Here is the thing. Bobby has a vast catalog of wonderful songs that he wrote and sings. Great songs that are meant for him because they are written by him. At least 1/2 of every show SHOULD be sung by Bob if 1/2 the songs are HIS songs. However, a show like the other night where he sang 11 out of 15 songs leaves me a little flat. I get that Phil and Bobby were IN the band and they have a connection to the songs. They have EARNED the right to pick and choose and sing what they want. I get it. I support it. But it also smacks of a bit of ego too. Lets be honest, there is not one "Jerry" song that would not be better served from a musical quality standpoint if Trey or Bruce sang it. For example, go back and watch the April 99 Phil and Friends show where Trey absoutely gets right to the vocal heart of Row Jimmy. He also had played it numerous times in his solo band. But when they played it the other night, Bobby took yet another one. Why? This is just personal speculation but over the last 10 years ago Bobby seems to have a self notion that he is a human vessel for Jerry Garcia's spirit. The beard, the fact that in all his iterations in that time period he plays more Jerry tunes than his own chestnuts, the fact that he set himself in Jerrys "stage spot", the donning of a black Tshirt both nights in SC. I also get that. He took losing Jerry probably harder than anyone on the planet and in his way I think he feels it is a loving tribute. And Im sure it is. But by him being so invested in that loving tribute we have seemed to have lost some of the things that made Bobby Bobby. Would love to see him be a bandmate instead of "ratdogging" these shows.
I enjoyed SC and will def enjoy Chicago. These are just nitpicking things that would make me enjoy the shows more, but they owe me nothing.
