Chicago - The last show for the Dead

[Waquoit]

I know it's not going to happen, but I want to see Trey take the band by the throat and throttle them, and kick the sh/t out of this music like it deserves.

Isn't that an unfair request? Why should it fall on him?

 

[8893]

Isn't that an unfair request? Why should it fall on him?

Yes, it is totally unfair, and totally unrealistic. It won't fall on him because it's not his band, but that's unfortunate imo because he is by far the most capable at this point.

 

[Waquoit]

Yes, it is totally unfair, and totally unrealistic. It won't fall on him because it's not his band, but that's unfortunate imo because he is by far the most capable at this point.

Agreed. When I saw The Dead in the XL a few years back, Warren Haynes was in that spot. And they had him way over to the right. Even then, he was the clearly the most impressive part of the show, including vocals. Even so, this is a cool event for the big fans, giving some closure.

 

[phillionaire]

Show was a heater last night. Who's ready for round two?

 

[8893]

Show was a heater last night. Who's ready for round two?

What a difference a week makes. They got it right. Letting Trey lead, turning up Jeff, Bruce's backing vocals a la Brent...it's all good!

Got home too late for the start last night and webcast would only let me watch live, which was drums, and I fell asleep before the end of the second set. Watching from the top this morning and just finished the first set. Really, really good. Very impressed. I'm ready for a cocktail and second set.

 

[8893]

I know it's not going to happen, but I want to see Trey take the band by the throat and throttle them, and kick the sh/t out of this music like it deserves.

Well I was wrong--this is exactly what is happening, and it's pretty great imo. Looking forward to tonight.

 

[August_West]

 

[phillionaire]

Never miss a Sunday show!

 

[Mike75]

Phil's vocals have been cringeworthy. There is no reason for him to sing with Bobby/Trey/Bruce there. He ruined Frank and Eyes. Friend of the Devil last night was unlistenable. Bring back Donna for chrissakes. Or Pigpen. Anyone but Phil on vocals.

Trey and Bruce have been bright spots. I really like how Trey has stepped up over the course of the run. He's gotten better with each show.

Has anyone else been listening to the Sirius feed? Took me a while to figure out it was tape delayed (You think they would have mentioned this) and the "hosts" are terrible. Who needs commentary? Just play the music.

Overall it's been better than I expected. But without Jerry it's still Phil and Friends /Furthur/ the Dead with Trey and Bruce.

 

[8893]

The vocals have been subpar overall. My only complaint really. Bruce has the best voice imo, but he screws up the phrasing frequently and is clearly reading the lyrics most of the time. Trey has the lyrics and phrasing down impressively well--especially given everything else that's on his plate with the lead guitar--and he does a good job of staying on key, but it's not a great vocal by any stretch.

 

[8893]

@phillionaire @Zionn @August_West

Are you back down to Earth? Let's hear your in-person reviews of your experiences this past weekend when you have a chance. Thanks.

 

[Zionn]

Amazing!

Just woke up and odd to not be heading to the lot.

Shapiro caught a lot of flack, but the production and overall vibe was top notch. I hope it was captured by the broadcast.

Music Highlights:
Night 1 - Music Never Stopped
Night 2 -sailor (although a great Saturday Night)
Night 3 - throwing stones

A few wrinkles here and there, but played very well.

Crowd was magical. Lot was so so.

Deep dish has nada New Haven.

 

[phillionaire]

That was the coolest thing I've ever done, and probably ever will do. I can't believe I was there to experience it. The Scarlet>Fire on Friday night was definitely the highlight of the weekend, but that Throwing Stones on Sunday was hot fire too. Trey killed Crazy Fingers too.

 

[8893]

Shapiro caught a lot of flack, but the production and overall vibe was top notch. I hope it was captured by the broadcast.

Thanks. I thought the webcast was great. Listing to just the audio without watching (which I did for some of the Sirius rebroadcast) was not as good of an experience imo.

 

[8893]

That was the coolest thing I've ever done, and probably ever will do. I can't believe I was there to experience it. The Scarlet>Fire on Friday night was definitely the highlight of the weekend, but that Throwing Stones on Sunday was hot fire too. Trey killed Crazy Fingers too.

Good to hear. Agree with those as among the musical highlights (the clusterfark of an "ending" to Fire notwithstanding).

Trey had a lot of great moments instrumentally, including those as well as Let it Grow, Lost Sailor>Saint and Golden Road.

 

[phillionaire]

Good to hear. Agree with those as among the musical highlights (the clusterfark of an "ending" to Fire notwithstanding).

Trey had a lot of great moments instrumentally, including those as well as Let it Grow, Lost Sailor>Saint and Golden Road.

Yeah Fire had a few hiccups, like Bruce starting the vocals up right before a solo, but overall it was awesome.

 

[Zionn]

Enough songs that a 4th could have warranted, but Days Between was what just flat out did not work. I understand and know why it made cut ( Jerry loved and wanted to be next morning dew) but just reminded me why I hated it in the 90's.

One and only small complaint.

After party wise -

Moe was on Fire Friday night, pink talking fish (set was insane) crushed Saturday night, and Grateful Ball was a bust.

 

[8893]

Enough songs that a 4th could have warranted, but Days Between was what just flat out did not work. I understand and know why it made cut ( Jerry loved and wanted to be next morning dew) but just reminded me why I hated it in the 90's.

Agree with that and was thinking the same this morning; i.e., that it was kind of like what it was like to see a group of shows in the 8os and 90s. Some shows better than others; some good songs and some not so good. That Days Between didn't work for me at all, either.

I thought Friday was far and away the best night of the five FTW shows, and Sunday in Chicago was probably second best.

 

[Zionn]

Agree. Friday was the ripper!

Now where do I score my Let Trey Sing tee?

 

[phillionaire]

Agree. Friday was the ripper!

Now where do I score my Let Trey Sing tee?

http://www.lettreysing.com/shop/official-let-trey-sing-shirts
that moe. show on Friday night was great, but Saturday was better imo. I was so exhausted by then though haha.

 

[August_West]

Enough songs that a 4th could have warranted, but Days Between was what just flat out did not work. I understand and know why it made cut ( Jerry loved and wanted to be next morning dew) but just reminded me why I hated it in the 90's.

One and only small complaint.

After party wise -

Moe was on Fire Friday night, pink talking fish (set was insane) crushed Saturday night, and Grateful Ball was a bust.

LOL Grateful Ball. That's on you homey for going to any show that features super putz David Gans as an "artist at large".


shows were great. Friday was the epic night.

 

[boba]

LOL Grateful Ball. That's on you homey for going to any show that features super putz David Gans as an "artist at large".


shows were great. Friday was the epic night.

Yeah, I think Friday set the bar a bit high that the rest of the run just could not clear. Nothing wrong with Saturday or Sunday, just that Friday was the best of them. Anyone go to the Field Museum to see the exhibit? Pretty cool of Chicago to really embrace the Dead scene. If it was the late 80's or early 90's I just don't think they would have been as welcome. BTW - Socialism2015 was running concurrently in the hotel. They planned that well.

 

[8893]

Don't know if any of you caught much of the setbreak music composed by Neal Casal, but I loved it and it has now become my new favorite background music. Here's a soundcloud link to all that's out there:

Link

 

[Deadrody]

Interesting reactions. I did not get to see as much of it as I would have liked, but what I did see was excellent. I didn't see either of the Santa Clara shows and I'm somewhat thankful for that. Glad they got some of the kinks worked out.

Definitely agree with the weird Bobby vibe. They've had that same dynamic going with Furthur as well. Bobby's singing is passable at best, even on some of his songs these days, and almost unlistenable on Jerry songs. But this vibe is even more widespread than that. The Sirius Grateful Dead channel is enamored with Bobby's solo stuff that I'm not sure a single human on the planet earth is interested in hearing. Yet they keep pumping it out. I was driving on Sunday night and could only catch the pre-show commentary on Sirius. David Gans was actually talking about "Days Between" a the song he most wanted to hear that night. Very odd. He was talking about it becoming a "great vehicle" for Bobby in the last couple years, but even in the 90s I never thought much of the song and I can only imagine how much worse it would be with Bobby's singing. Cringeworthy. I think some of the these people are caught up, a bit, in their own bubble. Which, as eveyone pointed out above, is their right. They've earned it. But, still. meh.

Trey was outstanding in Chicago. A really great choice, despite my earlier reservations. Not unexpected, I guess, if you think about it logically.

I wonder if that set break music was the same as what they were playing on the video feeds. Some really cool vintage parking lot, SF scene stuff and some really funky, mellow music to go with it. I had thought I would pause the video and pick it up live once the second set started, but I couldn't stop watching.

BTW, I'm LOL at the socialism reference above. Not sure which is more interesting, the idea that "socialism" is viewed as a universal good in the world, despite it's history, or that it is just assumed that all fans of the Dead must be unabashed fans of socialism.

 

[8893]

Free Dead & Co. live webcast right now (second set just started):

https://www.amexunstaged.com/artists/dead-and-company/