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

Holy crap these guys were on fire. Absolutely monumental Morning Dew, nearly brought the balcony down, sent shivers down my spine.

Another big day in midtown. We caught a matinee of "Fela on Broadway" two blocks away, followed by dinner at "the oldest Indian restaurant in the USA" one block away. Go into the building before the rush this time.

Truckin' was a good opener, was looking forward to another 2nd-set-like 1st set, but they brought it down right away and kept it light and fluffy with a bunch of ditties and first set ballads. The energy came up again for Touch of Grey. I was worried they might have run out of steam, but clearly they were saving it up for the second set, as Bobby hinted when he said "well, that's it for *this* set", as well as the night before, when he said (I think) "manana" after the encore.

The second set was bursting with energy, and featured a setlist that would have been beyond epic in the last 15 years of the Grateful Dead, even without the Stephen and Cross-Eyed. Uncle John's was better as an opener than it was in Ithaca, and Scarlet seemed like it couldn't possibly be followed by anything except the audio-visually incandescent Fire on the Mountain. My wife had wanted to hear Fire and Birdsong during the previous stint, so it was great that they paired them up. Then of course came a mighty St. Stephen (although a Birdsong segue into Darkstar would have worked quite nicely), with a well-played and well-sung Born Cross-Eyed. The "eyes" had it with a long shades-of-74 Eyes afterwards, culminating in a great Dew. Epic indeed. When they didn't leave the stage, thought for sure they would come around to finish off the Other One, and it sounded like they were steering in that direction, only to morph into Playin' once again, bookending a great two-night run. Brokedown was like gospel with the vocals, and a nice way to say goodbye (for us anyway) until summer. Definitely had my fill for now, time to patch the bones. Wrapping it up with a shot of the original Further bus was perfect.

There've been a lot of great-sounding shows this tour. Of the ones I saw, some people are saying Fairfax was the best, although some of the southern shows (Miami, Asheville) sounded really great, as did Utica. But tonight's second set has to go down as one of the best pieces of live music I've ever witnessed, and combined with the first night, the light show (which I did not see at any of the other shows), and the history behind the venue, cemented Radio City's status on the tour roster.

Already on board for Nateva, which was being promoted outside both shows, and with 2 Philly shows added, looks like an all-out summer tour is taking shape. I like it up north in summer, so I'm rooting for SPAC, but also heard a rumor of Keyspan Park in Coney Island...?

One more thing - except for the encore, Bobby had no lead vocals to speak of in the second set. Hopefully it's not because he's been listening to all of the negative criticism on the review boards. Someone posted recently that it was time to ease up on the Bob and Phil vocal-bashing, and let these guys be. They've earned the right to do whatever they wish, and if Bobby is having trouble with songs that he used to sing circles around, then he needs our love, not our disdain. So Bob, if you're listening, I take back all the jabs and digs I gave you back in the day - I'd give anything for some of the old-style Bucket and Sugar Mag style banshee wailing, and I think you still have it in you - not to mention your playing is as good as ever. And for the Phil nay-sayers, Eyes and Birdsong were spot on last night: all I know, he (!) sang a little while and then flew on...

Whoa, jr, whats this about two Philly shows?

One of the best experiences of my jam band's lifetime, the 2nd set was OFF THE HOOK! But 1st, some love for the set that preceded it. Show really started for me with a totally on-point Althea, a rollicking BE Woman, a joyous Till The Morning Comes and the one-two punch of Music>Touch. But evidently it was all a set-up for the 2nd set and I guessed it right when at the end of txt'ing my buddy the 1st set setlist during intermission I added "The best is yet to come". Indeed...:D

UJB started the festivities, Scarlet/Fire was worth the price of admission on its own, WOW! The Bird Song continued to channel the spirit of the fat man looking down upon us, the St Steven was the band's response back to him, musical sparks were flying off the stage during the Born Cross-Eyed and the Eyes was easily among the finest I've EVER witnessed, they could have walked off the stage and I would have easily been satisfied with it but...

...they added the emotional icing on the musical cake with the Dew and damm if I'm not tearing up as I did last night when they dropped the ultimate musical hammer on me, I cried like a baby and though it may not have been the best ever Dew of my lifetime it might have been the most emotional and cathartic Dew ever, no one will ever be able to convince me that Jerry's karma wasn't all over this sucker as it was for the entire set, Playin Reprise and the gospel-tinged Brokedown Palace included. WOW!

Everything sounded beautiful and crystal-clear. I was told afterwards that they used the newly installed house PA system and I can honestly say that I've never heard a better sounding show in this beautiful old lady of a venue called RCMH. Ever. WOW! Thanks to the band and the crew and my peeps that shared the bubble with me, it meant so much to have some of my closest and kewlest friends share this experience with me.

Time to get off the bus but the five shows were great. Hope they keep this intensity level up for the rest of you'all for the rest of this tour. This was FUN!

Peace,
Alex

I'm only able to make two shows on this tour (RCMH 2/24 & AC 2/27). While I've been reading great things about every show, I have a feeling that only being able to see two shows, i lucked out that this was one of them. Absolutely smoking second set with some great moments in the first set as well. I brought my 22 year old son, who is more inclined to the speed/thrash metal stuff, for his first GD related experience. To hear him use words like "phenomenal", "magical" and "I can't find words to describe it" made my night.

Hey Alex from Sunnyside, don't want to use your last name, but by any chance are you the same Alex I know from hanging out with Bruce (whose last name I don't remember, go figure)? If so, big shout out to both of you, would love to meet up again!
Jose

There's a band out on the highway and hopefully the plow driver's keep 'em going safely! We're in a Nor'easter!
Truckin' on. Woah dude, how about the RMCH show! It was spot on, Charley! The picture show blew me away, my face is gone, still can't find it(jaw dropping icon)! So Fun, indeed, Alex agreeing with ya all the way on that. I was reading some post in other places and found not everyone has the same time as us, to bad for them, holy freaking problems for them, we gotta vibe thoes one, if you didn't have fun at that show- CALL THE DOCTOR you're broken. Woohooo, even tho I really missed Bobby in the second, we just rode. I was talking with a friend and we agreed the whole mucis scene is f*&^'ed up because of this American Idol Simon dude. That guy is gonna sprout horns anyday now. People insulting God's gift to us has become a societial trend, MUSIC SINGER'S BEWARE there's a mad pig out there named Simon and he's winning. Who gives a F what you think Simon! He puts the capitol F in it all. The way he even talks to our beautiful children ----that were inspired by their strange hero's to sing and feel the beauty---with the devil's tounge he destroys. Ok you heard it here from the Hippy Freak that "knows" music and what it really is. I heard a child sing Dark Hollow one time and moved me to tears, 'eh. Well, well, well...love is shaking on shakedown street and I know the way. Who needs it? Just maybe that Simon dude, xoxxoxo for Simon maybe we can save him too, I sure don't know but I see the needle and the damage done. Hmmmm, maybe it was........

Hey jr midtown, bayonne nj: Hit me up (ajcprods@aol.com)...:-wink/smile.

Peace,
Alex

the boys obviously came to kill last night. the first set was pretty standard, the althea was a standout, with a killer keyboard solo by jeff and later the sizzling guitar. but the first set was a warmup for the second set. the best part was not the ridiculous setlist, but the way the songs were played. the uncle johns had a late jam that was nuts, the scarlet was dead on, and everything flowed. the dew was the show stopper, as well as another sick piano solo on eyes after the first verse. I thought that jon stole the show and has gained confidence and holds nothing back, at least not last night, as compared to the hammerstein shows a while back. After toying with lots of combos, it has come to this, and this is the best its ever gonna get in the post jerry era, so get to the shows and enjoy each note. A hot cassidy looms ahead, so get psyched for mohegan sun!!

There's a certain kinda mouse I'm feeling hungry for, anyone want to share a snack?

an outstanding show.both nights had many highlights. Last nights second set was as good as thry could be. First set as stated before was a well played set of seperate songs.. not unlike any first set we may have seen say from 83> till the demise in 95, witgh the exception of a very well played Morning comes, truckin openr was solid..Tonight the band let John K. have his share of lead vocals.. he nails dire wolf, and althea to a T. a real nice Music> touch set ender,with Bobby telling us "well thats it for this set, wait till next set" they took out the Alist for sure... UJB was a great opener real tasty backdropson the screen als. A big Scarlet. Fire with the volume turned up another notc had the place dancin and grinning.. once again wild Volcano,,=Fire, molten lava video.added to a great version.. of note here was Jeff as he has been ,, some great piano?organ parts..A very Dark Star like Bird songwas the segue and just as the jam seemed heading for real deep space P{hil took it into a killer St. Stephan.. more great backdrops lights... smiles all around.. the out jam after the coda could have gone anywere Bobbys born cross eyed was good ole Gd indeed.. Eyes was played like 1974...but than the moment> Morning Dew!.. Chills..scary close to the best Garcia versions( having seen the band since 74) this was alwys the emotianal high point,, John gave a sincere reading of a song that has such feeling, more so in nyc post 9/11,, Bobby closed the set with the Playin refrain.. finishing it up from the night before,, great job... the Bd Palace encore was sweet as honey,, the girls and Bobby gave it a nice gospel feel,, al in all two great nights of music,a fantastic venue, great vibe, sound.. lights.. and Phil and Bobby having a blast... thank you guys...

After reading the previous reviews I feel more convinced now than I did leaving the show last night that the 2nd set in particular was absolutley amazing...jaw dropping...a best - of setlist where after each song I thought they had played themselves out only to be outdone by the next as the show continued. Morning Dew in particular was outstanding and memeorable for its emotion and the sheer power that the band produced. One has the feeling that these guys are really just getting started and that there is plenty more fantastic music to come.

So alot what I have to say has been stated more eliquently by others so I'll leave at the the fact that this one of the best Dead related shows I've ever seen, but my point of reference dates back only to 1990. It was perfect in my opinion start to finish and pretty much impossible to pick apart any point what so ever.

The one thing I'd like to see a comment on is Phil's base, did he ditch the Black Beast and go back to his old one?

Could have been the best or one of the best Dead shows EVER!

Oh man! What a show. I was skeptical going in, but this is one of the best post-Jerry shows I have ever seen. Second set was flawless. Jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Scarlet->Fire and Dew were especially epcot.

first set was outstanding , the sound was great !
Saw 3 minutes of UJB at the start of the second set .
I got passed a doobie , took a poke and the big burly men in black security guys grabbed me by the shoulder and forceably tossed me out on the street ! they wouldn't let me talk to my wife , they just dragged me out
Can ya imagine ? 50 years old and the first time I've been ejected from a show for ANY reason .

YES, it just keeps getting better and better..........

Wishing I could have been there......Been dreaming of the Eyes Experience, soaring over mountains and plunging the depths of the ocean.......Always an Ultimate!

Never satisfied, but will run with the Dark Star Fantasy of the Hampton Starship and Sittin' on Top of the World for the Revolution, thus far in the treasure hunt.

What's this about Phil's black swan? and no sign of their new original Dance number?? Caution! Always the mysteries unfolding......

Just looking for the rhythm counterpart to
Meet me Halfway* ~ Black-Eyed peas are just not enough.........

Til the Morning Comes, maybe the summer Sun will help the Soulshine.......To All, in the meantime, enjoy your portals and every ounce of this transforming MUSical substance.

Asbury grabbed me by my black throat and I loaded up on a sweet two week spin: Barton, Lehigh, Radio City and AC. Almost over now, but I have a little further to go -tomorrow. My first show May 7, '80 at Ithaca - 10 years to the day before my daughter was born, so that was a special return trip this year. But this classic at RC was other world. What a palace and what a way to rock us out. I'm taking my 17 yr old son, tomorrow to the Borgotta, of all places. What a joy it is.

Spent the whole show on the floor, filled to my happy brim with corporate and private concessions. How about Till the Morning Comes? Too bad there weren't more women shaking thier bones.

Phil warming up on Brown Eyed Women, I sware I heard him singing with the old man. Then he asserted his - we will survive - best on St. Stephen. Take a listen to Fenario from 2/14 on archive.org and you'll know what I mean. He sounds so good.

Bobby's Mama Tried was Haggard, but then he quieted his singing, letting us feast on this 45 year masterpiece.

John, gettting his Dead Doctorate. Ph.D. - Doctor of Phil and the boys. College tour is his dissertation defense after so many years toiling in the Dead mine. Great thing is we get to be the committee, and I'm happy to serve. His Morning Dew, like at Barton, was near sacred. I'll give my final vote after AC, but if it were up to me he'd get the degree.

Well, I haven't gotten much work done these past 2 weeks. But, why worry about that when I can run around for 2 weeks, being a kid again, like playing in the band. All the smiling faces I saw on wednesday night, I know I'm in good company.

See you at the Phil party in July.

Both radio city shows had some great stuff. First set highlights where they really kicked into high gear were Althea, brown eyed women, and till the morning comes, wow!
Bob is definitely not a good fit for singing touch, he bobized the lyrics pretty good. The other songs in the first were all well played but not knock your socks off stuff.
I honestly can't give much of a review for the second set, it had some great moments but I was too f'd up to give a review.

Heading to Mohegan now. Then off to Denver. If anyone has extras for sat Broomfield, I would love to take them off your hands. I have Friday but my sister neglected to buy Saturday which she was supposed to take care of. Enjoy the tour, these guys are awesome

I am so glad the boys finally enlisted DSO guitartist to join the band. This is what the Dead should sound like- Jimmy Herring and Warren Haynes - thanks for the memories. Let's keep this team in tact til the end. Amazing show - me and my boys enjoyed it thoroughly. Great break from the NYC winter! Enjoyed the show from first note til the last

Does anybody remember the keys were always on jerrys side?The interaction between the keys and guitar is whats missing,the answer and response quality.Jerry used to lock onto Brent and WALLA! close encounters of the best kind!At least before he tossed knucklehead vince behind him.Jeff seems a little out there,on an island..great playin but it hardly compliments how dynamic fake jerry IS.And i know thats brents B-3 ,but it dont sound the same.Study up and figure out what drawbars to pull or push and when.Also the drums are milk toast,Where is the ROLLING THUNDER??One of the Best Ever??HHmmm, Maybe since Jerry... I fell blessed.Jerry Jerry Jerry, i never get sick of this story!

Bob's guitar playing is outstanding!

Awesome show oldschool flashbacks galore. Bob weir should not sing Touch of Grey or Brokedown Palace he sounds like William Shatner. Let John sing the Jerry tunes.