Furthur / The Dead / The Other Ones | OtherOnes.Net

My first show since 1979, a shade more than half my life ago. In many ways worth the wait. It was different being with my 15-year old daughter instead of college friends (which is also good and bad). It was great fun being with a Dead crowd again. Some were teens and 20s who looked like we looked in our teens and 20s; others were 30s, 40s, and more, who look like I look now or will (although time treats some better than others).
The vibes were wonderful and the music was better. Except for the absence of Jerry, it almost could have been upstate NY 1977 (actually I think I was at a show 25 years ago last night). The song list could have been different and could have been just as good, but it couldn't have been much better. With so many great songs to choose from and not seeing any of them live in a long time, it's hard to argue with any selections. The only minor disappointment is that I would have liked to see Sugar Magnolia or some other bopping song for an encore (preferably in addition to Only the Strange Remain).
The band was a lot tighter and energetic than I would have thought. They really seemed to be enjoying themselves and the crowd certainly was. It's a feeling I hadn't felt in many years. I hope they continue to tour even if not at their hectic schedule of the past and that some new material comes out some day. A friend of mine used to have a shirt that said something like "July 4, 2016, Grateful Dead on the Moon - 50th anniversary tour." Let's hope everyone's around for it.
Jimmy was very good and will be better over time as will everyone else. Robert Hunter may not be the greatest vocalist, but he is a legend and it was fun to hear his take on his songs, especially as he walked off playing the end of Scarlet Begonias as the band came back on stage... "listen to the music play." All in all, a great show, great fun, a great night. Looking forward to more.

It's been eight years since I last experienced a Dead show--that time at McNichols Arena in Denver. I was not disappointed after my eight-year wait. I suppose I had given up hope of ever experiencing this kind of musical euphoria again. The band was tight and absolutely miraculous. With all respect to Jerry, the Dead was definitely back at this show last night. Jerry would be proud to see the legacy continue. As an '80s and '90s Deadhead, I was particularly excited to catch a formerly obscure St. Stephen, as well as some of my favorites from past shows--China/Rider and Help/Slipknot/Franklin's Tower. Seeing Robert Hunter was a bonus treat, and he didn't disappoint with his Peggy-O and Ripple! This band still keeps the listeners on their toes and offers a great ride. On this day after, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the experience that The Other Ones gave me last night.

First impression is of a more muscular band. Cut to the chase: How is it with Jimmy Herring on lead guitar instead of Jerry? Short answer: good, but different. Jimmy Herring looks like a Viking raider. His physical presence radiates power from the right-hand side of the stage. The guitar looks like a toy in his hands. He does not try to play like Jerry. He is a fluid four fingered guitar player who chooses to compliment the band as opposed to leading the way. His runs leaned more towards power and less towards the light touch we got from Jerry, although he could be quite nimble at times. He did not overpower.
Phil Lesh played a more prominent role than I remember from the past. He and Bob Weir directed the show. The show was about their interaction. The whole rhythm section of Hart, Kreutzmann, Lesh and Weir was the nucleus of the old band, but more the focus of the new band. There definitely was an edgier feel and it seemed to me that The Other Ones kicked more ass! The two keyboard players added a fuller sound and improved the vocals substantially. Closing the first set with a driving China Cat Sunflower and I Know you Rider was a clue as to how this band is and is not like the old band.
Opening the second set with space and drums signaled that the band's penchant for exploration of inner space is alive and well. Help>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower were all very trippy and the rest of the night was spent weaving Viola Lee Blues in and out of the setlist three times. Box of Rain had a light enough touch to make you realize that The Other Ones could hold back when needed.
Every one of the musicians was in good physical shape, even the geezers as old as me (58). I was the one huffing and puffing at the end of the show. Kind of sets an unexpected example. I'm going to have to work out a bunch before I see these guys again. Good show.

Blown Away! From the beginning, the atmosphere was buzzing and the boys come out as if they had not missed a beat (and for the most part, did not miss a beat all night). Incredible transitions between songs kept the music flowing out of one endless classic into another. The boys looked happy to be where their feet had landed that night and ripped a 65-minute first set followed by a 95-minute second set. It was beautiful and made me wish I was holding a tour ticket instead of one night's. A great crowd too without the usual unwanted kids. Blown Away!

GREAT SHOW! Was like seeing old freinds I hadn't seen in five years. I've changed, they have changed, but what a great time getting to know them again. My face hurt by the end of the night I was smilin' so much. Was really good to see the interaction between the band members. Looked like they were havin' some fun up there.

Nice start overall. Little loose in the first set but well-done Help>Slip>Frank and awesome Caution in set 2. Roanoke Civic Center is a good venue, security was lax, and the drive was not too bad but next time bring the circus to Asheville!

They'rreee Bacccckkkk. Mad good vibes coming from everyone. Tight interplay between Phil and Bobby, especially on the Other One jam. Just magical. Franklin's was just golden.

Our boys are back! This is the best post-Jerry lineup yet. There were definately some kinks that needed to be worked out, but the show definitely had the vibe of past Dead shows. The band is playing with a new level of intensity and is pulling out some great material that the Dead had not played in years!
Some of the Roanoke highlights were the St. Stephen opener... then into The Wheel and into Cassidy. Wow! China>Rider is always nice too. It was great to hear them whip out Viola Lee Blues.
Overall, this was an incredible show. For the first time since Jerry died, they left me wanting and yearning for more. I'm praying for a summer tour!

This show was awesome! The band was so full of glad energy; I kept expecting them to stop and say something about their being phenomenal, but they of course just rocked non-stop. The St. Stephen opener was such a surprise treat, and the second set had really powerful drumming and was exceptionally spacey; it seemed to me that whatever was missing from Phil and Friends, Ratdog, and sans-Phil Other Ones was there in Roanoke on that fantastic night. Everyone I met at the show was truly in the family spirit--helpful, friendly, and ready to party. It's hard to find anything negative to say, but in the spirit of review, I must say that the venue was awful for children--really steep and dangerous cement bleachers. Also, cops and drug dogs were harrassing people at the hotel across the street that acted as a pre-show lot before the actual lot opened at 4 p.m. The hotel manager finally sent them away when someone asked him to--thanks, hotel neighbor! Now that the band is touring all together again, the world looks a whole lot brighter. All I want to do is make it to another show!

What a night! After a pre-concert gathering at a friends across town, we loaded up and headed to the coliseum around 6:00 pm. After parking at our friends' hotel, we cruised over to the coliseum and got into line in plenty of time, but by the time I made it past a security screening similar to an Israeli/Palistinian border crossing and had to wait again to get a freakin' wristband just to get onto the floor, the boys were well into The Wheel, which seemed to make things just start to get better from then on.
I espically liked the jamming and segues created between the songs throughout the night, such as Wheel>Cassidy, Broken Arrow>Playin>Other One Jam>China/Rider, and into the second set weaving Bucket and GDTRFB into a very unexpected Viola Lee Blues.
But for me, the best "part" of the show was the Help>Slip!>Franklin's>Caution!... it was very nice indeed. Rob's vocal on "Help" was very nice, the "Slip!" jam was intense, very tight jamming among all members here, Rob and Phil did a very nice job with the vocals on "Franklin's", but the jam out of that into and becoming "Caution!" is what the show was all about for me. The musical communication was in all-time form for these guys. Also loved hearing Box of Rain just like always and finally having Mickey send us home with a very funky, groovy "Strange" was cool, capping a very intense night in a small colisuem setting. The sound really filled up the arena tonight... hope you guys in the 20,000 seat places get the same.
And not to be forgotten, I really enjoyed Robert Hunter's mid-show set, it really kept the evening rolling. A really special treat to say the least.

Wow! I've been waiting for this all summer! My bro and I caught the 'Noke show after a long day at college. The boys were definitely on it tonight. The energy at the Civic Center was very positive. You could feel the love in the air. I've caught most of the recent Virginia shows dating back to the first Furthur. What a transformation! The Portsmouth show with Phil, Bobby, and Billy K was similar to this one in style. From Portsmouth, it sounded like the band had taken on more of the Phil and Friends sound. The amazing jams are definitely very prominent now. Jimmy fits the lead role well. With Jimmy complementing as lead, you can definitely see that Phil and Bobby have taken major roles in this lineup. It is amazing how tight they are now since Alpine. Phil's voice gets even better with time. With regards to the first set, Broken Arrow was great and the closer, China-Rider, had everyone standing. I noticed that they played China Cat with emphasis on the older intro (ala the original studio version or some of the late 1960's shows).
Robert came out and mentioned that the guys told him that they had warmed the crowd up for him. Robert's reply was "I'll cool them down for you." Robert was amazing on the acoustic, walking out to Brown-Eyed Women and departing with Ripple. What a treat! During his set, there was a beautiful Dire Wolf>Peggy-O>Dire Wolf>Peggy-O jam. Robert's words, as usual, carried the night. Remarking on the opening of the tour in Roanoke, he said, "Alpine was Alpine. But this is where it starts. Here tonight!" It is a rebirth of sorts for the band. If you haven't experienced it yet, then you need to treat yourself soon.
Second set's cosmic drum solo was amazing. Moreover, Mickey's loud and powerful jump into HOTW almost brought the house down. Energy was amazing in the second set for the Viola Lee Blues jam (including a searing version of Hell In A Bucket). My dream came true: "Box of Rain" in concert! Thanks, Phil! Get out and enjoy the tour! Show them we want more!

The first time I saw the Dead was also here at home in the valley. 1974 and I was fifteen feet from the stage. This time I was on the front line with my wife, Robyn, and eight year old daughter, Kathryn. I was one happy man.
Roanoke welcomed the band members as old friends, with a sublime pandemonium.
With the striking of the first two notes which would spark the opening number, Saint Stephen, I knew I was in for a special treat. A nostalgia rush and the energy emanating from the stage made my hair stand on end. This was my wife's second show and she was dancing and hollering like I hadn't seen before. Kathryn was on my back and we were dancing. I felt from the power from the stage that the band was not in the mood to hold anything back. Tonight was to be a night of exploration and experimentation in the grand old tradition. The second song, The Wheel, brought on another goose bump rush. One of my personal favourites, the vocals were strong and persuasive. Kathryn then heard one of her favourites, Cassidy.
Kathryn and I were going to chant "let Phil sing" but were beat to the draw by Phil's rendition of Broken Arrow. Each number had it's own little involved jam where the band seemed to be "getting their legs" as we say in the ski industry. A couple of times, the music broke down into a catastrophic shambles, without form or structure, just like old times, and the band members seemed to reach out into the randomness of the space of sound to find each other once again and bring the phoenix out of the ashes, rising from its own destruction. I had the feeling that some of the experimentaion was reminiscent of the early years, and some of Rob's vocal input brought back memories of some of that old Pig rap. Rob also at times sounded eerily like Jerry. Jeff and Rob made a great keyboard team and during one number, at least, switched seats. Jimmy's style works well with the band, and while he can bring back some of that old sound, his personal musical explorations are all his own.
I wasn't sure that Robert Hunter was actually going to be there, as I had heard that he might only do a couple of shows in California, but I was pleasantly surprised when he strolled out on stage with Brown-Eyed Women. I heard him do Dire Wolf, Peggy-O, and finish with Scarlet Begonias. Some of the tunes he played I missed. I think the transmitter unit was linked to the overhead speakers which were behind us, and while his guitar licks could be heard fairly well, I missed some of the vocals. I love Robert Hunter.
I guess the highlight for me was their performance of Viola Lee Blues, which winded its way into Hell in a Bucket, back into Viola Lee, and roundabout twisted into Goin' Down the Road Feelin' bad, and back yet again into Viola Lee Blues. Wow! A reprise of Playin' and a finish with Box of Rain. (Let Phil Sing!!) Encore, Only the Strange Remain, and the lights went up. Fare the well, friends, till next time.
While there were some miscommunications and an occasional lyrical confusion, which is to be expected with music which is so much dominated by improvisation, they went very little noticed and not at all regretted by the crowd. We were mostly just happy to be a part of the reunion tour, the party, the comaraderie, and most of all the music. The best part is that even my wife is now more a fan than ever (being on the front line didn't hurt that), and that means good things for the future if these guys decide to do it again.
We will always lament the passing of Jerry and the day the Dead ended, but we may rejoice in the prospects of a life rich in the sights and sounds and a future of fun and phantasmic frolicikng with the living Dead, The Other Ones!