Furthur Starts Tonight

[Neil X.]

So I'm about to bag out of work and head downtown to see the first of
3 consecutive Furthur shows, 2 at Boston's Wang Center and one down at
Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT. Really looking forward to this.
The Furthur show that the missus and I saw in Amherst last winter was
really excellent, lots of fun. I didn't ever download the SBD before
it was taken down from Furthur's download site last weekend, so I
suppose I'll be looking for it in less respectable locations.

Anyways, I'll post a few thoughts here about the shows over the next
few days. It's the first 3 shows of the tour, so I'm not sure whether
to expect an extra high energy effort, or if they will be banging the
rust off of the band for a while.

Today I've been listening to the "Furthur" show from Phil's birthday
party from 3/12/10. That was kind of like a "Furthur and Friends"
show, with Jackie Green, Steve Molitz and Chris Robinson joining the
band throughout. Very enjoyable 4 disk/4 set show. I saw that one in
person at the Bill Graham Civic Center on spotless and shiny Market
St. in downtown SF. Met up with a boatload of current and former
RMGDers for that one (we also did a memorial walk for Joko that trip
out there.)

Anywhoo, there a lot of Dead-like music in my near future, and I'm a
happy camper.

Peace,
Neil X.

[James Pablos]

On Apr 5, 4:14 pm, "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Anyways, I'll post a few thoughts here about the shows over the next
> few days.

Please do. I'll be breathlessly awaiting your description of these
Furthur shows. Be sure to include whatever setlist Jill makes them
play.

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
...

> So I'm about to bag out of work and head downtown to see the
> first of > 3 consecutive Furthur shows, 2 at Boston's Wang Center
> and one down at Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

Oh good god!....now see here, X....I can understand
sitting around the pub talking about going to something
like this.....have a few more pints and move onto another
topic...but to actually BUY tickets...and get in the car...
and actually GO to something like this baffles me to
NO end...I have about as much interest in a Grateful Dead
cover band than I do the Ice Capades...OK...OK...
I can dig the Boston gig...ya LIVE there...but you're....
let me get this straight...you're crossing state lines to
attend this nostalgia fest?...this makes the Mann Act seem
like taking an extra curry chicken finger puff pastry from
the free sample station down at Costco...
Whats next for ya, X?... standing in line to get Rico Petrocellis
autograph at the that new hardware stores grand opening in
Dedham?...is this what it's come to, baby?
No....I shant read your cries for help from the enormo-dome
in Wallington?...Wellington?...home of such innovations as
"Greek pizza" and the nations first pay toilet at the
Ralph "Whitey" Tropiano memorial rest stop out on route 14A.
I need a drink.

[jo...@johndoherty.com]

Hey, Neil,

Wish I was going. I was poor when tix went on sale, but could afford it today (if it were not sold out). I'll look forward to your review...

[3jane.]

Fuck I just bought tix for 7/8 around here. They're going to be dead, buried and pushing up daisies by the time they get to MPP in July if the tour starts now-I assume they have some vaca built in-let's hope so.

[Neil X.]

Yep, crossing state lines, to the Hegemony of Connecticut. On the
way, we will visit a great brewpub in Hartford (City Steam Brasserie
Brewpub) and an even better NY Jewish-style Deli (Rein's.) 'Twill be
an enjoyable experience.

As for tonight, there were some real highlights, but it was uneven.
Unsurprising, I guess. They opened with Playin' into Crazy FIngers,
and both of those were mesemerizing. Later on in the set, songs like
Black Throated Wind and Built to Last were a bit plodding. The Hell
in a Bucket closer was supercharged. Far better than most GD versions
I was exposed to back in the day. High, high energy.

Friends of ours sitting in the back complained that they couldn't
hear, it wasn't loud enough. Hope they fix that tomorrow, as I am
sitting much farther away on Fri.

Set 2 had plenty of highlights. The St. Stephen opener had a 10 minute
jam before the final verse that was just sick, really amazing. UJB >
King Solomon's Marbles was a total hoot as well. But then, Bobby
singing Black Peter was subdued and almost somnolent. Then the
Shakedown closer was 15 min. of wicked fun. Really great upper of a
song. After that, the NFA closer was pleasing nostalgia. The Liberty
encore was suprpisingly hot. Fake Jerry really jammed out on
Liberty. Sounds weird to contemplate, but there ya go.

As I said, mixed bag, but the good moments were really, really fun.

Furthur
Wang Center
Boston, MA
4/5/12

One:
Playin >
Crazy Fingers
Black Throated
Brown Eyed
TLEO
Big Bad Blues (?)
Built to Last
Helena Bucket

Two:
St. Stephen >
Cosmic Charlie
Mountain Song
The Wheel >
UJB >
King Solomon's Marbles >
Black Peter >
NFA
E: Liberty

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

Don't worry, no shows between the Wannee Festival in FLA on April 22
and the Canandaigua, NY show on July 5.

Peace,
Neil X.

[booie]

> Neil X.- Hide quoted text -
>
.
.
bbb writes:
So what you are saying is, a typicial Futhur Show?
Guaranteed a good time every time.
It sounds like they still have it.

Sounds like you had a fun time.
I will try to make it to some of the Beacon shows.
What are the tickets going for these days?
Were there any tickets floating around last night that you saw?
Was there a scene out side?
Shakedown?
Police?
Burritos?


booie.........

[Just Kidding]

On Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:34:41 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

Interesting....same opening duo as the July '89 Foxboro show.

[Shane Egan]

On Apr 6, 1:34 am, "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Good show, overall. John and Jeff were on fire. I did notice that Jill
must have been on a guy's names theme for the second set(Stephen,
Charlie, John, Solomon, Peter)

I wonder if tonight will be full of women's names(Althea, Bertha,
Corrina, Lucy, etc...)

[Neil X.]

God, I hope not. Corrina and Lucy in the same set would have me
looking for that shotgun that I don't own to blow my head off.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

Good point. I hadn't thought of that. Of course, back in '89, that
opening combo blew our fragile eggshell minds, it was wicked uncommon
for them to do that kind of thing then.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

> booie wrote:
>
> Sounds like you had a fun time.

Yeah, it was a total blast. The haters can hate, but Phil can still
really play. His bass work on Shakedown alone was worth the price of
admission. Stupefying.

> I will try to make it to some of the Beacon shows.
> What are the tickets going for these days?

Not super expensive. The price printed on the tickets is $59.50.
That makes it just over $70 once all the fees are included.

> Were there any tickets floating around last night that you saw?

Really tough ticket. Dozens of folks with fingers up in the air.
Even Stubhub was essentially sold out by Wed. I don't know if that's
because it was the first show of the tour or what. But there are so
damn many shows at the Beacon, I'd have to think you'd find something
if you tried. Especially on a week night.

> Was there a scene out side?
> Shakedown?
> Police?
> Burritos?

The Wang Center is in the middle of downtown Boston, at the edge of
Chinatown and smack in the middle of the Theater District. There are
no parking lots of any size, so there was no parking lot scene. MA
has decriminalized, so you did smell a lot of pungent aromas. Cops
don't seem to bother folks who were discreet. The Philly Mafia had a
strong presence, boatloads of tanks and balloons. They must pay off
the cops, they are way too ubiquitous to have escaped notice by the
authorities. They're a scourge on the scene.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Just Kidding]

On Fri, 6 Apr 2012 08:03:07 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>

There was surely a surprise factor, but in retrospect both songs were
short and perfunctory efforts. The Eyes opener from Giants Stadium
'91, on the other hand, was not only a shocker but was lengthy and
fully developed, definitely among the best versions of the late 80's >
90's.

[Just Kidding]

On Fri, 6 Apr 2012 08:04:04 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>

Which Lucy --- the Loose one or LSD? And except for the lyrics, I was
one of the few Corrina fans. They did some very fine jam outros. The
one from Chicago '93 was killer, as was the one they played at the MSG
show in '94 with the long Scarlet>Fire.

[amur...@gmail.com]

I'm with you. Really, the lyrics to Corinna didn't even bother me all that much because the jam out was usually destined to be one of the highlights of the show there near the end.

[Neil X.]

Yes, you are correct. Playin > Crazy at Foxboro was the "first set
version" of those songs. Odd, but perhaps not unexpected. Along
those lines, I've always perfered Set 2, or Set 1 closing Shakedowns
to set 1 opening Shakedowns. Big difference, IMO.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

Well, in the context of the post-Jerry Dead-like bands, I've never
heard a Corrina that I wanted to hear again. We could argue the GD
versions, but really, I was no fan of those either. We used to call
it "Velveeta".

Peace,
Neil X.

[amur...@gmail.com]

Cheese it up...

[Just Kidding]

On Fri, 6 Apr 2012 11:11:18 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>

Have you heard the Chicago '93 I mentioned above? If not, check it
out. If you don't like that one, no need to listen to any others.

[Edwin Hurwitz]

In article <39rtn7dft609rhvk3...@4ax.com>,

I love that room. Saw a couple of shows there in the 76 and 78 that were
really wonderful. Of course, Jerry was pretty young then and Weir was
still in his twenties for the first one.

Wang, they might call it now, but it will always be The Music Hall to me.

Have fun!
Edwin

[bmo...@nyx.net]

On Apr 5, 5:34 pm, j...@johndoherty.com wrote:
> Hey, Neil,
>
> Wish I was going. I was poor when tix went on sale, but could afford it today (if it were not sold out). I'll look forward to your review...

Hopefully there will be some kind of last minute cross-country trip
involved.

[Edwin Hurwitz]

In article
<a4f626f2-57a0-4085...@f6g2000vbc.googlegroups.com>,

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > booie wrote:
> >
> > Sounds like you had a fun time.
>
>
> Yeah, it was a total blast. The haters can hate, but Phil can still
> really play. His bass work on Shakedown alone was worth the price of
> admission. Stupefying.
>
> > I will try to make it to some of the Beacon shows.
> > What are the tickets going for these days?
>
>
> Not super expensive. The price printed on the tickets is $59.50.
> That makes it just over $70 once all the fees are included.

I guess that's not too bad. A little more than 10 times the price I paid
in '76.

[Schmoe]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Yep, crossing state lines, to the Hegemony of Connecticut. On the
> way, we will visit a great brewpub in Hartford (City Steam Brasserie
> Brewpub) and an even better NY Jewish-style Deli (Rein's.) 'Twill be
> an enjoyable experience.

Yeah, we stop at Rein's every time we can when between Boston and NY. It's
pretty damn authentic for outside Hartford. Great soups and a solid chopped
liver. :)

[dr.narcolepsy]

On Friday, April 6, 2012 1:34:41 AM UTC-4, Neil X. wrote:
> As for tonight, there were some real highlights, but it was uneven.
> Unsurprising, I guess. They opened with Playin' into Crazy FIngers,
> and both of those were mesemerizing. Later on in the set, songs like
> Black Throated Wind and Built to Last were a bit plodding. The Hell
> in a Bucket closer was supercharged. Far better than most GD versions
> I was exposed to back in the day. High, high energy.
>

> Set 2 had plenty of highlights. The St. Stephen opener had a 10 minute
> jam before the final verse that was just sick, really amazing. UJB >
> King Solomon's Marbles was a total hoot as well. But then, Bobby
> singing Black Peter was subdued and almost somnolent. Then the
> Shakedown closer was 15 min. of wicked fun. Really great upper of a
> song. After that, the NFA closer was pleasing nostalgia. The Liberty
> encore was suprpisingly hot. Fake Jerry really jammed out on
> Liberty. Sounds weird to contemplate, but there ya go.

Thanks for the review!

[dr.narcolepsy]

Should have added that there's a sennheiser mkh8040 source up:
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=554073

I enjoyed the "opening jam" discussion - sometimes I think those opening jams sequences - the better ones - are really fantastic listening experiences. I should think about making a Phil/Furthur opening jam compilation.

[jo...@johndoherty.com]

On Friday, April 6, 2012 6:24:59 PM UTC-4, edwin wrote:

> I love that room. Saw a couple of shows there in the 76 and 78 that were
> really wonderful. Of course, Jerry was pretty young then and Weir was
> still in his twenties for the first one.
>
> Wang, they might call it now, but it will always be The Music Hall to me.
>
> Have fun!
> Edwin

Actually, it's not really the Wang anymore, either. Most stuff nowadays seems to call it rather generically "CitiCenter".

There goes a good pun, too. We used to say "I was playing racquetball the other day & I caught one right in the Wang Center".

<badoom>

[Neil X.]

> Edwin wrote:
>
> Have fun!
> Edwin


Mission accomplished. Friday's show was a total blast. Too much fun,
I had to give some back.

Furthur
Wang Center
Boston, MA 4/6/12

Set One:
Foolish Heart
Dupree's Diamond Blues
Estimated Prophet
It Must Have Been The Roses
Just A Little Light
Feel Like A Stranger >
Viola Lee Blues

Set Two:
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Jack Straw >
Mountains Of The Moon >
Mason's Children >
Dark Star >
Let It Grow >
Dark Star >
Throwing Stones >
Passenger
Morning Dew
Encore:
Box Of Rain


Foolish Heart has never been one of my favorite songs, but they nailed
this version of it. OTOH, Estimated is a song I love, and it was the
weakest song in the first set. There you go, you don't ever know.

Friday found us in good spirits, a day off of work and 2 more shows to
contemplate. And the Friday show at the Wang did not disappoint. The
songs that you might suspect weren't so good, really weren't so good
(e.g. Just a Little Light, Dear Mr. Fantasy). They should never, ever
play Dear Mr. Fantasy again. Pining for Brent, we were.

The second set was really hot throughout. DS > LIG > DS was every bit
as much fun as you might imagine it was. Bobby really does sing
better now than he did in Ratdog, perhaps he's cut back on doing some
things that were negatively affecting his performances. IDK, but he's
been remarkably sharper than previously, both last winter's tour and
this one. Nice Throwin' Stones, Let It Grow. Though Estimated wasn't
good, as I mentioned. Very subdued, this song should not be mellow.

Viola Lee is always a highlight for me, and while no one wails on it
as good as Warren did, back when he was in the Quintet and the Dead,
it is still one of my favorite songs to experience in concert. Phil's
bass is so strong on songs like this and Shakedown. That old man can
wield a bass, no doubt about it. He really can't sing, though. He
used to be really bad, got incrementally better with a lot of voice
lessons, but now he really should never sing anymore. Box of Rain was
hard to listen to. I can't imagine what he will be sounding like
after a month on tour.

So bottom line is that we had a total blast on Friday, and this night
was definitely the strongest of the 3 nights I saw. We had a lot of
fun in Connecticut, too, but that show was the weakest one of the
set. I may post a bit about that later on, but it was more about the
experience than the music, in Wallingford. The hotel we stayed in (a
Hilton) was completely jammed with Deadheads. My wife got up early
(she ALWAYS gets up early, even after a late show) and was going to
take a soak in the jacuzzi. But there were a bunch of Deadheads
filling it up, sitting there drinking Sam Adams. Clearly they had
never been to bed, despite the fact it was 8 AM.

I really like the Oakdale Theater. It's one of the few venues with
adequate amenities for the number of people they admit to the show.
No lines for bathrooms, either guys or girls, no more than 1-2 min.
wait for a drink. Full bar, good stiff pours, comfy seats.
Everything is nice about Oakdale, except for the fact it's in the
middle of no place. I love venues with hotels within walking
distance. No chance of that at Oakdale.

Peace,
Neil X.

[booie]

On Apr 8, 5:12 pm, "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:
but it was more about the experience than the music, in Wallingford.

.
.
.
Isn't that what it's all about?
I should Part of what it's all about.
If one isn't good maybe you can make it up on "the other one".

booie..............


ps.
This is getting me itching for the beacon.
I have no ticket but I am curious as to what can happen.
But as Neil said , it was more about the experience than the music, in
Wallingford.

pps.
I thought that Estimated Prophet was kick ass.
They are just trying to mix it up.
Just a different version I guess.
Just to show you they are not rehashing old songs,
Just serving it with a little twist.
For people that have heard these songs many times over.


thanks Neil.
Looking forward to NYC.
I wil get my bloggie charged up.
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666415572


booie...................

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> I really like the Oakdale Theater. It's one of the few venues with
> adequate amenities for the number of people they admit to the show.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

Please...you have a job, wife and 3 small children back
in amherst...stop this nonsense and go home.

[Neil X.]

"3 small children back in Amherst"...........

<gulp>

If you don't have DNA data, I call bullshit. It was only one night.
Granted, I really don't remember the details, but there's no way that
ALL of them got pregnant.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

I think I understand what you're talking about, but what I wrote above
was about a jam in the latter half of St. Stephen, which I don't think
is what you are referencing here. The opening jams as P&F shows are
what you're talking about, no? That's not what I meant in this case.
The GD would often dive off of the deep end before the final verse of
St. Stephen and go way deep into creative improv/chaos. This jam was
in the same slot, before the final verse of St. Stephen. Not at the
beginning of the set before any structure of setlist occurred.

Peace,
Neil X.

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:f0ae3bfc-1d68-4a06-8d0f-

> If you don't have DNA data, I call bullshit.
> It was only one night.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

The ink on your divorce isn't dry yet and you
go on a goddamn Further tour?
You see your children on weekends --
You know your oldest boy, Esau X, was picked up in Dedham
for some petty theft that you don't even know about--
You drive around the east coast with women who don't even care
about you, and use you like a whore!
Neil - X, Neil, Neil, Neil, Neil --
I wanna be reasonable with you.
Now, why don't you stay in Amherst- with the family.
You can live there on the campus with your kids.
You won't be deprived of anything and you can have everything you want.
Now -- I don't know this band --
I don't know what Bobby Weir is thinking...
I don't know what the Garcia clone sounds like.
Now why don't you tell Lesh that future touring is out of the question,
and you don't want to see/listen him anymore.
Now he'll understand, believe me.

[Neil X.]

On Apr 8, 8:08 pm, "sweetbac" <sweet...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:f0ae3bfc-1d68-4a06-8d0f-
> > If you don't have DNA data, I call bullshit.
> > It was only one night.
> > Peace,
> > Neil X.
>
> The ink on your divorce isn't dry yet and you
> go on a goddamn Further tour?
> You see your children on weekends --
> You know your oldest boy, Esau X, was picked up in Dedham
> for some petty theft that you don't even know about--
> You drive around the east coast with women who don't even care
> about you, and use you like a whore!
> Neil - X, Neil, Neil, Neil, Neil --
> I wanna be reasonable with you.
> Now, why don't you stay in Amherst- with the family.
> You can live there on the campus with your kids.

> s.

> Now -- I don't know this band --
> I don't know what Bobby Weir is thinking...
> I don't know what the Garcia clone sounds like.
> Now why don't you tell Lesh that future touring is out of the question,
> and you don't want to see/listen him anymore.
> Now he'll understand, believe me.

Huh. There is so much to say here that maybe it would be better to
say nothing. But this is usenet. Saying nothing is not an option.

I am completely in agreement with the idea that "You won't be
deprived of anything and you can have everything you want." That
thesis is the operating principle of my existence.

As for " You drive around the east coast with women who don't even
care about you, and use you like a whore", well good Lord, I really
wish you were inaccurate, but what can I say? Yeah, there is a new
generation of youngsters who attend post-Jerry Dead-like shows, and
they are social and they are friendly. It wouldn't be gentlemanly to
say more. But damn. 21st century American women rock.

Truly refreshing 3 nights of Furthurness. Perpetu-grins all around.

Peace,
Neil X.

[bzl...@aaool.com]

On Sun, 8 Apr 2012 14:12:02 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

Thanks for the write-up. A friend of mine gave me similar reviews,
except he absolutely the vibe at Oakdale. "Worst Furthur show ever"
is what he said. The band was struggling to get anything going, the
crowd was annoying, and the venue turned off the video screens in the
smoking lounge during the second set (or so he said). I rather like
the place.

Dave's thoughts on Boston were nearly identical to yours, esp.
regarding the Stephen jam.

-------

Estimated is a complete waste of time with Furthur, imo. They've
ruined it. It's supposed to be "evil" and raunchy but it ain't that,
no more.

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> Huh.

> Truly refreshing 3 nights of Furthurness.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

if you don't listen to me -- and continue to see this band
- - you'll disappoint me
<stares>

[Neil X.]

Well, my comment on Oakdale was that it was the weakest show of the
triad that I saw, so that is not really in disagreement with what your
friend wrote. The venue itself is nice. I didn't hang around the
smoking lounge, don't know about that. But there is nothing not to
like about the Theater. No waiting for bathrooms, no waiting for beer
or cocktails, good sight lines, good sound.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

Well, I'm done with this tour. But don't worry, Phish in June and
String Cheese in July are coming right up.

Peace,
Neil X.

[booie]

On Apr 9, 12:01 pm, "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Well, I'm done with this tour.

Peace,
Neil X.
.
.
What a shame, they are just starting to get warmed up?
I might be peaking @ The Beacon tonite?
Opening night in NYC?
Monday?
Nothing to do tonight?
No ticket in hand, yet.


booie.......

[Just Kidding]

On Mon, 9 Apr 2012 08:57:36 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>

Well, traffic getting in and out can be a bitch....have to arrive
early (or just before show time sometimes works) and split before the
encore. Security is also pretty tough on tokers. And the crowd can
tend to be overly laid back, maybe because the general comfort level
is so high. But yes, all things considered, a very nice
venue....although I do still miss the old theater in the round from
the old days. Now that was something totally different from just about
any other venue I've been to.

[marcman]

I thought that's what everybody called it. We called it that, too.

[Neil X.]

I've never had any problems getting in or out. But maybe years of
attending shows and games in Foxboro and Great Woods has given me an
uncommonly high tolerance for concert traffic. The traffic at those
venues is a total clusterfuck. At this show, we arrived at the venue
at 7:15 and were parked by 7:30. Of course, there was a long line to
get in at the ticket gates, come to think of it. I missed the
beginning of Bertha because I stopped off in the mens' room. My wife
and friends didn't miss anything.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

I don't mean to be claiming creative rights to "Velveeta." Yeah, I
think a lot of people called it that. When I hear a version of it, I
mentally sing along with "Vel-veeeta" instead of "Cor-riiiina."

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

Good luck, hope you find a ticket. Monday shows are often hot.

Peace,
Neil X.

[dr.narcolepsy]

On Sunday, April 8, 2012 7:47:39 PM UTC-4, Neil X. wrote:
> I think I understand what you're talking about, but what I wrote above

Yes, you did understand exactly what I was talking about. Sorry I didn't understand what you were talking about. And here I thought I actually knew what I was talking about, for once.

But I'm still glad you posted your reviews.

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> Well, I'm done with this tour. But don't worry,
> Phish in June and String Cheese in July are coming right up.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

Let me tell ya a little story, Neil X...
Pull up a chair.
See, There was this kid I grew up with --
he was younger than me.
Sorta looked up to me -- you know.
We did our first Dead tours together -- worked our way
around the east coast...Syracuse...Hampton...Philly....
The music was good, we made the most of it.
During spring tour1984 -- we ran veggie burritos into
Red Rocks Amphitheater -- made a fortune --
As much as anyone, I tolerated him -- and sorta trusted him.
Later on he had an idea -- to sell cassettes of audience
recordings, shwag weed, and grilled cheese sammiches from
a van out of a rest stop on route 6A
- a stop over for Dead Heads on the way to Buffalo.
That kid's name was the Nantucket Nitwit--
This was a great kid -- a kid of vision and pathos.
And there isn't even a plaque -- or a signpost -- or a statue
of him in Pawtucket!
Someone suggested he try social media.
No one knows who gave the order -- when I heard it,
I wasn't angry;
I knew Hitch -- I knew he was head-strong, talking loud,
saying stupid things.
So when he turned up on Facebook -- I let it go.
And I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen --
I didn't ask who "Friended" him--
because it had nothing to do with business!

[Edwin Hurwitz]

In article
<a6429cc1-7b04-4bec...@w5g2000vbv.googlegroups.com>,

Thanks for the review!

Edwin

[Neil X.]

I do appreciate the back story on Hitch. Not surprising. Actually,
my mental image is considerably more lurid than this tame
description. That's actually the surprising part of the tale.
Facebook, it's so mundane. I kinda imagined better.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

I really like the idea of compiling the opening P&F/PLQ jams. It
would be an interesting experience, to hear those, somehow spliced
seamlessly together: a latter day Infrared Roses.

On occasion those opening jams seemed forced/unnatural, but on other
occasions they were quite compelling and really set the mood for the
upcoming several hours of creative improvisation to follow. Really
interesting idea.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Just Kidding]

On Mon, 9 Apr 2012 19:09:22 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

On the subject of show opening jams, it's a bit surprising that as far
as a quick bit of research reveals, there was only one time in its
history that the Dead ever opened a show, or even a set, with a pure
jam. That was the space jam that opened the 10/31/85 show at the
Carolina Coliseum. You'd think that it would have been a little more
common than that.

[Band Beyond Description]

No wonder that Columbia show so easily "set a course for adventure" from
our ninth row center seats....

Believe it or not, I've seen Ratdog, of all conglomerations, do this quite
effectively circa 2002, when Wasserman was still in the band (8/11/02
Gotemba, Japan)...

[JonP]

Nice review. I saw them last fall (sept 23 24 25) in Eugene at the
cuthbert amphitheater. It was sooo much better than i expected. Im
hoping theyre going to announce another late summer run soon. 5,000
capacity. Outside. 55 bucks. 4 dollar microbrews.
JonP

[bzl...@aaool.com]

On Mon, 9 Apr 2012 21:50:56 -0700 (PDT), JonP <jperd...@gmail.com>
wrote:

Someone yesterday in Philzone (too lazy to look this up) was
complaining that there are rumors that they are going to play in some
(relative) crappy place in Portland instead, next time around.

[gringo]

11/20/78 has a jam opening set 2 that is very interesting. Worth a listen imho.

Kurt

[bzl...@aaool.com]

On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:53:37 -0700 (PDT), gringo <kpn...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

I think 10/21/78 counts, too.

[Neil X.]

There was a Cleveland show in 1978 that opened set 2 with an extended
jam, and a good one it was:

Cleveland Music Hall
Cleveland, OH
11/20/78

Set One
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo [9:10] > Franklin's Tower
[11:38] ; Mama Tried [2:30] > Mexicali Blues [3:44] ; It Must Have
Been The Roses [7:33] ; Looks Like Rain [7:33] ; Stagger Lee [6:47] ;
Passenger [4:21] ; Peggy-O [9:02] ; Lazy Lightnin' [3:36] >
Supplication [5:41]

Set Two
(1) Jam [8:32] > Drums [2:52] > Jam [3:40] > Jack-A-Roe [4:40] ;
Playing In The Band [9:56] > Shakedown Street [12:02] > If I Had The
World To Give [8:16] > Playing In The Band [6:44] > Around And Around
[8:59]
Comments (1) total length for jam: 15:04

[Schmoe]

SCI? Not northeast again. Going out west?

[Schmoe]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Viola Lee is always a highlight for me, and while no one wails on it
> as good as Warren did, back when he was in the Quintet and the Dead,
> it is still one of my favorite songs to experience in concert.

Could not agree with you more. It's so old it's new again. No song gets me
going more and when the groove is just right...click.

[Neil X.]

Yep, we're going to see the three Red Rocks shows over 4th of July.
Really looking forward to that.

Peace,
Neil X.

[Band Beyond Description]

Right on! That's one of my favorite spacy sets ever, wrapping into an
excellent, rare and well done If I Had the World to Give, among other
smooth highlights....

[Just Kidding]

On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:53:37 -0700 (PDT), gringo <kpn...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

Yep, forgot about that one. As I recall, the story behind the jam is
that Weir was sick that night and was backstage throwing up when the
2nd set started.

[Just Kidding]

That show started with Olin Arageed, which is not really a jam so I
can't count it.

[Bzl.]

It's probably close to 10 minutes before Hamza starts singing.

This setlist shows "Hamza jam #1" and Hamza jam #2" before Olin
Arageed.

It counts.

[Bzl.]

http://archive.org/details/gd1978-10-21.aud.rhinotrocity5.motb-0015.94599.flac16

[Just Kidding]

It's still Ollin Arageed, no matter when Hamza starts singing.

>
>This setlist shows "Hamza jam #1" and Hamza jam #2" before Olin
>Arageed.
>

Source? I haven't seen it listed anywhere as anything other than Ollin
Arageed.

> It counts.

It doesn't.

[Bzl.]

On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:36:57 -0400, Just Kidding

You've got to break away from the paradigm of some pre-printed
"offical" setlist. The taper's setlist shows what I said.

That's an extended instrumental jam, regardless of what something
says, or doesn't say, on paper.

[sweetbac]

Doesn't that providence 1974 dix pix have a nice
opening jam before the "China Cat Sunflower" opener?

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> twirled in message

> Yep, we're going to see the three Red Rocks shows over 4th of July.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

X...you coming out to SF for the August phish shows
at the Bill Graham civic?
( Kid might do it...he's traveling 2000 miles to see SCI
I cant even BEGIN to wrap my head around that!)

[Neil X.]

No, but there is a chance I will be in SF in late June for the annual
American Association of Microbiology conference.

Peace,
Neil X.

[sweetbac]

"Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> there is a chance I will be in SF in late June for the annual
> American Association of Microbiology conference.

> Peace,
> Neil X.

Oh yeah, the AAM's.....I thought they were in Tulsa this year?
<Turns and stares at RMGD>
Dig, pops....I got some Micro for yo ass....Micro-BREW!
ANYways...You gonna buy me some beers or what?

[Just Kidding]

The jam doesn't open the set. On the DP, they left off the start of
the set (US Blues and Me & My Uncle).

[Brad Greer]

On Fri, 6 Apr 2012 08:03:07 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>On Apr 6, 9:22 am, Just Kidding <JustKidd...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> On Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:34:41 -0700 (PDT), "Neil X." <nei...@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >As for tonight, there were some real highlights, but it was uneven.
>> >Unsurprising, I guess.  They opened with Playin' into Crazy FIngers,
>> >and both of those were mesemerizing.
>>
>> Interesting....same opening duo as the July '89 Foxboro show.
>
>
>Good point. I hadn't thought of that. Of course, back in '89, that
>opening combo blew our fragile eggshell minds, it was wicked uncommon
>for them to do that kind of thing then.
>
I had the good fortune of seeing the Dead open a show with this combo
twice (the Foxboro '89 show and MSG in '82).

[Neil X.]

I guess the down side of it in Foxboro was that they then turned
around and opened set 2 with Friend of the Devil. Ugh. And didn't
that '82 MSG show have a set 2 opener of Touch? Jerry giveth, and
Jerry taketh awayeth.......

Peace,
Neil X.

[Neil X.]

Actually I misnamed the conference (which is embarrassing, since I've
been there for the past 4 years in a row), it's the American Society
of Microbiology annual meeting (ASM).

If I'm going, yeah I'm buying the beers.......

Peace,
Neil X.