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    clayv
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    Hold on to your hat, we're coming in strong with one from the Windy City that'll have you movin' and shakin' from start to finish. DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 signals a true rebirth of the Grateful Dead, reimagining classics and foreshadowing their 80s sound. This is as much in part due to freshly-minted member Brent Mydland bringing the organ back in as it is to Jerry finding new vivacity with his custom Wolf guitar. New guy, new guitar - it all makes for a heck of a good time!

    Set One rolls like never-ending thunder with one standout after another - truly epic versions of "Brown-Eyed Women," "Ramble On Rose," "It's All Over Now," "Althea," and "The Music Never Stopped." Set Two hits with a crack of not-so-lazy lightning, barreling through an outrageous 28-minute "Scarlet>Fire" to a unique “Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance” and wrapping with a "blow the roof off the place" version of "Truckin'" and a rippin' "Johnny B. Goode." Ready for some quiet after the storm? You'll have to wait a just a little bit longer - we've filled in the gap on Disc 3 with a sprinkle of 12/4/79 - "Estimated>Franklin's Tower>" and an incredibly improvised “Jam.”

    Limited to 20,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 has been mastered from Dan Healy's cassette recordings to HDCD specs by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

    GET IT WHILE YOU CAN

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  • phantomengineer
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    The big Woodstock thing....

    My fears for this one were completely unfounded. Despite various messages on other forums suggesting a postal '**ck up' not dissimilar to what happened with DaP31, the 'Russian Faberge Egg' arrived safely yesterday in my absence. After peeling away two outer layers of packaging, there was a lovely, branded inner cardboard box containing an even lovelier box set itself. So, if you're a UK buyer, this message is simply to suggest that things may a bit easier with this one... .
    ....and whilst you're waiting, listen to the whole thing on the WXPN, played in real time. Country Joe and the Fish are due 'on stage' at about 11.30pm BST, followed by Ten Years After, The Band, Johnny Winter, etc. And between sets, while we're waiting for the stage guys to set up for the next set, fifty years ago, much 'groovy' - if I can use that word - other music from 1969. As I type, Pharoah Sanders, "The Creator has a Masterplan": must get this LP out again!

  • Happy Will
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    The UPS Saga

    Sad to hear things are still not sorted for everybody. My DP31 arrived on Tuesday, while I was on a short MTB break in the Peak District. But it only arrived after I e-mailed some senior UPS staff to get things moving, as I was finding finding the rather unhelpful UK/Irl UPS attitude stressing me out. I have now loaded it onto my phone so I can listen on the move.

  • Sydney Prentice
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    I'm Feeling Groovy

    DaP31 arrived today while I was at work and the UPS delivery man asked my wife for an £80 delivery charge (an increase of £7 in a couple of weeks). She told UPS man that she wasn't paying, and the delivery man went back to the van with my Pick and made a phone call, 5 minutes later he returned to the front door with my pick and said it's yours if you sign for it, the costs have been covered. Hopefully, everyone else on this board and who have been waiting has got theirs today, or very soon.
    Looking forward to listening to this after my weekend work commitments. Speaking of musical mud anniversaries, there is outdoor weekend music show Beautiful Days a few miles up the road from me, it has been raining here all day I imagine there will be several mudslides (of the fun type) I remember the mudslides on the Woodstock movie with lots of clanking of pots and pans.
    PS, for the anoraks out there my number was 15305.

  • Sixtus_
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    Groovy

    Now that's a word we all need to bring back.
    I love this word, groovy.

    Everything's groovy, baby.

    HappY Friday DeadFreaks
    Sixtus

  • BillN
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    UPS-speak to billing, not customer service

    So after much grumping I finally spoke to someone at UPS billing, rather than customer service, and they finally accepted the Rhino email acknowledging payment. UPS say the only way they can resolve it is by individuals contacting billing & asking them to revert the invoice to Rhino, they will then flag the package as invoice paid & deliver it.
    So I was meant to get delivery yesterday, except they sent it to the pick up point, not my address & the electronic system still shows it as invoice outstanding, so the pick up point guy refused to take delivery. It is now back at the UPS depot & after a further 2 phone calls I'm told its going to my home address on Monday...

    Kafka couldn't have done it better.

  • cjm
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    This day in history

    50 years ago, Grateful Dead play Woodstock
    39 years ago, Grateful Dead play Mississippi River Festival
    People were groovy, it rained bunches, there was mud.

  • frankparry
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    Delivery or non-delivery

    So sorry Days Between and Smyler - let’s hope you get some progress real soon. I likewise must have spent a thousand or more with all the Dicks and Dave’s Picks, Road Trips, most of the boxes and much else besides, but am worried about the way things are going. I’ll wait to see what happens with DP32 and the new box set before committing for next year.

  • Daysbetween
    Joined:
    UPS update

    UPS have just sent me an update on my DP31 parcel.

    ‘The package was abandoned by both the receiver and sender. It will be disposed of or sent to UPS lost and found.’

    At least it’s carbon imprint will not get any worse with yet another Atlantic crossing. However my new parcel will have to fly once more.
    Rhino the environmental friendly company !

  • smyler
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    How difficult could it be?

    Very good question Frank Parry, how difficult could it be?

    How difficult could it be to produce a triple cd in a digipack case, place it in secure, fully protective packaging and mail it, so that purchasers located on other continents could receive it reasonably promptly without having to pay a highly inflated charge for a service, namely delivery, that they’ve already paid for? Not very, I would have thought.

    Having been collected by UPS last Friday, as of this afternoon my Dave’s Picks 31 subscription is once again sitting at my UPS collection point, no more than 150 yards up the road, waiting for collection, provided that I pay the required fee to release it. I feel I’ve been pretty patient for nearly three weeks now, but the reality is that this is a complete shambles that seems to be being dealt with in an equally shambolic fashion.

    I’ve lost count of what I’ve spent at Dead.net over the last 20+ years, but it must run into several thousand pounds. Yet right now It feels as though they’re more interested in getting the next £150 out of me than they are in supplying what I paid for last December.

    How difficult could it be? Seemingly more difficult than anyone could reasonably imagine!

  • frankparry
    Joined:
    I really think that now is…

    I really think that now is the time to consider a download option for Dave’s Picks. How difficult could it be? Add some snazzy features, some printable labels and cover art and a PDF of the booklet and you’d get a product not far removed from a CD package. Sure, I’d much rather have the CD, but if it means I could avoid the hassle we’ve all had this side of the pond, I’m in! It’d also solve the perennial problem of the picks being sold out for those unable to buy a subscription.

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6 years 9 months

Hold on to your hat, we're coming in strong with one from the Windy City that'll have you movin' and shakin' from start to finish. DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 signals a true rebirth of the Grateful Dead, reimagining classics and foreshadowing their 80s sound. This is as much in part due to freshly-minted member Brent Mydland bringing the organ back in as it is to Jerry finding new vivacity with his custom Wolf guitar. New guy, new guitar - it all makes for a heck of a good time!

Set One rolls like never-ending thunder with one standout after another - truly epic versions of "Brown-Eyed Women," "Ramble On Rose," "It's All Over Now," "Althea," and "The Music Never Stopped." Set Two hits with a crack of not-so-lazy lightning, barreling through an outrageous 28-minute "Scarlet>Fire" to a unique “Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance” and wrapping with a "blow the roof off the place" version of "Truckin'" and a rippin' "Johnny B. Goode." Ready for some quiet after the storm? You'll have to wait a just a little bit longer - we've filled in the gap on Disc 3 with a sprinkle of 12/4/79 - "Estimated>Franklin's Tower>" and an incredibly improvised “Jam.”

Limited to 20,000 numbered copies, DAVE'S PICKS VOLUME 31: UPTOWN THEATRE, CHICAGO, IL 12/3/79 has been mastered from Dan Healy's cassette recordings to HDCD specs by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

GET IT WHILE YOU CAN

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I'm still thinking it will include something from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's.

ps. I so thankful that we get these vault release so people have something to complain about. I guess we could go back to the days of third and fourth gen cassettes of really good clean Jerry shows.

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16 years 11 months
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Enjoyable show. Great sound and mix. A lot of whiners on this board. Expect every show to be the best show EVER. I have a theory. Third show of a year is always less known. Fourth show and 1st of the coming year have to sell the subscription. Second show has bonus. Stop the whining. Its a bore.

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10 years 3 months

In reply to by simonrob

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I emailed Dr Rhino yesterday, and got a generic response thanking me for my patience, but advising me that due to the "high-volume of email traffic I will respond to your email within 5 business days."
Looking at the tortuous tracking information last night, I saw that it was still out there for delivery somewhere, with the same expectation of me paying £73 + on delivery for freight charges.

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6 years

In reply to by simonrob

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Don't build your hopes up!
UPS delivered mine yesterday. Courier said customs paid.
Today I had a phone call from UPS requesting payment £73.92 which I ain't paying.
They're sending courier back out tomorrow to collect. So I expect I'll see it again soon??

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In reply to by fourwindsblow

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This makes me very happy that 6/17/91 is getting a solo release; methinks it will be included in this box (although I believe someone had already speculated/potentially confirmed this elsewhere); similar to how they also did a stand alone release for 'Wake up to Find Out' when it was also included in one of the Spring '90 boxes.

drip...drip...drip....
Sixtus

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... I would wait until you see the film before pre-ordering or if your not attending, wait for Reviews to be published/posted HERE or elsewhere, it’s your choice. 😉Imagine if they offered the opportunity to do that with every concert that was recorded both Audio & Film!!! That would be Primo! Lol, it would be a total deffent business model they operate under right now and would Effect Sales. I bet Some fans would pay extra just for the opportunity/chance! Lol ha ha ... who knows maybe after that you won’t be interested in adding this Vinyl/CD release to your collection.
🙏❤️😎
*Plus artwork is Incomplete ;)

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In reply to by stoltzfus

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...stolz. You crack me up! Lol 😂 The Healing Power Of Laughter is always welcomed!

Also
...”I want my $2.00 dollars!”... ha ha

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Ok...so i was reading this article with an interview with Bruce Hornsby just now, and I came across a very interesting reference/mention by Bruce therein; it goes like this (and please note his VERY LAST SENTENCE):

"... Look, I’ve spent my career collaborating and getting calls from amazing people. There was the Dead, maybe the single most amazing collaboration. It was a beautiful, often transcendent experience to do that, and maybe especially earlier with Garcia. I wouldn’t trade anything for that. I was so influenced by them as a songwriter. Obviously, the younger generation of forward-thinking musicians feels the same way, hence this several CD Grateful Dead compilation that was put together."

https://www.stereogum.com/2038972/bruce-hornsby-spike-lee-grateful-dead…

I'd say that's a decent hint as to what's about to blow open with this box.

Sixtus

Yep - probably a hint at what's to come (though he could also be referencing the compliation of GD covers from modern bands that was put out a couple years ago). Either way, it should be an exciting day (and looks like I'm WAY off my prediction of a set from 76)!

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14 years 1 month
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I was really looking forward to it, but was on call and of course 20 min before show time the phone rings. But from what I hear everyone had a good time. However, there was no box announcement here. Apparently it's a U.S. only announcement.

That’s my prediction.

That way everyone gets the announcement at the same time. Tonight’s reveal will show what the Box looks like.

If it turns out to be a high-demand Box, can this website handle the onslaught?

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14 years 1 month

In reply to by stoltzfus

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Yes, it is a medical kind of thing. The only good thing about being on call this week is I've made more than enough to pay for this years box set!!

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17 years 6 months
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Hi you all, who were in the same situation confronted with an extra charge for transportation to europe (esp. Germany). Today UPs stands at my door and delivered Dave's Picks No. 31 without any extra costs. Dr. Rhino has cleared the situation. So all will get well.

The good ol Grateful Dead are my favorite band and have been for forty years. But the fact is is that they were very mediocre quite often, especially in the last 15 years. There are great shows from that period, but this isn’t one. There are at least ten shows from fall 79 that are better then this release. Dissenting respectful opinion should be welcomed and not looked down upon. My opinion is that the Ramble on Rose, Althea and Terrapin and others are painful to listen to. Just listening to the filler from the next night shows a more awake Jerry.
I don’t expect every release to be great, but there are plenty of good shows left in the vault and my opinion is is that this wasn’t one of them. Maybe Dave walked into the vault to grab 12-1-79 and a blue heron flew by and distracted him and he grabbed the wrong show.....I have lots of great shows to listen to, including the first two picks this year and I’m grateful for that. I guess my point is that just because it’s the Grateful Dead and Dave says it’s a great show doesn’t make it so.

People paying and supporting the cause have a right to voice an opinion, as do you. If that wasnt Jerry and the Dead and you heard a live recording of that show I think youd be more critical. This band and Jerry get a lot of slack for the rough nights and its well deserved - they gave us everything they had to the music. When it was a live show I took whatever they had on a given night and was always grateful. It was what it was in the moment. But now that its Dave picking shows and selling goods online 24 years after Jerry left, I think we can request better material or feel free to voice when we think he laid an egg. Sorry that offends your senses - but to my ears, Jerry, sadly, is a total wreck on DP31 . Glad your ears hear it different and that youre enjoying it though - if you want an extra copy Ill sell you mine at face value

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Just got mine. just uploaded to Itunes. I for one know I'm going to love this one immediately so will save my thoughts until after a listen.

Bummed to have to miss the Meet-Up. It will be epic. Not playing anywhere near me withing a 6 hour round trip drive. This is the second time they've overlooked my city. All previous showing played in my hometown. sure, attendance was less than stellar, but the money is in the release. Hope this is the box.

Hope I can afford the box. Hope it doesn't sell out before I can order one. These always seem to come out when I'm between pay periods and/or low on funds. If it is Giants '91, hope the edition numbers are high enough. sometimes they don't print enough copies of these to accomodate demand.

Whatever the case, the movie and box will no doubt be awesome.

Happy Birthday Jerry!

Also, any HQ scans of the cover from Dave's Picks 31up yet?

Thanks! Hope everyone is enjoying your Summer.

Listening to it with headphones - sounds good enough to these middle aged ears. Dave is right - from Oct through December, 1979 is full of fun, energized performances. Really like this little pocket in time and I'm happy to have this release.

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and I still don't remember much from the July 31/Aug 1 GD/Band shows in lovely Roosevelt Stadium. They could've filmed Bladerunner there...

It rained at least one night. And on Aug. 1, a woman riding on someone's shoulders was able to approach the lip of the stage and hand a birthday cake up to Jer. The music? I confess to few specific memories.

The run-up, though, was, in today's parlance, "epic." That was July 26 (travel), 27(soundchecks), 28 (shows) at Watkins Glen. We walked away from the all-star jam as Jer broke into Dylan's Takes a Lot to Laugh... and we got on the road because we had to. Made it home on the 29th. The very next day we go to a two-nighter with the GD and The Band. Guess I had a good time!

Let's do the math... In six days, I saw the GD and The Band play four shows each. Together. Throw in two Allman Brothers shows. So that's ten shows in six days. Probably explains why the first few days were memorable and the second half of the game is a bit fuzzy.

But I'm still on my feet! Confessions, confessions....

On to the movies, the box set and more summer.

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17 years 6 months
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Toggle back, yes there were scans kindly posted recently!

Blue Heron! :-)

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12 years 1 month
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I live in Maryland. My subscription Dave's Picks Vol. 31 is still sitting in Rhino's warehouse, "Shipment Ready for UPS". Anybody else with this problem?

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16 years 10 months
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After reading Dave's description of the DP31 first set I was prepared to be blown away by this show. Sorry to say it is not living up to expectations. Maybe unfair to judge having only listened to the 1st set but it's pretty mediocre. Sounds like the Scarlet > Fire may have potential but AARGH. Audience patch in Fire! C'mon, really? Not the first time one of these offerings has been a disappointment through the years. I'm sure plenty of hard work goes into these releases and I will continue to subscribe since it's an easy Christmas gift for my wife to get me but I hope future choices will be more satisfying. BTW, we saw them 3 weeks later in Oakland and they were on fire.

Not quite the same issue as you but according to the tracking, mine has been sitting in the OKC post office for 5 days now! Obviously not Rhino/Dead.net's fault but frustrating.

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11 years 1 month
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DP 31 captures the Dead at a good moment in '79. They were definitely in the groove for this show and it has "that swing". Sit on your porch, open a cool one and let this music wash over you as the sun goes down, remove all negativity from your mind and you will experience the music the way did way back in '79!

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17 years 6 months
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It's not BIG, it's GIANT.

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17 years 5 months
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This box is right in my sweet spot! 5 shows / $167 with shipping & tax. Don't have to break the bank or hide it from wifey. Nice mix. Bring on The Swamp!

Rock on

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9 years 3 months
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Box is ordered, looking forward to seeing what it will look like. Given the source material, I anticipate that the sound should be excellent.
Edit: Actually, I was at the July 12, 1987 show, makes it even cooler. Saw the July 10, 1987 show in Philadelphia at JFK Stadium also that summer.

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17 years 5 months
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Blue ray box ordered - only 6000! Nice size for me and in the range of affordable on my pension so I am a happy Deadhead. Now if I could just get to hear DP31 :-))
Overseas Deadheads have always been here. I traded tapes via Relix adds from the late 70’s. Those that have their DP31 treasure it or pass it on. Peace & love to all.

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13 years 8 months
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Still waiting
Why????
The address on my package forgot to put the apartment #
So now it goes back to the sender
It takes 2 days to respond to a email
Never had this problem before
I wish all releases were digital
I wouldn’t have to deal with this mail foolishness
Also it would stop the “mark ups” on eBay later
Anyway I’ll get the Chicago Dave’ s pick sooner or later
Forgetting to put a apartment # for a Brooklyn Mailing ........madness!!!!!

Had a casual listen to the first set this evening driving around in the Toyota. It’s All Over Now was a standout for me. And I really like the well placed cannonballs in Jack A Roe. Have they had those before? I am assuming they came from Mickey rather than Bill. Maybe he was listing to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 before the show.

Sound wise, I think the vocals mesh better with the instrumentation than last year’s DaP 27 Boise. Could be better, but unobtrusive when the volume is kept reasonable. You can really tell when Jerry leans into the mic.

Looking forward to a close listen of Set II tomorrow.

Carry on!

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17 years 5 months
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Really enjoyed the show tonite. High lights for me were Might As Well and Truckin' > New Speedway Boogie. Great stuff. This leads me to believe that the new box will be delicious!

Rock on

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9 years 3 months
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Dead.net have submitted the missing commercial invoices and now it says mine will be here on Monday. Tracking still showing a payment is due but hopefully it has already being sorted or is about to be...

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17 years 6 months
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Here in the Netherlands I see exactly the same information. On the UPS site, my package is still in Louisville,KY, but instead of daily warehouse scans, yesterday the following appeared: "A missing commercial invoice is causing a delay. / The information requested has been obtained and the hold has been resolved." and today there has been an import scan followed by an export scan. Delivery is scheduled for Monday. The freight charge of 81.88 EUR is still shown. I just hope they don't ask for payment on delivery. Optimism levels rising, blood pressure falling...

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5 years 4 months
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Mine apparently ready for collection from the local UPS delivery point...all charges settled. Let's see this afternoon...

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17 years 5 months
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I saw the bulk of my shows in the '78 - '80 time frame, so I was looking forward to this release very much. I have listened to it once and found that I like it. I will be listening to it continually for the next week as I usually do. I like to really dig into any new release. Are there some ballads that seem a bit more slow then usual? Sure, but it is certainly not the train wreck some of you had led me to believe it might be. Just goes to show that every listener hears things differently.

I sign onto this forum first thing every morning, and check back on it constantly throughout the day. You Dead Heads are my kind of people. So it is with love and caring that I have to say to some here: PEOPLE! GET OVER IT"! Every release will not be Veneta! Just because Althea comes off a bit slow does not mean you have to comment on Jerry's heroin addiction, or his diet, or his traumatic life! Maybe he had a headache or a bellyache this night? Maybe he had just had a blow up with his wife / girlfriend? Maybe he just wanted to try it slower tonite as was his want, to keep changing it up to keep it interesting.

I think we all have the right to comment on the music, but try to keep it to that. Not to pontificate here, but none of us was on stage or back stage that night so none of us knows exactly what happened. All I know is, even when I hear a show that I thing is not up to par, it is still better then 95% of the crap I hear out there today. So I will sit back and enjoy this one and if I come across a show that is not too good, I will put it on the shelf and await hungrily for the next one.

Rock on

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In reply to by simonrob

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After 2 episodes of sending the UPS man away after refusing to pay £73, package containing 31 got pushed through my letterbox this morning, so the good Dr Rhino seems to have sorted the problem. Hopefully those still waiting will shortly be rewarded for their patience

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I was in good shape for the first set ;)))

at set break I ate a couple pieces of candy ("green M&Ms", not electric ones)

the theater was 2/3 full, with a lot of space in the front row. so I moved up there and looked up at the screen with full sound.

"Giants Stadium". from my vantage point, it looked like everyone in the band was a 10 foot tall giant.

It was cool.

Phenomenal show. The sound was soooooo good.

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