Reviews
nice first set, rough around some begginings, good jams...sweet Casey Jones. Sound at this place leaves a lot to be desired but none the less, good times....Second set...What it is baby! Classic, good to have them around. maybe they get it smoother if they can play some more over time.... ;)
Paul E G, NYC
The show was very amazing for the most part..with some slower moments especially in the first set for me anyway......and they must have known I was in the audience because the show began with TOUCH OF GREY; "......and then into Pride of Cucamonga..which was excellent many changes of tempo and bluesy........then Brandford Marsalis came out to lend some fantastic saxophone and played throughout the night...there was a few spacey jazzy interludes......he actually brought the house down a few times. He added a definite Jazz focus to the IZOD shows.
Crazy Fingers........and The Music Never stopped was ok for me..but DEAL was very very good, .....and then Days Between....ending the first set with a very sprited CASEY JONES>>>
I thought that the Intermission was way too long..45 minutes.....I couldn't believe it was that long.
WOW>>>>The second set was much better for me....and it started with the first song Sitting on Top of the World, then we were Doing that Rag and then a very well played and exciting excellent version of "Ramble on Rose" with the entire audience singing very loud which seemed to energize the entire place....... Lady with a Fan was good and then that very jazzy Brandon Marsalis thing called SPACE.which people liked but then took a break
And then MY HIGHLIGHT.....THE WHEEL..which is one of my favorites ..and if the thunder dont get you the lightening will!!! but the guitar and piano/saxophone..bass....it was so crystal clean and beautiful....the place was rocking..and alive.....but not to be outdone...they went even higher and flowed right into Terrrapin and now they were dancing in the aisles..... and the absolute most rocking I know you Rider , I cant imagine it any better of a Rider..... As I started to leave they played an encore called Women are Smarter..which I did not know.
Gary S.A., Hackensack
the boys were calling it in through most of the 1st set like the above poster mentioned some nice jams in there...good Casey ...2nd set BAM Terrapin and Rider just as I was peaking.. Smokin 2nd set ..good to see some fire in their eyes..good fun
Danny, North Jersey
Amazing show, I thought the first set was HOT. That Branford is fantastic, that groovy jam/space thing had a great flow to it. Warren had a great sound all night long, these guys were on fire. Come on they threw out some Doin that Rag, Terrapin, and Ramble on Rose. Glad they did it, who knows if they'll do it again. Great job guys thanks.
Scott, Branchville
What a difference a day makes.
Smoking show last night beginning to end. Much more of a traditional show. Thank you for the Sitting on Top of the World, one I had been chasing, and for the I know you Ridder from the other night.
This completes a great week of shows for me. If you are considering Philly, Go! The Boys are playing great and word is that you will get Morning Dew on Sat. night and probably a Minglewood encore would be by my guess, but what do I know I have been wrong all tour.
What there is no denying is how much fun this band is and appears to be having. Nothing that I would rather do and no one that I would rather do it with then all of you.
Enjoy the rest of the ride.
Chris, Bernardsville, NJ
Great show last night, very impressed with Warren, and Jeff, Sittin on top of the world stood the place on its ear.I liked the deal and never really liked days between but Warren sang it very well with lots of feeling.The wheel was sweet and charged the crowd for a bit.Women are smarter was a swell treat.Great seein everybody again
Turtle, Copaigue,NY
Jumpin on the Red eye tonight and headin to Philly for the 1st of my 4 shows, meeting the Pep and Tosty Rosty and lookin forward to a Real Good Time. No negative reviews coming from me cause at 50 just to go is a treat!! St Stephan/NFA/St Stephan would just be too good to be true, but I take whatever they play like I have for the last 32 years!! I am hoping everyone goes with the Smile,Smile,Smile attitude cause the boys always play better when the crowd is there for them. Also hope to see some of the Band at Band of Brotherz after party shows, The Race is On saturday for the Derby and a Morning Dew tribute to Jerry for the Spectrum history -OUT
Blanch, San Diego
Interesting that Warren sang Days Between, as Bobby sang it at Worcester.
Alan, Burbank
First set was good but 2nd one was smokin one of the best riders I have seen in a long time. the wheel just blew me away. had a great time. the parking area at the izods SUCKS. we gotb stuck in a no tailgating zone. but had a real good time anyway.
brown eyed family, Brick, nj
What a great time we had overall. The Izod parking is ridiculous - you either end up in one tiny lot in front of the place, in the hideous new parking garage or a million miles away in the Giants' Stadium lot. Oh well. That aside, the music was INCREDIBLE! Pride of Cucamonga, Crazy Fingers. I could have done without the Casey Jones 1st set closer but they made up for it with an amazing, electic, electrically-charged second set. Opening with the surprise Sittin on Top of the World, then Doin That Rag and Ramble on Rose had me peaking without the aid of psychedelics. When they went into Lady with a Fan I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. There were no low points to this show, absolutely none. Women are Smarter encore reminded me of the 80s when they used to play it often - we thought it was going to be Iko Iko but alas! We were fooled! God Bless the Good Ole Grateful Dead, I hope there will be more tours!!!!
Hollyanna, West Milford, NJ
Alan, I respect what you have to say. How was this night? Thanks, CG. I know you have more to say than just Warren sang Days Between.
CG, Wisconsin
I did not attend or hear this show. I was just responding to Turtle's post about warren singing Days Between. I heard the one from Worcester with Bobby singing, so I was surprised to hear that Warren sung it. I liked the Worcester one a lot...
Alan, Burbank
I saw the boys in Charlottesville on the 15th and am heading off to Philly in the next hour or so for the next 2 nights.. If anyone has been on tour in between have the shows been gaining in strength and while I have seen many shows I have never been to the Spectrum, anyone know what to expect there in the lot??
Thanks
Jim, Richmond
Jim...not sure what to expect in Philly, but Shakedown was in full effect in NJ. I have to say...I had a blast at all three shows up here. Got to here some great stuff I wasn't expecting and some I was. MSG was the highlight for me...but NJ was great as well. As for the cynics....I'm sorry you're not enjoying it anymore. I thought Warren and Jeff brought some really powerful energy to the band and sounded great....and like the Dead of old...there were highlights and lowlights. Either way...I had a blast...but I'm the kind of guy that has fun seeing a Dead Cover band. If you want to spend all day comparing them to yesteryear and treating each show like an audition to Juliard...you are missing the point completely.
For those of you hitting the rest of the shows ENJOY!
John, North Jersey
these guys are the gretest dead cover band, had everyone peaking during Rider, branford wails and is the grooviest deadancer ever to be onstage, band is smiling and having fun when not tired - don't know much about your audition to juliard critiques but that guy running the lights - he had the colors all mixing together it felt like things were out of focus, lotsa spinning geometric figures never really felt the lights all shining on billy and mickey much, well alright
Cjones, N.CheyenneCanon,colo