After a great show last night, how could they deliver again, but indeed it was another tight, well played show with a great setlist. Rain was the theme tonight as it unleashed during pre-show and then seemed to let up just before showtime. Here Comes Sunshine was the prefect opener and well played. Then it was Bob for most of the rest of the 1st set, which was fine by me. Truckin' was hot, an Estimated in the 1st set was nice, and then a rockin' Passenger. Sailor>Saint was well played, and could have easily been the end of the set, until John leads a rockin' Golden Road to end the set.
The 2nd set begins just as the rain begins to come down, and really doesn't let up for most of the set. No worries though as the band delivers a fantastic set (again) opening with Scarlet>Bird Song>Uncle John's Band. Very jammed out. The whole Terrapin suite was excellent, but then a great St Stephen and a rippin' Sugar Magnolia to end it. Playin' Reprise as an encore was a nice suprise and Touch to finish it off.
These guys are doing it, playing great, really delivering. Go check em out!
Dave, Bend, OR
This was a truly spectacular show. I was also at the show the night before which was great but this show was on a whole different level. I've seen many, many Grateful Dead and Dead member bands over the years and this show is probably in the top 10 (which really says a lot). All the elements came together that night - set list, musicians, crowd, weather and venue. At the risk of sounding like a hippie, it was a real cosmic event. Get a copy of this show!
P.S. - These were my first shows at the Cuthbert Ampitheatre. My friends told me that it is an awesome venue but it was even better than I could have imagined. I will definately be back and you should check it out if you've never been there.
Thank You!, for a real good time.
Rich, Nor-Cal
This tenderfoot learned how to go barefoot - rain! I brought 2 pairs of socks + 2 pairs of shoes and soaked 'em all. Finally got smart and took them off shortly into the first set.
Lot Scene - several lots at this GORGEOUS venue, but vending was mostly centered around the lot by the venue's official entrance. Great artistry with some of the shirts & onesies I saw, hemp coats/jackets/pants, homemade kombucha, posters specifically for the night's show, beers (but I heard a couple $300 drinking-in-public tickets were handed out), and Zane & the Furthur bus with all of it's memorobilia. It being Kesey's b-day (75) I was wondering if we'd be awash in the lysergic. We weren't. I only heard one guy say "doses" and he may even have been enquiring instead of offering.
A little rain around 4:00, but it cleared up and there was bright sunlight on Autzen Stadium by 6:40 - giving us an awesome rainbow in the eastern sky right on for showtime! Paving the way for the opener we all felt - HCS. Pounding on that E-note led us into Truckin'. I was pretty nervous Bob would flub a line (5 wordy verses in a row), but he pulled it off. OTRA was cool, it made me think of the grand road adventure this band's tours are and I saluted all my out-of-state friends. ESTIMATED was where Bob's flubability caught up with him/us. I don't know if a teleprompter can help a dyslexic dude too much, but hey, I bet it keeps the band on their toes! PASSENGER was more upbeat goodness - which we needed as our quick window of sunlight was nearing a close. Rain fell, and then stopped, but it never got cold. Lost >Saint I've been waiting my whole 'Head career for (since '89). Thank you, boys!
By set break, it was raining again and it looked to stay that way. Rain was the norm for the 2nd set. By then, I had found my spot with a bunch of other ecstatic dancers on the grass stageright. Boy did we let loose at the end of UJB - I love that final section. BIRD SONG came up for me synchronicitously 2 more times throughout the weekend, so there must have been some magic there. I looked up at the pictures of Kesey juggling & laughing and realized the joke was that the juggling balls were all in our imagination. All the MOUNTAIN SONG lyrics were on display as I looked over the crowd. TERRAPIN FLYER was a sizzler, I totally got my NealCassady freakdance on for that one! ST. STEPHEN is always a crowd favorite. By SUGAR MAG we were all into the groove and it was effortless freedom all the way.
Break before encore was pretty brief. I was considering the Beatles' BIRTHDAY since there had been no mention of Kesey from the stage all night. No complaints, though, when the rain washed us over one last time for Reprise & TOUCH. By the end, not only was I barefoot, but shirtless. So free! The evening was still warm and I drove back home barefoot, listening to Phish play TheWhiteAlbum, concocting theories and lovin' life.
mr. natural, Portland, OR
