Grateful Dead

set 1highlights: China Cat > Rider, BT Wind, BIODTL, Playing Playing: 10 mins, about 3 mins in the band hits the part where they are going to blast off into space, and while they do get out there a bit, they never really leave the safe confines of the main structure. Still, a nice jam and very good version. Donna screams when they reprise (haha). In general, the set is high energy, rocking, band is into it and on, including Jerry, who has a lot of nice runs, but solos and jamming are kept to a minimum (though in the second half of the set the band & Jerry stretch out a bit more), which makes sense re: this is a new continent for the band and many of the songs (Sugaree, Tenn Jed, Loser, Playing) are in their infancy. VG set, 8.5/10 Set 2 Highlights: Other One, Wharf Rat, GDTRFB Starts with a nice 10 min Truckin’ (hit the top of the charts in Turlock, CA per Bobby) into drums into a 19 ½ min Other One, which begins with a short precise hard intro from Phil, Jerry shows he means business right away, various interesting runs, including some delicate ones, the final of which leads back to the main theme followed by 1st vocals at 8:28 mark; jam follows the first verse, many nooks explored, best of which is from 15:15-16:15 mark, followed by a deep gentle space where serenity is found despite being lost, leading into a quick El Paso. After El Paso end the band launches immediately back into the Other One, which starts off fast then goes into space, returning to the main theme at the 6:15 mark and the second verse at 7:34; Cryptical end without the vocals leads into Wharf Rat. All in all an excellent Other One. Incredibly moving “but I’ll get back on my feet some day” portion of Wharf Rat beginning at 3:39 mark as the band plays as softly as their electric instruments allow. The outro is very nice, hopeful yet not at all sure things will turn out well. A short but confident and powerful Ramble on Rose allows the band to catch its breath. Same with Sugar Mag. Set ends with a strong 14 min NFA > GDTRFB > NFA. Enjoyable transition and intro jams. No holding back in the GDTRFB jams, awesome! Short Goodnight jam leads back into NFA. Encore is Saturday Night. Overall: VG show, 8.5/10. There are a lot of new songs that are short on jamming, though still very well-played. Dead are also perhaps a little tentative re: playing on a new continent and don’t want to get too far out on the opening night of the tour Still, they get out there in the second set in the Other One sequence and everything is well-played in general. Nothing wrong here, just need more jamming.

The Empire Pool was a huge venue and I remember being knocked out by the concert. The songs, the jams, Jerry's guitar playing, and the Pig struttin' his stuff - it was like entering another world. I was a teenager then and with only Live Dead to use for reference - i didn't know any of the songs so everything was new. (I was a bit disappointed that there was no Dark Star). As soon as I could I bought a ticket for my girlfriend and I to go to the Lycuem a few weeks later......

Steppin's out disc 3 Truckin>Drums>TOO>El Paso>The Other One>Wharf Rat 7 4 72 Empire Pool Wembley Bob - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://spanishsunshinedaydream.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=633338979 Spanish Jam