Nice Truckin>Other One opener. Loose Lucy was a real treat to hear. The equipment problems ended up being a bonus with Black Muddy River & Blackbird. Two beautifull selections that made me shiver. FOTD was nice with the acoustics. The White Wheeled Limo was very well jammed out, more than the other version I heard. Estimated was stellar as usual. Jorma came out and jammed on OTSR and Samson. OTSR is really growing on me. The band obviously enjoys performing this one. At one point Phil had this huge smile on his face, until he realized that the camera was on him. Samson was expected as the Sunday gospel. Jorma really added a lot while he was on stage, but he was way to high in the mix. Drumz was good, but nothing exceptional. There really not much of space, it was more of a spacy O1 intro. The second of verse of O1 was sparkling. Love the lights!! China Doll was better than I expected. I got the chills from this tune in a major way. China>Rider was a great way to end out Futhur Festival for me this year. No encore, as expected from the delay caused by the equipment problems. Good show with a great selection of tunes. Once again, I left satisfied.
Hooper, Pittsburgh, PA
My first show with Phil, Mickey, and Bruce in a very long time. Truckin kicked off, seemed a tad over-rehearsed, but then they were just warming up, and the segue into TOO was smooth and lots of fun. Phil dropped a quickie and the jam was vampy, even a bit on the soul side. I can't say enough about how much Dave Ellis just fills this sound out..its hard to imagine hearing TOO without him. Then the band slammed into a 120 mile an hour rockabilly jam--seemed like we were in for a Big River for a split second. Well, the thought made me yowl with gusto...then BOOM, its Mystery Train. I do not complain. Loose Lucy cranked out very a la Ratdog--brassy (DAVE!), dirty (OH BOBBY!), and dagnasty grabbin on your rear (PHIL!). Phil particulary shined on this one..if you were deaf the funny look on my buddy's face would tell all. Loser was unbelievably gorgeous. Maybe I exaggerate, it was my first Loser ever. Bruce did amazing things with the way sang the melody, just sending up a phrase softly, and letting it hang there, then slowly die into a classy wash on the piano. A fine ensemble effort on all counts, very smooth and poignant. Plenty of silence. If you haven't noticed, it seemed like the boys were playing the alphabet game at Polaris. LOOse LOOcy, LOOser. Then Bruuuuuuuce, Bobby's BLACKbird (didn't you just love all the people going SHHHHHHH! it was a generally quiet crowd...kudos Bob), BLACK Muddy River (saw a few lighters go up for that one...really loved it too). And later a CHINA Doll, CHINA>Rider. In Bruce's solo, I think we heard BLACK- berry blossom, and Johann Sebastian BACH (you gotta love Bruce for that). I really dug the alliteration, it turned me on almost more than the playing, actually kind of heightened it. After Black Muddy River, Dave, Bruce, Phil, and Bobby play with a byte of Sailor...don't tease me!!!!....and BOOM! Friend of the Devil. Pure country-western, started a hoe-down on the lawn. Memory doen't serve, but it seems more likely that the Sailor byte came right before White Wheeled Limo. Does it matter? They really stretched Limo out--no pun intended--to include Steve Kimmock in a solo that got lots of resting kids up and at it. Here's one reason I always loved Bruce, he gave up a potentially hot solo in his own song. What a camper. Estimated...it began SOOOOOOOO strangely. To my delight, I heard little wah-wah, wah-wah-wah, wahwahwah sounds drifting from over by Steve and Mark. Again another tune where Dave just puts hair in your armpits. Only one word for Mickey, you are an adorable freak and I love you. He looked like something straight out of the X-files with his glasses on. I really like his rap on Only the Strange Remain. I don't care what anybody says. The circus is in town, and it ain't over til Mickey sings. It was nice to hear the second verse on TOO, they almost didn't play it. Samson was loud and this is right about when techincal problems started...maybe if they'd turned down that Jojoba guy that took all the solos...another show of munificent hospitality on Bruce's part, I could see him just give Jorma-Joaba-Cohiba (what is this guy's name?) the solo, just as he was pounding some bright scales. One word on John Molo--PERMAGRIN--this guy loves what he does, every minute of it, and he just sits and LISTENS sometimes. Mickey seemed to notice the crackling in the speakers, just before his most manly display. Space was short, and melded beautifully into a handsome China Doll. Phil has a way of playing with the melody that is all his own...yes, I think Phil is wonderful. Weird way to end a show, but we all got really excited when Bobby played Jerry's old intro up to the first verse of China Cat. I think he appreciated our appreciation. All there is to say is, this is NOT a Dead cover band. God willing, see you at Deercreek.
M. J. Grimaldi, Louisville, KY
Miss him. And somehow it's like he never left. Lots of unfamiliar ground here, but the name doesn't fool me. It was an all around pleasure to feel Phil's work in the zone, bombs and all. I really got the bug on this lineup. There's that work in progress feeling, and a tightness in the rhythm that isn't quite as slinky as Billy, but refreshing for the sheer drive. NO SLEEP TIL DEERCREEK!
Little Worm, Wellington, KY
What a night! It was evident from the start that these guy's are starting to gel. I thought that Charlotte was killer, until I saw this show. It seems to me that everyone is starting to get a good feel for the others styles and the music is reflecting it. I'm still not too sure how I feel about paying someone to rip my heart out. Bruce definitely tore it out when he sang Black Muddy River. I still miss Jerry terribly. Incredible jams all night, but it really took off during White Wheeled Limo, REALLY SICK! Long live THE OTHER ONES!!!
Brian, Dayton, OH