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    heatherlew
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    "The Grateful Dead picked up their instruments and hit the first note with perfection. They never missed a note for the next three and one-half hours. People followed the flow of the tunes. Down on the floor in front of the stage was a sea of heads keeping time with the music. No one sat still. No one, except the youngsters behind us sat still. They were still and stunned." - The Power County Press

    And what a stunner it was, that show at the Boise State University Pavilion in Boise, ID on September 2, 1983. Dave's Picks Volume 27 contains every stitch of music from this mid-80s show (our first in this series), one that's as good as any other in Grateful Dead history. When the Dead were on, they were ON! Straight out the gate with a definitive take on the old standard "Wang Dang Doodle," the band swiftly switches back to a setlist of yore, firing off 70s staples like "Jack Straw" and "Brown-Eyed Women" and wrapping things up with a terrific trio of "Big Railroad Blues"/"Looks Like Rain"/"Deal" (don't you let that epic guitar solo go down without you). Primed for the second set, they tackle the complexities of "Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's" with heart and ease. It's clear there will be no stopping their flow - Bobby and Brent hanging in for a fantastic pre-Drums "Jam" and Jerry and Bobby in the zone on a not-to-be-missed melodic "Space." Not a skipper in the whole lot!

    Dave's Picks Volume 27 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

    *Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • Oroborous
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    Robots, dropouts, AUD’s, 28 and 77. DaP 2018
    I am not a robot....or am I??.....ancient alien theorists say YES!! Recent episode speculates that due to new DNA info found theorist believe we were injected long ago by aliens so that basically we’ve become organic robots! Woooooo- spooky lol DROPOUTS remeber folks, any recording is susceptible to dropouts anytime a musician adjusts their volume, especially if the person responsible for the recording is looking after other responsibilities etc. This could be especially true with WOS shows as there was no house mix at all, everything was controlled on stage by the band.....i.e., if say Jerry felt he was too loud and turned down, and no one adjusted tape levels accordingly, he would sound too low on the tape.... AUDS Also, as some have mentioned, drums and vocals (or other “acoustic”) instruments are often mixed louder than guitars that are often already significantly amplified. This is why as KG and others have suggested that matrix or very good AUD recordings can sound much more lifelike or “real” than soundboards..... PREDICTIONS 28: will repeat my predictions from months ago.... 28- will be something from 69-71, but not something that might end up as full treatment box shows...this era is definetly due, and most people like this era so it plays to the masses to end the year/subscription on a high note.... 29- will be 76. This year is also overdue, but it’s perhaps not as popular for some folks. Mellow dead for the winter doldrums.. Of course these too could get flipped so the 69-71 would be the new year/script carrot...in fact I think that makes more sense; 76 for 28 and a 69-71 for 29. 76 might be too divisive for some? 30: 79 is also overdue and gets enough mention here that the mob would not lynch ole Dave and CO. Don’t know the catalog well enough to pick informatively, but personally I think some combination of 1/10/79 and 1/20/79 would make a great spring/bonus release. Last Steve and Dark Stars for a while, as well as some other great nuggets. 1/20 has no Donna so has that historic/different variable. 31: some 91 or other post Brent 90s. (Since there has been a lot of 90 already).Another era that is due and has some great shows! Wild card could be some 89 that’s not multi-box worthy? Of course more 72 is always in play.... 32: will return to one of the BIG? Years or perhaps 69-71 or 91 if not covered earlier as these are certainly due. Wild cards any of the above except 79. I don’t think they would use something possibly divisive for the end of the year. Time will tell and as ole Jim says “I reserve the right to be comepletly wrong” ; )) 77; I know there is a rabid vocal majority that can’t get enough, but for THE REST OF US enough for a while...No offense meant to anyone or their personal tastes, but imho there are a significant number of us that would like to gather a well rounded collection of good shows, that sound decent. They all don’t have to be top shelf (where mama hides the cookies!) multi-trac pristine....MANY of us love ALL years worts and all. Just throwing it out there, no need to tell me how wrong I am and other negative condescension. We’ve all heard it enough ad nauseam! Like going in about fourwindsblow’s mere suggestion of a summer 85 box. To some, we like the dangerous, dirty dead. No one seems to complain about 60s stuff where they sometimes go for it but miss etc. and there are plenty of bad vocals (from all eras!) Some us of feel 85 was similar, that does not make us WRONG, just different than YOU! And like Jim said, Jerry’s voice gained a deep character that a 20 something doesn’t necessarily have. Sometimes it was painful, but some would say something’s actually sounded deeper and more emotional as his voice aged. This is why ALL eras are worth checking out!! You can just listen to something else if you don’t like certain eras. You don’t have to be negative and cut others down. Some asked how we felt about this years releases....I think they were all at least good. Know the 77 is not some folks top pick, but for a 77 I really liked that show. Personally liked the 71s better than last years (a little to white bread). I liked the 83 worts and all because it was something different and was from the year I was finally able to do more than just one off local type shows. Time will tell about 28 but I’m sure as usual Dave will not let us down. I agree though with KG that there should be different tiers or what not for releases. I.e., - Super premium Betty Boards etc, that they could charge more for to cover extra expenses and help fund other, less exconomicalky viable releases like - Doctored matrix and/or AUDs from 80s/90s. Low budget packaging/costs sort of like Dicks or Road trips, or even more so. Stuff that will never be used for Boxes etc. just spit em out so those that want can get something more than the same old stuff...Could do more frequently due to less costs/production etc - Continue Dave’s with his niche.. - Boxes: of course keep the big beautiful stuff coming aka PNW, E72, 69, 90, 89 etc. Don’t see why they couldn’t do this? Obviously there is currently demand, and as I’ve said before, they could choose/schedule run numbers AFTER they receive pre-order funds to maintain costs. You get 10,000 pre orders run that plus a few for late comers. Everybody wins....Big boxes and/or premium releases could still be “numbered”. That is All! Have a Grateful Day!
  • Kayak Guy
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    my grail show for 1991
    it' s only really a 2 disker, but with a little related filler to add the Playin they started the night before and then teased the Dark Star right before the Drums, it makes a nice 3 disk set. April 1, 1991 Greensboro Coliseum - Greensboro, NC SBD -> PCM Master CD1 Set 1: d1t01 - Jack Straw d1t02 - Peggy-O d1t03 - It's All Over Now d1t04 - Candyman d1t05 - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues d1t06 - Picasso Moon d1t07 - Bird Song CD2 Set 2: d1t08 - China Cat Sunflower -> d1t09 - I Know You Rider d2t01 - Looks Like Rain disk 2 filler to finish off 3/31/91 2nd set from Dick's Pick 17 3. Playin' In The Band > (15:09) 4. Drums > (4:37) 1. Space > (15:20) small splice at 1:46 2. The Wheel > (5:41) 3. Around & Around > (7:51) 4. Johnny B. Goode (5:13) 5. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (8:40) CD3 d2t02 - Dark Star -> d2t03 - Drums -> d2t04 - Space -> d2t05 - Dark Star -> d2t06 - Playing reprise -> d2t07 - Black Peter -> d2t08 - Turn On Your Lovelight d2t09 - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
  • MDJim
    Joined:
    91 DATs
    I like the way some of those DATs sound. I wonder why we have seen relatively few shows released from this period. I like the sound quality of the Cal Expo and Shorelines shows from the Spring of '91. Cal expo is sans Hornsby though.. The Boston shows are really good, I am partial to 5/10/91 too but keep in mind I am a big Desolation Row fiend.. which I realize is not everyone's cup of tea. Still.. good point on 1991, we really should have seen a few more shows released from this period, some are quite good.
  • Kayak Guy
    Joined:
    speculation for 28
    based on the other 2018 choices there is one noticeable absence in the set lists, Dark Star.to close out the year and boost interest in next year there should be a Dark Star on what ever they announce. either a Pigpen or Hornsby era one would be nice. given my lack of enthusiasm for non Plangent processed reels, i would hope for a cassette only Bear tape or one of the DATs from the 1991 tour. like this anniversary show from 27 years ago today. Boston Garden on 1991-09-26 https://archive.org/details/gd1991-09-26.sbd.miller.95534.sbeok.flac16 i wish they would stop wasting the recently returned reels on non Plangent processed releases like this series.
  • Born Cross Eye…
    Joined:
    Possible Dave's Picks 28
    My guess for DaP28: 6/22/76 Tower Theatre Upper Darby, PA (near Philly)Been there, done that, its one of my favorites.
  • Jason K
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    Poor Sound Quality
    Please help me understand how recordings from 1969 sound clear and pristine while recordings from the early 80's, such as DP27, sound horrible. Very disappointed in DP27. Thanks.
  • outpost
    Joined:
    Boston '69
    The Ark and Tea Party shows would make a fantastic box, to compliment the Fillmore Box. Much too good to be diluted as a DaP. Come on ... be bold !
  • novembereleven
    Joined:
    Enjoyed Mr. Jack Straw showing his work for the next pick
    Unfortunately the only ‘76 show I’d be really jazzed about is the 7-18-76. But that isn’t likely to happen as it is a multitrack recording that was used on the King Biscuit Flower Hour. So Dave said when the 7-17-76 show was released, that this excludes it from his show options. Such an epic show, certainly in my all time Top 20, in a year that rarely excites me too much.
  • MDJim
    Joined:
    Official Guess
    I am going with either 79, 80 or 91 as DaP 28 and either fall '72 or fall '71 as DaP 20 to kick off next year's subscription effort. Note: This guess is knowingly incorrect. I have the absolute worst track record at dead.net for sniffing out the next release.
  • wilfredtjones
    Joined:
    1976
    Any chance the returned reels would include the missing tape from 10-15-76? All I've heard from the end of that show is from an AUD source. It would be great if they found tapes from 2-27-77 or 6-4-77, too but chances are fewer that will happen. How about 2-6-79 Tulsa just for curiosity's sake, or more of Carbondale '79 (again, just for curiosity's sake). Speaking of '76, DP 33 might just be the most underrated from that series. Two complete shows in 1 release. That used to be nice and would happen more often: DP 20, 25, 29...
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"The Grateful Dead picked up their instruments and hit the first note with perfection. They never missed a note for the next three and one-half hours. People followed the flow of the tunes. Down on the floor in front of the stage was a sea of heads keeping time with the music. No one sat still. No one, except the youngsters behind us sat still. They were still and stunned." - The Power County Press

And what a stunner it was, that show at the Boise State University Pavilion in Boise, ID on September 2, 1983. Dave's Picks Volume 27 contains every stitch of music from this mid-80s show (our first in this series), one that's as good as any other in Grateful Dead history. When the Dead were on, they were ON! Straight out the gate with a definitive take on the old standard "Wang Dang Doodle," the band swiftly switches back to a setlist of yore, firing off 70s staples like "Jack Straw" and "Brown-Eyed Women" and wrapping things up with a terrific trio of "Big Railroad Blues"/"Looks Like Rain"/"Deal" (don't you let that epic guitar solo go down without you). Primed for the second set, they tackle the complexities of "Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's" with heart and ease. It's clear there will be no stopping their flow - Bobby and Brent hanging in for a fantastic pre-Drums "Jam" and Jerry and Bobby in the zone on a not-to-be-missed melodic "Space." Not a skipper in the whole lot!

Dave's Picks Volume 27 has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman and it is limited to 18,000 individually-numbered copies*.

*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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I disagree, it's a full 10 out of 10. They're priming DaP 27 for national release. I'm changing my avatar to it right now. You're a cute little guy, keep up the spirit!
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You seem locked into that avatar picture somehow.
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9 years 2 months
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Pass me some of that psychedelic licorice. I’ll take the purple. I’ll even take 2, they seem a little small.
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....Bobbys voice was a couple of octaves off for the first two lines. I almost pushed the stop button right then and there, but I trudged on. Much to my delight.
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Just received Vol. 14 It's numbered, but the front of the cover is a little sunk in; it looks like the seam is cut too wide, so when the cover closes there's a gap. These may be factory 2nds, sets with cosmetic issues.
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....this, my friends, ranks right up there with Nessie, alien abductions and Bigfoot. Hmmmm. I was abducted once. At Monterey '88. Then the goonie birds wore off. The real test begins now. The wife and son went to get a new treadmill. They'll be gone an hour or so. The volume on my Onkyo goes to 70. Boise is poised at 53 (get it?). I finally get to crank this shit legit like. Wish me luck!!
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....our wedding song. I'm biased so this would be an unfair review. I love them all. Next!
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.... suddenly, Bobby's singing in a barn. A little more echo than the first three songs. We all know it sometimes takes that many to get the sound just exactly perfect. Jerry's throwing coke infused licks. It is what it is. You can't un-coke it. It's not Norman's fault.
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17 years 6 months
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yeah I was also wondering why we needed constant reminders that phish psucks........sry to those who find listening value?????
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....OK. I'll admit. The harmonies are off, but the music is still breakneck speed. I think Bobby's more off than Jerry. Jerry even throws some growls. Brent is in your face. But I love Brent, so there's that. The train comparison shows up during Garcia's solo. Chugging along. Watch your speed....
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I'm loving this Boise pick and all the debate about it. For me, it is easily tied with Augusta 10/12/84 (30 trips) for my favorite release from 80-85. I think the instrumental mix is almost perfect (except the keyboards might be a teeny bit high). Finally, an 80-85 release where Weir's guitar is right up front in our face where it belongs! Such a treat to hear Weir's early 80's guitar like this. IMO, this is the best sounding recording yet from 80-85 (not counting Dead Set/Reckoning and Go To Nassau). Well, we are all listening on different equipment and are looking for different things, right? Musically, I think it is as fascinating as 10/12/84. Better or worse? I'll need many more listenings of each to decide.
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15 years 3 months
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Thank you. Pulling out 21 tonight. Phish video. Scroll by. Phish video. Scroll by. Phish video. Scroll by. No problem. But very weird.
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17 years 5 months
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....way too fast. 4/10. Not a very solid version. Oh well. Time to sell it.
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....Phil!!! Back on track. Rocking with their rocks out. Nowhere else will you hear "stay right here in Boise" so it's a keeper.
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....I've already sung my praises on this version, so I won't bore you.
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....not bad. But there are tons better. More vox drops. Stay at the mic Bobby Rockstar! The coda is very nice though. Usually is. Here it comes again. I will admit, it's nice to let off the pedal. I'm a huge fan of the thunder effects Healy gave this song later on in the 80's.
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....watch each release you play, and play it slow. Just wait until that Deal goes down. Who knows? On 2.24.21, you might just want to bust Boise out. Yeah, there's some dust, but at least the musics clean. 4:50 mark. The boyz huddle up and get their shit together. You know, the Dead were known to play some rock n roll at times.
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....time to drop the volume down to 25. (sad face).
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9 years 9 months
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I don't think the recording does the performance justice. The limitations of the mix make it impossible to accurately gauge how good they may have sounded that night. I get the impression Betty did a whole lot more mixing in real time than Dan Healy. Forget the cassette tape source, the show can hardly be mixed worse. The vocals on on a few of the July 1978 shows are not nearly as smooth as May 1977, and that's the same band, same songs, a year apart, recorded by the same person on presumably the same equipment. Sure, the band was a much less consistent band in '78, but the July shows are good performances. Yet to my ears, the background vocal mix on some of that box set is lacking, compared to May '77. My point is that I believe some mixing factor accounts for what I hear as inferior vocals in some sections of July '78, as compared to May '77. Even a non Betty from '77 like 4/29 makes the band sound much worse than they were really playing. We don't know what kind of audio enhancement effects Betty may have used on her mixes to provide us with the final products we have today (except the reverb, and look how different a perspective that gives us on the band). Add the same principal 10 fold to Boise '83, and what's the point of discussing how good or bad the show is? There's no way to tell as far as I'm concerned. For whatever reason, Dan Healy's mix here is so bad it does the band an injustice. Apply a mild harmonization effect to the vocals at the mixing board and maybe there wouldn't be so much distance between each vocalist. Anyway, I'm not saying a better mix would turn this show into a replica of Go To Nassau, but it would improve the performance immensely. For what we do have, I felt like many people posted. The music is so inconsistent as to be a distraction. Parts sounded really strong, but quickly turned me off a moment later. I don't think Brent's voice will ever grow on me. It just sounds so ragged and tired and overbearing.
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I've played it, not the best not the worse...It'll sit on the shelf with all the others and I doubt I'll pull it down and play it again for quite awhile...one thing it did do though was have me pull out the Santa Fe Downs Matrix shows and give them a spin...fun to hear those again...my '83 collection is a bit sparse after my first external HD crash from some time back...now I do back ups of back up etc...ya pays your money and take your chances after all...
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Back to my point about people hearing things differently...
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First I got to ask. Is it love Jerry like you love Jerry? Or is it love Jerry like: "What a long strange trip it's been." Love, Jerry I kind of noticed the same thing you mentioned about July 1978. Not quite as smoother than smooth as May 1977. I would love to get Betty sat down for an interview. Anyway I think your point is well stated and very accurate. For the people who are loving this release, I'm sure it would rank even higher with better mixing. I teach chorus, and it's very difficult to mic up the kids for the spring and winter concerts. For people who don't like this release, a great mix may have made all the difference. But oh well what can you do it is what it is. As far as the series goes, I think this is definitely subpar, but it's the only way they ever would have moved 18000 units of a show that sounds this way. Also agree with your Brent comment. It seems in the Grateful Dead circles he has a love it or hate it voice. I love it when it's real low in the mix. Or not at all. Eagles fill the sky, blecchhh. I cannot So what will they pull out for the fourth quarter? Can't be 1971, unlikely to be 72 73 or 74, impossible to be 75, also unlikely to be 77, although I would love to hear that swing Auditorium show from February. I can't see it being 1978 either, but maybe. I think some kind of 69/70 mix like Vol 6 maybe. I'd be great with that. 1976 is due. I would be surprised if Dave reaches into the 80s or 90s twice in a row.
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don't make me laugh, move along now
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I tried for years to like Phish.. bought tons of releases and saw a bunch of shows - but THIS is what they sound like to me now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHIFM0Y87c Impossible to watch the whole thing without cracking up. The vocal bits sound like red-stapler guy from Office Space. TAlk about "hearing things differently"....
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for name-calling, why? I think an intelligent conversation is better than whom ever calling whoever uninformed or someone else calling them illogical. There are just a few unkind folks on this site. I don't care much for this release, but if you do, far out. The band didn't go to Idaho, or Montana often (once each?) but both of those shows are now released by Dave, maybe he's just trying to get unheard or not often heard releases out there for the faithful. Can't really blame them for not going to these places again, beautiful scenery, but not a very hospitable atmosphere for hippies.
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Hey, it’s 8/4, so why not 8/4/76? Someone mentioned Dekalb, there’s a Betty Board of 10/29/77 in the vault- that would definitely be a treat. Lots of talk of 79, which would be nice, but why not another 80s/90s? Su91, anyone? Mmm. Sp/Su 93? Yes, please. Although maybe these contradict the seeming mission, in ways actually that 9/2/83 did not, in releasing more relatively unknown and less heard of dates. Who knows?
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I like this Bobby, Brent and drummers jam out of Eyes! Good stuff. Also, if you like this little jam check out the Bobby, Bruce and drummers jam from Dicks #17 aka Boston Clam Jam!!
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17 years 6 months
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What he said! You got it “just exactly perfect” Enough already. STFU and just sell the dam thing....don’t worry, we’ll be back to 99% 70s soon enough!
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14 years 11 months
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(such as Chicago, the Bay Area, or NYC) more people would be more open to this release. Boise is indeed one of the strangest of places to have a GD show. "well it's 8:00 in Boise Idaho"
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thanks for the laughs Phish: I do appreciate them, but rarely listen to them. the thing that drives me crazy about them is the cutesy stuff they do. but they can jam when they want to.
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17 years 6 months
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80s Dead just isn't my thing...to each their own. My DP 27 has been sitting unopened as I pondered what to do. For those who want but missed out, I just want to cover cost plus shipping, no EBay style gouging involved, maybe some interesting 70-73 trade? PM interest...
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Jerry's soloing on this version is phenomenal. His tone and harmonics jumps right out of the mix. Awesome.
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Got a last minute present to go to his show last night in Toronto. Only know some of the Talking Heads stuff from way back. Was blown away by the show - top notch production, uniqueness and grooves. Had a bunch of the age 50+ crowd on their feet and dancing from 3 minutes in. Highly recommended if the tour hasn’t passed by your city already. Will definitely be checking out his solo catalogue in between Dead releases. Maybe he appeals more to the Phish crowd than Dead, but the guy is quite an artist.
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he was in town re his and Fatboy Slim's musical "Here Lies Love".she went with a friend. on the way out, he was standing right there, so she said "hi", he greeted politely back, and she went on her way. he has been part of my musical landscape since I heard/saw Talking Heads on SNL in 79. love deez: More Songs About Buildings and Food (not about Fucking, though...tip of the hat to the poster who shared Big Black with us ;)) Fear of Music Remain in Light attended a concert of him solo in 1992 during the LA RK riots. "Burning Down the House" took on a whole new relevance
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17 years 5 months
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....came through Vegas recently. I didn't even know.
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For those who think the sound sucks, what type of speakers did you hear it through?Obviously, computer speaks are the wrong tool for this job. For those who think the sound is great/good/acceptable, what type of speakers did you hear it through? I suspect that SpaceBro has a Wall Of Sound replica in his house. Combine that with his unbridled enthusiasm (Seinfeld reference) for the era, and he’s in pure ecstasy. I’m using Bose 301 speakers that are about 5.5 feet in the air on stands (helps to fill the room), an Onkyo subwoofer, Onkyo receiver, Onkyo 6-disc changer. I do have to turn the volume up past the ‘normal’ point for DaPs. Most DaPs are pretty consistent in the sound level on my system, ‘40’ on the Onkyo display. For DaP 27 CD1 starts at 44 but I just had to turn it down to 42 during Deal. These numbers are a little arbitrary and are influenced by how much I want my neighbors to hear the GOGD. Just turned it up a tad to 43 for H/S/F. It’s Saturday afternoon, not like it’s In The Midnight Hour. I can clearly hear all the instruments on Slipknot!, with Jerry right up front.
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....I use two tin cans and 15' piece of string. Am i doing it right?
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I'm listening on earbuds that I have suspended from the ceiling about 6 feet above the floor. The sound doesn't bother me at all.
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