Hello kids. Well, last night was a blessing and a curse all rolled into one. There is no other venue in the world like red rocks, and it was proven last night as waves of clouds and fog waifed through the venue creating an extremely trippy/spacey "island in the sky" feel. The curse was that, right before second set, it started pouring and i got soaked and my shit's still wet this morning and the tye dye dye from my new shirt is all over my arms...anyhow. I'm jumping ahead. Let's start at the beginning.
Roll up around 6:00, the parking lots are already filled up and people are looking for extras and partying. grab some grilled cheese, give away a few shows and head into the red rocks line. Get to hunter's set in time for Rueben, and sit enjoying this peaceful sounds until the dead come on.
The Music Never Stopped > - Excellent. Extremely tight, the boys where dead on with this even if Ratdog has played this tune enough for me to not hear it again for a couple years. Very fun, yet one could tell Warren was holding back a little, he seemed nervous. But the tune was good; and they went right into it, no flightless jam at the beginning. It was so damn good i was able to ignore the dickhead next to me who kept thinking TMNS was Shakedown, and couldn't understand why they wouldn't play it again if they played it on Wensday. He wasn't a kid either, this was a much older guy. I dunno where some of these folks come from...whatever, sorry about the rant.
Jam > - The jam following TMNS was alright. It needed the lead of Warren to bring it safetly from one destination to another. Like the 2nd spacey jam in the first set of Wensday night, started great and than fell apart. The energy almost ceased, and i think it's partially because Warren wasn't stepping up to the plate.
Here Comes Sunshine > - Excellent, just what we needed. It was great to have this semi-mellow tune to allow for everyone to enjoy the gorgeous scene, as well as Jimmy's excellently played lead and Jeff's craftsmanship on the keys. They vocals were also pretty good, even the harmonies...even Phil, lol :)
Cumberland Blues - Holy shit! here comes some energy. This made true believers out of the DNC folks who were sitting next to me who had heard some smack about the band. Once again, Warren seemed a little timid on his lead, but eventually he came around and him and Jimmy traded solos, alowing for warren to flex his amazing timing while jimmy worked his speed.
Tomorrow Never Knows > - While this song may be mellow, and on 03 tour could be a bore, it was amazing. not only where all the players in perfect form, but they picked the perfect time to bring this song out, with the lights reflecting on the particles of the fog perfectly. Wow, was that trippy.
Self Defense - Every time i hear this song i like it more. Mickey is beginning to sing instead of rap a little more, which i guess it better. But the tune itself has such energy and feel, and you can really tell the boys are giving this song a personality. It's catching on with the heads, and i think it must be hard for the boys to do with new tunes. So i'm glad, excellent song, hope it stays in rotation.
New Minglewood Blues > - Finally, warren really flexes his solos during this song. Solo in first verse he was rusty, and you could tell he was frustrated; but second verse solo you could hell he knew to give it his all. He gave one damn good solo that would've made the big man proud, lol.
Cosmic Charlie > - Holy shit again! Amazing tune. I've seen a few Cosmic Charlies post jerry and this was definately the best. The lead in might have been a little rusty, but the song itself was amazing. The only falter might have been vox, Bobby stumbled the lyrics alot. But if he didn't, would we still think of his as bobby? ;). Nonetheless, all the players worked very well together, and Warren impressed me to no end by making such a quick turnaround from timid to tyrant, lashing amazing solos that weaved through the chords like vines along a tree.
Jam > Eyes Of the World > - The pre-eyes jams have always been pretty good, this one was no exception. Amazing jam leads into an amazing verison, and Jimmy brings out a traditional sounding Jerry solo, and than Herring-Tizes it, making it both recognizable and yet distinctly his own. Amazing.
Jam > Liberty - Well, you'd think the set would end with eyes, but not these super-sized sets the boys have been playing recently. No, instead we gfet a mediocre jam into a standard and mighty enjoyable liberty. While the jam was no icing on the cake, the song itself was quite inspired, and you could tell they wanted to breathe fresh life into this 90s tune. Like i said, might basic, but definately loved by all in the crowd, esp. me during times like this when i think about my freedom and liberty on a daily basis.
Set Break - After sitting and chatting with some older heads, i heard some pretty amazing rumors i'm not allowed to chat about yet. Lets just say that i heard from someone in media, so i just wasn't some dood, that the Dead will be playing overseas in March. now, don't quote me on it or nuffin, and don't go making any plans or nuffin cause i mean, the dood could've been full of shit -- though i did ask for and recieved credentials as well as got to see pics this dood had of him with Mountain girl and wavy gravy, all of which he says still attend and enjoy all the dead and dead family band shows. Btw- overseas does not mean where you think it means.
Second Set:
Blackbird > - Standard, but add warren with a nice slide lead. Excellent amongst the pouring rain, i was kinda hoping they'd do a whole small set like this with just Warren and Bob, kinda like a rain delay or something. No avail, but that's alright. Blackbird was followed by ...
Friend of the Devil > - Also fairly standard. Nonetheless, this song is an excellent sing along tune, and prolly the first dead song i knew all the lyrics too as a little pup.
A Piece For You - I enjoy this tune, but as with all new tunes, it still needs work. This, unfortunately, lost the crowd, understandably so. By this time it was pouring, and while the place was still full, it was getting to around 30 degrees and we were all drenched. We wanted something we could dance to, and APFY is not exactly a dance tune. Though i think they should continue to work on this song as i enjoy it greatly, and the response after the song was fairly good.
Tons of Steel > - Excellent cover. Not too much too it, but i could definately see this being a song GD would've covered in the 80s, it's got that whole "i'm trucking on speed" feel -- like Willin'.
Estimated Prophet > - Ah, here is the real meat of this setlist. This prophet was MONSTROUS! Amazing, and huge. Loud, full, yet perfect with the wah and flange, the song got trippy while maintaining energy and once again, CHEMINI is a MADMAN on those keys. Bobby sounded in top form. No high pitched yelpings, but pleanty of "no, no, no........"s, which i love. Excellent. The thunder and lightening during this song was also spectacular, allowing for the sky to light up, you could imagine the prophet on the shores of california looking up at the firey sky. Tremendous.
The Wheel > - Strange when the wheel shows up in the second set as the underdog best song of the night. While prophet was what now is a rare treat, the wheel, which is a common song in TD's rotation, was tight. Both warren and jimmy nailed their solos, and everyone on stage got a piece of the action, including Phil who dropped some mad bass bombs. Everyone was shaking their ass and going crazy.
Drums/Space - Excellent, as always. Much like the drums from last red rocks show. See that review for details as i am much to tired to type them all out now.
Sugaree > - Standard with excellent warren and jimmy solos. Warren sounded great, keeping this song from growing stale to ears which have heard it often.
Throwing Stones > - Despite what Matt said about this Stones, i thought it was pretty decent. It was merely standard, and you could tell the shit weather, the cold and the rain where fuckin with Bob. Still, i enjoyed this song, even if Bob's energy was out of it, and the 5,000 "and the rich man in his summer home"s didn't help. But if bob didn't mess up the lyrics every once in awhile it wouldn't be the bob way. It was simply standard, which i think was a let down for people expecting a big Throwing Stones closer. This didn't happen and led to...
NFA - Another standard. This was also fun and got the crowd moving. This show was put together alot like old GD shows were put together, and generally you'd find NFA's were pretty standard along the way anyhow. So i think it went over well and was well played.
US Blues - I left during US blues because i was soaked and i had to be @ work @ 5:30 this morning and i know i have tonights show. From what i heard, also sounded standard. But would'e been a nice way to send us home.
Overall scores:
First Set: A+ - excellently played, and except for one or two moments, the segues were sick with an excellently packed, thick setlist of one great tune after another
Second Set: B - also nicely done, but they were just too slow to get the crowd moving at first. as i said, people wanted to dance, but that wasn't the first thing on the bands mind (which is understandable). this set could've easily made A- or B+ if it had been less standard, but instead the songs were pretty short and normal, possibly due to the rain.
Overall - B+ - Great show, well worth the money. Was it the best show i've seen this week? no. Was it still the same band? of course. It wasn't an "off" night, that's why it still got a high B, but the second set wasn't terribly inspired with exception of Estimated and the Wheel. I expect big things tonight, possibly a Terrapin? Until tomorrow's song by song review, this is cookie hoping you'll leave the lovelight on for me
Cookie Supahstah, Fort Collins, Colorado