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    A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation

     

    With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.

     

    Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

     

    *2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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  • PT Barnum
    Joined:
    Doc

    I was concerned, glad to hear you are well. Southwest of you I'm concerned, I still have friends in central florida, my mother lives down there (93 yrs old) but also dodged the main bullet, waiting for others to contact me. Mini vay kay play dead

  • dmcvt
    Joined:
    thanks, Doc

    Good to hear you and yours safe and sound. Thoughts go out to FL friends (so far, all good) and all who were so near the path. Almost at 1972 here, streaming the early December 1971 run at mini-MSG Felt Forum. A gloriously bright sunny Vermont day, fall foliage coming on, first frost tonight. Will pull the last peppers, tomatoes and basil out now.

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Oro Approved

    Love it! The Ess Amt-4 is a two-way with the slightly smaller Heil Air Motion Transformer and a 10" woofer rated 20W to 250W. They are 4 ohm, 45hz-24Khz, with the x-over at 1000hz, and called the sleeper in their killer line up from BITD. The best thing they have going is that Amt which delivers clear beautiful highs and solid mids in all directions from an open top design. Easy placement that way too. Look up their big boys, ESS Amt-1s and their Towers (I forget the number), well respected and still fetch four figure prices as parts units which tells you a lot. The Amt itself is indestructible and lifetime warranted. Mine had a solid pure pulp cone on that 10" which I have had to replace with a set of Misco, made in Minneapolis, Oaktron 10" from their Heritage line made to replace the similar stuff in all the brands from BITD. Same pure pulp cone and big voice coils and magnets but in a stamped steel frame just like the originals. Spec at 16-4000hz and 92 db efficiency.
    Got the ESSs cheap when almost new in 1977 from a college roomy who couldn't manage to get them back home to Cincy without a car. But then when the cat put a hole in one of the woofers in the 90s I replaced the originals with what I thought would be an upgrade but I screwed up. Bought subs that were 8-ohms by Pyramid, Super Pro Super Blue, made by Eminence in US ( Kentucky?) famous for their instrument speakers for bass and guitar. Great deal from a car audio shop going out of business and they took my torn ones in trade as well. As you know, that 8-ohm mistake changed the x-over to 2000hz and I traded off some midrange for killer, punchy bottom end which I thought at the time was good. Found out about five years ago that I screwed up and got the Miscos for about what I sold the now valuable subs for. Fit like a glove which no one who tried that swap with the only available 10" direct from ESS could do as all they sold was the big boy 10" from other higher models with a cast aluminum frame that required sawing into your cabinets just to make it fit. Found that out on Audio Karma luckily from others trying to do the same replacement on their various ESS. A couple of those guys used Dayton woofers to good effect but I went with Misco as their specs were a perfect match to original, hence original sound. Was not going to try to mess with upgrading as I might have had to upgrade the x-over too and taking a saw to the cabinets was out of the question. SO, long story longer, I got my midrange back and Phil bombs sound better than ever! Not bad for a novice hack job since I have zero skills with electricity or carpentry. Not even interested in a sub really. Pretty small living room and I want to keep peace in the neighborhood. Anytime you upgrade there is a leap of faith that the money you're spending will get the result you're after so I got lucky in all this I'd say. Some with a little more dinero are switching stuff all the time but you don't know unless you go. I certainly was OK with all my 70s stuff but you get used to your sound and don't realize how much better it can be until you go there. Thanks Oro.
    Cheers

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Doc

    I wish your last statement was true - but I suspect that the selfish behaviour of the powerful will have long lasting negative consequences for years to come.

  • Forensicdoceleven
    Joined:
    Most anyplace one lives is essentially dangerous......

    For all those who asked, or were concerned...............

    The Gillespie household is doing fine. So far, we've only lost power for about 45 minutes, but it's back on now. We've only caught the "tropical storm" part of Ian, but I have heard that potentially, this may be the deadliest hurricane to ever hit Florida. We now live in Green Cove Springs, about 30 miles southeast of Jax, safely away from the beach, the St John's River, and Black Creek. We're in a newish house, on high ground, have lots of food and water, and have an excellent generator. The St Augustine area is getting badly flooded........

    The strongest hurricane to ever hit Florida was the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, sustained winds of 180+ mph when it hit. There is a lovely--and moving----monument in the Keys to the hundreds who lost their lives in that storm. I've visited that site many many times while I lived down there. The deadliest? Probably the same hurricane, the exact toll is unknown, but probably in the hundreds.......

    For Matthew, we evacuated. For Irma, we hunkered down and rode out the storm. For a hurricane, either get out early, or be prepared to ride it out. I reassured my wife, "No matter what comes, we'll ride it out together".

    Out of an abundance of caution, my office is closed today and tomorrow, and I don't work this weekend. A "mini-vacation" of sorts. Now that the power is back, I'm actually busy spreading 1972 Lyceum shows around. Some things never change, hurricane be damned!!

    Here we dodged a bullet, yet I pray for those in harm's way on the Gulf coast...............

    Stay safe, and rock on,

    Doc
    What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal......

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Well said 1stshow

    Don’t think I’ve heard of the ESS Amt 4s, looked them up, interesting, do you use a sub with them?
    And you refreshed my memory about adcom so I looked into that brand a little too.
    Interesting video comparing Adcom and NAD to contemporary Schiit audio.

    Almost bought a Schiit Yggdrasil DAC before I got my Meitner. For like 22-23 hundred bucks they sound as good as many DACs costing many thousands more! Schiit makes simple but value friendly great sounding products, or at least the ones I’ve heard.
    But yeah, NAD and Adcom, same idea, BITD budget friendly but great sounding gear. Sounds like a sweet little system!

    Hybrid stuff. I’ve heard some sweet sounding hybrid stuff at audio shows.
    Of course Jer Bear had a hybrid system utilizing a Fender Twin Tube amp for his pre and a SS MC2300 power amp and we all know how great that sounded and perhaps why he never changed his backend!
    I would say if your going to try hybrid go tube pre and SS power…
    My best recollection was with my buddy who started YFS and built my custom Ref 3 server: had an amazing sounding system one year at RMAF using YFS server, Meitner DAC, Custom made fully analog pre (tube?) biamped with one of the best sounding MC 275 tube amps on the highs, and a 200 per McIntosh solid state amp on the lows (don’t recall the model), powering some Von Schweikert audio stand speakers. I thought the sound and imaging of this system, even in the shitty little hotel room sounded as good or better than much bigger and expensive systems there that year.
    Just can’t describe what a big clean sound this relatively small system produced! Of course for the price of the system it should! Lol.

    I think it’s like everything else: trial and error and if it’s done right it can be a plus!
    I’ve never had tube stereo gear, but I’ve heard some great stuff, but that particular MC 275 that my buddies dad (some kind of engineer/scientist) restored and modified, is perhaps the best tube amp I’ve ever had the pleasure to hear. His dad is the one who built the custom line stage too. Ya know, let’s design and build a one of a kind killer audiophile unit just for something to do lol. They build their own bike frames too!
    So to me it’s like all this stuff, tube versus SS, analog versus digital etc, there’s not just one thing that’s best or better, if it’s done right, and you get the right synergy for your room etc, I’ve heard systems of all kinds that were amazing!

    Just a thought, yeah tube amps can be great for instruments for musical creation when you want that slightly overdriven sound (think Dead 72 before using Mac amps on the instruments), but for sound reproduction they can get tubby or muddy with perhaps too much distortion. Some people like that as it can give a richer, or warmer sound, I’m with you 1stshow, I prefer a more neutral sound, though some think that’s too dry etc?

    In the end, it just comes down to what’s best for you!

  • Crow Told Me
    Joined:
    There and Back Again

    For a few years, I was deeply into audio: or as deeply as my meager budget would allow, anyway. It started when I realized I needed a tube amplifier. This was because I realized that I would never in a million years use a transistor amp for my guitar, so why would I use one for my home listening?

    But of course tube amps and preamps are pretty pricey, so I had to go the DIY route: I built a preamp from a kit (Bottlehead) and bought an old ST-70 power amp, and I spent a lot of time tweaking them with various upgrades. They sounded pretty good, eventually. And I needed some efficient speakers, so I paired them with some Klipsch Heresys that I got off craigslist (for $100!).

    What happened next is so typical of me it's embarrassing: the ST-70 worked great for about 10 years and then just cut out one day. By this time, I had forgotten all the various rewirings and component upgrades etc I had done, and lost all my paperwork. So I had no idea how to troubleshoot it! Couldn't even find my volt meter! I decided to just sell the ST-70 for a couple hundred, get myself a used Sansui Au-417 (since they're reputed to have a tube-like sound, also a great phono stage), put all new caps in there, and call it day. So after all that I'm back to transistors. Sounds pretty good, though.

    Somewhat bemused to read the travails of my fellow heads who ordered the MSG set via Rhino and are now working through the delays and shipping mishaps. I didn't get the box set (early '80s are just not my era) but I went for the 3 CD breakout. Ordered it from Bezos and received on the day it was released. What a concept! I'm glad to have it, it's a good performance, but disappointed in the mix. It's all Jerry and Brent, Bob's guitar is completely (and I mean completely) inaudible, Phil and the drummers much too low. But you can hear Jerry great, and it's a high energy show so probably most people will really dig it. Still, I hope the rest of the box is better, for everybody's sake.

    Five for the universe:

    John Coltrane: Coltrane
    GOGD: Dick's Picks 36 (yow!!!)
    Joe Henderson: Mode for Joe
    Zappa: Hot Rats
    Sturgill Simpson: Cuttin Grass

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Bang For The Buck

    I went to separates during covid after doing some research and hearing from a collector of Heil Amt speakers that I wasn't hearing all my ESS Amt-4 floor standing speakers could do. Got an Adcom dual mono amp with 100W and 180 damping factor and was blown away like the Maxell guy. Got the other Adcom separates one at a time and noticed improvement each time. The pre-amp was better than using my old integrated amp as a pre and the digital tuner was way better than the old one. All are late 80s MOSFET stuff and fully restored they are still way cheaper than either vintage premier like Oro's McIntosh or 10x cheaper than modern audiophile. Just got to find a reliable restorer. They were the bargain audiophile brand BITD and made in USA. Very neutral coloring which some don't like but it's better to hear it exactly as it was made and play with the tone controls if you want different. Diminishing returns to go higher but I would have if the money was there. All in I spent maybe $700 and it sounds good to me. The bonus was I got a bedroom system from the old stuff, just have to add some speakers.

    Ten days to get my 3 CD MSG from CA to CO doesn't sound very innovative. Mail Innovations, aka the Louis Dejoy enrichment scheme, adds almost 500 more miles to the route that would have gotten to me two to three days earlier had UPS shortcut Mail Innovations and delivered it straight from the handoff point only 60 miles away. Bad for the customer and bad for the planet. Should be here tomorrow. Oh well, as Neil says, "don't let it bring you down, it's only castles burning".
    Cheers

    Edit: I find it interesting that folks are going back to valves, or tubes, especially in the pre-amp. I was advised to go with a hybrid solid state/tube pre-amp but stick with a solid state amp to get the benefit of the "warm" tube sound without the big bucks of the tube amp. But the hybrids were beyond my budget even used/restored as they are a newer thing. Wish my family had kept my Dad's old home built Heathkit tube amp. Would love to have heard that again.

  • dmcvt
    Joined:
    AJS audio, 1968 NW, Doc11

    Thanks Oro, a wealth of helpful information. AJS, there with you, floor standing wise, found a pair of 1986 Klipsch Cornwall IIs, 3 foot tall, 2 foot wide, 16" deep. Horn loaded tweeters and mid range, 15" woofers. They sound incredible for 35 year olds. Was driving them with an Onkyo receiver, one of the high end spec models for a long time and was happy. Eventually hooked up a power amp/pre amp combo and was surprised how much improvement... like Oro said. The power supply on the amp is huge, output rated at 150 watts per channel so a very efficient speaker like Klipsch has no stress, there is so much headroom. The damping factor as well important, a measure of how effectively (tightly) the amp controls bass response. When damping factor number is large, bass is well defined with detail and timbre, not boomy muddy. Whatever sub anyone might be using, not much useful response below 18-20Hz, as it's exponentially demanding to get lower, subsonic. The octobass and piano lowest notes are A0, about 27hz, Pipe organ low note is C0, 16 Hz. Except there's this thing called a rotary woofer that can go down to single Hz numbers at hideous expense, IMAX theater only? I would love to see and buy a 1968 NW tour box. Meanwhile, hoping Forensic Doc will let us know how it goes, we know he's in the Jacksonville area.

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Magic Carpet Ride

    Mr Ones - great band, Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets. I saw them just before covid, and was supposed to be going again in 2020-but... That dvd/blu ray disc of them live is worth getting, too.

    Irrespective of the extent to which climate change is affecting the hurricanes in America, there can be little doubt that the countries who are suffering most are the poorest ones. And the ones who are contributing to it most are the richest.

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A sealed, unlabeled box sat undisturbed for decades on a shelf in the Grateful Dead’s San Rafael tape vault on Front Street, its contents an enduring mystery, even to those few with access to the vault. All David Lemieux knew about that box when he became the Dead’s archivist was that it contained tapes belonging to Bear—Owsley Stanley, the Dead’s first soundman and architect of the Wall of Sound. Even in the Dead Heads’ Holy of Holies, the taped-up box was tantalizing. But this was Bear’s personal property, and so he didn’t touch the box out of an abiding respect for the elder luminary of sound. Bear’s archive of Sonic Journal recordings had been kept safe for him for years within the Grateful Dead’s vault—over 1,300 reels of tape stored in heavy-duty cartons like old banana boxes. At any time, David could have popped the tops and explored them to his archivist heart's content. But they were off-limits without the nod from Bear. - Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell, Owsley Stanley Foundation

 

With a wink and a nod from Bear, we've peeled back those banana boxes to find some of the oldest and rarest of all recordings of the Dead including the double dose of shows that make up DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43. The two virtually complete performances from San Francisco 11/2/69, Live At Family Dog At The Great Highway, and from Dallas 12/26/69, McFarlin Auditorium, are complementary in their clarity and consistency thanks to Bear himself, and in their ability to foreshadow where the Dead were headed in the years to come. If the two killer 20-minute+ "Dark Stars" don't get ya, how about the Pigpen-centric sets featuring "Midnight Hour," "Next Time You See Me," "Big Boss Man," "Good Lovin'," and the once-lost-now-found complete rendition of "Dancing In The Streets," or the first full acoustic set ever performed? And we're certain you'll be fascinated to uncover the "Mystery Of Bear's Banana Boxes" as told by Starfinder Stanley, Hawk, and Pete Bell in the liners.

 

Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 43 was recorded by Owlsey "Bear" Stanley and has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering. Grab a copy while you can.

 

*2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

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Daverock posted about that book Oct. 4 on this thread.
Sounds worth investigating Vguy.
Give us a review when you get it.
Cheers

FirstShow is right, it was DaveRock that mentioned it awhile back. I have a pretty good Dead library now, so was holding off on buying this one (especially because it’s one of the pricier ones) until some folks here declare it to be “The One”. I’m in such a losing streak with lousy purchases lately, in music and in books, that I’m afraid management is going to send me down to the minors to get my game back. I’m hoping this one is a good one. We await your scouting report, VGuy.

Tractors and traffic lights do vex me.

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Today is the first day of public sales for the Dead & Co final tour. I took a look at the prices and I stand corrected...they are nus and beyond standard inflation. Now I should preface this- during the presale and even now shows that have lawn seats available are reasonable, sort of. I got lawn tickets to Starlake and they were $51 a piece. Deer Creek for example was similar. However for some venues GA lawn are way too high; I think the Gorge is $180. As for seats, some of these pieces are just bonkers. I saw prices at $300, $400, $500, and even higher depending on venue and seat location. At least one venue, the pit was $700 per ticket. None of these were verified resales either, just the going rate. I have a feeling that these prices will drop some and eventually all of these shows will sell out or close to it. I am fine paying the minimum for one show to roam the lawn area. That will be plenty for me.

OK enough of that.

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Recently I came across a seller on eBay that had good prices on individual shows from the Spring 1990 and The Other One box sets. I passed on those boxes (and the Fillmore West 69) when they came out. I have been fairly successful piecing together The Other One box, but the first box, Spring 1990 has been more difficult to put together. Secondary prices , eBay and otherwise, are high for the complete box sets and sometimes even worse for individual shows. Anyway this seller has made me offers on top of his already good prices for these individual shows. I decided to take the plunge and get the Spring 1990 shows I was missing.

I really do feel that 1989-1990 was a great ear for the band. I have been listening to the all of the Spring 1990 shows again and they are just great. However I really do like the summer 1990 shows that I have listened to as well. So I am really looking for the #44.

I am holding off on getting the MSG box because I really want to put the time in listening to these 1990 shows again. I hope I don't miss out on the 17CD set but if I do, I will just go with the digital download. If it wasn't for these deals on these Spring 1990 shows that I came across, I think I would have just went ahead and got the MSG box. I will continue to check out everyone's reviews on the MSG box. From what I have seen so far, it seems to be a hit.

It doesn’t sound as good up close as it does FOB.

This was my last D&C show, GA floor, pretty sure it was $99.
Compare set 1 (near stage) to set 2 (in the sweet spot between the big speaker systems above the stage sides).
For set 2 I was next to a single stand with 2 separate mic setups and recorders.
Sounds a lot better in person back there than up front, and it’s also noticeable on the video.

youtu.
be/ZpB6
kMvJgzA

Piece those back together.

The most I ever paid for a GD show was $35 for Soldier Field shows but they always had an opening band.

91 Roger McGuinn
92 Steve Miller
93 Sting
94 Traffic
95 The Band

FTW was $200 each night after prices were changed, but I got mine for less through mail order.

Dmcvt - so cool that you were able to see Mountain and in particular, at Bowdoin. What an awesome campus and town. I’ve always felt that Mountain was a very underrated band. Mississippi Queen gets all the hype, but Nantucket Sleighride is one of my all-time favorite songs.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get tickets for that particular show because I was six.

Yup. The absurd ticket prices for Dead and Company were brought up last tour. Melatonin is much cheaper and will put you to sleep just as fast.

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Well said. :)

p.s. AJS, I just about spit out my beer reading your comment about Melatonin! :) I felt kind of bad paying $120/night to stand with 40,000 Heads in a football stadium back in 2017, so certainly am not paying for the latest farewell tour.

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I’m gonna pass on D&C. I think these prices are just ridiculous and this band is not that good

Edit: i’m kind of bummed that DP 44 is not a 4 disc release this year. I really thought that this release was going to be a ‘91 show. I see a ‘91 boxset in our future though. ‘91 Boston Garden would hit the spot.

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p.p.s. Maybe someone already mentioned this, but there is an interview with the bootleg cassette art guy (Mark A. Rodriguez) on AllMusic; just opened that page to see what was new and saw a lynk! to the interview there. Some of you already mentioned that artist and his new book.

aahhh . . . If I spell "LYNX" correctly, then it won't let me post . . .

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I finally got a low number on a box. I'm not going down to the basement to verify, but it was like 2173 or something. I'll take it.

Been listening to these shows for days... been walking around the house just letting some discs play over and over, really feeling this one in my bones. Got such a nice, gentle vibe. Exactly what I need during these dark times.

I consistently stick up for Dead & Co. and will again. If this is the end, so be it. No it isn't Jer and Phil but they've been out more or less for a long time now. I can't stomach John Mayer's solo career but this works, as a guitar freak, for me.

I'm seeing the Folsom shows in Boulder as usual. You cannot beat a beautiful night in Boulder... times I spent walking barefoot across the campus grass on acid, tossing a frisbee back and forth with a teenage girl, watching out for the raccoons... best times of my life.

Can't wait for this send off. If you get it you do, if you don't, well, sorry.

Be well everyone. Except election denying repugnicans.

\m/

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... not from Bob Weir & Co. $750 a ticket? WTF?

Pretty stoked about DaP 44. The July 1990 shows on DaP were a real ear-opener for me, much better than I expected and thoroughly enjoyable. Expect this one to be equally good: set list looks good, it seems to have a great rep. Can't wait!

My first concert was the Faces. I used to love those guys! Still do, really. I was in junior high. My friend's mom drove us and dropped us off, his sister picked us up. I think tickets were like $3.50. Didn't see the Dead till '79, with lots of '70s metal (Sabbath, Aerosmith, Zep) and punk (Clash, Ramones, Patti, X and Black Flag and all the LA bands) in between. I don't think any of those shows cost more than maybe $7.50. Those were the days.

Seriously, Bob? WTF?

1stshow - that's right, cheers. I read about it in a British mag called "Shindig!"-and very well reviewed it was, too. Good magazine.
It's been a while since I read a book on The Dead, but I'm reminded now of one that ThatMike mentioned last year, which reviewed October shows from all eras. That looked attractive to me, but I never got round to getting it. Now's the month, though.
Incredible run of historic Dead shows upon us, from 10/19/71 through to 12/31/72. The surrounding years were great too-but that period of time really shines for all eternity.
My first shows were
T.Rex - May 1972
David Bowie December 1972
Hawkwind February 1973
Black Sabbath March 1973
Genesis April(I think) 1973
Things picked up speed after that - The Stones in September 1973.

Of the bands other people saw early - Chuck seeing Cream in 1968 stands out for me.

With ticket prices, for me, if a band is worth seeing - it's worth seeing. Having said that - no one's worth going hungry for. Not at my time of life, anyway.

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really? this is how the remaining members want to be remembered. Going to get tickets to the xmas jam in Asheville, this year, Phil is back. I was originally upset that Phil left the remaining members, now, not so much. Bobby, Billy and Mickey, this will be a black spot on your legacy. Let's hope that as you rake in these last millions, they will tide you over until you go to be with Jerry, let those that have retired to the great stage in the sky be your judges. I will not be attending this money grab.

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159.00 behind the stage, 198.00 floor, 225.00 plus balcony and back seats, didn't price front seats.

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Yep, the close-in seats for D&CO in Boulder are non-starters for mere mortals like myself. However, you can get GA tix in the rear-side sections for 90 bucks (that's total including all add-on fees & tax plus you get a seat). I've got GA seats for all 3 nights. Last year I did the same thing, and you'd be surprised how clean the sound is – two huge, tall speaker towers loomed over that end of the field. The center stage screen and 2 big screens beside it dazzled. Plenty of seating, and you could sit different places each night if you want. Unless you have GA Pit tix and get there in time to elbow your way to the front of the stage, you're not gonna have an intimate experience with the band anyway, and us old guys' bladders are guaranteed to get antsy. Even if you have reserved seats in the close-in reserved sections where I've sat up until last year for mucho mas dinero, you're still gonna be watching the show on the big screens. Just a thought.

I doubt anybody on this thread confuses D&Co with the GD, but lots of us who never saw the Grateful Dead, are happy to chase the echoes. And there's nothing like a gathering of the tribe in the Rockies. Looks like next year D&Co are hanging it up. One last chance I don't plan to miss. It'll be interestung to see how the torch gets carried forward by Mayer, Burbridge, Chimenti and all the other players who've been inspired by the GOGD. Onward.

There was an element of that when I saw them in 1981. It wouldn't have been like that if I had seen them consistently from the early/mid 70s on into the 80's I don't think. Then I would have witnessed them change gradually. But as it stood, the only music I had heard by The Dead in 1981 was the officially released albums - Live Dead, Anthem and American Beauty being the pick of the crop. They had obviously changed tack a bit by the time I got to see them. Still good at the time - but they didn't play the types of music that drew me to them.

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And Some With A Fountain Pen & TicketBastard
These prices I’m reading for tix are crazy. I cannot justify that kind of money for a show, even prime seats.

It was pouring rain, cold wind this morning, and I drove by all these souls bundled up against the elements at some theatre, and I see a sign saying “Demi Lovato - One Night”, so it clicked. I know the name, but couldn’t pick her or her music out of a police lineup, but gotta hand it to the hardcore fans lined up at 9am ish in that shite weather. I was curious how much the tickets were - tix start at $70 (about $55USD) for this singer. Not sure if that is a rip off or not!?

As for the crazy nutty prices quoted here for the D&Co, I just cannot imagine you can pay that kind of money and ever think “Great deal!” Even THE best shows you have ever seen were made all that sweeter because you got $15 tickets, can you believe it, 3rd row, etc etc. You pay crazy money, and invariably, you are going to be a little disappointed, maybe I should have got the furnace fixed for that money, or I could have seen a few other club shows for that money etc.
I had respect for Petty and Pearl Jam trying years back to neuter gangsters like Ticketbastard from ripping off the fans, but even they eventually acquiesced.
Ole Woody knew what he was taking about.

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Phil is just killin' it at the Capitol Theatre tonight. Good and fresh. Get some.

Three guitarists on fire and it's got Harp. Holy crap. He's 80 what?

And Happy 75th Bobby

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...now may I show you the egress for a $1 more. The Dead and Co. Prices are verified resale tickets and surge pricing. Band has nothing to do with those prices. Scalpers are trying to maximize people's panic and FOMO so they buy all the tix they can fix high prices and see how many can't handle the stress. Wait closer til show time the prices will come down and there will be seats at door and there will be people with extras. Don't buy now make the scalpers regret their decisions and adjust the prices, it will happen. Tix for turf at fenway I got on Fanpresale for 220$ each, I don't think that too much at all considering a gallon of milk where I live can be upwards of $9.

Please don’t misconstrue my comments. The slowness of play by D&C has been widely discussed. I am glad that people are enjoying the music and “keeping the spirit alive” if you will. The music is just not for me. What I do begrudge are the outrageous ticket prices.

Sir James is correct. Phil always brings it. Catch a show at the Capitol Theater if you can at a fraction of the cost. DSO and JRAD also put on great shows. I caught both Phil and Bob’s bands this year.

I liken it to the three little bears. Phil likes to speed things up. Bob likes to slow them down. Garcia had it just right.

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17 years 4 months

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....if you collected tapes back in the day like I did, this book is a goldmine. Holy flashback Batman. The first half is page after page of homemade tape covers, and there are a LOT! Even spotted a couple that I have.
Second half is interviews with some of the well-known tapers.
Book is laid out nicely.
Cool stuff.
(I still have my tapes)

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I doubt we'd have even heard of Phil and Bob if they hadn't had the good fortune to hook up with Jerry Garcia. Both of their styles, from what I can hear and understand, developed as a response to Garcia's playing. Take him out of the picture, and what have you got?

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I am very glad they did this project and if they say it is time to close the curtains, I respect that.

The ticket price thing is unfortunate, I think Dennis' take had the most clarity. If the prices are too high, don't go, if it's worth it go.. have a blast.

Gotta respect Led and Jeff's take, that's the spirit.

The single thing that frustrated me with all this was, I believe, a ticketmaster decision. It seemed to me they pushed substandard tickets at a high price on the presale, then when the regular sale came to be.. low and behold there were many better seats for sale at the same price I more than once paid for what turned out to be shit seats. A greedy move that gouged and crapped all over the 'preferred' fanbase.

I would gladly to go a D&C show if it came easy and pieces fell into place. I avoided the ticket process this time, I had my fun and if it doesn't come again I am content. Less hassle and less money is attractive too, so if it comes easy I will see you there if not, see you on the other side.

With all that I wish all of you a great weekend and a great transition into fall. Darkness falls and seasons change. Gonna hit my last show of the new box and get some shit done. As you were, happy Sunday..

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"As the mayor of Deadhead City
In Bigfoot County of the Land of 'Far Out, Man'..."

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....all my homies hate the Astros.
I was rooting for Seattle, but the teams I root for usually lose. I'm bad juju.
Knights off to a good start and the Baby Sharks are winless so far.
I'll take it.
Current listening? The new King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard release.
Impressive stuff. Y'all should check them out. They come with the highest Vguy recommendation, and I'll never steer you wrong.
Music is the best.

That's not a political statement

Right now I am asking the musical question, "What about Gainesville?"

Shakedown Street into Franklin's!!!

YES!!!!!

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HI All- the other day I quoted some ticket prices and I was slightly wrong. Some of the prices I quoted were for verified resale. Others were not as they were listed as 'Official Platinum" but yet they prices were still sky high. I did not view things thoroughly enough on the first go around due having some good vino during my attempt to look into those prices in more detail. With that being the case there are still many venues that have GA lawn tickets that reasonable. Lawn is always my preference these days for most shows partly due to cost. However I like to be able to move around so having that ability is also something I want. Given that lawn is my go to even when ticket prices are not stratospheric in cost.

Like others have said, it is very likely tickets will be available at a much lower cost closer to the date of the shows. I am happy with one more show, a local one at that. Outside of this Dead & Co final tour, I am not really inclined to see anyone else except for Phish. Phish continues to play at a high level and I am still hoping for a late fall/early winter mini tour leading up to NYE at MSG. If not, I will check them out next summer.

p.s Happy Birthday Bobby!

....and wait until the show starts. Hang out like vultures and make sure your phone is charged.
The resellers will start shedding hard.
Pick that shit up.
If you don't mind missing the first song that is. My friend told me this. And he was correct.
It's not really considered "beating" the system. Let's just call it "bending rules."
Rock on and go see live music.
p.s. don't watch sports.

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The cheapest I paid for a ticket was $1.01, to see Jerry Garcia at The Concord Pavillion on 9/7/81. Queen Ida and her Zydeco Band opened the show. What a deal! The show was a benefit for a local radio station, and
that was the price for tickets

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The last show I attended was Jackson Browne at the Albert Hall, 5 or so years ago. l paid £60 for two AAA tickets at a charity auction, i was the only bidder. We didn't go backstage after the show, what would I do there at my age? He was very good, really enjoyable. The hotel down the road cost us £150 for the night, but there you go. The first show I ever attended cost 50 pence (about 75 cents in those days maybe), Genesis at our local club in Autumn 1972. It was always 50 pence unless the band for the night had a single in the charts when the promoter put the price up a bit. He was a decent bloke,must have lost money many weeks, there was a show every Sunday, but seemed to be in it for the music and to see us all enjoy ourselves.

The least expensive gigs I went to were free festivals in the mid 1970's. With hitching there would have been no money spent on transport, no money spent on accomodation - I didn't even have a tent at first. The main band I can remember seeing was a spacey group called Here and Now, and Nik Turner who had recently left Hawkwind. The fag end of the hippie era.

The most expensive gig would have been The Stones in 2003-black market ticket, trains, hotel - I even had a meal before that one. The Stones was the better deal, for me.
So if Dead and Co mean as much to someone as The Stones meant to me, I'd say it is worth it, even if it is expensive.

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Agreed about Garcia, but that is not unique to this band. Where would The Doors be without Morrison? U2 without Bono? Countless others.

I recall hearing an interview yeas ago ( I can't recall the source so I could be mistaken) with Garcia contemplating where the band members would be without him.

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AJS - I may have got this wrong - but I'm not sure if either Phil or Bob actually played bass or guitar before they met Jerry. They both literally learned to play in counterpoint with him -which may account for their unusual styles. I have never heard anybody who played either bass or guitar like they did. Which was part of what made the band so unique, of course.

It's curious when some bands lose their guiding light - and go on to be successful in their own right. Off the top of my head, I would say Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and New Order - who developed out of Joy Division - were like that.
It doesn't happen with most - as you say - The Doors weren't very interesting without Jim Morrison, and I can't imagine The Jimi Hendrix Experience would have sold many tickets without Jimi Hendrix.

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VGuy- I have seen them before. Only once about 15+ years ago. They were very enjoyable. They are combo of what I can best describe as a Zappa-Prog rock jam band. They are all talented musicians and they are band I would like to see again for sure. I am not familiar with their originals, but the tend to throw in some covers. When I saw them, the played a nice version of Led Zeppelin's "Fool In the Rain". I think they are worth checking out.

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4 years 2 months

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Last 5

David Bowie the man who sold the world
Kraftwerk trans Europe Express
David Bowie low
Kraftwerk various
Motorhead kiss of death

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11 years 9 months

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Great for Leslie West & Mountain to be mentioned here...one of the few times I was able to see them they were third on the bill at the Olympic Auditorium in LA, 1970...Second billed was Johnny Winter (with Edgar) and headlining was Frank Zappa and The Hot Rats Band...fried to the gills on Orange Sunshine...this little hippy dude was walking through the crowd dosing anyone who wanted to...he had a long fringe suede vest with "Sunshine" embroidered on the back...he passed by us twice....By the time the opener (a band called "Wolfgang" that Graham was promoting) finished we were definitely on...Mountain came out and tore it up...West was such a big man it looked to our fried eyes that he had a violin strapped on, not a guitar....

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13 years 4 months

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Of all the great 'large' guitarists, there was Garcia and West. The rest were thin.

Love Mountain

Enjoying some Scofield now on Slipknot! Amazing stuff.

Hey Vguy this is a band you want to see. They rock! I've seen them about 30 times and am never disappointed. They are a true jam band with most songs in the 12 to 20 minute range. Their collaborative and improvisational skills are awesome. Very talented. I've seen many many shows/bands over the years and they rank right up there with the Dead in how much fun and enjoyment I've had at their shows.

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