Grateful Dead

Right on VGuy. It is what it is.. and it's good.

....with a Makisupa thrown in just to keep it interesting. Rewatching it now. Kush.And why does one ponder on Rhinos and Dave's decisions? I will keep subscribing until the end. Stop worrying about what other people think. That's a problem with society today. Whether it be music or anything else. Grow a pair and either crank it or shelve it and stop worrying about everyone else. My son is hooked on reaction videos. Trying to break that chain. To let some random soul decide or sway what you think of something is dangerous. Think for yourself. That's a concept that is disappearing in this day and age. I've seen the future, and it's leaning towards one not being a one, but sliding into a hivemind. There was a Black Mirror episode that nailed it. If your not a five star, your trash. Wait for it.

I was enjoying your post until I got to this part: you wrote "to say this music is unworthy of release is wrong. the whole idea of Dave's Picks is to take whats left from the vault and put out the whole shows in the best quality possible and people that subscribe should understand this" According to Dave, Dave's Picks is for the best in quality shows from an audio and performance stand point. Many do not feel this standard was met, nor did they for DaP 20. Boise doesn't pass the litmus test from either angle from way more people than usual for a release. DaP 8 didn't have a backlash like this. THAT'S a great show that sounds great. Boise is worthy of release for a DL series or standalone, but certainly not a DaP release, based on Dave and Rhino's mission statement of audio quality and performance quality FIRST. So why did they do it? I think Dave and Rhino know that they wouldn't sell as many units as a standalone show outside the Dave's Picks series (or they felt they could possibly lose money). By releasing it as a 3rd quarter Dave's Picks, they satisfy a contingency of subscribers who have been complaining over the lack of early 80s. And there is little to no risk for Rhino to put it out there as a 3rd quarter Dave's Picks, since the subscriptions are already paid for. The risk element will change if they go with 80s/90s for DaP 28/29 and the shows aren't DaP 8 quality grand slams. But as is, I think it's relatively low risk, even with the large number of complaints about audio and performance issues. If DaP 28 is 80s/90s and the announcement for 2019 subscriptions features 80s/90s, I imagine a drop off in subscriptions would result. But I don't think that will happen, they're not there yet. I believe Dave and Rhino know they were in a tough spot with the early 80s. They could potentially lose the support of some subscribers by continuing to ignore this period, or they could roll the dice with a show that isn't up to the standard of audio and performance quality that Dave's Picks has been so far, and reach for a happy medium. I think that's what they did and that's what they achieved (not because they didn't want to release a grand slam from 1983, but because, as we've been hearing over and over, there simply aren't good tapes available from this period). This show is a win for them in the short term. If they return to "business as usual" with the 60s and 70s, they will keep their 18K subscribers, and probably continue to increase the yearly subscription numbers. If they go 80s / 90s for 28 & 29, subscription sales will probably drop off, as the comments here clearly demonstrate there are large numbers of people who do not think this show passes the litmus test for audio and performance quality (I believe the releases will still sell out, just not as quickly, as most of the 18K goes to subscribers). While it's great that a lot of people liked this release, it's irrelevant in the face of the negative feedback. ENOUGH people wrote in to say it doesn't pass the litmus test. "Enough" does not have to be a majority, merely a quorum. How do we know this? Because the dissenters for this release are out in record numbers (as well as for DaP 20, after which it took two years for another 80s show to be released). And people do have a right to say this show is unworthy of release for a Dave's Picks. There's no getting around the mission statement Dave and Rhino made and often repeat, indicating the best audio and performance quality shows would be the Dave's Picks standard. They came up short here, and the people have spoken. There are clearly other shows that could have been released in its stead, just maybe not from '83. One of the RFK shows from '89 would have met the Dave's standard, but it's a multi-track, they sound tight, and there is greater profit to be made putting that one out as an individual release. That being said, I think I would have done the same thing Rhino did here, given the point in the road they find themselves (they can't ignore the early 80s forever without losing some subscribers). The real problem here is that they also said they would represent all eras, but they (apparentky) do not truly have the tapes to do so. My points are simply: 1) yes people DO have a right to say Boise '83 is unworthy of release as a Dave's Picks, because the mission statement was not met. Sure, one could try to argue that sound and performance quality are subjective, but too many people already agree this show came up short, so the polls are in and the numbers are significant. Further, there is NO Caveat Emptor on Dave's Picks. Dave has been saying since day one (and repeating often) that only the best sounding shows are slated for this series. If they start to put the Caveat Emptor you quoted from Dick's Picks on the Dave's Picks CDs and subscription advertisements, THEN we can expect something like Boise. You seemed a little bothered that people dinged this release for audio issues, but words were spoken, deals were made, and now there's a letdown. There ARE better sounding shows available, just maybe not from '83. It is you who should understand this point, not the other way around, where you imply that subscribers should have an awareness that sub-STANDARD audio is part of the deal. No. Standard is the operative word here, this release is unusually poor, and the complaints are coming in droves. 2) releasing something from this year was still the right choice for Rhino. As I said, the game for them is to continue to grow the subscriber base, and while DaP 27 is an encroachment on the mission statement, there are a significant number of subscribers who wanted it, and Rhino has now satisfied that contingency (for the time being). Strategy: give them their fill now, while there is still plenty of top shelf 70s on tap and arriving on doorsteps within a month's time. 3) point number 2 is only a good move for them if they get back to the 60s and 70s for DaP 28 and 29. There are still plenty of shows left to do so. Continuing with the 80s and 90s would be a mistake, if the goal is to keep their 18K and growing subscribers. 4) I think the real story here, is that the reality is just like Dave has been telling us for a long time now. There aren't too many shows from this. To choose from. I'm not expecting any Grand Slams from 1983 anytime soon. Dave clearly has some familiarity with this show, and I think he probably felt it was the best available. As a collective unit we asked for it and we got it.

I like the big box.. but comparing it to FW69 or E72 is like comparing apple juice to hard cider. There is good stuff to be found in the big box. Continuing with your thread earlier today, I think at this point we know pretty much what's left in the vault to be released. I think their strategy is to wow us when necessary and at other times keep their power dry so they can live and fight for another day. So a mix with some greatness sprinkled in. Interesting.. they played 2/26/77, Swing Auditorium Santa Barbara today on Sirius today. Always the pleaser and a grade A show. There are so many A++ shows we now know exist in the vault. I think we know they are going to highlight them yet mix them in gingerly over time mixed with other, lesser known shows. I think that's how it's going to be. The Boxzilla model until they run out of releasable tapes in ~20 years? Frankly.. I'm ok with that, there is plenty of stellar stuff now left in the vault. My personal favorite release ever is the steamer trunk, but I still revisit the big box on occasion with enthusiasm. There is prime stuff in there. As for Cape Cod, it was a good show for '79.. but perhaps not the best of the year.

Was pleasantly surprised by the Phish show the other night, this Runaway Antelope (with a stop from Makisupa Policeman) was vintage Phish, and mashed up 3 of their oldest songs, Runaway Jim, Run Like an Antelope, and Makisupa Policeman in an unplanned event. The looks on their faces as they go through it is priceless. I thought it was pre-planned from my spot on the lawn, but clearly they surprised themselves. It wasn't the best I've seen them, but it was very, very good. Hope those that watched the webcast here enjoyed it, sounds like Vguy did, and someone else who caught the bulk of the best stuff. First set was good, nothing outstanding. Second set was outstanding, and the encore was a good indicator they had fun. It was a bummer that they ended at 10:45 and clearly had another 15 minutes, but it was a great time with some old friends and some family having their first shows, including my buddy's 9 year old and his father in his 60s. Both had the time of their lives. Nearly 35 years ago, the people of Boise left feeling the same way. Music is a magical thing, and a really good band can make your problems dissolve away for 2-4 hours at a time, and also unite you with like minded people (who can still reasonably agree to disagree about nearly everything). The torch was lit long ago, but it still burns in towns across America and the world where these musical caravans trek seasonally. The music and spirit of the Dead live on. Speaking of which, it is now 26 days from September 7, and that means a treasure chest is being filled and readied for delivery soon. Wondrous surprises await! PS: Dave's Picks 6 has 2 excellent Dark Stars that are fantastic post-show traveling material. Also, We Bid You Goodnight takes on a very ominous feel in a driving thunderstorm with 60+ mph wind gusts.

I would rather talk food than this release anyday. Just visited Leunig's Bistro. And old staple located in Burlington. Grabbed a plate of duck confit french fries and gravy with the wife, while the kids relished the truffle fries. Twice fried potatoes, silky gravy and fall apart mallard. Accompanied by a preserved lemon, basil and vodka lemonade. Right around the corner from Nectars, famous for their late night gravy fries and regularly hosting a band. Both highly overrated. Adirondacks and Lake Champlain to the fore, Green mountains to the aft. Good living. An East cosat version of Pearl Street in Boulder. Funny you mentioned the Cape Cod show. That was my first listen from TTATS. It got so much hype, I had to hear it. I found it kinda, meh, as well. I suspect the hype was nothing more than the band played Cape Cod. Not a bad show, just not outstanding. Enjoy your journey through the box. But at the end of the day, I think you will find yourself reaching for E72 more often than not after the initial few listens. Oh yeah. The Red Sox are rolling. Love it when yankee fan gets apoplectic.

dave's 27 isn't all that bad. If you want something bad: 10/30/83. weir is virtually non existent jerry will keep coming in and out. will not listen to this one again not worth the time. I cant even comment on playing cuz of it. I don't really feel like the playing is mediocre but due to the problems that plague this tape through out I can't ascertain that. Phish 2/13/87 would probly be more worthwhile than this one. I played it thinking hey maybe the mix would get better but then it got to the end of set I with Might As Well I was already in too deep and may as well be finished. it turned out to be a big lemon.

Should you be on the fence about the ABB, Fillmore East, February 1970 update, every pain has been taken to present it with the utmost quality. Jeffrey Norman, along with Plangent Processes, have made this an awesome release. Great liners and art work, too. Anything to add Hendrixfreak?

I just had a paddy melt at a Red Sox/Patriots bar called, "The Elm," on Colfax Ave. in Denver. Colfax itself is worthy of a thesis. It went like this: I subbed out the onions for bacon, and the paddy was hand-formed and a true medium with a thin band of red in the middle. Marbled rye, swiss, and thousand island made this a delight along with a healthy, salted helping of freshly-cut pub chips. All washed down with Tito's and soda. Front row on 4/12/83 might be when you did die, Oro. Who knows if this is real or all a dream. Kayak nice stream of consciousness. You people are so much more entertaining, sincere and informative than the nightly news. I'll bet this room could solve most of the world's problems. But, no, wait... that was already done in the 1960s and nothing changed it's only gotten worse. Forget I mentioned it. I'm currently digesting that paddy by way of Cape Cod Coliseum, South Yarmouth, MA. October 27, 1979 on what was my then-eleventh birthday. Too bad I missed it. I've listened to at least one song and in good years, several from every 30 trips disc I've burned into iTunes over the last two days. This show is nothing remarkable, just Good 'Ol Grateful Dead. Which I suppose is remarkable in and of itself. I don't have enough wall space for all the posters and wall art that lies unframed in roll-up tubes as it is. I suppose I could add more. The Fillmore has an amazing collection of framed trippy posters of all the bands that have played there. Love that shit.

....for apparently treating her like a child. So I gave her a sticker for standing up for herself.