Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,101 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

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March 7, 2024 - 5:09pm

#421

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

4-6-89

Yes, my first, and the best concert I had seen in my life up to that point. I was sold, where’s the bus, I’m getting on.

And the laid back atmosphere of Ann Arbor. The cops didn’t even come into the parking lot. I was amazed at what I saw going down on Shakedown Street.

So glad I went. My life changed for the better.
March 7, 2024 - 3:10pm

#422

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Speaking of Transitions

Maybe not 74 China Rider good, but the one from 4/8/89 ain’t no slouch 😀
March 7, 2024 - 2:11pm

#423

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Spring 89

Though I did not relisten to a few shows previously heard, I did rehash several, and some shows multiple times. I started at 2/5 and went in order, finishing with the excellent 5/27 show.

Overall this is a very good, consistent period, though still not as fully gelled as the awesome summer and fall periods. I think this can be attributed to it being yet another transitional period. With the newer songs from the previous year still percolating , as well as several new tunes getting hashed out, (interesting during any era) combined with tech changes and evolving personal roles, it is an interesting period.
One that I hadn’t previously really looked at, and now glad I finally did!

I think generally, the earlier shows of the year are perhaps more consistent than is historically sometimes the case,( but historically similar) in perhaps being a teeny bit subdued, comparatively.
Their all good, enjoyable shows, didn’t hear a dude in the bunch, but hey, they can’t all be top shelf. So I found a nice progression through the spring that really started to gel and peak during the spring tour proper. I hopefully, Iprovide a nice jumping off point for anyone interested in what ever tour I’m stumbling through.

3/28/89: vguy suggested this on POTD awhile back and I liked it as much now as I did then. In fact, it’s in my top picks. A fine show but perhaps just a pace or two off the leaders?
So much of this can be subjective, and though I try to critically listen to all the shows, over time etc, it’s really hard to pick a “best” etc.
So I try to do the leg work for folks who may have a cursory interest about a tour, but not the time or sanity to waste going through the whole thing lol.
So hopefully, I provide a nice jumping off point for anyone interested in what ever tour I’m stumbling through.

I was at the Pittsburgh shows and we felt they continued the promising progression since the big 86 collapse, but though we liked the shows, I recall thinking good but…
years later, with the DL release, I was grateful to get an attended show, but still had some dissonance, perhaps another right city street, but wrong house?
This time around I was really scratching my pointy head at first, but long short, feel the first show kind lacks, except for the fun post drums sequence etc.
The next night however, I felt was a tad above the tour status quo and in the running for a top pick? (But still think perhaps they missed the mark slightly, maybe it was about the tapes? But again, this can all be so subjective).
More importantly, this show or perhaps end of first night can really be seen as point of demarcation from earlier, to the hieght of this period!

4/5&6/89: I think 4/5 is most definitely a tour tops and recommended.
4/6, Conekids first show I believe, is good, but another perhaps just below that top dog line? Another good tour status quo show on the sixth, but not quite the lightning of the fifth?

4/8/89: though we were at this one also, and really enjoyed it, my memory was of a good but ?…And I had a tape of the first and a couple songs from the second, but hadn’t heard the whole show until a few years ago. It perked my interest but I didn’t get back to it until now, and wow, really glad I did! Have a story for this one but I’ll do that later…yeah it’s in my top picks and maybe not THE show but there’s just something about this show, the vibe? The flow, The set list (mostly), and like the whole tour Brent is strong, and because if it’s uniqueness I think this might be my favorite Blow Away of the tour? Vocal harmonies too which were generally really strong over this period!
Well, you can check it out if you please.
I highly recommend a listen and it’s on my top list.

4/9/89: another great show. Fun stuff and more consistent tour status quo, but as throughout the tour you get the occasional vocal flub or miscue, especially with some of the new material. I found this show another, good, but just a step off the pace…

4/11, 12, 13/89: more overall more of the same, in a good way, though the second night seemed a bit of a creeper and the first night (a fine previous DV pick) seemed the strongest of the three, and yet another close but….

4/15/89: same here as several. Good but…not…quite…? I really liked this show and it’s on my second string list.

4/16&17/89 were good, but perhaps on the tour downside or just past the peak section of this period? Very subtle and the kind of thing I think you can only really get if you do whole tours.

IRVINE: more of the same but perhaps a bit looser and thus a bit less tight?
Again, subtle feels and paying attention to misses etc. Perhaps just a touch of California laid back no worries sun fun, as they do sound like their having fun, actually that’s a prevalent vibe through: they were having fun again, getting new momentum etc.
Perhaps a lab opportunity too as they continue to prominently roll out the new stuff for good or sometimes for ill, and definitely here for the Cali crowd.

FROST: boy Frost shows sure seem to both inspire but with some of that laissez-faire Cali home vibe. And these are no different. They open with a good Jack and proceed with a fun set list, though Just a Little Light is still a work in progress. Solid second set which I had a tape of, with cool PITB and yet another cool drums into space, that was stepped up all tour and with the midi addition has become more “other” less trad drums, which I’ve always really dug!
But finally hearing 5/7 I’d have to say I liked that one more, though there were some obvious whoopsies lol. Bird Song was sweet and has been throughout the tour.
One of the spring highlights for me, but I’m sure not others lol is the midi space fest as they really go to town having a ball with the new toys! Really, the whole sequence from He’s Gone through Black Pete is some of the best stuff I heard so far this year!
Another good show, on my second string list just because of the slop factor, comparatively speaking…

Which brings us to show completely off my radar 5/27/89
This was perhaps the biggest surprise of this trip.
And unlike many of these larger multi group bene shows that sometimes get played safe etc, this one has great energy and illustrates how things have progressed nicely over the course of the year during this interesting transitional period, just before and leading up to what I and some consider one of the best stretches in their thirty year history: summer 89 through summer 90!

So, top picks in no real order (whichever I listened to last was best ala Jim ; )
4/8, 4/5, 4/3, 3/28 and 5/27, with second string 4/9, 4/11, 4/15 and 5/7…
That may be a lot, but that’s because if how overall comparative this stretch is, thus not only one or two that really jump out.
I think if you have any infinity for this era you’ll at least enjoy any of these picks, find them a good jumping off point, and hey, sometimes you might even get shown the light ; )

Well, it was fun, but glad it’s over as to really dig in you have to keep at it and by the end I was doing like a weeks of two a days, and 3 DHBs at the end. Actually, more DHBs as I’m rehashing some of my top picks in playoff round lol. Hey, sorry, getting hockey fever lol.
ONWARD!

Prolly cleanse this WE with more 74, then perhaps a week of 69, maybe a bunch of April 69, then a little more May 79 and/or pickup 84 again…
March 7, 2024 - 2:37am

#424

daverock

Joined:
September 1, 2014

China-Rider

If I was to give someone a very brief indication of why I liked The Dead, to someone who had never heard them, I would chose a version of China-Rider. For me, one from between 1972-1974. As the first one I heard was on the old "Europe 72" album, that would be a likely contender.
March 6, 2024 - 7:18pm

#425

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Transitions

Like that exact moment they drifted from China Cat into I Know You Rider

Regardless of the year, words cannot describe.

(did the really make it through HeyNow?)
March 6, 2024 - 8:44am

#426

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Speaking of 89

Been marching through spring 89 (everything I’ve not heard up to 5/27/89)
Just a few shows left then I’ll report back…
March 5, 2024 - 4:18pm

#427

icecrmcnkd

Joined:
October 20, 2015

Speaking of 89

For those who torrent, summer 89 and fall 89 are at etree as single torrents.
Summer 91 was there too.
Was there last weekend and grabbed them in case they are upgraded from what I already have.
March 5, 2024 - 8:24am

#428

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

Box o Rain

Encore got tucked after Set 1 to save space if you were burning to disc, like you would sometimes see in the cassette days. That can fool ya. DaP 49 did it for the 2nd Frost show. The most recent Miller transfer of the Healy/Pierson Ultramatrix has it in correct order. Haven't quite got there yet. Just hit drums and need to break for another task.
March 5, 2024 - 7:15am

#429

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

The Other One

Says thanks for the well wishes.
She’s fine, perhaps hurt her pride most, just a little sore is all.
Think Jim got beat up worse by the Hey Know Police! ; )
Sounds like the bastards turned it up to 11.

Box O Rain was the encore fyi…

I’ll try more later, when I’m done shoveling for the fourth time in 3 days…
March 5, 2024 - 6:58am

#430

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

4-8-89

(Miller SBD) 2nd set starts with Box of Rain?
Angry Brent gets a 9 min. Blow Away.
Solid show. I think I remember Bobby giving an interview saying 1989 was some of their best later stuff.
Cheers

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

Orange Sunshine

I remember Buffalo '90 we had motel room like right across the street from the stadium I know it was in walking distance. Anyway we went up a day ahead and went to The Anchor Bar for wings and pizza. Then we went to The Falls Canadian side my buddy had family up there. That night we got back to the room we took the bed spread off the beds and went down where they were camping and stayed up all night eating Orange Sunshine and drinking Fosters.

1969-05-23 - Road Trip!

I know it’s a surprise, but the Highlight = Dark Star > St. Stephen > Eleven > Lovelight

The Infamous Dark Star Suite of ’69!

Dark Star
If I waxed poetic, I’d go on and on about this Dark Star, but mostly I wanna say, it’s got the Vibraslap, and I love the Vibraslap, especially in Dark Star, and therefore I love this Dark Star.

St. Stephen!
Can’t beat a Classic Version like this. You get the Xylophone, Cannon, William Tell Bridge, it’s all there. This is a great St. Stephen of old.

The Eleven
It’s good! Crazy good you ask? Well.. Crazy good might be a bit much, but it’s good I say!

Turn On Your Lovelight
Sir Ron McKernan aka Pigpen with his blues and soul. I’ve come to feel that Pigpen is a tragic figure, and the band would forever change with his passing, but here he is young and alive and that’s how I like to remember him.
Cause she’s got Box-backed nitties… what’s he say?!?!? (Let’s leave that for the scholars)
Calm down Bobby.. it’s no time for screaming like that!

Alright, well.. that was fun.
I guess I should put on the next show and follow my bliss.
5/24/69 you’re up next…

Note:
When they rehearsed and played St. Stephen with regularity, like in 1969, it was such an amazing song.. alas Jerry would remark that he felt that the song was a cop and due to that and less time spent rehearsing, St. Stephen would leave the garden.

If you watch the Grateful Dead Movie with the director’s commentary, Susan Crutcher tells a pretty fascinating story about how, she wanted to include St. Stephen in the section with the photo montage and Jerry was like, we don’t even play that song anymore, and Susan said yeah but it’s sooo good. And while listening to the song repeatedly during the editing process, Jerry’s interest got peaked and that led to the band resurrecting the song in 1976. The story holds water as they were editing the movie in ’76 when St. Stephen came back. Not to mention Susan strikes me as a cool person who would have no reason to embellish a story like that. I found that to be pretty cool and wanted to share.

I love St. Stephen of old!

FOURWINDSBLOW: How much of that there Orange Sunshine did you eat? That's the question...

GOGD-OSS

Enough! That's all I'm saying.

There were just the three of us out of ten that went to the camping site, we were the crazed of the group. The next morning when we went back to the motel room waking everyone up with a hearty breakfast of Orange Sunshine.

Good Show! CSN and The Dead! We went in early and sat right up in front of Jerry.

RE: OSS

FWB - That sounds like Good Times!

You seen that Doc on Orange Sunshine? Pretty fascinating.

That and Heads by Jesse Jarnow.

So much info. Such a Taboo subject... You gotta love it!

Oh Yeah

I just remembered that right before set 2 the band on the stage and the camera rolling a camera guy center stage got me giving the thumbs up as he panned the crowed I know he saw me cause he smiled. Hope it makes it on the official video.

7/16/90

Check out Bucket> Half Step if ya wanted to listen to more that would be okay.

https://archive.org/details/gd1990-07-16.sbd.miller.95782.sbeok.flac16/…

I have a cool story about taking mexican quaaludes at a show....

....I'll fill you in later.
I have a pick to throw into the ring. It's not official, and I'm sure most have you have heard it, although maybe not in a long time (like me). 10.16.81 Club Melk Weg. Amsterdam. Bobby's birthday. One acoustic set. One electric. Borrowed instruments. High AF on hashish. Lovelight bustout after nine years. It's a really fun show. My two sense.
https://archive.org/details/gd1981-10-16.sbd.miller.110351.flac16/gd81-…

Taboo Subject, Let the Good Times Roll

Not sure why this would be a taboo subject here.. the band certainly didn't try to hide it. Besides.. most of this is folklore by now, happening between 55 and 25 years ago. It could be just because I am old and in the way.. but you don't see or hear of it that much these days.

I enjoy reading peoples stories, most of which (probably all that are told on these threads) by far predate any statute of limitation. Like it or leave it, this is American and World History. Let the good times roll (deja que los buenos tiempos pasen, deixe os bons tempos rolarem, laissez le bon temps rouler).

Edit: Speaking of LSD, I finished discs 1 and 2, 3 later. Still one of my favorite 69 releases behind FW and Fillmore Auditorium. I agree with the Good Ole GD.. disc one probably delivers the goods and is the highlight, but my favorite is disc 2 simply because He Was a Friend of Mine > The Eleven speaks to me... As for disc three, I have never met a Morning Dew or an Alligator I did not like. Even the squatty little yeller one with no tail.

vguy 10/16/81 Melk Weg

There was a video of both shows on Youtube, a few years ago, don't know if it is still out there!!

Back to Pow Wow....

....i never met an Alligator i didn't like, and i really like this one. Love the Feedback as well. Great show!!

Mmmmm.....Melk Weg

https://youtu.be/WvvYChZTXMw

https://youtu.be/b4p1zBuqYDk

5-23/24/69 Pow Wow RT 4.1(?)

I actually was awarded this for a prize back in 2010 for the inaugural version of 30 Days of Dead. It was on the 5th day and the song was Playing in the Band from 5/20/73 UCSB. As I recall it was a totally random guess! Funny the things we remember (and what we forget!)

Re: Pow Wow

Couldn't have happened to a better person.

Pow Wow Wow

Had a good time listening to 5/23 & 24/69 today.

The opening Lovelight almost seems to be a prankster response to the rookie mc telling people to be seated... never trust a prankster.

All the banter is fun. The difference between the closing Lovelight & opening Lovelight was interesting as well.
The opening Lovelight seemed to be much more exploratory with different themes being introduced, especially around 14:30, Jerry gets into a cool groove. The Drums > St. Stephen transition was a trip too.

Good stuff all around.

Milkweg is cool, I like Milkweg

11/17/73 Dap 5 is calling me too, I can feel it's pull.

WILFREDTJONES - 30 Days, look forward to it every year, and that's a good prize! Thanks Dead.net for being cool.

JIMINMD - I agree! That subject should not be taboo. May the human exploration into the cosmos and beyond continue!

Alright you all, keep on rockin' looking forward to the next pick here and in my mailbox.. shipping noticed received!

Be Well

Tomorrow's Pick

What's on tap for tomorrow?

Jimbo, good to see you over here. Time for a pick. Send us one.

Still no shipping notice here.

Pick

Oh,.. the pressure. I am not good at this. But since we are on the best sounding of the road trips. I would humbly suggest either the WOS road trips (6/18/74) or the 5/15/70 Road Trips.

If I had my way.. I would pick Louisville 74 in honor of the eminent release (Road Trips Vol 2 No 4). One other ask.. on or about the first received date of the next Dave's Picks. Would it be possible / make sense to hold this show open for a week so both the folks that get it first have time to comment and the folks that get a day (or six) later have time to participate? Seems reasonable to me. So a week and day of 1974?

Pick

We could do 'From Egypt With Love?' Mix it up a little.

Real great Stella Blue even with the audience patch.

Pick TOO

I want to pick a show Vguy saw. It was his second and it cooks!

Jim's Pick

Good choice, let's do The RT.2.3. Shows from 6/16 and 6/18 74.

I like your idea for Dave's #34.

FourWinds, let's hit up The From Egypt with Love RT tomorrow. 10/21 and 10/22 78. I have not listened to this one in a while.

Thanks guys.

Deadvikes Egypt with love tomorrow

How funny i was grilling last night and I listened to half of the first CD!! Now i have a reason to listen to the rest.. bob t

orange sunshine

there was orange sunshine in the 90's? I only remember it back in the 60's and early 70's and it was the bomb, 4 way hits, which meant you only needed to take a quarter of a hit and they were kinda small, so it was quite easy to take a bit too much. :o fun times indeed. Did some yellow sunshine back then too, it was suppose to be 8 way, never did more than a crumb of that stuff, talk about mind blown. They don't make it like that anymore.
Mexican quaaludes, mandrax I think they were called, not the same as 714's but still lots of fun, they had an antihistamine in the mix to help keep you awake the first 30 mins or so, then it was all fun and stumbling and falling and laughing and feeling invincible, sure wish they hadn't outlawed that drug, one on my favorites. Ever try ludes and acid together? wow, what an experience that was, add some black nepalese hash on top and you are now in heaven. Back in those days, it was ok to have a trove of drugs, like Hunter Thompson said in fear and loathing:
"We had two bags of grass, seventy-five pellets of mescaline, five sheets of high powered blotter acid, a salt shaker half full of cocaine, and a whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers...and also a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of Budweiser, a pint of raw ether and two dozen amyls. Not that we needed all that for the trip, but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can." and push it we did.

O S

If it wasn't O S it was very good and very clean. After our first dabble we stayed up all night looking for the girl that had it bought a bunch and ate it all day. Don't want to put misinfo out there but, thats what she called it, we had a good time.

6.18.74 sounds most excellent (Wyld Stallyns guitar riff)....

....cueing it up now on the Archive (i don't own the physical copy). Avatar updated. Four winds says he wants top pick a show i saw? I recently listed my attended shows if you want to look. Just don't choose 5.19.95. Yuck. Vocal drop outs during the Freedom Hall Promised opener. Good ole Wall Of Sound.

Vguy

Check your PM.

Wall of Sound

Many happy Road Trips over the years. Just finishing 5/23/69 lovelight . Amazing all the changes from live-dead era into Workingman’s era , nothing short of phenomenal creative drive.
There were a few lackluster Dead shows in the 70s ,but I never went to one back then that was less than amazing.
Would like to see a board tape of UCSB May 74 with Great American String Band set official release. Maria was real hot also. 74 was a banner year.
Seminole Powwow kicked ass. Dark Star was super improvisational . The 11 was exciting . Love-Light was also reflective of the youthful vigor of the band at that time.
Miss Indian World ,Cheyenne Kippenberger 2019-2021, is from the Hollywood , Florida Band of Seminole Tribe. Met her in Albuquerque during Gathering of Nations Powwow a year ago. She’s a real good person from one of the strongest of all the tribes in the country.
I still nominate 5/2/70 for this Saturday on its 50th anniversary .

Vguy

I suggested the 2nd ever show you saw. I thought this show had some unique Jerry playing on it especially for the time period. If we don't get to listen to it I'll understand but, maybe you can give your take on it I thought it was good for the time.

Ps. Fun fact, though I've never counted till today I got 28 of the 39 I saw on video.

You mean Anaheim Stadium?....

....it's View From The Vault 1. Maybe a video of the day with discussion is in order?
6.18.74's Ramble-On Rose was so good, i played it twice!!
pm checked

Meet Up At The Movie

Quarantine style. Sounds good!

Pick has Started = Contact High

Alright, firing up 6/16/74 and already WOW on Sound Quality and playing on China Cat..

My Completist OCD has prevented me from frequent listening of this & from Egypt with Love.
It might be cool to hear them both again in their compilation order... already struggling with the whole notion of rearranged songs.. Deep Breath.. they sound good.

Talking about Orange Sunshine, Mexican Quaaludes, Ludes & Acid, HST gave me a nice Contact Buzz!

Thanks UNKLE SAM & FWB for that.. Keep ‘em coming.

I was still tripping from the Great Pow Wow! Both nights rocked real good. I dug that.

He Was A Friend & Death Don't were real good too hear again, along with all the rest of that psychedelic stuff.

Good times!

Meet Up At The Movies Quarantine Style sounds Awesome!

Shake up the Shakedown Stream.. with a little bonus footage:)

This Eyes sounds real nice..

EDIT: And 5/2/70 Anniversary sounds promising as well!!

The Logistics....

....to have everyone cue up View From The Vault at the same time would be incredibly incredible. Zoom Meeting?!

RE:VGUY72 - Zoom Meeting

Bad Ass!

ZoooooooooooM!....

....I'm considered essential, but I'm off this Saturday and Sunday. jUSt SaYIn'.

6/16

Eyes, Playin. Nice! Nobodys Jam, now were going old school. Love it!

RE: Zoom Vault View

VGUY - Saturday works for me! PST

And 6/16 Eyes > Stronger Than Dirt > Big River is super!

Keith's piano... is he using a pedal or what's going on there?

Video pick?

If nobody has interest in the '87 Anaheim second choice would be in honor of the resident care-taker of the Vault, the man on the inside. With Dave's very first pick 'Truckin' Up To Buffalo' '89.

RE: Video Pick?

FWB - 4/10/20 - Shakedown Stream was "Truckin' Up To Buffalo" but 7/7/89 "Crimson White & Indigo" might have you in the crowd somewhere? Haven't seen that in awhile.

I'm down for View From The Vault V1 or '87 or whatever, just maybe something other than "Truckin' Up To Buffalo" as I just watched that recent. Just sayin'

DL said this week Shakedown Stream would be Closing of Winterland.

Alright, stoked to hear this 6/16/74 PITB for 28 minutes, but gotta wait till later and take care of some business first...

Be Well you All

GOGD

Yeah I forgot they did the '89 show but , The one I was talking about that i could be on film was Buffalo '90. Sorry for any confusion. JFK '89 we were in the bleachers half way back Jerry, Brent side.

I have the opener and the main act on audience video from Buffalo '90.

6/18/74

Had to cue this one up on archive too, (and will tomorrow's "From Egypt" pick.) I really don't know why I slept on these Road Trip releases - I guess I was put off by the cut-up nature. Oh well - LMA is a-ok with me :) Just now on "Roses."

I had to run out for my weekly grocery trip yesterday, and Sirius was playing "To Lay Me Down" from Jai-Alai - sounded very good, though I am not sure if it was the soon to be delivered version or not.

I know that many here already know this, but if not, the Freedom Hall show "Eyes" is the version that Holly Bowling does on solo piano. She apparently transcribed the whole jam. I have never directly compared them note for note, but her version is really great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voLdRQ-19dc

EDIT: She actually does her own "version" of the verses, but the jam is transcribed. On "BTW" and it looks like the WoS has settled in and is sounding better - still some vocal drops, but the band sounds incredible!

Peace