Reviews
The show was fun, but inconsistant with a lot of stops and starts. I also, listened to the CD right after. It was a pretty average show. My fav's of the tour still continue to be DC and C'vile.
The china cat was nice. They got lost at the end of born cross-eyed and just kinda stopped. Built to last was lame. Pride is always fun, but the best version this year was from DC. Miracle>Wang Dang was fine, nothing special. West LA was well played. I am not a liberty fan, but well played. Watchtower was one of the few highlights and Warren tore it up here.
I hate Mexicali and I seem to hear it every year in Chicago, but with that being said it was ok. Mystic and Hard Rain were great. Peggy-O was fine. I guess Phil is going to play it every acoustic set. I was disappointed with this being the only pre-drums. I mean DC, the best show of the tour, had a 20 minute Dark Star into a smoking King Solomon's...God that show rocked. Iko was fun. SOTM was lame...Warren's solo was just annoying. Its one Jerry tune that they do no justice to. The short show closed with GDTRFb. The other major highlight. Warren was awesome on this tune.
Imagine was totally butchered. I just think they should lay of the beatles tunes. It has no jam and the vocals should only be sung by people who have the range of McCartney or Lennon. Box was fine.
This was a dance show, not a jam show with noodling in and out. It happened before Jerry died and I guess it will still happen now.
CG, Wisconsin
I am not sure which show CG from Wisconsin was at but last nights show in Chicago was performed beautifully. I have to admit, I was at the 2 shows in Philly this past weekend which I thought were superior to Chicago, but still a great show last night. Using the term, "I hate Mexacali" is quite harsh. The acoustic set was very much enjoyed by the crowd. We loved the version of Imagine and Warren has a wonderful voice and range.
Warren pulled out that old GS on Watchtower and he wailed on it. At the peak of GTRFB I thought the roof was going to come off the arena.
Ken, Bayonne, NJ
I have to agree with Ken. That was an amazing performance by all band members. They are pulling out all the stops on this tour. I was fortunate to see MSG last weekend and this show was just as spectacular. I was really impressed with Jeff. He has this sound down and there were times last night I felt his energy was unmatched on some of his solos. He really adds to this band. Here's hoping they do a few more tours. If not, I am very satisfied with last night and the NYC gig. I hope everyone attending tonight has a blast. Peace!
Louis, Lincoln Park, Ill.
I was soooo excited for the show. Havn't stopped thinking about it since I bought the ticket a few months ago.
I thought the second set was very lame. Nothing exciting. No experimentation. I thought this show played more towards tourists than real dead fans. It hurts me to critic this way but I was just extremely dissapointed after checking the killer setlists they had played as of late.
The watchtower was probably the only highlight of the show.
Sammy, Chicago
horrible show, start to finish. Bad setlist, no energy, warren casnanot pull this off. People are just so excited about this return of the dead and thats great, but the ovjective truth is that it was lame, uninspired, and either ratdog or Phil and friends, who play in sweet, intimate theatres and venues, blow this away. Glad Billy Kreutz can make some nice dough, however, he deserves a nice payday and at 100$ oer, I suppose he is getting just that...
billy makke, chitown
What a bunch of old hippie elitist's. The show was excellent from start to finish. Don't you dance at shows? Granted there is no replacing Jerry but Warren is the best for the job.
China was an excellent opener and Imagine brought some to tears. The show was hot.
It's all about the music and the community. Just enjoy it.
Dannyboy, DM Iowa
Anyone who is crapping on this show should suck it. The band knew the show wasn't extremely high energy. It was planned to be a mellow night. There was so much feeling and love in that place. I do agree that billy should have played a lot harder, and that the west L.A. was too soft. But, the peggy-O brought me to tears, the acoustic set was extremely intimate and they poured themselves out during it. It felt like the dead were reminiscing to their later years when they did play the allstate/rosemont horizon. the early part of the show was choppy, but I think they were screwing around on purpose. And liberty kicked a considerable amount of ass. I will complain that they were holding back however purposely, like not hitting the strings or the skins hard enough. HELL, MICKEY NEEDS TO GET HIS OLD DRUMSET BACK! that would put some muscle back on the stage. and phil was not loud enough. but the emotion of that whole place that night was unbeatable, the crowd was raw and ready for a dead show, and im glad as hell i traveled a thousand miles to see it. bobby played and sang wonderfully. wang dang doodle rocked and it was the first one since 1998. And good for everyone who rags on a show that is the only one that many people in there got to see and may be the last time they see the dead
Sutton, Lake Forest, IL/ New Orleans
Uh...Billy from Chitown...you say Phil and friends can blow this band away....Uh...Warren toured numerous times with Phil and friends and was THE guitarist on the Phil and friends CD release....just thought you should know. Peace.
DOC, Rochester NY
loved the shows and seeing people I haven't seen in years. Only complaint is that PHIL is not loud enough. NO BOMBS, they need that back. loved seeing them perform together again though.
joe, IL
Dare I say that this was the weirdest setlist of the 09 tour?... Warren was strong 1st set (as always)... acoustic set was a treat... space... a Tambourine...
Goin where the water tastes like wine...
...mellow feeling show to ease these chitown folks. Nobody saw Imagine comming. Thanks Warren for the autograph.
Goin Down the road feelin bad bad bad -----;@
Drew, IN
There was just no good jam material. An inspired liberty, watchtower, and GDTRFB. Who cares, really. The band just misses in chicago more than it hits. Kind of like your cubs.
CG, Wisconsin
I relistened to a lot of this tour. I loved a lot of it. However, this show was dick, aside from the three good songs played as listed above.
CG, Wisconsin