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. Or you can't go wrong with a "steak Italian" which is a cheese steak with either spinich or brocolli rabe and sharp provolone cheese. WOW!! This place is a MUST HAVE ONE for all you out-of-towners. See ya in the lot! Adam

What are your thoughts on the parking situation? With the phillies/mets, FDR seems like the best option. What's everyone planning?

FDR is always a good call but you have to get there early (say by 4 PM or earlier).

Since there is a PHILLIES game Saturday afternoon the 2nd, FDR will be packed by noon for sure - you may want to consider an early start on the party!

What is FDR and where is it?

FDR Park is right across broad street from the stadium complex. It's a city park with grass, lakes, baseball fields (gold and others). Fewer restrictions (some of the stadium lots won't allow open flame for barbq or won't allow 'tailgating' - standing behing your car).

Google it.

Thanks Dirk. That's the park alongsode Pattison street then. In all the years of shows at the Spectrum, JFK, etc. I have never checked out FDR.

Mike V.

Adam, I like the Phil-adelphia title, very creative!

so i you're getting there around 4:00 - 4:30, where would you all recommend to park? haven't seen the dead in philly since '89 at JFK-closing.
would love to be somewhere near "the action".... ;)

Once again - PAY ATTENTION THIS TIME - There is a Phillies-Mets game on Saturday afternoon just up Pattison Avenue at the Citizen's Bank Park. It means that FDR (which is free parking) will be full by probably noon. So, if you want free parking get there early on Saturday. I'm not certain if you can overnight in this park (probably not). As Dirkstar said, "Google it".

Dew breakout for Philly! Well at least I hope you folks get one soon.

saturday night shakedown to open second set. Write it down now ;-)

I'm feeling Box of Rain on Saturday night.

13 shows and still no "I fought the law". this tour sucks.... see you in LA

Unbroken tomorrow for sure.....

I would like a Wharf Rat or a DEW also. Is it sold out?

Dommer--tonight is not sold out. Tickets still available online.

Hope everybody had a great time last night! I know I did; it was a full-on dance party where I was hangin' in the Spectrum last night. LOVED IT!! See ya tonight! To all those who'll be listenin' live on the Sirius broadcast: welcome and enjoy! We'll feel your spirit.

Peace,
Straw

I wanted to jump in here and say that the Shakedown Street (located under I-95 behind the Wachovia Center (the new arena next to The Spectrum) is by far the coolest I've seen on this tour - way more organized than Worcester (and definately cooler than the meltdown at Meadowlands). It's worth checking out. AND a big shout-out for the coolest PHILLIES / Phil Lesh tee-shirt I've seen (I bought 2) - it is maroon and has the '80's logo (think Gary Maddux) but says PHILLESH instead of PHILLIES - and has the memorial HK on it for the famous broadcaster Harry Kalas who just passed away. Kudos to that dude and highly recommended. See you in the lot...

Jackstraw - where are you? Your cell phone isn't answering...

Adam Dean--I'm in Wilmington, DE gettin' ready to head on up. Got my cellie on me and it's on. Haven't seen any calls from ya, although I did get a message from you when you called me on my way to E. Rutherford. I wanted to call you back but your number didn't show up as an incoming call. I'd like to see you today brother. Try calling again--304-839-5130. I should be up there 2:30, 3:00.

Peace,
Straw

OK I'll phone you when I am on the way 3:30 in the lot should work for me. I park in lot H but will be cruisin' Shakedown Street.

Hey,
I'm was at the show last night but didn't get there until after the first couple of songs, so I didn't get to check out the shakedown street stuff. Tonight I'll be arriving by train and should be at the venue by 6:45 or so. I'd love to take a look around back there, specifically in hopes of finding some neat tee shirts, etc. Do you guys think they'll still be selling once the doors open?

Thanks!

Does anyone know for sure if SIRIUS is streaming the show tonight ?, thanks & enjoy the event caught msg & nassau they are on fire !

From the dead's new iphone app - has some interesting notes about tonight.

Im so excited that I got it out.

SIRIUS XM to Air Philadelphia Show Live
SIRIUS XM’s Grateful Dead Channel will broadcast The Dead’s show at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA live on Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 pm ET on the Grateful Dead Channel, SIRIUS channel 32 and XM channel 57.

In addition to live concert broadcasts, SIRIUS XM listeners will have access to behind-the-scenes updates. David Lemieux, the band’s archivist and host of the Grateful Dead Channel’s Today in Grateful Dead History, along with noted author and co-host of the Grateful Dead Channel’s live talk show Tales from the Golden Road, Gary Lambert, will lend their insights from many of the stops on the band’s historic tour.

The Grateful Dead Channel is an exclusive channel that features music spanning the band's career with unreleased concert recordings and original shows hosted by band members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. The channel also features rare archival interviews with Jerry Garcia and contributions from Grateful Dead expert David Gans and David Lemieux.

For more information, click here.

For us non-sirius users, will there be any other sites streaming also?

^^^ get a free 3-day trial

For non sirius users go to their web site and sign up for a free 3 day trial and it will be on your computer in about 40 seconds.

Getting Sirius radio full time is worth the price for the Grateful Dead channel.
I think ours only gets #32. I never tried the others.

Signed up for ANOTHER free trial... lol

All ready to get heady.. : )

The Dead on Sirius

Here we go!!!!! Way to go Sirius

Here we go...

Sampson opener?? lol

the banner

gimme some lovin'

Bruce + Dead = 9 hour concert

Thanks... I did that last week, now they won't let me again. No worries...

Sampson Closer

set 1:
one more sat nite

theres about a 45 second delay in the sirius broadcast

are live broadcasts censored?

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
one more sat nite
brown eyed women

wow thats a lot of delay. usually a sat. feed is 8 secs...

Cool BEW

No - Stern is on Sirius uncensored.

Warren jammin a nice clean tone.

thanks I was wondering if the delay is intentional or not

bew

Usually its 4 seconds up to sat. 4 secs down

thanks Taperrob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They haven't done Attics yet on this tour...I feel like it would be entirely appropriate for that song to make its appearance tonight, since this is the final-ever show at such a classic Dead venue where they've been playing since 1968 (GD only played one other place more than the Spectrum - Winterland)

Agreed Erik

they played msg more

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

educated last night

They are the only band to play the spectrum the most. But do agree with Erik that playing at such a classic GD venue for the last time should warrant a classic setlst. including attics!

You may be a clown...

Althea

TaperRob - thanks for the updates as always....Dr Martin, you are right, after double-checking i realized my memory was slightly off: they played MSG 56 times, and the Spectrum 53 times...so ok, it was the third most-played venue; that doesn't change my point though, which is that i think Attics would be perfect for tonight! sure wish i was there! hope all my friends at the show are having a blast

Bummer I can sign up again for Sirus they are not letting me do it twice. So, I see Taper Rob is there does that mean stream later.. I know I am spoiled.

change email address and username ; )

that's what I did

hmmm worked for me. Maybe clear cache? Maybe they left a cookie last time

ummm warren do you really have to add that he's gone for good?

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Althea
He's Gone

I just signed up, put in username/password/ went to GD channel 32 and nothing is playing.

yes, volume is up on the computer.

Sat. night- opened cool!

scroll up to the screenshot of Sirius, Taper Rob posted it @ 7:22 pm

Have you get there there?

wow He's gone into UJB SSSSSSSSSWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTT!!!!!!! !!!!!

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle Johns Band

how many times have they played he's gone on this tour?

He's Gone smoked! What a great jam into UJB

i like that transition from he's gone-->UJB. real nice!

schoolgirl is after brown eyed

fixed it.. lol thanks

"scroll up to the screenshot of Sirius, Taper Rob posted it @ 7:22 pm

Have you get there there?"

yes, I'm at the media player, just like the screenshot. It's just not streaming. weird. I'll just try logging in one more time.

I reallllly enjoyed that Althea then He's Gone> UJB.

Its amazing how I can hear he's gone a million times and almost everytime It gives me chills.

This live stream is amazing!
Jenn

I think this is the 3rd time

Lost sailor/saint would be cool out of this to end the set. : )

same here blue sky. i was there last night and wish i could be there tonight but THANK YOU SIRIUS!!!!!

Mason's is coming.

The Boyz should really be on fire for set II ~ Last time they did the Sirius broadcast... They got pretty serious.

Looking forward to it!

WOW addin a little hot sauce

Bitchin!!!!!

Great move into mason's children. I'm pretty disappointed i didn't drive up to see this concert. My first show was the JPJ 4/15 show. I hate having exams in college that stop me from doing what I want!

4th ujb now...or is that 5?

That Jam at the end of UJB just melted my face LOL. If I was driving in a car at the moment--I would have gotten lost haha.

Good call there sound lover on the Mason's ;)

Hlpslpfrnk i heard sirius is going to broadcast the Gorge show live too. I'm stoked about that becuase you are right--they really step up to the plate the nights they broadcast!

I love technology. Only once back in the day did I get to listen to the show i was just at right afterwards (taper friend). Here we can all listen to it at home and wiggle around the house making dinner and share the energy of the show happening right this instant. Still blows me away!

Does this mean I won't get a Mason's in Chicago? I hope not. I can never get enough of this song, and I dig Warren's distortion for it.

and Jeff continues to tear it up...

1fish1fish....ahhh such is life. The good news though is you didn't try to make it and pull an all nighter and then try to take the exam. Been there, done that back in college and lets just say that never worked out okay LOL.

Rockin Mason's they sound great on Sirius

Write him off as stoned

I think this was the 5th time for UJB

so think there will be acoustic set???

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)

Obama funk rap with Rush and Obama speaking to each other... great stuff

I hope there's a transcript of that Billy interview. If anyone finds a link, please post it.

i never thought jeff would sound like that. lol. such a deeeep voice

liked the mason's a lot. only complaint was the slow tempo, it's almost impossible to play a song like saturday night any slower than that, weird!

i hope there's a transcript of that falafel guy interview!

i had one of those last night. very tasty

If you can't get Sirius, this chat room is streaming it: http://www.mogulus.com/davidaron

Well, as far as number of times played... It was awesome at first to have no repeats as we rolled into each night wondering and logging it all down.

But we have to come to the realization that by worrying about how many times a song has been repeated could actually affect or compromise the flow of the show. We should just let it grow.

I doubt the Fellaz are worried about how many times they played a certain song when an opportunity presents itself to roll!

Or as Pigpen used to say: "if it fits, pull it out, if it doesn't, make it fit!"

thanks Bee Nuggly

I feel a Dew appearance this set : )

I'm thinking Dew too...
:^D

dew, passenger, liberty, samson closer

listen to set1 here> www.live365.com/stations/2012_live

I feel a freebird 2nd set opener

...walk me out in the morning dew my honey....

goosebumps. I love the anticipation of second sets =)

Help>Slip would be nice

eggsellent 1st set except for althea!

goosebumps... know what you mean.. : )

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'

anyone know the following?

how/when these 2 sets hit that megaupload site?

sirius dj said 3 shows being broadcast on sirius. i didn't catch when the 3rd was going to be. did anyone?

.... can't stay much longer, Melinda, The sun is getting highhhhhhhhhhhh

Lovin it
make good money $5 a day

MarkD...I believe it is the Gorge that will be broadcasted. May 16th

3rd show will be the Gorge

Someone mentinoed the Gorge to be broadcast.. gonna miss that one if they do... cause I'll be THERE!

if they play dew i hope they let warren loose and he rips along with phil bombs of course

SING IT Sugareeblueskyz!!!!!!

We need the Dew in Philly!

Ya Tom me too... blow the roof off the joint

Alot of poor men got them Cumberland Blues

ooohhh I want one of these for Shoreline


PPLLLLEEEEEEEEZZZZ
Wow Phil sounds really really good.

Ya Know he had to Die

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment

beautiful...this might be a FLAC buyer...

Here we go its all starting to get a little blurry just the way I always liked it

Fuck yea

the stereo is on WAY toooo loud now

rippin other one

I was hoping they'd go into some monster tribal Rhythm Devils and come back to Phil bombing the joint after space and coming back into The Other One...not that I'd kick how it happened out of the round.

i think my brain just melted there for a minute. I love that ;)

he had to die you know he had to die

i remember the q closing in 2003, at the tower, with the most smoking cumberland! i thought there might be something to the end "i dont know now. i just dont know, if i goin back again?".

turned out that was it, for them.

nice selection to close the spectrum.

:-)

this is awesome

The bus came by

and I fuckin got on

again and again

rockin'!

Phil is a mumbling, grumbling, rumbling behemoth.

Bobby looks over at Phil and says
He lets go BIG tonight
Phil smiles and says
I guess it will be the other ones

i'm takin the bus to never ever land lol

http://images.jambase.com/bands/thedead/090501_bla kesberg/22.jpg

Saying I didnt get off on that would be an understatement

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz

that was badass

sugareeblueskyz,
thanks for that

think i've got one more email address to use to get the sirius 3 day trial!

any word on the megauploads for tonights show?

too funny sound lover! lol

they bring the drums EVERY night. always a fan, but never heard this kind of consistency.

Bill and Mickey are having an amazing tour. my hats off..

last drums in the spectrum

were heading into the final streach

This is a strange color

Morning Dew Cool

nevermind

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew

sweet

Dew

I feel like this set just started!

Mark, was that nov. 30 03' with the jam>scarlet>fire opener? I'll never forget that night. ever.

JESUS CHRIST!

En fuego!!

I hope the mix sounds this nice to the folks there...AND LOUD

Warren sounded great! Hope he winds it up and really tears one off 2nd solo.

ya doyle, that show was one of the best i saw, maybe top 5 ever.

now im wishing i flew up for this one. i knew philly wud get the dew.

i remember the band just cracking up during lovelight, watchtower, and cumberland. all 3 of those shows were on fire.

did the 5 at red rocks in 03 too. 2003 was my fave yr since jerry checked out. maybe 2001 becuase i first starting seeing the q then some with bobby. 2002 was fun too. the reunion. the shows in philly were fun.

they played a nasty alligator the 2nd nite.

That was fuckin ridiculous...

crowd is goin nutz

holy fu%$K!

what do you mean ridiculous?

The recycler song

st. stephen

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen

bastards, LOOOOL.

11 on tap?

maybe i shud have gone........

d'oh

Ridiculous as in out of control... awesome... smokin... just craazy!! So F'in good its ridiculous!

great show!!

this show is amazing

fkin sick jam

this is some of the BEST Jamming all tour

Been here so long...he got to callin' it HOME

Revolution

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen>
Revolution

stephen-->Revolution-->Stephen-->Revolution

i'm liking it.

nevermind. i think my stream goofed on me.

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen>
Revolution
Help On The Way

da show of the tour?

speachless

phil is on FIRE! Im listening on ok computer speakers and Phils tone is sweet man.

set of the tour, that's for sure

Celtics beat Bulls

Yup

slipknot

to Foolish Heart?

wait for it...

Are they wearing oxygen masks on stage? Phil is sucking up all the air. I'm surprised we can hear anything but him.

lol! woohoo!

so simple!

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen>
Revolution
Help On The Way>
Slipknot!>
Franklins Tower

Franklins- nice to hear the "suite" sounds...

unreal

SICK

Phil looks at Bobby and says
I hope you ate your Wheeties fat boy

da show of the tour?>>>

IMO...no, NYC - MSG

SING the fucking song, Bob! fuck

THE BOYS COME THROUGH ONCE AGAIN

MSG, 1st Izod and tonight best shows this tour so far IHMO

William Shattner gave Bobby singing coaching before tour

GLORIA

the guy screamin YEAH! WOO! lol

THE JOINT WAS A JUMPIN

Sampson

I guess you have to see them on a Saturday night to get the 110%.

wtf where is the encore? sirius just went all UJB on me????

The friendly folks at Philly got one hell of a show tonight.

or days between I guess if you went to Worcester

My sirius is the sounds of a stoked crowd!

>>The friendly folks at Philly<<

does not compute

HOT FUCKIN DEAD

it's back that was weird...sounded like a 2003 Dead UJB with Herring, now I have donor rap..

G-L-O-R-I-A

If you're not on Sirius, catch the encore here:

This chat room is streaming it: http://www.mogulus.com/davidaron

A Sunday Special

Saturday night Samson??

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen>
Revolution
Help On The Way>
Slipknot!>


Encore:
Donor Rap
Samson and Delilah

Michael - you called it, all night long!!!

props

last show ever at spectrum

Set 2:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues,
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz/Space>
Morning Dew,
St Stephen>
Revolution,
Help On The Way>
Slipknot!>
Franklin's Tower

Donor Rap
encore: Samson & Delilah

>>>>William Shattner gave Bobby singing coaching before tour

If I had my way, I'd tear this old building down...

great encore for the last spectrum show.

tear this old building down...but of course!!!

redicerous!

I had fun with all you folks on line,
Fantastic show.
Now I will stumble into my front yard and try to bum a beer off of a neighbor.

It's in the books... wow...

The Dead
05/02/09
The Spectrum
Philadelphia, PA


Set I:
One More Saturday Night
Brown Eyed Women
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl
Althea
He's Gone>
Uncle John's Band>
Mason's Children
(End of Set)


SET II:
Good Lovin'>
Cumberland Blues
Cryptical Envelopment>
The Other One>
Drumz>
Space>
Morning Dew
St. Stephen>
Revolution
Help On The Way>
Slipknot!>
Franklins Tower


Encore:
Donor Rap
Samson and Delilah

great, great send off for the spectrum. any ideas on the final show for the spectrum? rumors are that it'll be a phish phinale.

Just listened to the 2nd set on Sirius. Awesome sound mix!
Wish I was there. It sounded very high energy.
Before Phil's donor rap he said "that was the most satisfying set they've played all tour". Pretty good set. Although I wish Warren had sung Mornign Dew instead of Booby.

Jackstraw from West Virginia (not Wichita) - Had a phine philly time with you in the lot - glad you enjoyed the Tony Lukes treat - you are a hard man to keep ahold of - travel safe and see you in the chat next week for the Chi Town shows and beyond....what a weekend!! A Phine Phil-ly time it was!!

That's what a Dead concert supposed to sound like !

smokin hot...very nice.

Other One, St. Stephen, Dew, AND H>S>F in one set! A monster!

listen to set 2> www.live365.com/stations/2012_live

Just got back from Philly. Gotta sleep. Just wanted to say that, at the end of the Dew, Bobby was poised in a crouch with his pick ready to strum the first note of the next song but Phil just wanted to let the last note fade out. So he never cued Bobby to start the next song.

Then he turned back to his amps and took a drink. So there was no transition that was going to happen. When the audience realized that no song was starting, they built a thunderous ovation to thank the band for breaking out the Dew at the last Spectrum show (shoulda been Warren on vocals...oh well). The applause was super loud and went on and on. Then Phil walked over to Bobby & gave him a fist bump, as if to say "You/we nailed it!" The crowd became even more frenzied. I enjoyed the Dew, but the audience response afterwards will remain one of my fondest concert memories ever!

This show was a fucking monster. I can't even compare it to the Albany and MSG shows I attended which were both mammoth. This one was a show for the annals of all-time GD lore, IMO. I don't say that lightly. My first show was 4/6/87. Over the years I have seen extraordinary shows like 9/18/87 MSG, 3/30/88 Meadowlands, 7/29/88 Laguna Seca , 5/6 89 Frost, 10/26/89 Miami, 3/26/90 Albany, 6/10/90 Cal Expo, Berlin & Paris 10/90, 12/6/92 Tempe, 94 Vegas, etc. Lots of Furthur, TOO, R'dog, P & F, since then including Phil's Warfield comeback shows with Trey & Page, Terrapin Station at Alpine, Dead Camden '03, Dead Red Rocks 04, etc. Everybody has their faves from along their own journey with these guys and those have been some of mine. I feel blessed to have spent some truly spectacular evenings with the boys just like all of you. I felt tonight's show was one of those NIGHTS. The significance of the band's last show ever at the Spectrum, the enthusiasm and thunder of the crowd, the momentum of the tour, last show on E. seaboard, etc -- the ingredients were all there, but they cooked up a powerhouse show the likes of which I was not prepared for -- transcendental. Everybody knew it as it was playing out. The band actually had to stand still after the Dew because the crowd reaction was so spastic it literally delayed the show for a good two minutes it seemed. The applause just kept growing to the point where Phil finally walked over to Bob towards the end and gave him the knuckles fist pound in a great moment of brotherhood. Song selection was fierce, band was on fire, Warren was dialed in BIGTIME, and Drums was off the charts -- Mickey was so amped, Jeff was the unsung hero/secret weapon as usual, and what more can one say about Bob & Phil on this tour? Just a killer, killer night with great messaging from the band to the Spectrum faithful -- Good Lovin', Dew, Revolution, Franklin's, Samson...a real love letter from The Dead to Philly with knods to the history of the city AND the band's history WITH the City. Washed the night down with a Tony Luke's Roast Pork Italian with Rabe. Yeah, baby. And god bless the Grateful Dead.

Just got back. The show lived up to the hype. After the lights went down, they shined the spotlight on the 53 sell-outs banner. They were into it. Things started getting special with Althea, and then He’s Gone. Uncle John’s Band was nice, they treid to segue into Mason’s but to no avail, did the reprise, before going into Mason’s more cut and dry. Good Lovin was neat, Cumberland was smokin’, and then, it got otherworldly. After Cumberland they figured out what they were going to do, there body language said a lot. They all stood up straight, wiped their brow, and locked in to the adventure. Phil nailed the Cryptical, and then we were treated to a primal Other One. Can’t wait to hear the tape. Phil was a monster. Phil was a monster. Phil was a monster.
The image here was that during the Other One, the banner was brought down to the back of the stage behind Phil and they were rolling it up. Very symbolic.
After the Cryptical reprise, Phil pointed to the drummers to begin, much to Bobby’s shagrin. Don’t think Bobby was ready, to say the least. The stare of death. More on this later. Drums was awesome. Mickey had his leg up 90’ on the drum apparatus and then did some awesome Beast drum rolls. Space was nice, and then came the Dew. The person who was front row center made a sign and hung it over the railing that said “Dew?”. It was there from the start of the show. The guys nailed the Dew. Warren continued to show confidence. And then after the Dew Warren and Bob were looking at Phil, it would have been easy to force a segue that wasn’t there, but they didn’t they stopped. Then, after a few moments, Phil walks over to Bobby and gives him a fist tap. Bobby responded. The crowd went nuts.
After a little while, St. Stephen began. Again they nailed it. Revolution was strong. Then again they took there time, wiped their collective brows again and began Help/Slip/Franklin’s. Help was a little light, especially given the primal music we had been exposed to for the last hour. Slipknot started light, but then got to the dense,meaty place that we all love. Franklin’s, again, tentative to start, no one took charge right away, but then they nailed it. Phil suspended us in heaven about 2/3rd’s through. Beautiful.

Phil came out. I didn’t hear a word he said. It was too loud until he started the donor rap.
Samson was nice. The guys hugged, Phil talking to Bobby, and then everyone showing their appreciation.

A night for the ages.

Thank you guys!!

The Dead that we heard last night is, how shall I say this, sounded not bad, not imcompetant, but very boring musically. Frankly I was surprised by the lack of jamming. When the space and drums are the best part of a show that really says something. All the songs sounded, at least to me, to be painfully slow..the product of Bob Weir's purposely anememic counts in. To these ears, PLF is much more musically exciting as the players in any of those bands have no problem actually jamming and stretching out on each tune instead of the very tepid renditions of songs that we got last night. They sounded like they were just playing it safe...with no major gaffes, except on some of the transitions, but very much lacking in soul. Something that the Grateful Dead had in spades. Just as it sounded like they were going to break free and and make a run for it, they went back to the same plodding, muted renditions of some of their best known repitoire. As if it were Dead-Lite.

Some have said that this was the show for the ages. Let me suggest that if you went to Tony Lukes and got a sandwich this bland, you might not consider coming back.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

GOD BLESS THE GRATEFUL DEAD

Monster show. There are no words left in my brain to express how much I love this band, their music and the PEOPLE who love it along with me.

thank you ALL for giving me a REAL good time

thank you GOD for giving us this music AGAIN.

As I go to church this am, this show will be playing the recesses of my mind and I will understand that they are a band beyond description.

Pete, I just ripped a huge Tony Luke's fart "written in the letters of your name!"

Sorry -- couldn't resist

Bummer you didn't feel what we felt. However, for the 99.999999 percent who were very much on the bus last night, FUCK YEAH!!!! Sunday morning hasn't felt this good in a long time ;)

Incredibly high energy all night. Started very strong right out of the box, energy slipped just a tad in Althea (still great though) but was off the charts from there on in. He's Gone->UJB was incredible, a great Mason's to close out the set. Good Lovin' was tight and powerful with a nice jam in the end, transition in to Cumberland had a slight hick-up but once they got the beat going forget about it. The thunderous applause after those two was deafening, almost brought to tear to my eye, it went on for minutes At this point I say to my wife that it's critical decision time, a show breaker decision, time to use all that energy wisely and then the first notes of Cryptical ring out. The place explodes, unbelievable. Smoking Other One, great drums, I saw the Dew coming and it was sublime, shades of 4/6/82. Stephen blew the roof off the place, long convoluted jam out of that before returning to the theme, and Revolution was pure genius (what would be the answer?????? But maybe not??? What type of revolution??) Great Great stuff, they're thinking tonight. I also expected the HSF set ended and I have to admit that by this time they were almost running on fumes, at times they beat was so slow that it almost seemed like they were going to stumble over themselves but they pulled it off, very unusual Slipknot that got very twisted, and a high energy Franklin's to close it all out. I called the encore in another Philly folder on Thursday but it was an obvious pick, the crowd roaring along with the "Tear this old building down!" line. A Brokedown follow up would have been nice but no time to get greedy.

We had the best seats in the house, ten rows out from the stage and two rows up on the side on Phil's side (226, row 2). Scammed by best friend who started seeing shows in '72 (a year earlier then me) down and she never had a problem with the seat. People were smoking all night, completely relaxed and mellow. The halls during the break were nuts, but we had a friend who rented a box so we just went there to use the bathroom and visit during the break.

By a wide mile the best core four post Jerry show that I've seen. I really didn't think these guys could get to that place, it was amazing an breathtaking to see it all happen one more time. The prefect night to say goodbye tpo the place were it all started for my back on March 24, 1973.

God bless the Grateful Dead, and thanks for being a part of my life.

"I don't say that lightly. My first show was 4/6/87."

Admitting that your first show doesn't make you an expert or that seasoned a Deadhead in terms of the live shows you saw. (Now if you've listened to loads of Dead from all eras over the years, that might giv you some great perspective and your opinions insight, but if you caught your first show in 1987, that don't mean squat. I saw my first show in 1977 and second in 1978, and I do not consider myself someone who saw the best of the band live.)

SOunds like last night was a strong show, and the band certainly cranked out a nice setlist.

Sorry for all the typos above, it's still early!

Whenever we saw our first show ('71) or the sheer number (100's) it only takes a note, a moment, a feeling...such a long, long time to be gone such a short time to be there...Thank you Core 4, Warren and Jeff for bringing me there again!!!!

I love this music...I love this band...I love Sirius and most of all I love each and every one of you!!!!!!

Please...Please....Please keep this band alive!!!

Myles

Skeptical,

Thanks for attacking me. Nice attitude. Guess you missed this sentence in my post:

"Everybody has their faves from along their own journey with these guys and those have been some of mine."

Never professed to be an expert or anything other than someone who's been fortunate to witness some excellent latter-day GD shows. Just contexted my review. Pity you need to try and take shots. Next time I post with genuine enthusiasm, I'll try and remember that it's a pissing match for guys like you and defend myself in advance. Give me a break.

"Phil came out. I didn’t hear a word he said."

Phil said "this had been the most inspired performance any of them had done in a long time, certainly on this tour, and all due to the incredibly high energy of this place". He then did the rap, then finished with "we've got one more for you thats gonna tear this whole building down."

I was at the show last night and it was a great,great time. Better than the 4/18 Woosta show I was at. Drumz was the biggest highlight for me, but there were many, the band sounded so tight. Great to be at the final Spectrum show(and glad the band actually delivered) and hearing the show on the way home was awesome! Liked the 1-2 combo of Sat.Nite and BEWomen to start. Schoolgirl is 7 minutes of my life I'll never get back, Althea was great(though 4/18's was better), but He's Gone>Uncle John's>Mason's was just a great capper to a somewhat(to me) short first set. Good Lovin' and Cumberland kept the fans on their feet, Cryptical>Other One>Drumz felt like the "centerpiece" of the show, Space>Morning Dew was decent, St. Stephen really brought the energy up(for me), Revolution was "eh" but still a surprise, and Help>Slip>Frank's was a generous way to close. Was in-line for the cds when they broke into the expected Samson encore. I like how Bobby starts on tambourine, but that's me. Might not have been 9/13/93 or somethin, but definitely better than anything I've heard from Phil and Friends or RatDog in a few years for sure. I really hope they decide to tour again in the very near future. Have fun Chicago and all the rest of the West coming up. Can't wait for the 5/16 broadcast!(See who said Philly people can't be nice!!)

No time to hate Skeptical. I was there Friday and the energy was over the top from the audience and it sounded like it went even further off the charts last night.

Yeah I agree some stuff was played slower last night, and I would hold Warren more responsible than Bobby, but the meat of that set was incredible!
If they do another Morning Dew on this tour it will be even better.
(((((Shoreline))))))

You cold hear the crowd's thunderous appeciation after Morning Dew, on the Sirius feed, and then to break out into a spontanenous NFA clap.

Priceless.

The last time I heard something like that was at the begining of TOO show in Hartford in '98, that one broughts tears to my eyes.
I am sure many had the same feelings last night.

We all love these guys so very much and love the music that Jerry wrote, that is what makes us Dead Heads.
Our devotion to the moment that music is happening is one of the most powerful experiences this world has seen.

Most folks can't fathom that at all. To be part of something bigger than yourself and have it inspire you for the rest of our lives, is a true gift.

There are few things that have that power and magic and to do it with 15,000 other people?

A blessing.

"Our strong suit is what we do, and our audience."
JG

" You know our love will not fade away"

Well done Philly you all earned it and did it with a style and pride that makes that old place so damn special.
Glad I was a part of it.
Now who wants to take me to the west coast ;)

Another FANTASTIC show!! If I had to be a "perfectionist" tho, the one thing Id like to see is the boys playin these tunes faster. I would have to agree that everything this tour was played at a much slower pace, I beleive that Bobby has slowed it down to more of a "Ratdog" like speed.(I guess thats his personal touch to the band) But Phil seems to get the song list that he prefers playing (I guess thats his personal touch) But all in all, I thought the whole tour was a BLAST, and Im praying that they do a Fall Tour! PLEASE!!

"I just ripped a huge Tony Luke's fart "written in the letters of your name!"
Classic!! LOL~~

ok, here is my review...
first of all, an amazing day hanging
with great people amped for the last
"dead" show at the Spectrum.

Being a west coast girl, it was my first
Spectrum show, so I was especially excited.

Crowding into the spectrum and racing for
our spot, we see the lights go down and that
feeling in your chest like YES! Here we go.

Just as we get to our seats they blaze right
into Saturday Night...and it's rockin!!!!
Great start to the show. The entire crowd
singing and dancing.

The Althea, He's gone (superb!), UJB was a pure treat
but the highlight was the MASON's!!
The energy of the crowd and band was
a high...I had goosebumps.

The rhythm devils, man they were great!
Watching those two was sweet! Just keeping
it going!

Phil...no words, I love the man and I focus
on him to hear it all swirl around.

Warren- just brought the guitar and vocals
to the height this band needs!

Jeff- I was really impressed, his sweet
keys were a treat and to see him bopping
away side stage was really cool.

Bobby- wow! I was really impressed He played a solid, energetic show, jamming with warren more than a few times and I was stoked to see and hear him so energetic and ON.

The second set start out as the first. Energy
and sweet sounds. The anticipation was
awesome feeling. The crowd just amped up!
A little good lovin for all.
Cumberland Cryptical Other One was HOT!
I was out there feeling it big time...
the band was having a great time and the
energy of the crowd was HUGE. Just good
solid jamming and love. You could see it
but even more, you could feel it.

Drumz space was AMAZING! I usually wander
or hit the restroom, but it was wild. I
loved seeing those two and feeling their
sounds all the way to my toes.

Then, the first notes of Dew, so much
excitement and then....OUCH! I felt
a "d'oh" moment when bobby started singing.
It was rough, yet the band playing around it
was sweet.

I sort of felt like something happened during
Dew...it was a tough recover after that, for my
ears. It really slowed down.
Like John says above "ratdog speed" or
1/4 speed as we joke. I felt like Bobby
got emotional or really tired.

The rest of the show continued at that rate
and never picked up speed, although
they tried, and warren really pushing for
it.

All in all a GREAT show. I was really impressed
with most of it and was on a high.

The spectrum is a wild place. The crowd had
more energy than I have seen in a very
long time. That alone gave an upward
notch of sweet energy to the show.

When Phil came out for the Donor rap
it was clear he was overwhelmed. Listen
to what he says!!! Sweet, sweet Phil.

Perfect encore for that old building!
It was expected and delivered.

So, that's my short, quick review the morning
after, still feeling exhausted from a great
weekend.

Thanks for the energy Philly, and thanks
to the band for a real good time.

anyone have the surius feed download?

the one thing Id like to see is the boys playin these tunes faster>>

The slower pace reminds me of 70's Dead. It leaves more room for the jams to build

Saw Pete's opinion. He's entitled to it, and he can stick to it, but I have a feeling that he was not at the concert.

"The slower pace reminds me of 70's Dead. It leaves more room for the jams to build"

Exactly. It doesn't always pan out but that's how it's supposed to work.

Jimmy Z I wouldn't let one persons comments bother you if they really wanted to prove what they may have been trying to say they would not have had to mention their own first show dates, it was just someone trying to pull a worthless trump card. Most know it doesn't matter when and how many shows one has seen .. what matters is the music is for everyone and everyone has their own opinion and insight. Thanks for sharing your positive insight with us .. Rock on and Peace b w/ u!~

Dont want to argue about it, but to say that its 70's speed, I would totally disagree with. Ive been around quite a while and have an extensive 70's collection of music, and I cant find any show that I would say is played at that speed. Im sure that we could go back and forth on this till the cows come home, but thats how I view it. Bottom line is that we all seemed to love this tour and hope that it continues.

i was wondering what ya'll think - who has a more accurate idea of a performance - someone that was there or someone that wasn't and is listening to the recording? shows that i was at...that had a great vibe...i have a biased opinion of the recording - sometimes people say shows were great and i listen to the recording and i am like...sounds just ok

i say this because some of the good debate here seems to be between those that listened to the sirius brodcast vs those that were at the show

i personally beleive live music was meant to be heard live, in person...and if the crowd and venue vibe takes the experience beyond what the "absolute value" of the performance was on its own...all the better - i always thought of seeing the any incarnation of the grateful dead or any other lineup to be part of the total experience and not just listening to a performance

i listened to last night's performance and thought it was good...not as good as good as msg from last saturday...but then again i was at msg...so that is just my point

i just thought i would throw that out there and see if anyone had any thoughts - in the end this is all subjective and it is also all for fun and enjoyment - sometimes we take ourselves a little too seriously on this board

Just got back to northern NJ and after five shows will say that hands-down, this was the best of all. Pete, if you didn't like last night's show you probably shouldn't waste any money on future shows. They aren't going to be getting much better than what the boys gave us last night...

One more thing:
I have seen many Dews over the years. My first was William and Mary in April 1978 and while it was my eleventh GD show, that song was seared into my memory as the "MOMENT" that I GOT THE GRATEFUL DEAD.

I have done my share of Bobby-bashing over the past 7 or 8 years but have been loving him on this tour; I really think he's been stepping up to the plate and it is one of the reasons I have been digging this tour as much as I have. As soon as Bobby started singing Dew last night I became concerned - they should be letting Warren sing this! BUT BOBBY FUCKING NAILED IT. I don't care what the recordings sound like, and I don't care what it sounded like on Sirius; I was there, and the Dew was another one of those "moments". Bobby knew it, Phil knew it, and the crowd knew it. That's why they paused before Revolution, that's why we got the Bobby/Phil fist-bump, and that's why the crowd went wild.

FWIW, the drummers have been awesone, I love Chiment, I lovelove Warren, and Phil, well, what needs to be said about Phil? He is THE MAN! But Bobby is bringing his A-game, and he really brought it last night!

Shout out to Pete Jennings: I'm not certain we were at the same concert last night. How can you possibly say "The Dead that we heard last night is, how shall I say this, sounded not bad, not imcompetant, but very boring musically". You are serious about this?

Did you hear what I just heard? THEY ARE A BAND BEYOND DESCRIPTION, LIKE JEHOVAH'S FAVOURITE CHOIR! Perhaps you should consider a sabbatical on going to the shows, like say, for the next 50 years or something.

I too heave a loud and stinky Tuny Luke's gas-bomb in your general direction.

For all the rest of us who thought it was an incredible show, all I can say is that ALREADY the bootleg has been posted in The Archives, so God Bless The Tapers and enjoy it forever!!

I would side with the person that listened to the recording and wasn't there, as opposed to the person who was there, providing that this person is a truly knowlegible(?) Dead-Head. Because based on my years of goin to shows, you quickly realize that sometimes, if your not feelin well, security sucks, a fight, bad trip, whatever it may be, it ABSOLUTELY effects how you view the show, and vice versa. On the other hand,if your havin a blast, grate trip, etc.. and the boys are not really on their game, you leave thinking that it was a grate show, and when you hear the recording, you think differently, and vice versa! Its happened to me, MANY,MANY, times!

"But Bobby is bringing his A-game, and he really brought it last night!"

Yep, he has really stepped up this tour, a world of difference.

"I would side with the person that listened to the recording and wasn't there, as opposed to the person who was there,"

Then I think that you're missing the point of what a live music experience is all about. Two different worlds, and nothing can replace what you get from being there when it's going down.

anyone have the sirius feed download????

Two ideas:
1. Pete should stop going to Dead shows.
2. John should stop going concerts altogether. Just wait for the recordings...

Fare Thee Well

Never had such a good time as last night. Well, maybe as good, but it was never better than last night at The Spectrum.

So many friends, old and new, present and gone(but not forgotten) a glorious past and now...

WALK ME OUT IN THE MORNING DEW!!

Was at that wonderful, emotional show last night.
Could anybody make out what Bobby said at the end-
I want to dedicate this show to the memory of - did he
say Jerry Garcia.

Peter: You commented that the show wasn't much.
I;m a little to tired to do a review, I'll try later,but when Phil came to the mike for his donor rap he said "this night was the most satisfying music played of the tour". So when even the band is saying it's the best show of the tour I think we all again it was that good. So as soon as I can get rested up I'll give a better review.

i am sure it was a fun time for those at the Spectrum, but it was painful to listen to the recording. Really bad! Jams are ok, but not a good flow. they have 5 excellent players, but Bob Weir sucks donkey dick and kills the momentum on almost every Jerry song he tries to sing. The Franklin's Tower made me cringe. It was like listening to Ed Norton on vocals: "Hey Ralphy Boy, When you plant ice, you're gonna harvest wind there Ralphy boy". It is ridiculous! Total soul-less croning. Ugh! Weir should sing only traditional Bobby tunes, and keep his doofy mouth closed all other times. Let Warren sing, please.

^^^^ please mozy along to Govt Mule if you only want to hear Warren sing. We here LIKE Bobby and Phil too.

All you who think that it's about the recordings.....all I have to say to that is HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA IF YOU WEREN"T THERE THEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA>>>>>>>>>

To Jayw: shut up!

Neil asked an interesting question a few notes back....about how much of the live vibe translates to recordings, and whether he thought MSG 4/25 was better than Spectrum 5/2 just because he attended it. Well, I was at the Spectrum last night (1st ever Phila show for this NYer, thank you Dr. Daph!) and had a blast. Everything was well-jammed & (pretty) well-sung. Drumspace was a real thrill (not usually a fan, but last night they really tapped into something), audience energy was huge and jubilant. An excellent show, no doubt. Then I listened to the audio from MSG 4/25 (which I didn't attend) on the bus ride home, and, well.....what to say? MSG was transcendent. To my ear/mind/heart it was a good few notches higher than the Spectrum closer. Neil, it wasn't just cuz you were there.....some extra special mystery factor was at play in MSG that night. I felt it at home listening to it on gdradio that night, and I felt it again listening back this afternoon. The why and how of it are unfathomable, but you know it when you hear it, and it absolutely can come through on the recordings.
All in all, though, I ain't complainin' about what I got to partake of in Philly last night (though I coulda used w/ more Phil & Jeff in the mix where we were standing). There was magic a'plenty, of a good hearted kind that's all too rare these days.
Peace, love & joy to all of you. Enjoy the rest of the tour...and the summer!

anyone have knowledge about the availability of the sirius feed via megaupload?

someone posted it for the worcester show, very nice to have!

i just wanted to say thanks to john and erik goldman for taking time to read my post and formulate a cohesive and thought out response. not to say that no one else did but those two stuck out to me. thanks for taking the time to try to understand my thought process rather than just saying, "AHHHHH Philly was the Best - show for the ages!!!!" or "MSG RULED!!!! Ahh!!!!!" or whatever. Sometimes I read the posts here and it is almost like people take things personal when there is no need to or even any rational reason for it. As if someone saying they liked one show better than the other is a personal attack on you and the show you attended maybe liked better. Almost like someone insulting you if you are a yankee fan and they are a red sox fan.

As far as the whole recording vs being there thing goes...I have an interview with Garcia on tape where he is talking about listening to recordings of the Grateful Dead. He said he found that how he felt about a show while he was playing it had little, if anything to do with the actual quality of the performance. He said, it matters to him...because he feels that way...but overall that is irrelevant to everyone except him. Some things he thought were crap turned out to be great when he listened to them after the fact...and vice versa - some stuff he thought was great was acutally crap when he listened to it after the fact.

Now, that being said...I go to shows to enjoy the music live, in the moment. I don't really care if the tape sounds like crap after. If I had a good time and I was moved so be it, period. But...I still do find it very interesting how subjective this can be and reality can be bent by environment, circumstances, vibe, energy, the ozone layer, or whatever. After all, isn't subjective reality the essence of the psychedelic experience anyway? And I don't trip, smoke, or drink when I go to shows...anymore

Hi All. This is my first post here. I guess I should say, I've been going to shows since TOO in '02 and I was at both the MSG and 2nd night Spectrum shows, as well as a few others. At any rate, I think its pretty clear, maybe even objectively so, that these two Saturday nights were the best of the entire east coast run. And I'm not just saying that because I was there or they were the only shows I got to see.

I was at the Nassau Colliseum show (best drums/space of the run IMO but thats about it) and when the lights came on I found a nice little bag of smokables someone must've dropped right at my feet. So I knew immediately the next night at MSG was gonna be epic. Turns out my seat was right in front of some violent drunks who couldn't stop yelling WAAAAAARRRRRRRENNNNNNNNNNNNN every 30 seconds and generally ruined whatever magic others around might have felt. It was a shorter show, and I felt that Warren's jamming was, at times, out of tune with the language of the song. I guess I mean theres a time and space for crunchy chords and sweet blues riffs, but he doesn't really have that Jerry-like ability to nimbly dance on top of whatever Phil and Bobby are laying down. Jimmy Herring was a little better but he had his own weaknesses. That I still enjoyed the show - more than enjoyed- thought it was the best of the run- was a real testament to the quality they brought and an excellent set-list - a real A+, whereas I thought the Spectrum was A or A-.

Ok, but the Spectrum was something else all together. Warren was lighter on his feet, Phil was dropping bombs left and right, and Bobby was up-tempo and sang most of the songs he tried to sing. I mean, say what you want about how he sings them, or whether someone else should be doing it instead, but at least give him credit for getting it out most of the time. I don't mean to be too critical, but those kinds of missing lyrics were just too much at earlier shows. Even though I didn't have a god-sent nickel-bag or the ability to get home within an hour (I actually ended up sleeping in Philly Penn Station after missing the last SEPTA train to Trenton and then my connection back to NY) my head was buzzing and my feet were dancing throughout the night.

Phil was almost shouted down at the donor rap, there was that Phil-Bobby fist bump, Mickey humping his space-machine, a group hug before the bow, and then the band blowing us kisses and Mickey telling us to go home and love each other. They knew it was a special night and everyone there did too. I was expecting something like a let down when I listened to the tape on archive.org (Thanks Marcus, whoever you are, you're just about the best friend I've never met) and I got goosebumps all over again.

Bottom line, I've been checking this site for YEARS, but felt and still feel so goddamn strongly about what I just was a part of at the Spectrum that I signed up and wanted this opinion to be public.

Long live the dead.

That sums it up nicely, well said.

Hey John, nice comeback.

Your welcome Jayw...Like the man said, its an "opinion" NOT a personal attack if you disagree with someone

To Tom and Jawa: to each is own! But I guess YOU guys have a different opinion of recordings vs being there than Mr. Garcia does.

Neil: "I still do find it very interesting how subjective this can be and reality can be bent by environment, circumstances, vibe, energy, the ozone layer, or whatever" hits it exactly right as far as I'm concerned.

There is something to be said for communally verifiable reality, but it's how your individual soul/spirit/intellect, etc. interacts with (or disappears into) that reality that determines your experience. "Sometimes you get shown the light...." E.g., most people really dug 5/2, but that one guy's mind just wasn't open to the magic and he thought it was mediocre. We're not right and he's not wrong. From a communally verifiable perspective, we can rate the set or individual songs compared to other shows and create a fairly consistent concensus of how it rates. However, whether or not it "hit the spot" for those in attendance is an individual thing. I'm sure there's a continuum between those who saw God at the show on 5/2 and those who had a bummer. Everybody saw the same elephant, but it meant different things to different people.

BTW, I learned about how subjective my own experience is by years of comparing how I felt at shows with the recordings (almost said tapes). I consider this to be one of the unique learnings available to Deadheads "back in the day," due to the phenomenon of taping, that wasn't available to the general public.

Anyway, do you want to rate a car by how it looks or by how it performs its function? Do you want to rate music by how it sounds on a recording or by how it moved you while you were listening to it live? Both are valid, but I think the latter is more significant/important. Also, in ways that can't really be defined or measured, your active participation in the event can "close the circuit" as Phil says and affect the quality of the performance that gets recorded. E.g., I've always believed the magnitude, quality and duration of the crescendo in Morning Dew is due just as much to the response of the audience and how the musicians respond to that feedback as to anything else. This cannot occur listening after the fact (although you're welcome to try).

Music is the best!

Awesome shows in Philly, great energy.

What made it for me is that this truly is new music. It didn't feel at all like a cover band. Warren does not try to copy Jerry in any way. He has his own feel and take on all of it and it is genuine.

The '04 tour was OK, too many chefs w/ Barraco and Herring. This lineup is perfect and should do a minimum of 2 tours per year while everyone is happy and healthy.

It was worth $100.

"But I guess YOU guys have a different opinion of recordings vs being there than Mr. Garcia does."

How so? Jerry stated clearly in the movie (and elsewhere) that his personal experience of a performance wasn't necessarily indicative of the quality of that performance. I agree wholeheartedly. You can have a shitty time at a great show and a great time at a shitty show. And I agree that that goes for participants as well as performers. As far as I'm concerned, everyone experiences a show differently and there will always be some people who disagree with what others have to say about it. I'm sure someone (more then one) walked out of 12/31/78, 5/8/77, or 10/16/89 bummed out with the performance. That's in the nature of the combination of being human and experiencing a live performance.

But I also think that there are objective criteria that can be examined regarding the experience. Crowd reaction is one clue, as are visible reactions of the band. Both of these criteria were obviously on the side of those who thought that something special happened at the Spectrum Saturday night. And to be clear, the music doesn't have to be perfect for something special to happen. I would imagine that there were quite a few people like myself at that show that have a deep well of memories built up over decades from experiences in that building and that fact alone would help make it a special night.

So I'm not sure how I disagree with Mr. Garcia on this.

maybe my hears were playing tricks on me, but i thought Phil said it was the most satisfying set they played in a long time?? maybe those guys know something about having a fist bump type of performance.

"i personally beleive live music was meant to be heard live, in person...and if the crowd and venue vibe takes the experience beyond what the "absolute value" of the performance was on its own..."


I can't believe that this topic is even being discussed....

baseball fans don't argue over whether a game is better at the park or watched on tv at home/bar ... EVERYONE knows a baseball game is better AT THE PARK

And a concert is better in the arena because of the size and quality of the sound system - i don't care how good you think your sound system is, the experience isn't the same at home as in the hall....

Oh, and one more thing, actually fucking is way better than watching porn...

...I have an interview with Garcia on tape where he is talking about listening to recordings of the Grateful Dead. He said he found that how he felt about a show while he was playing it had little, if anything to do with the actual quality of the performance. He said, it matters to him...because he feels that way...but overall that is irrelevant to everyone except him. Some things he thought were crap turned out to be great when he listened to them after the fact...and vice versa - some stuff he thought was great was acutally crap when he listened to it after the fact.

What aweekend of shows. First off We decided to do the Happy Dan package. i never heard of it before and they really went out of their way to make it a great time for us. The shirts and posters were different fom inside the venue as well. So if any one is thinking of doing this it is worth it.

On to the shows. Friday night was fun, a big sing along. They kept working to get the sound down in the first set. The first set was a big Playing sandwich. They had the sound dialed in for the second set and came out strong with Jack Straw. Bobby took a little bow as it was that intense.
Aligator>cation were extreme highlights for me. As the band would start to slow down Phil kept that bass line going stronger and faster each time. He was driving the band all night.Every thing they played (except Shakedown) was pre-1974. Comes a time was strong as well. Hell the entire second set was really strong. Before Phil gave his donor rap he said that they forgot how intense Philly is.
After the show people were asking what were they going come up with for Sat. Maybe run for the roses, race is on (kentucky derby), maybe more jamming and less vocals etc,etc.
Sat: Just before the show they put a spot light on the banner and you could feel the energy in the place. Sat night was a given but we have heard it so much as a closer now that it was nice to open the show.As they made their way to the end of the first set the first reference of Philly was stated. Mason's Children ( free Mason's) Good Lovin opened the second and at one point Bobby was about to go into the rap part at the end but the crowd kept singing the harmony so the band kept on playing and brought it around again. Cumberland had a little Maggie's farm sound to it,then they got to the meat of it,cyptical>TOO. It's been a while since I heard TOO with that much emotion. During drumz Mickey was going nuts.The break out of Dew was just insane. It ended up being a show stopper. We thought they would take the St. Stephen into William Tell>11 but just as we thought that they throw out the revolution (another Philly reference) (want to change the constitution) and the HSF (another philly thow out) Franklin's tower (Ben Franklin)
When PHil came to the mike and said that it was the most satisfying music that they have done on this tour, you couldn't even hear his donor rap.
And as far as the spectrum, you had to keep and eye on where you walked or you would go down. I saw many ppl fall. It's almost as if they hose the steps down.
I keep reading where people say this person shouldn't sing this song or that person shouldn't play it that way,, so what. I'm just glad we are still getting live music from these guys.Jeff and Warren did and awesome job as well.

That was put quite well David!! No matter what the band does, some peolpe are always gonna complain!

Jimmy Z,
I can't remember feeling so moved by a review as a I feel after reading yours. Thank you.
I'm going to the last show of the tour (The Gorge), and it excites me just to know that people are so touched by the shows.
Thanks again.

300

spartaaaaaaaa

i've read a few things regarding Franklin's Tower being a nod to Ben Franklin. In truth the song is much more about the Liberty Bell. In bell making there is a process called "rolling out the dew". if this is not done correctly the bell will eventually crack. There is a in depth article about this on some annotation site. Also, during its conception Franklin's was compared to Deal, so at one point it was referred to as the "New Deal", which brings it around to FDR.

just wanted to point this out.

That article on the annotation site is a gag, a prank. I researched this and found no evidence that this process of "rolling out the dew" is ever mentioned in bell making. If you Google the phrase that "article" is the only relevant hit you find, and if you add the phrase "bell making" you get zero hits. I contacted the author (this was all over 10 years ago) and he fudged all his answers to me and basically, in a back handed way, admitted that I had caught him (I said "never trust a prankster I guess" after getting some cryptic answers as to where I could find any sources on this topic and he said "indeed"). I've been a research librarian for over 20 years and I'm pretty good at hunting things down. I looked in every book on bell making in our collection (over 3,000,000 books) and found nothing to back this up, nor anything on it in any of the historical or engineering journal abstract services. It's a prank and he pulled it off by getting David Dodd, who is also a librarian, to fall for it.

And I was into the band when this song was brought out and I don't recall anybody referring to it as the "new Deal". The chord structure and beat aren't even close.

It's a prank, a good one, but a prank none the less.

Anybody capture the sirius rebrodcast from last night??

If so, please post the download link!!!

It's all subjective ~

I loved both shows for different reasons,but over all IMO Friday was played better ~ Bobby stepped it up
Saturday was very sentimental to me,it was a classic Philly show,actually made me cry.
The band has always fed off of the Philly energy and one last time we all were all a part of that collective energy((((((One)))))))) that just doesn't transport on tapes to well unfortunately ~But the NFA stomps will ~way to send a message Philly!!!!!!

I went to work EARLY Sunday morning and honestly I was on cloud 9
BTW I did go to the Scranton show and HATED it! Almost sold my tickets for Philly~
I couldn't have imagined nor would I have believed that the same band could have turned around to preform the way they did both nights!By no means was either night perfect~nor did I care

Gotta love em!

Same story here, Joyce,

I too went to Scranton and came away thinking this was indeed the steal-your-wallet tour, although I never considered not going to Philly. I figured they would step it up for the Spectrum. And if there is one thing I have learned from these shows (be it GD, P&F, O-1s, Dead), you have to keep attending to catch the magical ones.

This is not to say Saturday was a magically played show. I too like Friday better (Jack Straw and Comes a Time were special), but the crowd vibe and enthusiasm gave Saturday the night the “IT” factor. How about those cheers Sat night (after Dew and before Phil's donor rap)? It sounded likes an old time Flyers playoff games in there.

As far as I am concerned this lineup is limited. The band was as good as this group of players can be. For a bunch of old men, the core 4 did a real good job. Warren and Chimenti were good choices. …however, Phil has spoiled me especially with the Q. Wouldn’t you rather see/hear Jimmy Herring or Trey, John Schofield, Barry Sless, Steve Kimock, Derek Trucks or even Mark Karan join Warren up there? Wouldn’t it be better if another singer like Joan or Chis Robinson joined this band… or at the least if Warren sung all the Jerry tunes? Wouldn’t Molo’s inclusion give the rhythm devils the steam, power and precision that were sometimes missing? With all the $$ they are making here, they sure could have afforded the additional players needed to make this the best it could be.

I had a great time both Friday and Sat nights, but that was mostly due to the event itself as opposed to the quality of the music. The Philly circus came out in full force…It was fireworks, calliopes and clowns… and my dear friends LG (thanks bro), Special Ed, Wil, Esse, Hoff, Gayle, Lesse and even the Bear and Bear Jr came out of hibernation to make this a great way for me to bid adieu to the building that housed a lifetime of so many great times and memories. The sound was just great and the sightlines were so much better than the big Wachovia, but it seems like they built the Spectrum for much smaller people....and much smaller crowds.

Now, as far as I am concerned, they can tear the old building down.

God Bless The SPECTRUM ! What a wild 2 nights in my old hometown. I will surely miss this place

This show was awesome, the crowd was awesome and I had way too many flashbacks from my youth, especially when I realized we were parked right where JFK stadium used to be- one of the best GD shows ever-7-10-89

>>one of the best GD shows ever-7-10-89

I'm pretty sure that was 7-7-89

Joan or Chris join the band? NO! Cant stand either one of em! If ya dont like it...oh well.. you dont have to come back.

John, I didn't say I did not like it. I did say IMO certain additions to the band would make it better. The last thing Phil said at the Spectrum was "Be Kind". I suggest you heed his advice.

In my opinion, adding JO or Robinson to this band would VERY unkind.

I wasnt being unkind. I said that if you didnt like it, you dont have to come back. How is that being unkind? You said that this band is "limited" "a bunch of old men" and "wouldnt it be better" if C.R. or J.O. joined the band. You also hinted that Mickey and Billy are not quite doin the job and that John Molo should be there also! Sounds a little crytical to me! AND...I totally agree with Mike that adding either one of those two would be VERY UNKIND!

I think you also said that you went to Scranton and came away with the feeling that "this was indeed the Steal Your Wallet Tour"! Yeah, ok.. your being real kind. Ill stick to what I said..If you dont like it, dont come back...its pretty simple.

"With all the $$ they are making here, they sure could have afforded the additional players needed to make this the best it could be."

But I think that the point of this tour is to sound as close to old GD as possible and adding anyone extra would have interfered with that. This band certainly comes closer to 80's Grateful Dead in it's sound (for better or worse) then any of the other post-Jerry line ups and I have to think that this was done on purpose.

THANKS FOR ALL OF THE GREAT REVIEWS, OPINIONS, COMMENTS- JIMMY Z ESPECIALLY! I'VE ALSO SEEN ALOT OF GREAT SHOWS OVER THE YEARS, AS WE ALL HAVE. THE TICKET PRICES AND OTHER THINGS HAD ME FEELING SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE TOUR, AND I'M A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO SAY , FOR THE BAND- FORGETTING THAT ONCE THE MUSIC IS PLAYING- THE MONEY MEANS NOTHING. I LUCKILY GOT TO SEE BOTH NIGHTS IN PHILLY, MY HOME TOWN. SATURDAY NIGHT WAS, FOR ME, ALL THAT! FRIDAY WAS ALSO GREAT- BUT I AGREE WITH JIMMY Z- FROM MORNING DEW ON- I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE GREATEST SPOT ON EARTH- AND ONCE REVOLUTION WAS LIKE A REVALATION-YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT!!!!!! I LOVE THOSE GUYS AND ALL OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT CALL THEMSELVES HEADS-- GOD BLESS THE GOOD OL' GRATEFUL DEAD! SKEPTICAL ENVELOPMENT-- I THIMK THAT THAT SAYS IT ALL!

Funny, I thought the show fell apart after Morning Dew.

maybe you should review the show so that you can explain to me exactly what they did wrong, because i just listened again last night and i can't believe how goog it sounds!

I am still smiling from those Philly shows.

They were great(as some will put it, "one for the ages", etc.) because almost everyone showed up because they wanted to be there, no matter what it turned out to be. In my opinion, THAT is what separates the average show from a great one: the audience is receptive AND, OF COURSE, the band must play well. Then, you get a nearly unanimous opinion that is was a great show and a great time.

In fact, I am going to email Ben Ratliff, who wrote that NYT article, and let him know that I have come to that conclusion.

I would like to reiterate/point out that the audience at both Philly shows was there with big ears, to listen to and to hear the music. The applause were thunderous, especially at the end of each set, and after the encore the applause roared until the lights came up. That is very different from a lot of shows(PLF, for example) where the audience starts chatting at set end, fully EXPECTING and encore rather than CALLING for one.

This has not been just in Philly, of course. I am impressed by the show of enthusiasm. People are NOT heading for the bathroom, etc. during drums/space as the did with the GD of the 80s and 90s. Few shows 'for the ages' then, though there were certainly many really good shows. Unfortunately, the crowd went to shit, hitting rock bottom at the 'end'.

Just an opinion. I am sure others will disagree, and I probably will agree with those who disagree with the above. I am trying to see tha glass as half full, for sure. It feels better.

:0

Hey John, I have stated my opinion here. Repeatedly telling me I don’t have to attend is stating the obvious and a bit obnoxious IMO. The fact is, whether I love it or not.... if I am able to go, I am going to check it out.

The music is part of me. The Grateful Dead has been a large part of me life 1972. Initially Bob Weir was my main man. I loved the Ace album and thought Kingfish was the shit. For years I carried Bobby’s Europe 72 picture in my wallet. Over time, I increasingly recognized and appreciated Garcia’s brilliance. While watching the Philly debut of Dead Movie, I fell in love with the drumsticks dancing of Billy Kreutzmann.

In the early 80’s I decided to put the Dead aside (as one puts aside their childish interests), but that “adult” idea did not last. By the later 80’s I was comfortable calling myself a Deadhead....and by that time, I had come to appreciate the essential contributions of all band members, past and present, although the whole was always greater than the sum of the parts. Then Jerry’s excesses started showing up more and more at shows and some moments were brilliant, some depressing. I heard many say how special it was to be at the Spectrum when the band finally broke out Unbroken Chain. I was there and what I saw and heard was Garcia too out of it to play the song’s soaring guitar solos. That night he dropped the ball. On other 90’s Spectrum nights, especially with the JGB, he WAS the ball.

Jerry’s death on my 39th birthday left a hole... and I, like most heads searched for the sound that best suited me. The first Further Festivals were fun, but a bit depressing. To me Weir and Wasserman and then Ratdog seemed hollow. The more time went on, Bob’s vocal and guitar playing skills seemed to fade. I really liked the 1998 Other Ones....but I totally flipped for what the post liver transplant Phil unveiled with Phil and Friends. Phil was not trying to copy the old sound; he was actually taking the music to another level. With two lead guitars he was not copying Jerry. It was like Jerry on steroids....super exciting and complex. And the beat with Molo was sharp and powerful. My favorite incarnation was The Q. With the Q, Phil had mined alchemy gold. Q music was the shit!

I saw the Q at the Beacon 12/3/2001 the 9/11 relief benefit at the end of the tour. It was the first time Phil’s new power band would link up with the remaining other voice of the Dead. Having seen Ratdog earlier, I was skeptical about Bob hurting the chemistry and slowing the Q down...and IMO at that show on that night, Bobby seemed lost and he took many a knee. His diminished abilities were no more evident. I could see Warren was not digging the interaction. At one point during a song, Warren walked off the stage.

Some subsequent P&F line-ups were great. I loved the 12/05 incarnation with Barry, Larry, Mookie and Chris. I thought the Summer of 06 Joan, Rob Larry, Sco, then Barry, Osby and Trey were fantastic.

As I stated, P&F spoiled me. If I wanted to hear a re-creation of the Grateful Dead, I can listen to a recording or I can go see The Dark Star Orchestra. IMO The current Dead is a less exciting, slower Grateful Dead. During Warren and Phil dominated songs, it sounds almost as good as the Q. When Bobby is on, during Bobby songs, it sounds more like the old Grateful Dead. Hearing The Other One with Bobby singing (as opposed to Phil) was great. Jack Straw and One More Sat Night with Bobby (as opposed to Jackie Greene) was great. Drums Space sounded like the Grateful Dead. Some of this stuff is good and some of it (like the tired Help/Slip and Sampson’s 5/2 Sat night in Philly) was just OK. So what is wrong with desiring something more, newer and better?

But all in all, for me, going to see this band, as is now comprised sure beats staying at home. So, next time (if there is a next time) the Dead is relatively close-by, God willing, I will be there.

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

Supposed to be the last ever event at the Spectrum. Douche Springsteen & the E Street Bland managed to get a show after the dead. Please please please douche, retire. Your retirement was overdue the day you got a contract. NO TALENT AT ALL!!!!! And can the guy do anything original? The Dead are invited to close the Spectrum, Douche manages another show after. Steely Dan does whole albums beginning to end with other hits thrown in, Douche does whole albums with other hits thrown in. Not to mention an entire tour of someone else's (Pete Seeger) music & makes millions. All his BS blue collar guy act is just that BS. No talent. No originality. FUCK DOUCHE SPRINGSTEEN! No disrespect to the Big Man. Obviously the most talented member of the band. RIP Clarence. Oh, BTW bout one of the posts above, the GD's final tally at MSG was exactly 50 shows. Yeah, yeah, i know it's 4 years later.