Reviews
It was a magical night in San Diego, the first night of the Other Ones tour. Although ticket sales may not have been the best, the 10,000 plus at the Coors Amphitheater were treated to a stellar opening night. My personal call for the opener was Shakedown, however much to my delight it was Dark Star. How much better does it get? The boyz seemed to be full of positive energy, and Steve Kimock Flat out rocks. Steve Winwood was unreal version of Dear Mr. Fantasy, Blackbird, and Only the Stange Remain was also sweet. And are boy Mickey sang a tune named ????african??? What an intersting tune and Mickey is funny singing, in a good way of course. The Other One jam back into Dark Star was sick. I've got to say this is much better line up then the first time around. I could go on and on but my advice, run dont walk to your local venue.
Max Creek Mike
Phil WHO?
The Other Ones came on stage a little before 8:30. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation.
What are they going to open with? Truckin'? Jack Straw? DARK STAR. WOW. The band seemed to be telling us "WE CAN JAM". I was in the 4th row orchestra, and the sound was big and LOUD. Alphonso was climbing all over the place with his phat bass playing, and I for one was impressed right away with him. Weir sang the first line of Dark Star, Hornsby the second, then they sang together. After verse one they slid into ..Big Railroad Blues, a GD favorite of mine and a rarity to boot, and this version with Weir singing lead SMOKED. Steve Kimock was on fire, as he would be for the entire night. The heights he takes the music to are insane. A little Dark Star flourish after Big RR was followed by a good Rooster. I used that tune to try and regroup after the Big RR put me on my ass. Not sure what the little ditty "New Africa" was, it sounded familiar though. It was less than a minute. More Dark Star jamming followed and then we were treated to a spine tingling Sugaree, BH lead vocal. KIMOCK!!!. Bobby then announced Stevie Winwood and they launched into a wonderful Dear Mr. Fantasy. What a voice Steve has. Weir and Bruce even did the ooohs and aaahhhs pretty well. What a treat!!! Strange Remain followed, it was fun as always. Cool seeing Mickey SINGING at the drum kit next to Billy. A slightly re-arranged Bucket followed. Good Stuff. More rocking. Acoustic Blackbird (give it up, Bobby. This tune doesn't work with the GD, Ratdog, or this band-you can never seem to get it just exactly perfect) followed by a jam and then FOTD. NICE. Bruce's The Way it Is was followed by a great Franklin's that just jumped off the stage. No need to say how wonderful it was to see Mickey AND Billy up there together, and they treated us to a great Drumz. Space followed with Billy staying up there for it, followed by The Wheel into an Other One tease that I thought was gonna turn into The Other One, but led into more Dark Star Jamming, followed by more Other One jamming into the second verse of Dark Star, in which Weir repeated lines to get them right.
A stomping, rocking, Sugar Mag with Kimock SCREAMING on the lap steel ended it. They did acoustic Ripple for the encore, a sweet way to send us off into the night. What a great crowd, great vibe, people polite to one another, good feelings all around (at least where I was).
I am so disappointed to not be going to more shows. Enjoy everyone, this band is special.
Phil doesn't know what he is missing. This blew away Phil and Friends, as did the MHB show I saw. THIS is the real stuff, folks, grab it fast.
Rich Holborow
Although the setlist looked good on paper, I was a little disapointed at the show. The band had flashes of energy, but overall, were not that tight. I was having trouble hearing Bob's guitar, and Alphonso's bass. The PA system seemed weak, and was clipping. The mix just wasn't that great. They seem to really miss, Phil, and John Molo, who really tightened up the rhythm section. Highlights were Bruce's , that's the way it is, and Sugar Mag, (with a new rhythm hook, at the end). Steve Winwood's vocal sounded good, but the playing on Dear Mr. Fantasy, was lackluster. Sounds like the band was still rehearsing, and the vocal harmonies, need some more work. I'm sure things will get better, as the tour moves on. The jamming was pretty loose, with no direction, or tightness. They need to play more songs, and cut down on the weak noodling. Just one Dead Vet's opinion.
Yuteman
... right out of the gate with a complex many-tentacled Dark Star, setting the theme that glued the entire show together. An oddly rhythmic Star jam starting cold after Rooster felt like the 2nd half was gonna get closed early, but it fell into a loping groove and Sugaree'd. About halfway through Sugaree a 3rd guitarist plugged into Kimock's stack and lurked way back in the shadows... but I didn't recognize him. After Sugaree he was coaxed centerstage & introduced by Bobby as someone who "doesn't have to do this to prove his courage:" little Stevie Winwood... then a rousing Mr. Fantasy that had Weir, Winwood, Karan, & Kimock all lined up in battle guitar formation ... reminiscent of the old Blue Oyster Cult chorus line effect . Blackbird>Devil was acoustic (sans drums)w/ Bruce on accordian and Kimock on juiced mandolin.
Highlight of the show: DRUMZ! This was a pure slice from the Dead time machine.... w/ Billy & Mickey flinging the gate wide open and setting the chickens free: lunacy on the traps, then off to the Beast, Beam, and all weirdness inbetween... the boys were having a gas, and it bled Dead through & through. Another Star jam after Wheel was a tease, but not as devilish as the Other One jam... which was massive & fully formed... up to & including the Phil intro run tease (sorry Alphonso, but you ain't Phil) and Bobby stepping up to the mike 3 separate times, opening his mouth to start the Spanish Lady, then veering off... FINALLY dropping right back into the closure for Dark Star.
Overall, the crowd was stoked, the band was having fun, and the songs breathed some life back into the Dead. However, but for a few heavy flashes of DeadVision in 3D, it was DeadLite, at best. IMHO, the Phil & Friends I saw recently was closer in spirit to the writhing lizard of good old classic Dead... but it was certainly a treat to see Billy the K back "drumming for cash!"
It may go without saying, but is harder to harness in the heart, to cut ourselves AND the band some honest slack,and not set the bar soooo high as the good old Grateful Dead. Yes, yer gonna leave this show really, really, really missing Jerry..... and the deep absence of Phil is sad too, especially in light of the current interpersonal rivalries.... but the 2000 edition of Other Ones is a tight, well-spirited production, and does justice to the vintage batteries ripe for a good old jolt of da juice......
Lars Schleif
The last time is saw TOO (Irvine 1998) they were a big disapointment. Terrible sound, boring show. But the show in Chula Vista was a pleasant, if uneven surprise. Karan and Kimock were absolutely on fire! Incredible blazing solos the likes of which I haven't heard in years. To my ears there were some problems with the sound from time to time, I especially had a hard time hearing Alphonso, but the boys were really jamming and the crowd was having a blast. Can't wait to hear the tapes that come from this tour. Two years ago at Irvine I came away missing Jerry, two days ago at Chula Vista I only came away missing Phil. The old vibe is back, don't miss it.
Elliot
