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

I like to believe I'm a reasonable fan when it comes to expectations of the band. That being said, I will say that of all the FURTHUR shows I have been fortunate enough to attend this was the only one that left me disapointed. This is only one mans opinion and I can only speak for myself but from the very start their seemed to be a lack of energy and conviction. That's not to say there were'nt points in the evening that I enjoyed, Big River, Greatest Story, Let It Grow and Wharf Rat being those. It didn't seem as though the chemistry I have grown accustomed to witnessing in past performances, Stroudesburg, Philly Mann, Asbury Park, etc.... was there. They just didn't seem to be having as much fun as I'm used to seeing.
I'm wondering if there has been some decision made about the future of the band and that feelings associated with that decision had an impact of the overall effort. Just a thought!?

I thought Chicago had some fine moments. The setlist from Reading wasn't all that exciting, though. Sounds like they got it together at the Baltimore show.

I am a full believer in OMGWAMS and the inherent subjectivity that appreciating and reviewing a musical performance brings with it. With that said, I could not possibly disagree with USCH's perspective any more vehemently and will present the opposite voice on that viewpoint. I respect his/her opinion, I just disagree with it quite adamently.

Whatever criticisms of the Reading show one may have, I cannot see how a lack of energy and conviction on stage can be among them. That second set was the strongest set I've seen compared to four previous shows, excellent song selection, all well played and some amazing transitions in and out of a number of them (Colors in particular). They were equal parts exploratory and powerful, and all were lyrically well done. Bobby's vocals were as strong as I'v heard them in some time and the whole unit onstage was very very tight, yet they went in different directions when it was called for by the song. Above that, they band looked to me to be having a good time in the process.

IMO, and its just one man's view, the band is hitting full stride now and I thought the previous tours and shows were really f'ng good, so its not as if I went into Tuesday night thinking the band needed dramatic improvement. But I believe they are at another level right now and hopefully there is more to come.

Reading was a decent, somewhat run of the mill performance which was to be expected. The sound was very good in the room, the lights and backdrop the best yet, and the ushers very cool. Spent the 40 min set break trying to figure out how many different PA venues Phil and/or Bobby have played in. List includes Spectrum, JFK, civic center, penns landing, electric factory, tower, rec hall, jordan center, city island, stanley, stabler, sovereign performing arts, sovereign center, strand, and penns peak peak. There has to be a few more, especially in Pitts (igloo?). Anybody have any others?

Sometimes you just have to sit back and appreciate what Bob and Phil are still doin'. I've been going since early eighties and yes there have been great shows and some less than stellar. I still would have rather been in Reading Tuesday night, than anywhere else. Any fan alive would "sign-up" for one continuous 90 minute 2nd set. Not the greatest set list, but very well-done. Song after song transition after transition. I honestly thought John cranked it up a notch throughout the night.

Crowd was great- perfect sized venue. Inside staff very easy however outside scene was not nearly as cool with local and state police seachin' and dogs sniffin'

Montage Mountain
Catholic Youth Center, Scranton PA

Great show inside bad scene outside before the show I am told as I was a bit late and missed the opener.

I don't agree AT ALL with the lack of energy analysis -- this show ROCKED and the second set was flawless. I agree with DJMac from Philly that this show was ON and after eight Furthur shows this year I would place Reading in my top three along with AC (February 27) and sweatbox palaca (July 5).

Tomorrow I can check the band out again in the big city at the Garden where the mayor isn't a moron.

Note: THIS BAND IS COOKIN' !

Personally I preferred this show over Baltimore the next night which contained much slower tempo in the setlist than Reading.

Plus the home field advantage in Reading was a big factor knowing I was only ten minutes away from home when it was going to end.

As for the "show of force" by law enforcement-- what a total waste of public tax dollars to send in federal state and local cops for a Furthur concert. I mean the streets of Reading are RUN BY gun-toting gangs and crack-dealers from the DR-- and they want to bust some Deadheads who are contributing $$ to the local economy? Where are their priorities? Especially for the local police which force is already depleted as the City of Reading is literally bankrupt and half the police are laid off or quit.

Mayor McMahon you are both an idiot and an irresponsible ass for spending MY and everyone else's tax dollars on the police assignment. And what result did you get? A few disorderly conduct citations mostly because the city didn't even have the foresight to place some job johnnies outside the arena-- and somebody got busted for possession of contraband-- which you could do to almost half the residents of YOUR sadly distressed city. Your intelligence gathering was REALLY FAULTY. In fact you demonstrated no intelligence AT ALL.

Mr. mayor: despite your "show of force" the inside of the arena was noticeably tinged with the sweet smell of marijuana smoke so I guess you missed a few thousand offenders. Did you read the Reading Eagle today where ten out of twelve READING folks stopped on the street wanted marijuana legalized? I guess you skipped that part of the news. My opinion of you as mayor has been forever tarnished. There were residents and out-of-towners who patronized the show so good luck in the next election.

THAT BEING SAID-- TO THE BAND: KEEP ON ROCKIN' GUYS I AM PSYCHED FOR THE GARDEN TOMORROW YOU ARE SOUNDING GGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRREAT !

To each his own, but I found no lack of energy from the band in this show or for that matter any of the others I saw back on the winter and summer tours. The second set was an exhausting run from start to finish with, as has been mentioned here, some really fine transitions. Particularly liked the extended Playin into Colors, which was new to my ears and packed a ton of energy. Delighted too that they threw a few curves with China but no Rider and Born Cross Eyed tucked in between
Slip and Franklin's.

The last decade or so has witnessed a lot of bands that made their names back in the day make "comback" tours where the playing seems largely mechanical and lifeless. In my experience, that has never even been close to the case with any of the GD iterations and certainly not with Furthur. As long as they decide to play, they will have me coming back for more!