Since it's my home town, I wanted to start the thread here. Local knowledge: The Best cheese steaks and hoagies (IMHO) can be found at Tony Lukes near Oregon Ave and Front Street (39 East Oregon Avenue, right under I-95). I recommend the "roast pork sandwich with brocolli rabe" or perhaps a "veal cutlet supreme", which is a veal cutlet hoagie with pickles and raw onions. This place is a MUST HAVE ONE for all you out-of-towners. See ya in the lot! Adam

Another 2 shows at the Spectrum if I just had a few of the brain cells back I left in that parking lot... Nah, I'll just hold to the memories I can't remember

adam ~ i miss Tony Lukes late nite run...i lived in oaklyn NJ a bit and we would go over all the time ...they really are the BEST, and the entertainment while eating is priceless!


i moved to CT a few months ago, maybe that's why i've lost 40 pounds...

hopefully we'll see ya there...comin in fer both shows.

The Tony Lukes near me just closed! The sign said "franchise issues"... they probably got nailed buying torpedo rolls or pickles from some local supplier.

Went over there the other day for the Roast Pork/ Sharp Provolone/ Brocco Rab, only to find the place closed with a pathetic little sign.

Fortunately, the place half a mile away had the awesome Roast Pork sandwich.

Nice to see ya here Lyn... 40 lbs. ??? Don't get all anorexic now!

Bringing the boys and mom and me to both shows.

Oldest boy's first show was IN UTERO for the March 1995 run. Born on March 28, just over a week after the 'Unbroken Chain Show'.

I told him it won't be as comfortable. The Spectrum ain't that kind of womb, lol!

Really looking forward to these shows as I was at Wilkes Barre, and I am hearing the stream from MSG right now. THERE IS HOPE!

Phillies/Mets during the day
walk across the lot for
the evening....
that's our plan...

I haven't posted in forever (actually been around since 2000-1?) but thought this is a good time to do so.

my wife and I are making the trek to town for these shows, should be a good time. With the history in this ol' joint for the GD they hopefully will bring it big time!

Hadn't considered hittin a Phillies game, I might have to look into that. peace.

Just got back home from NYC last night - Amtrak was packed with "heads" this moprning with that long gaze....FULL CALIOPE MODE at MSG last night...it was quite a sight to behold!! I am so psyched for these shows next weekend!

Adam ~ nice threadf, glad you had a good time. I missed both MSG and Hartford...been gettin sick a lot lately ??...anyway were def gonna be in for thisweekend..2 nites...were gonna hit Tony Lukes up fri nite after show ( grat way to afterparty !) hope to seeya there.

Kate ~ we hav~ta meet up...miss your beaytiful smile

Gregg~ how ya doin ?? no worries here. i can always spare some poundage loss

...So let's say we ALL meet up after at Tony Lukes ...that'll be one cheesesteak wit....please !

Lyn --

Ya better call me out for a cheesesteak! Even if you're just heading down the TurnPike in the AM, I know a great place off exit 6. (Bordentown)

Did not venture up tonight, so i have to go to at least one Spectrum.

Get in touch, ya know?

I had a thought yesterday in the middle of my golf game - MCFADDENS (which is the bar on the outside concourse of the Citizens Bank Park) will be packed on Saturday for the Phillies game - what a great place for Dead Heads to crash and burn! It is at 10th Street and Pattison Avenue, just a couple blocks down from The Spectrum (or as we like to say here, "The Rectum". It's a long fly ball, it could be, could be.....IT'S GONE and nothing is gonna bring it back.

im sensing a DEW...or a music never stopped, or an easy wind...or here comes sunshine....or breakouts like lazy lightning, or a brent tune...

the big question is when is the shakedown...2nd night i guess....

ive seen Wilkes Barre (so many roads was the highlite) and NYC-MSG(whole show rocked)...but im most excited for my last time ever in the Rectum...go early all, best shakedown scene on tour!

Anyone know what security is like inside the Spectrum? Can a man have his doobie in peace?

Due for a Dew Doodely Do (which I personally wouldn't mind if sung by Warren, but not if it's one of those horrible Phil sings a verse, Bobby sings a verse and then Warren sings a verse abortions).

Help>Slip>Mason's
Wharf Rat
Lucy in the Sky
GIMME SOME LOVIN'

I really want a Keep on Growin' (wish me luck)

another Let It Grow (maybe this time as a complete Weather Report Suite).

Low Spark would be great.

I personally wouldn't mind another Into The Mystic. Again, he's a talented reader, but when he actually knows the words Warren's singing is that much better.

Playin'
Mighty Swell
BE Women
J. Straw
Tom Thumb's 1 night
Desolation Row on the other ( I saw the debut at the Spectrum in 86 (my 2nd Dead show).
Would love a Bobby Tangled Up.
BIODTL
Me & My Uncle>Mexicali
Reuben & Cherise
Mission in the Rain (Warren only on vocals please)
Baba O'reilly
will probably get another St. Stephen>The Eleven, Stella & Box of Rain
At least one other Beatles tune, take your pick: Strawberry Fields or I am The Walrus with a much lower likelihood of Do it in the Road, Rain, I Want To Tell You, Don't let Me Down, Day Tripper, Eleanor Rigby, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, etc.

Oh yeah, they should break out Hey Jude. Warren would be great singing it (I would melt). Something would slay me as well.

Anyway, those are my predictions/wishes.

Attics Of My Life hasn't been played yet, correct?

Ah, the Dead back in Philly . . . like I told Milky, we finally have home field advantage . . .

. . . and Noah, no worries brother . . .

Any Chance for Branford tonight?????

shit, im hoping for a:

lazy lighting>supplication
dew
wrs (in its entirety)
dancin'
st stephen (no 11 please, too slow)
slipknot
tom thumb's
althea
cold rain and snow
wharf rat
fotd
attics
comes a time
scarlet
might as well

Hey Locals,

A few Spectrum questions:

- What time is last subway back to downtown?
- Any cabs to be found AFTER the show or not a chance?
- How does Talk of the Town compare to Tony Luke's?

Thanks!

Talk of the Town doesn't compare to Tony Luke's

get the banana bites @ tony luke's, stuff is gooood.

Goin out of my mind waitin for this work day to end!!!!!!!!

what time will they actually get on?

Noah--I've seen dc, whoville, listened to first night in worcester live, and attended second night in e. ruth and they seem to be coming out right on time. Actually came in each night while they were finishing opener . . . and i went in thinking i wasn't late.

Adam Dean, my brother . . . hope to see you this afternoon.

Everyone have a real good time!

Peace.

((((hoping the rain stays away for all those attending))))

Im having post-dead depression and am bummed they are slowly leaving the east coast. I may make a trip to Cali or Rothbury to catch these guys again. Everyone in philly - enjoy.

only song that is 100% guaranteed for Spectrum is Race is On tomorrow.

what time are doors? what time is it scheduled to start?

I'm thinkin Samson & Delilah is pretty much a givin for one of the two nights. Since they will be "tearin that old building down"

i'm walkin out of this office at 3:55. i can't even concentrate on pokerstars.

I would love to see Branford play with them. Is there any chance of this????does anyone know???

see ya all at the show tonight. Enjoy!

Maybe Greg Osby??????

Really cool would be Marshall Allen from Sun Ra Arkestra, of course, but that is unlikely. Damn....they should put me in charge of Philly guests. Bring on the jazz!!!

Bring out your dead and not dead yet.

Dew breakout!

Dew would be nice

probably another BOX or Libery!

just a reminder that donna jean is in town...

MNS
scarlet>fire
playing one night...maybe reprise the next...

Then perhaps a Donna laced Playin' > Sugar Mag > SSDD. Some folks couldn't handle that

Spectrum

Mississippi Half_step

(Set 1)
Playing In The Band
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo
New Speedway Boogie

Sorry Taperrob, slight delay on this end. Carry on and thanks for the great photos and great postings as always!

(Set 1)
Playing In The Band
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo
New Speedway Boogie

(Set 1)
Playing In The Band
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo
New Speedway Boogie
Shakedown Street

I'm all smiles! I'm luving it so far!

Is Box of Rain on the way?

looks like a great setlist so far! anyone know if this show is going to be streamed somewhere tonight? thx

(Set 1)
Playing In The Band
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo
New Speedway Boogie
Shakedown Street
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Hard To Handle
Friend Of The Devil
Playing (Reprise)

Erik,

This is the link where some of the previous shows were broadcast but I'm not sure about tonight's show...


http://www.gdradio.net/

wow, a first-set Playin sandwich - very cool; and the first Hard to Handle of this tour i think (?) ....thanks for posting Jill....and yeah, i checked gdradio and nothing there yet, but maybe they'll have it on later
sure wish i was in Philly tonight! great memories of Spectrum shows back in GD days; too bad that venue will be gone soon

man that set looks like everyone is having a real good time tonight. I hope they stream first set during second set.

Thanks for the setlist updates Jill!
Jenn

You're welcome Jenn and Erik! I don't want to steal TaperRob's thunder! I sold my tickets for tonight (ouch) but will be heading to the show tomorrow night. I have fond memories of the Spectrum too (lived in Philly almost 20 years!). Can't wait to return!

A morning dew second set would melt my face. FOTD-thats a first this tour. Verrry nice.

I'd like to see them pull out an acoustic deep elem. I bet bobby and warren would jam that nicely together =)

Jenn

cool beans Jill I never lived in Philly, just came through town for Dead shows; too bad about your tix tonight, but hey, on the bright side, just remember - tomorrow night is not only their final-ever Spectrum show but also the anniversary of one of the most legendary shows of all time (5/2/70)....BOUND to be a hot night with a vibe like that!!

go listen to set 1> www.live365.com/stations/2012_live

thanks Rob!

*edit

Well, I busted a move to the Big Apple 11 years ago, so I was able to see them in MSG last weekend - I had never seen the GD perform there in the past. I might need an intervention after this Spring Tour! I sold my Nassau tickets, then went to the Izod (but of course I missed Eyes of the World and ScarletFire - I went the next night). Branford Marsalis was amazing! What can I say? With all the other depressing things going on in the world (swine flu, the economy, unemployment, etc) it's so nice to be able to get lost in their music! But only another Deadhead (like you and Jenn) would appreciate that sentiment

Set II:

#Money Money w/ Bobby on acoustic

#first time played ever!

sentiment appreciated indeed; rock on Jill

sorry bad info...

Thanks Erik! And thanks Coyotte for posting set II!

thanks Holmes Boy - man, the best thing about this tour has been that the surprises just keep on coming...gone are the days of predictable setlists!

wow. this band is on fire. really a phenomenal tour so far. Considering the 2.5 hour drive to philly tomm....

SET 1 just started on gdradio

Thanks for the feed Rob

Yes, thanks so much. Sounds great!

"Nailed a retread to my feet and prayed for better weather"!

nice

seems like we should be getting setlist update soon. : )

(Set 2)
Jack Straw
Alligator
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)

I was multi-tasking and catching a little Dateline...

THanks Jill!

My pleasure

Another Alligator, nice!

And some CDNSOT!!!!!!

Wonder if Phil is pulling out Big Red for that one or is going it with Big Blue Light????

what's next?

Loose Lucy

drumz
space?

Comes a Time (wh)

Has black throated wind or big river been played yet?

Neither yet

Hoping for a BTW at the Gorge.

err....big river was played in Buffalo

Cold rain

Black Throated, no

Black Throated manana?

question: were Loose Lucy and Comes a time both played tonight after Caution, or were those just musings? anyone have a definite update on set two thus far? thanks!

(Set 2)
Jack Straw
Alligator
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)
Drums
Space
Loose Lucy
Comes A Time
Cold Rain And Snow

thx Jill!

After drums which followed caution

Sugar mags

That's a great show so far!

incidentally, i saw the Comes a Time in Albany and Warren knocked it out of the park. it was just gorgeous. nice to see he's done that one again

You're welcome Erik!

Set 2)
Jack Straw
Alligator
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)
Drums
Space
Loose Lucy
Comes A Time
Cold Rain And Snow
Sugar Magnolia

a couple more odd set creations...drummers choice I'd guess

Missing some good tunes tonight

Jammin to gdradio and this drumz/space from 83 is pretty intense.I am digging it.
Are they going to get the 2nd set stream up soon ?

I would imagine the donor rap and encore next...

looks great. is tomorrow sold out? (was tonight?) I need to make the trek down from Jersey I HAVE to see one more haha

Yeah sadhed this space from 83 is great!!

I still see some tickets on Craig's List Dommer. I also have a number of a guy I've gotten tickets from before (Phil Lesh, etc). He is technically a 'broker', (dirty word) but has charged me face value in the past. Let me know and I'll shoot you his number. He's a decent guy.

Set 1 just finished streaming on GDradio.net

Hope set 2 wil be following!!!...

Be careful with Clist...2 people at the MSG show bought fakes tix off of Clist

Be careful with Clist...2 people at the MSG show bought fakes tix off of Clist

Donor rap. Turn to someone you love and tell them your an organ donor.

So it is sold out?

I'm an organ donor

Box of rain

From a posting over at dead.net "Our friends at SIRIUS XM will be broadcasting the May 2nd Show at The Spectrum LIVE"

callin a box of rain encore

cool ill find some for tomorrow

Hugs Jill...sorry you had to sell your ticket for tonight Does look good...I can guarantee that you will have a blast tomorrow and shake it up!

Jenn

Thanx mike z. for the updates.

Thanks Jenn! Yes, it was definitely a great setlist! Well perhaps tomorrow a Wharf Rat and some more surprises! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Jill- thanks for compiling the setlist. You should be very stoked for tomorrow!

Wharf Rat would be awesome (or a DEW)

No problem Bob. It was fun and always great being around fellow Deadheads (in cyberspace or live). I can't wait for tomorrow night

Fare thee well now ;)

was there a sunshine daydream?

anyone know???

Adam, hope you enjoyed~looks like a good one!

What an awesome show! Cant wait for tomorrow night!

Nice call Dommer.

so whats the scoop? What happened after Sugar Mag?

can't leave a girl hanging hahahah

Box Of Rain,
Phil's call

Thanks for the SHOUT OUT, Cosmic Sugar, just got home and I can hardley type. HAPPY MAY DAY TO Y'ALL. Hardley is for Berkeley and the 1/2 of an address you live in, Sugar. What a show tonight!

toooooooooooooooooooooo ddddddddddddddooooooooooosssssssssssssssseeeeeeeee eeeddddddddddddddddd tttttttttttttttttooooooooooooooooooooooooooo wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttt tttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeee


c u ttttttttttttttttooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmoooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr oooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

set2 from tonight now streaming> www.live365.com/stations/2012_live

2719 words (wow):

Hey there Zoners, remember me? (maybe so, maybe not) Anyway I've been mostly gone from here since the P+F Nokia run ended. I've ben hanging out with the foul-mouthed sexually frustrated kids over at Phantasy Tour chatting about a certain divisive band that begins with a P and ends with an H. Well I'm back for a minute because I ended up with a free ticket for tonight's show and I had a great time.

A non-Deadhead friend with some connection at the Spectrum ended up with a pair and had no desire to go herself but immediately thought of me. Meanwhile, I by chance got the day off and was considering heading on down and scoping out the lot for a WAY below face ticket. The recordings I'd heard from the tour so far had seemed so full of mixed results as to put me firmly on the fence about going even if I COULD get a below face ticket. Still, it's hard to be a Deadhead and NOT be at the show when the boys (or should I now say geriatric old men?) are in town. You know how it goes (it gets a bit Weir'd) when "the night's about to fall, I can hear the siren's call, It's a certain sort of sound."

My qualms remain with the band's continued use of "the Dead" as their name (as opposed to the more clever and fitting "Other Ones") and the high price of tickets. But I can't argue with free. I know I'd have a good time and I wanted to say good bye to that storied venue since it's gonna be gone by next year and who knows if I'll be there again for a show. (I'm hoping that the aforementioned PH band will make one final stop there though.)

I like hometown shows because they're easy in and out . I got a good exercise bike riding from my place at 48th and Springfield in West Philly down to the Sports Complex. And after the show I just unlocked my bike from a fence and went right back up Broad St, slicing right through the river of red deadhead taillights

Before the show I took some exterior shots of the arena and then cruised Shakedown located on the south side of the Wachovia Center. There were a lot of worn out 40-50 somethings around, people who looked like they'd been on tour since the early 70s, had done way too many drugs in the past and presently were in a drunken haze. There were also a lot of younger lot kids, a hybrid of crustpunk squatters and hippie wookies. I doubted they had any intention of paying for a ticket to get into the show. There were also a number of middle-aged black men openly selling cocaine....and the whole smorgasbord of grilled foods, beverages and shirts too. Yeah it was a typical happening shakedown. Prices seemed a few dollars higher than I remember from last time. But I guess there's inflation in parking lot capitalism too. And face value is a lot more than last time of course. There wasn't much 2for5 sales. A lot of single items: burritos and stickers for 5.

I wasn't sure of the Spectrum's policy on amateur digital cameras and certainly wanted to document the venue's interior since it might be the last time I'm there, so I shoved my camera down my pants. The pat down was gentle anyway. Lights went down promptly at 7:35 and the first notes of Playin' started at 7:40.

The band sounded strong out of the gate. Bobby's voice had power to it. He was on key and remembered the words he was able to belt. I did the amoebic dance from the get-go. This "Dead" band has often been pinned with a swirling unfocused style. Well, the Playin' jam is pretty much made for that style. So the band sounded strong. At one point Warren and Bobby locked into a swirling yet meaty and growling 6-string exchange that elicited the first big cheer of the evening.

My seat was great. 214 section row 8. Warren's side about 1/3 of the way back from the stage. The sound was great. Everything came through clearly the entire night with the exception of Jeff's keys which seemed to rise and fall between prominence and inaudibility. Phil wasn't nearly loud enough for my liking most of the time. There was little room-filling boom from him, but at least I could always hear what he was playing.

Half Step featured a subtle Marley-ish light reggae feel during the chorus courtesy of Bob's guitar playing. Bob's vocals were in an echoing pattern with Warren during the chorus. First time he sang the chorus i thought he'd just screwed up the timing. But he kept doing it and eventually I realized he must want it this way...
The crowd gave a big cheer for the "On my way!" climax

The New Speedway that followed had searing guitars but plodding percussion. Warren and Weir were meshing and I was pleasantly surprised. But Billy and Mickey didn't seem to play anything interesting enough to keep it from becoming a dirge. And Chimenti seemed lost in the mix for this one.

Then we got a mid-set "Shakedown." A whoop of excitement shot up from the crowd. I was excited too. But my excitement soon dissipated. The version lacked bite. Billy and Mickey seemed to only be playing trebly cymbal fills that failed to give it the necessary discofied propulsion. The "used to be the heart of the town" vocal round/jam sounded good though with Warren, Phil and Bobby all contributing. Then the outro jam featured a couple rough changes and eventually wound down to a full stop. Not a trainwreck, but a low-energy disappointment. This was the first set "low light" for me.

Dupree's came next and was perhaps the set highlight. The drums finally seemed to reach an adequate intensity with consistently strong hits on the 2 and 4 beats. Jeff could be heard contributing on grand piano. Weir and Warren traded vocal lines, accentuating the dialog-nature of the piece and Warren took some satisfying solos underpinned by Bobby's angularity. Everything sounded clear and well-meshed and I though about my friend, who couldn't attend this show but was at this same place for his first GD show 10/13/94 and caught the rare Dupree's then.

Hard to Handle took me by surprise. It was an OK but not great version. My favorite moment was the brief bass lead that Phil took during the first instrumental break. This was Phil's most prominent moment so far in the show.

Friend of the Devil followed. Weir and Warren effectively traded verses and then Phil sang the additional Hunter verse that the Grateful Dead left out ("you can borrow from the Devil...") I was surprised by Phil's vocal power and crystal clear annunciation. His verse got a huge cheer from the crowd. Maybe this threw off the rest of the band because they sounded pretty tentative on the final chorus that followed.

Funny side note: Billy took a pee-break during this song. He left his kit and ran to a curtain in the back corner of the stage behind Warren. A roadie pulled the curtain all the way around him. He was back out in a minute. Age is showing on the bladder I guess. While Billy was gone, an apparent drum tech sat behind his kit. It was so short I'm not sure if the guy actually played anything or jut mimed in rhythm with the sticks. But when Billy finished taking care of business, he had to playfully wrestle the sticks from the younger guy. Happily the rhythm never got broken up with Billy's absence. Mickey kept chugging along.

To end the set as a sandwich we got a slow-building Playin' reprise. It created a huge wall of tension but Bobby signaled a fake release and the music dropped down to a whisper before coming back for the vocal chorus to end the set at 9PM on the nose, an hour and twenty after the start.

Setbreak exemplified the accusations that the hallways are too cramped at the Spectrum. It was one big cattle herd pushing for the bathroom and the concession stands. Eventually I made it to the Wharf Rats table for some clean and sober good vibes and connections with old friends and future Phish tour accomplices.

Second set opened with a directionless swirl jam into Jack Straw at 9:45, after an exactly 45 minute setbreak. The "Jack Straw' was the most joyously by-the-book GD moment of the evening. The bad was tight. The instrumental segments climaxed nicely in all the places one would expect and the crowd roared in approval. Phil filled in for the late Mr. Garcia on the verses Bobby doesn't sing. I was really impressed by Phil's vocal power and clarity. I've heard him mumble-sing plenty of times. But strange to say this may be the best I ever heard him sing live, maybe better than a lot of P and F and maybe even better than vintage GD.

Then came the roughest/loosest section of the show. Alligator>Caution.
Sorry to say I've never heard a post GD version of Alligator that did the song justice. Phil and Friends came close a few times (the Penn's Peak 2008 show was damn close) but Phil's stiff vocals half-ruined that one. For this Spectrum version, Warren has the perfect Southern-fried voice to sing this song, but he too seemed a bit stiff. Also I was disappointed that the band didn't sing an altered version of the "burn the Fillmore, gas the Avalon" line to reference the soon-to-be-dust Spectrum.

Oh well.

The jam into Caution was very sloppy. The 16th note shredding section that signals the transition sounded aggressive and full of potential but then the drummers couldn't seem to synch in with Phil's jogging 8th note bass line. The rhythmic uncertainty continued throughout Caution. It was still fun to watch, because each player on stage was giving it his all. What the jam lacked in cohesion, it gained in intensity. But I have my doubts this'll actually carry over onto the recordings. It was probably one of those "had to be there" moments.

Still, maybe this was exactly how the band wanted Caution to sound. After 65'-66' it was never really a song, more a set of parameters for improvisation But the 68-69 GD Cautions at least had Phil/Mickey/Bobby all synched in with one another. I missed that, but did enjoy seeing and hearing Phil unexpectedly insert lightning fast runs of the Caution bassline. This was some of the fastest playing I think I've EVER heard Phil do!!

Caution did synch into a clear powerful rhythm, right after the "just a little touch of mojo hand " break but only for about
.30 seconds.

As Caution was dissolving into space, Jeff-- the junior member of the band-- ran out from his keyboard corner of the stage and behind the black curtain for a pee break.

There wasn't a really clear dividing line between Drums and Space. It seemed more like Space>Drums>Space. Call it the Rhythm Devils or whatever you will. Unlike some other nights on the tour, the style stuck pretty close to late-period GD Drums/Space. Jeff stayed on stage for the whole time but it was hard for me to figure out exactly what he was contributing since it seemed as if the drummers were also triggering synth sounds They also pounded low end drums that I could feel in my chest, making me wish the drummers played with some of this intensity during the song-based portion of the set. Most of the crowd stayed inside for the weirdness without a mass exodus for the bathrooms. Mickey threw in a throat singing sample at one point. During this portion, the light screen above the stage showed a phoenix rising from the ashes of a flaming Steal Your Face.

And when Phil came out for some noodling towards the end, his bass had the aggressive booming presence/volume that he uses for Phil and Friends that seemed sadly reduced for most of this Spectrum show

Loose Lucy came out of the Drums and Space , a very unexpected earthy choice after all the dalliances in the dark clouds of outer space. It was about the last song I'd have called out of Space and I really enjoyed it as a result. The band certainly gets an A+ for breaking out of the Grateful Dead's stratified slotted 2-set show structure of 78-95.
The positioning of the Loose Lucy reminded me of another rare "earth" after space combo--- US Blues after the space/jam at Boston Garden June 1974.

Loose Lucy featured a great Chimenti Hammond B3 organ solo and great singalong opportunities for the crowd. I wonder if the crowd's vocal enthusiasm covered up a lot of Weir's missed lines . That sort of stuff won't mask anything on the brutally honest soundboards. We'll know the truth soon enough...

Comes a Time was next and I'd totally forgotten about that song's existence. There's no way I could've called it. It felt like Warren rushed the words a bit but OH WHAT BEAUTIFUL MOVING words they are! I'd forgoten how much I love the lyrics. It was great to rediscover this song. Chimenti's grand piano meshed really well with Warren's vocals towards the end.

Cold Rain cut in abruptly from the Comes A Time outro jam, apparently by Weir's request/signal. This was a delightfully oddball placement for the song by old GD standards . And it was very well-played. Warren, Bobby, and Jeff all meshing well and created a thick sound with a few good moments of unison/harmony playing. I'm pretty sure I saw Jill Lesh off back behind Jeff's keys ad I hoped Phil would have the last word on this song by singing "I married me a wife and i love her like my life." But it wasn't to be.

Sugar Mags closed the set in an energized way. Bobby's voice seemed strong, but again it could've just been the sing-along crowd + my mind filling in the blanks. In the instrumental passage leading up to the "Sunshine Daydream" coda, Bobby playing the opening rhythmic riff from "Greatest Story" and for a moment I imagined the greatness of a Sug Mag>Greatest Story>SSDD that was never too be. The drummers seemed to stumble into the pause just before the first "Sunshine Daydream" vocals but it was still a lot of fun and I'm not even a big fan of this song. And then the set was over, at 11:15 exactly 90 minutes after it started.

Phil put a fan thrown rose in his mouth for a moment and struck a silly pose before he gave his donor rap, and commented on forgetting how great it felt/sounded to play at the Spectrum.

Encore was Box of Rain, again with crisply, annunciated Lesh vocals and the "short time to be, to be, to be.....[bass boom]" ending.

The whole show seemed loads more engaging, energized and tight than the near-trainwreck I witnessed at the last "Dead" show I attended (Obama Penn State show in October.) Yes, overall the atmosphere was "mellow" especially during the first set without many fast tempos and a loose swirly feel but it was still enjoyable even without the "bite" of some of my favorite Phil and Friends shows

On my way out, I took a bunch of pictures of the arena itself and of course the "Grateful Dead 53 sell outs" banner, unsure if this would be my goodbye to this dumpy gem of an arena.

So it was a very fun evening that left me with a somewhat different high than intimate 2000-capacity theatre Phil shows do. It was a good show, but I still don't think it was worth the face value. Though for those many of you who DID pay face I can think of a lot worse ways to spend $115 than on a Friday evening with the Core4 and more in Philly.

Awesome show! First set was nearly flawless (the dupree's diamond felt a bit clunk). Every song was a total sing along. Everyone literally screaming along to old classics.

Second set was mellower, but nice. The jackstraw opener was a nice surprise and really well done. Both alligator and caution were well done, but lost most of the crowd. Drums rocked, jeff stayed out the pretty much the whole thing. I think the post-space song selections were misplaced. I thought the LL and CR&S never really took off the way they could/should. I think the ruff start w/LL affected the Comes a Time. Sugar Mag and box were a nice finish.

Overall - band sounded and played GREAT. This was the phil and Warren show. Which felt great. Phil had some AMAZING riffs/ideas. The crowd was into it and the tempo and energy were great.

Can't wait for tonight!

Nice Review Sebastian. I look forward to my final gig of the tour tonight.

No doubt the band is gelling as the tour moves forward. Hopefully they keep it up.

As for Phil's bass and the power drums it's enough to ask...are we all going deaf?

I don't think so and suspect we'll be saying the same thing at the Phish shows with Mike and Fish as it is the same system employed.

Maybe we need a "Let Phil Bomb" or "Let Phil Drop" chant?

this show is now up on archive.org for DL.

Hot, HOT, HOTTER. Just call this the Warren Dead show.

he was blistering on that guitar. I mean the kind of sound that stays with you for a l o n g time.

I love the Dead, no matter what they call themselves.

Nice review, Sebastian. You saved me having to think too much here.

I agree with the lengthy review above by Seastian, but I forgive all of the shortcomings that were identified. In the 100-ish GD shows I saw, I could point out 100 moments in each where they 'fucked up' this or that. Not putting down the review, mind you, Sebastian is spot on, imho. I am a Phil and Friends fanatic, and I appreciate the 'tightness' of Phil's bands. Still, there is nothing like a GD show, there is no place like the Spectrum, and the show I saw last night was very GD-like without making me think they were trying to replace Jerry. Overall an A+ from me. I couldn't have felt better about the show, and this smile will last for weeks to months!

Can't wait for tonight!


SEBASTIAN, good friends of mine used to live in a huge corner house at 48th and Springfield in the 1980s and early nineties. It had a huge curving porch and a lot on wood detail, inside and out. Clark Park, The [original] Wurst House(AFrican Jew making the best fresh corned beef), The (original) Carrot Cake Man.... Really miss that stuff. Now you have other great places, like the African restaurants on Baltimore Ave., Local 44 on Spruce and wood fired pizza and good brewed beer at Dock Street. Don't miss the Sun Ra exhibit at the ICA right now!!!!!

Poor Sebastian it flew right over his head......to busy looking for mistakes not enough listening..........

It wasn't perfect but it was great!!!!!

um, wasn't the saying "not the best at what they do, but the only ones who do it" and to that I will add, STILL DOING IT.

For goodness sakes, The Boys are 60+ years old and have been playing this music for nearly 45 years.

are they perfect, Heck NO. But we LOVE them anyway

Best show of the tour, absolute magic, not even really expressable with words how superb this show was.

Listening to the Jack Straw. OMFG! I knew it was good last night as it was being played, but listening again today, OMG!

If this doesn't get your bones shaking, then check for a pulse!

In fairness to Sebastian, each of us enjoys the shows in our own way. Some of us are incredibly detail oriented, some of us are appreciate the whole (splitters and lumpers). I am with the latter category. I enjoyed the show, my kids enjoyed the show (while they were awake first set), hubby already put in his two cents here, he is cured of his depression with music therapy.
They are playing well together, they have that true GD vibe missing from Phil and friends, song selection was great. I second the love for Warren's lead guitar.

Mind meld - musical orgasm

I'm writing this up to send to a christian friend of mine

<<Don't get me wrong. I know that lyrics to a song aren't the word of God. I'm just trying to explain where I'm coming from and why this music has meant so much to me for so long.

Found this perfect definition:
"an experience in which one is moved by music to a level of consciousness which is characterized by feelings of ecstasy, omniscience, immortality, and sublime understanding"

Omniscience: God's Wisdom - the omniscience of a divine being. God is omniscient in that he knows all truths or knows all that is logically possible to know.

that about sums up what I mean! add to it the fact that you are surrounded by thousands of other like minded souls at the show. There is no sexual context whatsoever>>

So from a Deadhead to a Christian, let the words be yours I am done with mine

Hey Sebastian, thanks a lot for taking the time to write that thoughtful review. As a musician I can appreciate your including commentary on the rhythms (16ths and 8ths) and on how the syncing of drums and bass is really at the heart of the best rocking jams.

We all know every show will have its transcendent moments as well as those which are, er, less transcendent.

The 53 sellouts pretty much sums up how we all feel about the balance of the two!

Looking forward to a rocking East Coast closer tonight. Don't know if I'll make it to the Wharf Rats table, but I will be there in Spirit.

Peace to you all.

Great review Sebastian, very well informed. I love that line, "There were a lot of worn out 40-50 somethings around, people who looked like they'd been on tour since the early 70s, had done way too many drugs in the past and presently were in a drunken haze. There were also a lot of younger lot kids, a hybrid of crustpunk squatters and hippie wookies."

I listened to the first set streaming last night on gdradio.net and thought it was fantastic, a Dagwood-style Playin' sandwich. I'm listening to Alligator>Caution now and loving it, slop and all. These are set lists we used to dream about seeing 20 years ago. I just wish I could go to more shows, I've been to 5 and had a blast at each. I was very lucky to be within 10 rows at Nassau and Izod and you can see this is a band that is engaged and having fun. If anything, some of the audiences are a little too timid and prone to falling asleep during the second set after "too much too fast." The music gets me so pumped I have to look around to make sure my flailing dance isn't bothering anybody!

Here's hoping for another tour soon, with more reasonable ticket prices!

Hey Now,
I lurk more on these boards then post but after reading many of the threads on shows from this tour and fairly excited for the Chicago shows. I have always found it interesting that human nature being what it is, people feel the need to belittle other folks opinions somehow thinking it makes theirs more valid somehow.

We as heads always talk about the (Magic, X-factor, mind meld) whatever we call it that magic isn’t just the band , it’s between you and the band and me and the band and whatever might else may be happening and the band, the sun, the moon, the stars whatever it is, it’s what makes this band and community so special.

A couple of personal takes on this is 6/24/84 SPAC show, for circumstances beyond my control I ended up having to hitch to the show with but a dollar in my pocket and by the time I got there my friends had gone in and my ticket with them. Needless to say I was fairly bummed out but decided to at least make my way to the back area to listen to the show. As the opening notes of Dancing started I had made my way to a good spot to listen(with a 100 or so other souls who hadn’t gone in) when a kind young lady I had never met walked up and started yelling my name to say the least I was bit befuddle why this person would be calling my name but I called her over and said hey I’m so and so she then proceeded to hand me my ticket and said your friends thought you would be here if you made it to the show and they asked me to give you this. I nearly fainted with shock but after giving her a big hug we both quickly made our way into the show.

There’s quite bit more to her having found me but for the sake of brevity I will just say it was darn close to a miracle. Well as the2nd set opening notes of I Need a Miracle rang through the air you can just imagine the smile that was on my face for me the magic was happening, I can assure this wasn’t by any means a great show it down poured terrible during the show and Jer’s voice wasn’t in the best of shape and I would daresay it isn’t on anyone’s, top 10 show list but for me the magic happened that night and thinking about still brings a huge smile to my face.

My second one is 3/27/88 Hampton again for the sake of brevity I will just say I walked out of that show not ever feeling the magic that night and was actually a bit bummed. By most account’s this is a great show I have even heard Dick L. comment its one of his favorite Scarlet/Fires but for whatever the reason the magic just never found me that night. I’ve listened to the show many times and and can’t ever imagine why I wasn’t just blown away that night but it just didn’t click the night I quess that’s nature of magic its fleeting and sometimes very hard to catch but gods when we do we all know why we love these guys so much.

Anyways I was just trying to point out that just cause somebody else doesn’t think he same thing you do about a show doesn’t make their opinion or yours any less valid.
Peace

Great show.
Pretty good review By Sebastian, although you could use a good editor bud!! LOL Shorten it up my man! Funny different viewpoints too - Dupree's the highlight of the Set? While a good version, I wish they never even played it personally, hahahaha.
Playin was a great opener & closer, Very tasty FOTD. Half-step was awesome, powerful Caution. Warren was incredible on Comes A Time, great. Wish I was on my way to the show tonight!
Unless you are broke, well worth it!!! :-)

It was my last night of the tour and my first time back to the Sprectrum since the spring of '85.
Yes, I am showing my age, but Sebastian I am not one of those spent boomers. Far from it.
have fun on Phish tour buddy it's all your's.
Glad to hear you are sober too.

I left my house much later than I should and it endied up taking me 5 hours to get to Philly. With traffic on the GW, thanks for nothin 1010 Wins,heavy rain on NJ Turnpike and then 10 miles of traffic on 295.
Oh well that is life on the road.

When I stopped on the Turnpike I needed a jump since my battery was dying too.
Once I was near the Spectrum the clouds started to break and the sun was burning through so it was a nice sign and warming up too.
Some confusion gettin in and I made the mistake of going over that bridge back into Jersey.

D'oh but got into the lot right in front of the new place. It was like 6:30. I could not see an obvious Shakedown,I was told it was on the east side of the new place.So I had to skip that.

The Philles were playing the Mets so there was plenty of activity all over the place.
I decided to just go to wilco and high tail it in.
Luckliy the staff was easy going, except for the floor so flopping was no problem. I ended up going for a perfect seat opposite end of the stage and met some guys who had since pratically every Sprectrum show since 1980.

As the place filled in it was clear what makes this place so special. The enthusisam from the fans, it may have been the must energetic place of the the seven shows I saw.
People were deliberalty friendly and made the effort to talk and enjoyed partiscipating in the moment.

The Playin' was a nice suprise and was very tight and I think for the Philly faithful was a welcome surprise. Bobby was clear and energetic and the band responded with a nice version, that was more structured maintaining the main theme and not going to far out.
Everyone sang the entire song and the lights were flashed up on us all during it. A very nice opener.

The 1/2 Step raised the energy bar, and although Bob was alittle guilty of some spoken word, between him and Warren they really got it going and the place exploded with joy.
Going right into Speedway was another surprise and Bob and Warren traded off verses, at first I thought it was alittle off but listening to it again they seem to be in control. Each time when they sang the " Spend alittle time on the moutain" chorus they flashed up the purple lights on the crowd and then quickly turned them back down on the stage.It was a nice powerful visual effect.
Warren really played some gusty, raunchy solos during this one and the ending was really good, with his final solo was maybe his best of the set.They ended with a cool acappella ending.

Now when you get a mid set blast of massive positive energy from out of thin air it is pretty incredible and this Shakedown was just that, a minute right after they ended Speedway.
" BOOM"
Man it was good.

They layed down the groove big time and this may have been the best one of the tour. Bob sang it so strongly, no spoken word lol.He traded verses with Warren also. His rhytms guitar was nice and Warren had a sick tone on his.His first solo was impressive. The crowd went nuts and they loved singing the "Whooo" part. I thought Billy and Mickey were right on.
They let us sing the " I can hear beat out loud verse" which was excellent.
The old Spectrum was truly rockin and everyone was dancin the vocal eding was really good and would rival what Jerry used to like do.

" Just got to poke around"
"Just go to poke around"
" Just got poke ahh"
Then they sing this line,
"Shake it down down" thing to end the vocal part and have a slight miscue as they went into the final jam.A slight hestiation by Warren during the final jam but he got back on tract.

This tendency did occur in the at other times during the show and expecially in begining of Hard to Handle.
Phil played extremly well during this entire song.

Dupree's was excellent and Phil was really into it and driving it along merrily. I liked how Bob and Warren traded off during each verses, rather than complete verses.It really emphaized the humor and tough luck of the song's protagonist.
If we all could be only so lucky.

Jeff took a nice piano solo, which lead into a extended Warren solo which was great, not over the top, it was melodic he just wanted to keep playing and it was fueled by the rest of the band.It was another highlight for him.

Hard to Handle was another welcome surprise but the band was somewhat tenative and loose on driving it at points and the changes were rough.
You can't slack for an instant on this one and when they went into the first break it was just that.
They played it like the Black Crowes and Warren sang it passionatly and played a sick solo at the end. The crowd loved it, maybe the weakest song of the set for me, although upon listening to it now it is growing on me. It has alot of potential they jammed it out and Jeff played some nice B3, but just tighten up those changes guys.

FOTD was another highlight and the first time on this tour,played in the faster tempo, it became a joyous communual reflection of what life on the road can be like.The perfect comfort song and maybe the highlite of the set. The band really delivered a passionate version.

I am a totaly Playin' Reprise aficionado and they just pulled this out of thin air. It was like hearing those '73 reprises a gentle return and they worked on developing it and the band got stronger and stronger and then stopped with Jeff playing some sweet licks on the baby grand and then Bob pushed it to it's joyous conclusion, and it was awesome.
Jeff did that nice ode to Keith with him pounding on the keys before they burst back into the chorus. The vocal were warm and powerful.

Warren played a nice melodic solo and Phil was like wow!
Very nicely done and Jeff really shined.
What a set and the place was buzzing.
I think the antiscipation were met and exceeded.

Now if you have never been to this place, it may be one of the most hottest and humid places you can see a show, ok the old Boston Garden may be worse.
By now there was a wet film over everything and you needed to be careful dancin and walkin down stairs and every where. We were all in this communal sweet bath together.

The hallway were buzzing and everyone was in great spirits and it was fairly easy to get around. I hung out at the CD table and talked with Sheri, she is such a sweet heart and we got to hand out for a couple sets on this tour.

When they came back they eased into a UJB theme piece for like a minute or so and then played a much more upbeat Jack Straw than Nassau. I was on the stairs but to the right of the stage. these seats along with behind the stage were full just like the old days.
Tonight will be one tough ticket.

I then went to the hallway where a devotion of hall dancers were celebrating and it was fun to dance this one with them.Remember we all where hall dancers at some points. The freedom and sound was enticing.They brought it up to amazing peak and Warren nailed it.

Everyone was very happy.
I went and got Sheri and we went and danced to Alligator which was very nice, they really caputure the carnival nature of this song so well and the band was skating along with that perfect ease. Phil really loves playing this one and Jeff added those wonderful B3 fills.

The transition was very heavy and then they just exploded into Caution. Whoa!!!!!
It was much more intense than Wilkes- Barre and I felt it was a superior verson. They really attacked it and Warren, who really shines on these old psychedelic work house numbers, had some amazing solos. The band reached a couple of amazing peaks.It was reckless abandonment at times they went crazy at points.

They gradually transitioned into a space with the band then to Mickey and Billy who once again played a deep and passionate session, with crickets too, it starting off more spacey and watery and then built to a passionate peak on th ehanging drums.
It was quite good
Man I am going to miss these guys.

Space was very good I would call it an "Ommmmmm" space.They sampled the Gyuto monks again too.That was what I was chanting during it and in the halls when I went back to get Sheri.
Deep and ethereal and quite moving.

We found some seat up stairs, a whole row for dancin, and it almost sounded like a Wharf Rat at one point but when they dropped into Loose Lucy, I love this song, but it may have not been the best place for it. It started somewhat disjointed and it seem like Warren was running out of gas. I think everyone was like maybe wanted something else. They did get it going though.

Then they turn and stop on a dime and Warren delivers another KILLER Comes a Times. It was beautiful and one of the highlight of the night for me.
" Gotta make it somehow
On the dreams you still believe"

The dream is still alive, Thank you guys.

Warren played another amazing heartfelt solo and Phil played some of his best during the ending.

Then more woman heart ache songs.
Story of my life folks ;)
What are they tryin to tell me?
Cold Rain & Snow was another surprising choice, worked much better than Lucy and they rocked it out big time. Sheri had to go back to her table to get ready for the big show ending rush.

I knew what was coming a mile a way and when they rang into Sugar magnolia, I bolted down the stairs to join the hall dancers and this version was HUGE!!! They raged on it and the place erupted in joyous rapture.

Bobby drove it home big time and this was the closest I heard Phil to dropping bombs on the tour. It was amazing and then the SSDD was the icing on the cake.Warren ripped it up too ;)
What an ending!

Phil commented on how he forgotten how incredible the energy is in Philly and the hometown faithful roared in their devotion and appreciation.

I decided to go back inside for the encore and Phil and the boys delivered a beautiful Box of Rain.
Perfect ending to another amazing night and sadly my last.

I was hoping for that elusive Dew or Wharf Rat, but who knows what will happen tonight?

After seven shows this has turned out for me to be the best in a very long, long time.
I loved the Nokia runs but this was so much different and much more of the entire community was here.
That is pretty special and always made the music that more special.

Yes 15 years if you read my other thread.
Grateful and thankful for every second of it too.

Have a blast ya'll tonight and if they play either one of those tunes, give a good gut wrenching scream and think of me.
Happy Trails

showuzsper

hey thanks for reading and thanks to everyone else who posted reviews too. I enjoyed everyone's take. I'm still feeling great from the energy and joy of the show. I can't make it tonight, but it was fun seeing Center City swarming with Deadheads today.

As I wrote in the first paragraph of my review "I had a great time" but that overarching positive sentiment might have gotten lost in the 2500+ analytical words that followed. During the show I got down and danced with a smile on my face but also kept pulling my notebook out of my pocket to jot stuff down-- between songs and during lulls-- about what I liked and didn't like about the show. That's how I enjoy concerts. That's how I experienced the 7 Nokia shows I saw last Fall. Some people just dance and rock out. That's cool too, but it's not quite my style.

Tennesee Ed is totally right, my review could've used an editor. It WAS way too long, but I'm a naturally longwinded guy who was pressed for time. I had to be at work 8 AM, and after I got all the initial thoughts typed I didn't have time left to really mull over which ones were really worth sharing with the rest of the group. I crashed and then woke up with just enough time to proofread for typos and hit "send" before running out the door.

I could've waited and sent a more streamlined version after work but decided to just send the early clunky warts and all version so I could get my take on the night out there to you fellow Zoners while it was most fresh in people's minds

Anyway, if the band played like they did on 5/1 every night and charged no more than 50-60 for decent seats, I'd be all about seeing a bunch of shows

Enjoy the recordings and the rest of the tour.

great show, but it was sweaty and humid, as said it was all sticky and trippy, couldnt handle the craziness up close so i went all the way up for 1st set, cooler, but not as good sound....i love the 'playin' sandwich, it has such a trippy rift, weir and warren playin off each other, then a great 1/2 step...drummers seemes a little sleepy at first...then right on the 1st level rail for the second set, best sound yet, it was so much better...

beieve it or not, on my way down before the show by my self i saw a bald eagle right near the upper darby exit off 95, it was so cool flying so proud...so i called my brother and told him and he said i'd see 'jack straw' "eagles filled the sky" so when they jammed into it...it was special, great song lyrics and it rocked the house...my fav part was 'comes a time'...what a song.... just like in Wilkes Barre with 'so many roads'... a great big balad, warrren really makes 'comes a time' his own, but id be lying if i didnt think of jer...ive seen at least 30 spectrum shows, i remembered them all last night...huge spectrum moment...and what lyrics, it was just a sweet, emotional, sticky, tripping, dead moment.....thanks guys!

Comes a time when the blind-man takes your hand, says "Don't you see?
Gotta make it somehow on the dreams you still believe."
Don't give it up, you got an empty cup only love can fill,
only love can fill.

Been walking all morning went walking all night
I can't see much difference between the dark and light
And I feel the wind And I taste the rain
Never in my mind to cause so much pain.

Comes a time when the blind-man takes your hand, says "Don't you see?
Gotta make it somehow on the dreams you still believe."
Don't give it up, you got an empty cup only love can fill,
only love can fill.

From day to day just letting it ride.
You get so far away from how it feels inside.
You can't let go cause you're afraid to fall,
But the day may come when you can't feel at all.

The words come out like an angry stream.
You hear yourself say things you could never mean.
When you cool down you find your mind.
You got a lot of words you've got to stand behind.

Comes a time when the blind-man takes your hand, says "Don't you see?
Gotta make it somehow on the dreams you still believe."
Don't give it up, you got an empty cup only love can fill,
only love can fill, only love can fill, only love can fill.

Awesome job as always T-Rob. Could you please boost the levels?? My Hotel Computer in Philly is real low....

Have now listened to the tape - THANKS TAPERS!! - and this show is even better than I thought it was "live" - very different from last night as well - a much more "jammin'" kind of show than Saturday nights - definately an incredible weekend and hope all you out-of-towners enjoyed our Philly hospitality and got to feed off the vibes of The Rectum and 53 sold-out Dead shows!

Hi,

Does anyone have an extra or know where I can buy the Philly (liberty bell) tiedye t-shirt size L and the poster from those shows?

Thanks!
J