What an absolute sick fucking show! The boys were happy to be home again in the friendly confines of Shoreline and they put on a sick sick show for us. An opening jam led to Dark Star, where Bruce picked up the 2nd verse and sent us on our way. After heading to Bucket, the opening notes of Scarlet came out. And it got better. The guitar work by Karan on the Scarlet and the Fire was ridiculous. Wow! And Kimock joined in with his own sick solos from this point on. Phil's Half-Step was alot better than I remember it and seemed to have a more mellow (maybe bluesy) feel. Then a great Queen Jane when Bobby started his howlin. Baba Jingo I though lacked somethin in its verses (outside of Round the Circle Back Agian or whatever that seemed appropriate) but the jam was nuts--it seemed the band couldn't even believe the music they were making. Then came Tennessee--great. Bruce was seeming to have problems with lyrics (it was like when he got to "TN TN there ain't no place I'd rather be" he was glad to make it out of the verse and to a familiar chorus). Then Bird Song. From this point on, the show was one big Other One tease. With Bruce, Bobby, and Phil trading lines in the verses, they headed to a lengthy Other One tease jam--it was like they were half-way through the note that puts it over the top and then they'd somehow find their way out. Back for the end of Bird Song then another tease before everyone leaves stage for a sick Drumz when Mickey and John seemed to really be on and lovin it. Space led to an awesome Let it Grow (again with some Other One teases) before heading into a jam that sounded like Dark Star and Other One (and Wharf Rat my friend says) jams being played at the same time for quite a while. Heading in, the band had no idea where they were or where they were going--Bobby just shrugged his shoulders and smiled and played on..... Soon they made it into Bruce's Across the River. Great song--more Other One teases into Uncle John's, where Kimock and Karan traded some wild licks. Phil's Box was great, and he seemed happy to find some familiar and stable ground here in the midst of the insanity. Bobby lost his shit in a great Good Lovin--did I mention the Other One teases.......? Phil's bass thundered the entire night--awesome. Bruce was lovin it, sometimes crouching lowly in the high end of his keyboard and softly playing, sometimes off his seat and playing with incredible energy. Bobby was great as were Mickey, John, and Ellis. And the guitars. Kimock and Karan wow! Lookin for an Other One Saturday... it's bound to come. Oh and all the flowers that people put on the framed picture of Jerry in the ampthitheatre was wonderful to see.
Dave, Athens, GA
Driving into Palo Alto on Friday afternoon, I eagerly awaited the triumphant return of The Other Ones to their home base. Things got stranger when we walked to the ticket counter one hour before showtime. Of course, only lawn seats were available, but my wife asked if there were any reserved seats. The ticket seller pulled out an unclaimed envelope with two choice reserved seats and said, "Well, you can have these". We happily entered the ampitheatre. As Rusted Root wound down, we made our way to our seats. Hot Tuna immediately took the stage and played an all-too-short set, easily their hottest of the two days. (Saturday's Tuna set did feature cameos from Dave Ellis and Mark Karan, however). The Other Ones took the stage a bit after 8 pm, and plunged into a spicy tuning jam, which just as quickly melded into the familiar melody of Dark Star. However, they sang the second, or "mirror shatters" verse. It is not known whether this was intentional or not, but all vocalists stuck with it, and it segued nicely into a comfortable jam. I'm not usually blown away by Hell In A Bucket, yet this version was lithe and powerful. Weir had his act together, and led the song through a spry workout. The additional drumbeat arrangement punctuated the fact that this was not a Dead show in a very subtle way, and the two guitarists and Ellis ably tried to make up for Jerry's absence.
Hornsby took charge on Scarlet Begonias, yet neglected some vocals. The jam was interesting enough, but a plodding Fire On The Mountain by Snoop Mickey Hart made me wistful for times past. Phil Lesh stepped forward and read through a fun Mississippi Half Step, but the guitarists were nowhere to be found. This tune, followed by a standard Queen Jane and a Baba Jino by Mickey McCheese allowed me time to browse the fine collection of booths in the vending fair. Relax, I told myself, they're just warming up. I'm glad I was right. A bottle of spring water later, I was back at my seat for the second highlight of the night, a searing Tennessee Jed. Karan and Kimock blended nicely on the solo portion, and the crowd cheered in excitement. Now this is more like it. Following Jed, an above-average Bird Song (post-Jerry, that is) led into a mystical jam which gave way to the drum duet. I'm quite impressed by John Molo. He plays at a high level, and gives a charge to many numbers. Nowhere was this more evident on Friday than after the Drumz portion. Weir charged out first with a rousing Let It Grow. Remaining serious throughout, he sang with determination and intensity. Good fun! After an aborted attempt to settle back into Dark Star, Hornbsy spoke up with an incredible rendition of Across The River. Ellis led the band with lead after lead, and the guitarists again gave up the all-too-frequent goods. Bruce led the countdown into the calypso jam, which slid comfortably into Uncle John's Band. Again, Garcia was missed, and the guitarists were very quiet, but the emotional level reigned supreme, and when Phil pulled out Box Of Rain, it almost made you think, "Maybe these guys CAN pull it off!". A few vocal miscues to be sure, but still solid. Weir performed a superb reading of Good Lovin' to complete the set. Without an encore, the house light came up, the familiar strains of "Happy Trails" came over the PA, and 20,000-plus fans went streaming out into the cool California night.
Rossgita, Medford, OR
I'll let you in on a secret of mine. I fast for 18 hours before each show. It helps me give more energy in a pure sense when the music is being played. This day I chowed big-time, mid-day (mistake). It was a great show. Of the two, the second night at Shoreline would be the keeper fo a CD if the rumors I heard were correct on a CD being made from this weekend (even though 7/24 had that sweet new song Baba Jingo, the lovely new UJB, a Scarlet/Fire as good or better than many others and a BIRDSONG? .. I can't remember).
Clifford, Kansas City, MO