a poorly tied knot I was left a bit deflated. The Haloween theme with Borris the spider and Frankenstein were not the high energy jams I was hoping for. It was like last year revisited. The talents of the band were poorly displayed and the energy level in the crowd reflected it. The pace picked up with a better song selction to follow. St. Stephen and Gimmie shelter rocked and were the hottest jams of the night by far but befor I knew it the band were off stage looking forward to a Sushi dinner? Warewolves followed and it was played well. Am sorry folks but I can not go through the song selection one by one as I felt he band were more or less going through the motions as opposed to creating a work of art. The show for me was dissapointing. Hope the band gets some well needed rest or something. Looking forward to a kick ass show tonight.



^^^^Also agree in part with the reviews of the sound from Cornjulio upstairs^^^^

Thanks for the reviews everyone. Cornjulio or Spanish Jam or anyone that may have had the Golden Road seating behind the soundboard, I have those seats tonight and was wondering if it was orderly in there and was it easy for you to leave and go back to the seats. Did they have a security guy checking the wristbands? Just wondering what to expect tonight.

Thanks.

FUCK YEAH

BULLISH ON THE SLESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WARPATH

Tideman where did you get your seats. Did you pay for the upgrade or did you get those seats from ticketmaster with out upgrade. There was a slight mix up last night with golden road seating bought from ticketmaster without the upgrade. My first rows were pushed back to 3'rd row. Anyway it was all good. no problems. very organised and easy going. You will have a great time.

Got mine through the upgrade with Music Today. Didn't realize TM was selling them as well.

Thanks for the reply Spanish jam.

i had a great time last night - unlike other posts the crowd around me was very cool and not chatty - the sounds was very clear but i would say the delay speakers back by the seats did not seem to be very loud - i've seen several shows at the nokia where they were louder - but the sound was good and well above average to my ears. the show itself was good and what i would expect from a halloween show on a friday night - it is my experience that gimic type shows (holiday, many guests, benefits, etc) are never the best pure musical performances - generally the hoopla of the holiday or the guests takes away from the pure music - that is my opinion and experince anyway - sometimes a guest makes magic (like branford with the dead in 90 or 91) but very often it is a distraction - much like i found to be "halloween" overall to be a distraction

that being said i approach a show like last night a little differently than a "non-holiday" show - i expected it to be a bit crazy with some weridness and some risks...and some crazy fun - i mean during what's become of the baby i heard some complaints and its like, "people...do you realize who this is? its friggin phil lesh...from the acid tests...remember?" i would expect wackyiness and him to go out there - i think it was all in great fun - was it the best pure musical opus...no - but it was a good time for me

last - sless - i really dig having him on stage - i don't hold with those who don't like larry cambell as a guitar player - everyone is entitled to their opinion but i think he is a great player - i am not really sure what people mean when they say he doesn't know what psychedlic means - does that mean he doesn't play meandering noodling lines? i'm not sure - i've seen him play citern on songs that was certainly psychedleic...whatever that means. however...i am a deadhead at heart and a garcia fan - so naturally i will like hearing barry sless play - he is definitely more deadesque and adds that noodling factor that campbell and jackie green don't bring - but i don't think that takes anything away from campbell - i'm a guitarist and if i had the opportunity to play with larry campbell i would jump at the chance

to sum up my ramble - last night was good - a fun halloween show - a little too similar to last year in some ways but still the best time in town for my money - i'm sure the other shows will be "better" as pure phil & friends shows but there won't be monsters on stage and cows and jesus and monsters running around either

see ya'll nest friday and then the last night on tuesday

peace

Man O Man.THis band is completely amazing! Been quite a while since I've seen a band so in to what they're doing, doing it sooooo well and having so much fun on stage while tearing the house down every night!!! Whoa! If minds are not blown, it ain't the band's fault!!!

If anyone was curious Lesh's offstage reading was excerpts from Poe's "Pit and the Pendulum." I google searched the 2 phrases from his mumbled recitation that I could understand

"The blackness of eternal night encompassed me."
""a fearful idea"


(and even that was after listening to Joe-beacon's recording of it 3 times through) and both phrases were from "the Pit and the Pendulum"

Since I could only catch a fraction of the words, he could've been throwing in stuff from other stories as well.
adjust your setlists accordingly.

Here's a review:

http://www.stateofmindmusic.com/entry/470/Phil-Les h-&-Friends/

Pre show.....

It is 11 in the morning and I have not seen any real reviews of the show so I figured I would start this thread (and with great hesitation I will add). Guess the enthusiasms to do so are limited and I need not guess why. Went to show with great seats, Goldenrd behind soundboard. Even with great seats and the chance to see the band up close I went with limited expectations especially after last years dubious Halloween show. Song selection in the first set was very good. Seeing Barry sless on both pedal steel and guitar all night was the highlite. Musically though the set was not great and perhaps unremarkably mediocre at best? Having sai this I was optimistically looking for a better and hotter set 2.

Started off set 2 in the orchestra about 15th row dead center. Anticipation was high but like a balloon with a poorly tied knot I was left a bit deflated. The Haloween theme with Borris the spider and Frankenstein were not the high energy jams I was hoping for. It was like last year revisited. The talents of the band were poorly displayed and the energy level in the crowd reflected it. The pace picked up with a better song selction to follow. St. Stephen and Gimmie shelter rocked and were the hottest jams of the night by far but befor I knew it the band were off stage looking forward to a Sushi dinner? Warewolves followed and it was played well. Am sorry folks but I can not go through the song selection one by one as I felt he band were more or less going through the motions as opposed to creating a work of art. The show for me was dissapointing. Hope the band gets some well needed rest or something. Looking forward to a kick ass show tonight.

The other thread has sone detailed reviews

Tonight is gunna be seereus rockin mind blowin show

It was a sweet show to be sure!