Grateful Dead

My first GD concert was in Utica NY 3-22-73, and I have always regarded that as one of the very peak experiences I've ever had. I live on the east coast, but fly out to Denver annually to visit my son. I went later than usual this year because I saw there were tickets available for Furthur at Red Rocks on 9-26. Sometimes it has seemed like, at 62, peak experiences were to be no more - not true! I had another time of my life last Sunday! Red Rocks is beyond a perfect place for a concert; it's what the gods would arrange if they were promoting a show - a natural bowl surrounded by towering rock monoliths with a view out to Denver and beyond. The sound is great, and the benches are arranged so that one can sit down (the air is a little thin out there) or have room to stand up and boogie. That night a golden, just-past-full moon rose right over Denver just as the band was flowing into St. Stephen. And the crowd is so joyous and together and just having a great time. The show itself was way better than I had hoped. Opening with Golden Road into Cassidy, I had tears in my eyes as I danced. 37 years fell away. Throwing Stones got very intense, and the set ended with a Big Railroad Blues that was just a headlong rush. The second set began with Samson & D, which I've been digging lately for some reason, followed by Mr. Fantasy, one of my favorite alltime songs. St. Stephen was a highlight for me since I've long identified with that song, and Furthur really hit it hard. They cranked into an intense Wheel into a joyous full length Sugar Mag. Touch of Grey and Brokedown Palace were enchor. Palace was especially poignant on the bands last night here. They played hard, tight and right, charging ahead and turning on a dime. Bob and Phil were both in fine voice, and if I hear any bitching about JK on lead guitar and vocals you're gonna have to fight me. The keyboard and drumming are also awesome. It was such a thrill to be able to share that with my son, who has very wide ranging and adventurous taste in music, but was totally into the Grateful Dead universe thanks to Furthur at Red Rocks. All my life the Grateful Dead have meant so much to me. I know this isn't them, but Phil and Bob and the band are keeping that music, that spirit, that vibe alive and more - they're moving it...Furthur! ~ I'll meet you some morning in the sweet by and by

That's really cool you guys had a grate time celebrating your anniversay in Colorado with our favorite band. I'm going out on a limb and saying that you are NOT too old to make another road trip to Iowa =) My wife has been hinting at us heading to Iowa (and beyond). I just checked, there are some really good seats left ... hmmmm ... don't tempt me I told her ... "The dire wolf collects his due while the boys sing round the fire"

First off, there is NO place like Red Rocks (take a look at their site http://www.redrocksonline.com/pages/concerts/detail.asp?id=3970 ) to get a peek at their peak. Temps were high 70's during the day (except at those higher elevations;o} ) and low 50's for the shows. And we got to see the (harvest) moon rising over Denver as we waited for Furthur to start playing was just icing on the cake. A tremendous combination of natural visuals and Furthur aural delights that night. I enjoyed this version of post Dead offerings quite a bit. Phil is the mystro and really runs the show. He had numerous incidents of fantasic bass runs especially during Friday's Scarlet Begonias through that densely packed group of songs until Fire on the Mountain. And he was raining Phil bombs mercilously on us during Saturday's the Other One. Friday, Bob had pulled out that pink guitar he used in the '80s and the sound was way too trebley and faint for the Rocks, but then on Saturday he switched back to another guitar and it all sounded much better. Shimmering rhthym chops cascading up to us in the crowd. Jeff Chimenti on keys is a star, a monster, a force to be reconded with, and more than willing to assert himself and his vision so very well. That was welcome especially with his tickling the ivorys on the baby grand on Friday's Eyes and then pounding that Hammond on Death Don't have No Mercy. John Kadlecik's guitar playing included has some tasty chops but the added treat was his voice. Great vocals every time he sang. Much of his guitar tone is reminiscent of Garcia, but not really a copy in any way. I must rave about Joe Russo who takes a back seat to no one with his drumming abilities. He is a beast! Having one drummer also made Futher's transitions quite a bit quicker than sometimes the duo drummers can achieve. Like back in the 60's Grateful Dead with just Billy, the band could 'turn on a dime' and they usually did. Actually these shows were the best that I have ever heard Phil's voice. Really, and those 'back-up/harmony singers Jeff Pehrson & Sunshine Becker are truly are a fantastic addition to this group,... wraping their sweet voices around the other singer's voices. They added much to those harmonys and their contribution on the acappella finish to UJB was one of the nicest I have heard. Friday was a joy and then Saturday was an extravaganza, and embarrasment of riches with much jamming, riffing, and fantastic arrangements- the whole enchilata: the complete Terrapin Suite > the Eleven > Unbroken Chain(!) > Darkstar > Stella Blue> The Other One shook the Rocks. And I agree with JSFC, that first half with the Help > Slip > Franklins right out of the gate. No rules anymore for when they play what. The old stuff is getting great treatment esp. that Viola Lee Blues triple decker club sandwich. Wasn't it tasty, Jack? Mary and I were out to Colorado as our 30th anniversary gift to one another. We went out into the mountains each day, the Aspens have turn a spanking yellow, contrasted against the bright green of the Evergreens, with an occasional Oak a burning red orange that jumps up to you. When we went up to drive on the highest highway in the USA, those vistas were outstanding and then we toured back to some familar spots we have been to 32 years earlier on the first visit to Red Rocks (er, and then remember the 1979 'Fire on the Mountain story' -from Stories Told Round the Campfire thread?.. no, then never mind). Those shows were head shakin', laugh out loud, falling down, crying, unbefuckinliveable. We had to be back to work on Monday so we left on Sunday. In the old days, I couldn't have left without attending that next Sunday show. But I left that one for another Deadhead to relish. Furthur really filled my cup with those shows. And the Rocks sure rocked last weekend. Red Rocks Setlists Friday Set 1 Truckin' > New Speedway Boogie > Cosmic Charlie > West LA Fadeaway > Deep Elem Blues Friend of the Devil > Ashes and Glass Casey Jones Set 2 Scarlet Begonias > Big Bad Blues > Mountains of the Moon > Estimated Prophet > Eyes of the World > Fire on the Mountain Death Don't Have No Mercy Uncle John's Band > Not Fade Away E: Just Like Tom Thumb Blues Saturday Set 1 Help on the Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower Alabama Get Away Sittin' on top of the World > High on a Mountain > Viola Lee Blues > Bertha > Violoa Lee Blues (instrumental) > Cumberland Blues > Violoa Lee Blues Set 2 Mountain Song > I Know You Rider > Terrapin Station Suite (complete) > The Eleven > Unbroken Chain> Dark Star > Stella Blue > The Other One E:One More Saturday Night I wonder if I am too old for an Iowa road trip in November ;o} The Truth is realized in an instant, the act is practiced step by step.

sounds like you guys got awesome shows!

Sorry I missed you Critter. So for starters the whole "mountain" theme for the weekend was brilliant! Plus I love the new songs and I think they pretty much played them all. Then for Friday you just cannot beat the Scarlet>Big bad blues>Mnts of the moon>Prophet>Eyes>Fire, holy sheet that was good. But what really got me that night was the Death Don't Have No Mercy, Bobby nailed it and nailed it hard! I still get goosebumps thinking of it. Who says he can't sing? Baloney! For Saturday, well this was a night I personally will never forget, I had the privilege to meet Phil and hang out on the stage, that right there was a dream come true on many levels. This was the single best Furthur show I have seen. Not a dull moment the whole night, I can't even pick a moment that was the best of the night because every song they played was off the hook. But going in and out of Viola Lee and the Terrapin Suite made me feel like the "old days" again. Just spectacular! For Sunday the He's Gone left the whole place in tears, I could barely hold them back! I was just tickled to hear Big RR Blues, man it was awesome. The only negative musically was the Days Between, sorry but it kind of deflated the rest of the night and weekend for me but over all this was one of the best weekends of my life. "The dire wolf collects his due while the boys sing round the fire"

My ears are still smoldering from how hot that was. With the most spiritual venue in the world, I think Furthur really made each night their own. Ohhh and new songs??? We got tons of them...my favorite being the new Bobby tune Big Bad Blues. Thanks to all who helped make our Dead.netter feel welcome and home when we came out there. I danced with a ton of you Dead.netters! Thanks for a wonderful birthday weekend! CC~ ♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

Make sure to bring a coat with you, it gets chilly when the sun goes down! But the music and the scene will be smoking hot!! "The dire wolf collects his due while the boys sing round the fire"

I know somehow Mona & I missed each other......I was even out & about ! Oh well, what can you do?

Have fun all those going to LA and Vegas!!!!!!! I'm so excited that I just might do a jig all the way across country to Colorado! ♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

Seems Phil and Bob now use twitter and FB now to post setlists and pics...I could go the IPHONE route too. Finally they got on the technology bandwagon, so I will answer Furthurmore Friday question with technology. Now just hope they have Cell Service LOL ♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥