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Whatever the current version of Furthur is up to, discuss it here!
Further reflections on the last Furthur Tour
The boys are plying great with some intensity and a really incredible work ethic. They usually played 2:45 to three hours of music. Everybody needs to know that the setlists are pre-cooked by Phil's wife and Bob's manager. I don't mind. You can tell when they are hitting all on all cylinders.
The crowds just aren't there anymore. If they want to keep playing, it's going to be in smaller and smaller halls except for a few select first-rate venues such as Red Rocks. I personally like it better that way. It's more laid back.
The crowds are younger in the East, Older in the West. The good vibes are back and I wish everybody has a ball for the upcoming Christmas run in SF. All another year older and wondering how much longer it can last.
That last tour I did from Eugene to Las Vegas (skipped Cali) was awesome. Met some great people and had a high time or two. I never minded the driving considering I had my entire CD collection with me. Going across the Rockies at Lake Couer D'lene, Idaho was just the peak of the trip, with the mountains perfectly reflecting in the placid Lake.
The best show was in Missoula where Barlow has a studio and Bob often went to work out new tunes. When Bob and Phil really want to throw down and make a statement, they can still do it. The sure did it that night in Missoula.
WilI I ever do another tour? No.... But I'm sure glad I had the blue skies and high vibes following me for the last one.
furthur & furthur & furthur
As I'd imagined, they are playing smaller halls in the Spring. Phil's b'day in SF every March, I guess it goes and goes till... Sure seems like a deal with the devil, though.
I guess some people call it dedication.
Love the venues for 2012
Yeah, they are definitely selecting the venues with more care. A lot of these shows will now sell out. One that won't will be a triple A minor league ballpark called McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI on July 6th. For each full admission payed one child twelve or under will be allowed to accompany that person in. That still won't make it hard to get tickets. This should be a great show from a fabled venue in a blue-collar working-class city just North of Providence.
See ya' on the diamond!
(<>);~]]
April in Boston!
Looking forward to the shows at the Wang Center less than a month away. Bringing 2 Furthur newbies with us who should really enjoy themselves. Expecting a fun time!
Errr-uhhhmmm
That would be July 5th in Pawtucket, Fluffanutter. I think you got too much hair tucked up under that Pawsox cap, dude!
We're on tour this summer. Will be there with bells on!!
What you said, Marye!
Whoever cooked up that show deserves a lot of credit! It will be a fun, festive atmosphere. Hopefully a fine, fine summer evening and also hope they come up with a good poster for the show like the one of Phil & Bob in the baseball uniforms.
Thursday evening in the park... A***, incense & balloons... People laughing everywhere.
Yeah, I know. It ain't that way anymore. Well, we can still remember the good old days and be ever grateful for what we have right now....
Critical Analysis: Furthur 2009-2012
It's hard to believe that Furthur has been around since 9/18/09. That would be 2 1/2 years now. Though there was a lot of comparing and moaning and general reviewing in the first six months to a year, all of that has died down now. It seems like you're either on board with Furthur or in the "Hate'm. Don't want to have anything to do with'm." camp.
As I'm not a musician I can't really say about the quality of the music. All I can say is about how it makes me feel, after seeing about 15 shows. It makes me feel old. I hear the music fading away like an echo. I find it easy to fall asleep at Furthur shows. That doesn't mean I don't like them. Rather, I accept the band for who they are with their present capabilities at their ages.
In the first dozen Furthur shows, JK showed brilliant propensities to jam out in front of Bob & Phil, but he has been reigned in by ego or age or both (not his). Chimenti seems to get more freedom to jam than JK. I feel like this is a waste and it would certainly liven the proceedings up more than a notch or two if he be given the room. I think it's OK to acknowledge that other guitarists can solo in Jerry's style and may even be comparable. Not equal, or even in the same league, but comparable.
I'll still go to one-off shows and generally beam and have a good time hanging out and telling war stories about back in the day, but there is very little itch to do any ecstatic dancing inside the show -- it's more like -- "Lay me down, my dear brothers. Lay down and take your rest."
I'm not as old as Bob & Phil so it's hard to say how they feel about upbeat tempos and following behind somebody who solos like Jerry, IMHO. What is yours if you have the shows under your belt to have one?
-------------Tonight----(----@
I couldn't wait to get done workingtoday...I said couldn't wait- right.
Well, I finally got to end the day and
head home, wondering if a stream
would be still flowing or not.
Well, get this>
I fired up the computer, asap and
got online, found Taper Rob's Stream
and heard exactly ONE SECOND of the
Show.
I rejoiced of course, because I thought
I may have missed it.
The Universe was looking out for me.
What a deal. Never, I tell you never
before have I ever caught only ONE
SECOND of a show before.
Well, kudos to my karma looking out
for me. Ahhhhh I am in awe at this
experience. I'm going to find a set list.
Goes like that> ONCE.
I Love You, All, xo
Shakedown Street?
Is there a shakedown street near the Beacon? I remember at the MSG shows they were in the Parking Garages, anyone see anything?
Welnick/Kadlicek
I feel now, more than ever, after reading about how Bralove, by Jerry's order, collared Welnick by not allowing him to have the instrument of his choice on tour that Bob & Phil have collared John Kadlicek. Not by not allowing him to have the guitar of his choice, but by making him play a subservient role to them in the band. They will not allow him to get in front of them in any meaningful way with creative soloing. JK is more than capable, as he showed in the first dozen or so shows after Furthur kicked off.
I blame Bob more than anybody for this, as he seems to have control of things on stage. But, fairly, Jerry set the precedent with Welnick. It seems to be a highly personal thing. It's not necessarily that you have to preserve a memory.
I think a commitment to excellence in the genre of music you are playing is more important than building memorial shrines. I certainly feel that way as a ticket holder. Whatever, they certainly have the right to do what they want and I have the right to choose if I will go to a show. I'll do one more this summer and then done. I think what Bill & Micky are doing with disposable line-ups is more honorable and transparent than the kind of aping Furthur is doing.
It's just sad. They have all the machinery there to give us a fantastically good time.
Tour opener in Pawtucket
A hot (93 degrees) afternoon commenced at 3:30pm as about 1000 waiting people piled into the parking lot. Shakedown was in full growl in the dusty, unpaved parking lots in about fifteen minutes. Numerous vendors were happy, if not exactly busy despite the size of the crowd. There was very little hassle from McCoy Stadium security. The attitude was whimsical: "This is what it is these days, about 4 hours before the show and about a half hour after." Attitudes were as sunny as the sky as many old friends met up after the journey to the venerable triple A minor league baseball park. Furthur came out and did a sound check at about 4:30. Amazing how they can just launch into a jam at will...
The show was crowded, though not sold out. The stadium holds 10,000 and the grandstand was about half filled with the entire outfield almost packed from wall to wall for the general admission show with the band's stage set up in deep center field. If the paid attendance wasn't 10k it was damn near close for the GA event. Temps. came down significantly after twilight and settled into the high 70s for the rest of the show, with a decent breeze.
The boys came out at 7:15pm and launched into a nice Dancin' that segued cleverly into a spry Shakedown that was tasty and morphed into Jack Straw. All in all a nice way to open the tour. Bob did a nice job on BT Wind. JK shined on Reuben & Cherise. The Last Time had a nice beat to it reminiscent of All Over Now. 70 minutes of music for the 1st set ended with a passable Casey Jones that had all the flourishes but not the insanely fast ending Furthur is known for, though the pace did pick up.
The second set set was tasty with a Golden Road opener. That's It>Other One>That's It was very nice. Phil still gives a hint of the old days when he revs it up for the O1 intro. Bob throws a nice SOTM ballad and then Furthur does a great job of jamming Hey Pocky Way which to my ears was the highlight of the second set. Uncle John's Band was a sweet ending to the first show on the tour. 2nd set timed in at 90 minutes. The shows are 20-30 minutes shorter but it seemed to be about just right on this mid-summer eve.
I had a great time seeing old friends drop in from out of the woodwork and hanging with "T-Shirt Tommy" who was hawking beer and soda and water and woman's t-shirts under a canopy.
It is not the same as a Grateful Dead show. Nothing ever can be, but it definitely has all the elements of "Grateful Dead Liite" and you have to love the band for that.
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FURTHUR was FANTASTIC!Caught the Philly Show and
it was a Rockin' Time!
I find it amazing, the diligent care
each song finds in the hands of
these awesome musicians.
Hearing Phil and Bob masterfully
drive the music into the capable
hands of band-> it's remarkable.
The moments they let go to let
them ride musical heights then
jump back in like a whirl wind and
put in all back into context was
incredible, to me. The crowd was
a great heart of gold band, it reached
a favorite choir status several times;
and wow it was special to say the least!
Philly was present and accounted for!
It was so hot and even so they kept on
dancing. If there were a party to be at;
the Mann Center was IT on 7-7-2012!
Thank you for a real good time!
I do believe there is more in store, xo!
I love this band. Way to go!
May the road rise to meet you---------
and the wind be always at your backs.
All the best wishes are heading your way---
Love to You, All...ALL! Rock ON!
I Love You oh but Jesus Loves You the Best!
Set List 7/7/2012
FURTHUR
Set 1
Truckin'>
Nobody's Fault but Mine
Fire on the Mountain>
Cassidy
Peggy O
Tennessee Jed
My Brother Esau
Deal
Set 2
China Cat Sunflower>
I Know You Rider>
Space>
Dark Star> (v1)
Jam>
Dark Star> (v2)
Caution Don't Step on the Tracks
Saint Stephen
Unbroken Chain
Dear Prudence
The Wheel>
GDTRFB>
We Bid You Goodnight
Donor Rap
E - One More Saturday Night
On the Road
I'm listening to 1970-03-21 right now. Way more fun than last night in Cary NC. They played real good. I was real bored. Jazzy jams are great and I love that to a point. WTF look at the closing songs and encore selection. How do you end a concert with "the days in-between" ? Oh no, they warmed up to it with that smoker, "a foolish heart" and encored with, Box of Rain.
I love Furthur. If I encountered many shows like i did last night in Cary, NC, I would just stop going. This 1970 show has so much soul and rock n' roll that I'm uplifted. Last night was a flat tire just lookin' for the offramp.
PS: great crowd, way fun
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
The things that pop into your head at times: listening to Bob sing this one in Cary last week, my first thought was a common lament for me -- wishing that I'd had a chance to see Pigpen just once.
But as Bobby was singing the "I'm a schoolboy too" lines, I started laughing, as the idea that ANYONE is going to mistake Weir for a schoolboy nowadays is just plain comical. I mentioned it to the guy standing next to me, who said, "Well, maybe like a non-traditional college student, ya think?"
So we both riffed back to the song: "Tell your momma and your papa, I'm a non-traditional schoolboy too." Smile, smile, smile...
And if the show proved nothing else to me: Jeff Chimenti is on fire, and my oh my do those harmony vox sound absolutely lush! UJB, Here Comes Sunshine, vocally have never sounded better to me...a case of the band more than living up to the source material.
Re; the "Welnick/Kadlicek" post
I've seen them a few times over the years and i got the idea that they are more of a revolving door than a disposable band. It may just be the times and order of the shows i've seen but i got the idea that it's who is free, who's in the country / in town, who does what is happening that particular go-around.
Cary- July 11
I see the Cary show is taking a beating. First set was ok. I liked Doin' that Rag. I liked the 2nd set better with the jams. Not much Phil- 2 songs. Midnight Hour was the 2nd set highlight. John does a very good job - John has a better vibe than Warren or Jimmy. His guitar tone at times has a 1973/74 Wolf tone. Bobby played the Strat the whole 2nd set. Not a good sign. Hope he's not returning to that awful 80s'-90's solid body guitar tone. Hope he plays the semi-hollow body Gibson more. Shakedown was mediocre, not much there compared to another show I went to. Instead of GD songs, hope Furthur inserts more obscure or original songs to give Furthur a life of its own- Mountain Song, Muli Gully, Colors of the Rain, Money for gasoline (ratdog)...etc.. Wish they would throw more of those in the setlist. Love Colors of the Rain
@db
Furthur has had only very minor personnel change over it's almost three year history. I have come to the conclusion that Phil & Bob, as musical artists, can choose to play their music however they wish. They don't have to do the thing that made Grateful Dead shows a great ride. I do wonder what a musician like Neil Young would have to say about their music at present.
I enjoyed the last Furthur show I went to. But, I sure didn't dance. I felt like I had just eaten Chinese food. An hour later I was hungry again -- but not for more Chinese food.
It's cool, all in perspective now. I had a great time with it for a couple of years and now I'm through. Let other people enjoy it. If they can...
If you can??
Weird comment fluffanutter ... Quite a contrast from your comment a month earlier.
Maybe this will clarify
(I should have posted this here instead of the other thread)
"There is a difference...
Between being an ape or a clone and playing a song the way it is supposed to be played. The problem here is that this is "jam-band" genre. So that means not only that the lead guitar has to go off on his own tangent, he needs to do that in synch with other band members.
So I guess you have to give JK credit for being able to do those two things well. I suppose it really is too much to ask Phil & Bob to keep the tempos up. Why would I be saddened by that? It's like asking your dog not to grow old. They do and they slow down. When you're not that old yet and still have the energy and memory it's just discordant.
So I am ready to blame me rather than anybody else for not being satisfied with Furthur. (Boy, that was a long process!)"
Anyway, I'm bitching way too much lately. Think I'll stop now.
Moving west with Furthur Fall 2012
Redrocks rocked and rolled for 3 nights this past weekend. I really liked the 2nd set from Saturday, with the Unbroken Chain coming out of St. Stephen, then returning to Dark Star. The musicians are playing well together: Phil looks great! Take the first letter from each of the Sunday songs, up to He's Gone, and see what phrase you spell out!
What nuggets will break out in Seattle and Troutdale?
Looking forward to reading more reports and evaluations from Hal, Johnman and CB up in the Pacific Northwest!
09/23/12 (Sun) Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
Set 1: Samson & Delilah, Tennessee Jed, Easy Wind, Alabama Getaway, Loose Lucy, You Win Again (1), Operator (2), Uncle John's Band
Set 2: Reuben & Cherise > Feel Like A Stranger, Alligator > Cumberland Blues, Eyes of the World (3) > He's Gone > Viola Lee Blues > Caution > Viola Lee Blues > Black Peter > Viola Lee Blues E: Brokedown Palace
09/22/12 (Sat) Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
Set 1: Here Comes the Sun, Cassidy, Scarlet Begonias > Good Lovin', Peaceful Valley (1), Mountain Song > So Many Roads > Sugar Magnolia
Set 2: Playing in the Band > No More Do I > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Dark Star > St. Stephen > Unbroken Chain > Dark Star > Fire on the Mountain E: Morning Dew > Playing in the Band (reprise)
09/21/12 (Fri) Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Morrison, CO
Set 1: Help on the Way > Slipknot! > The Golden Road (to Unlimited Devotion) > Mexicali Blues > Mama Tried, Althea, Let It Ride > Mason's Children
Set 2: Weather Report Suite Prelude > WRS Part I > Let It Grow > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Hey Jude Reprise > The Other One > Shakedown Street > Standing on the Moon > The Wheel > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower E: U.S. Blues
Troutdale here we come
Thanks for the report Ted. I am leaving early tomorrow on the long journey to Portland. I'll let you know how it goes. Come and say hi if you see someone with something to do with badgers on his t-shirt. That'll likely be me.
WaMu
Didn't see a Seattle setlist post on Furthur's Facebook page yet. Here comes Portland!!
09/25/12 (Tue) WaMu Theater - Seattle, WA
Set 1: Victim or the Crime (1) > Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance > Colors of the Rain > Candyman, All Along the Watchtower > Just A Little Light, Big Bad Blues, Cosmic Charlie
Set 2: Passenger, Jack Straw, Estimated Prophet > Mountains of the Moon > The Eleven > Terrapin Station Suite > Wharf Rat > Touch of Grey E: Bertha
Comment: (1) first time played by Furthur
WARNING--crossposted from Wharf Rats thread
mona
Offline
passing it on
Sunday night at Red Rocks, 2 wrats were offered chocolate that was packaged in a commercial way,while they were standing at the table. this happened right before the set break meeting. They examined it and ate it and the guy who gave it to them said nothing and walked away. This is a horrible thing to happen to someone in recovery, let alone anyone! Even with people who are using, proper "drug edicate", is always to ask if the person wants to dose. It was an extremely frightening experience for those 2 wrats and I would hate for this to happen again. I don't know if the person who gave it to them had malicious intent b
ut it should never have happened. Here is a description of the chocolate and packaging: silver foil on the inside with a lilac colored label with printed ingredients and some sort of local logo for chocolate company. It was a smaller bar and chocolate had nuggets in it.
I did some research and found out these we're all over redrocks, and apparently had mushroom powder in them. Not sure if this was someone local from Colorado or if they will have them on the whole tour. Please be aware if you are attending any upcoming shows. This happened right at the wharf rat table!!
I pray this never happens again
What's your point?
I was approached by the person offering chocolates: I declined. If you don't want them, don't eat them.
Hey Hal !
Mary & I were at those Fri & Sat Red Rocks as well.You are in for a treat, my brother
Furthur has accelerated to warp speed.
And don't forget to fasten your seat belt.
Best to you and Deb and enjoy the ride.
I predict a Furthur treat in your future.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
Think the point
Is that you always are offered the choice to get high, it is never presented unannounced. Especially these latter days. There is a lot more acid around again.
Think the point
Is that you always are offered the choice to get high, it is never presented unannounced. Especially these latter days. There is a lot more acid around again.
Chocolate items
Friday at Redrocks, a friend of mine thinks he may have been dosed unknowingly (beer cup ?). Saturday, a friendly blond woman, 30-ish, offered neatly packaged rectangular chocolate bars including mushroom ingredients. She also offered round cups, in green foil wrap, similar to a peanut butter cup. I don't believe she'd have purposely given one to someone without the recipient knowing what the "candy" really was, I stuck with the Dale's Pale ale...
My point, at least
is that reports indicate that not all people who ate the chocolates were doing so as an informed choice of what they were getting, and having personally known someone who was really messed up for a long time by being unknowingly dosed with who knows what at a show, I'm pretty strongly of the belief that dosing people without their knowledge and consent is pretty vicious.
Don't Take Candy From Strangers
I'm not condoning dosing of the unwitting, but this was at a Furthur show, which is known by many to be a psychedelic scene (never trust a prankster, right?), so folks should be on their toes about this sort of thing, but even if they aren't knowledgeable about what to expect at a Furthur show, then there's always the conventional wisdom found in the subject line of this post. And for the record, I've been alcohol-free for almost 20 years, and the last GD shows that I attended, I did so as a Wharf Rat. Again, I'm not condoning dosing, but I will make some noise about people taking responsibility for themselves, which is one of the main things that I've learned in recovery from alcohol and hard dope.
I think
there is a pretty wide range of sophistication or lack thereof in Dead Head crowds and it's not reasonable to expect everyone there to have street smarts (but then, I view "prankster" behavior of this sort as assault, pretty much. Calling yourself a prankster is no excuse for wantonly messing with the sanity of strangers any more than it's an excuse for driving drunk). And somehow I doubt the person who passed this stuff out at the Wharf Rat table was forthcoming about the contents, and to hand the stuff to known Wharf Rats is beyond nasty.
All else aside, this sort of shit destroys the mutual trust that in my lowly opinion is about the most precious commodity that Dead Head audiences have over the rest of the world. I can't count the number of times I've shared food and drink with strangers in line or at shows, and I never poisoned them and they never poisoned me. I think that's how it should be. Yes, you have to be responsible for yourself, but you shouldn't have to go to a Dead show with your armor on either.
Choosing to dose is one thing, and God bless you. But it's not a choice you get to make for other people in my opinion.
Interesting to note the divergence of opinion....
On people being unknowingly given drugs at shows. I'm clearly in favor of choice. However, the people offering may have had a good heart and motivation , perhaps caught up in nostalgia. Their decision was inappropriate. Food is food, Drurgs are drugs..
I believe in informed choice, that said back to the sonic
stylings of a band called Furthur.Phil continues to have the time of his life,
He is at that top of his performing game and draws the best from all around him.
Bobby was in better form that the prior two years (in my humble opinion)
John seemed so much more spontaneous,
I heard more original runs, leads and his vocals (Morning DEW!) were consistently heartfelt
Joe is a force of nature, (volcanic perhaps)
and Jeff is just everywhere, command of the keys extraordinaire.
And these back up vocalists really nail it, this is a componet that is a terrific addition to the sound.
They are such a welcome compliment to the lead vocals and chorus on the songs we love so much
Catch Furthur if you can, they are transportive,
This is simply the best Furthur I have ever heard.
Travel safe, and pack your own snacks.
Nuff said.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
.
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Three happy days
what a wonderful three days at edgefield. Beautiful, compact oudoor venue, full moon rising through the trees, perfect sound and lights, crazy but fun and mellow crowd and three superb shows, culminating in a sublime second set on Saturday. During the perfect Attics encore a tear or two clouded this badger's eyes. So happy to meet Mona and Johnman and very special to build friendships and be so well looked after by Hal and Debbie and Doug. Thanks to all.
@-----)---------------------------------------
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Yeah!
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/theotherrob
I am there-kinda!
My smile, a well needed one of the best.
Mauh! X
---------------------------------------(-----@
'I got...no chance of losing
this time"
Exactly wonderful.
Las Vegas
Well the Joint was jumpin', goin' round and 'round: reelin' and a rockin', with tall Bill Walton in the crowd.The tempo was noticeably slow for the first 2 songs: Alligator > Minglewood. Feelin' Allright was a good surprise, with Jeff Chimenti doing as admirable a job as Steve Winwood on keyboards. The jam within Jack Straw was wonderful, really getting the crowd hoppin' with the " dug by heel a shallow grave" verse. He's Gone led into a tease of the Other One, then went into Deal! I thought the set was ending, then Candyman came along, with Around and Around closing.
2nd set
Midnight Hour > Playing in the Band > Hell In A Bucket, Bird Song > After Midnight > All Along the Watchtower > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away E: Morning Dew
Quite a few scraggly stoners in the crowd: been on tour too long and got zapped by the Las Vegas heat.
Good ratings for this show on setlist.com: not sure if I liked it any better than the Saturday show at Redrocks, with the Dark Star > St. Stephen > Unbroken Chain.
I was at both sites as well, Ted
The sights were better on the Rocksbut seeing the boys in a 4,000 person venue
reminded me of the old days in KC at the
Soldiers & Sailors Hall.
The intimacy of 'the Joint' was quite something.
I just loved seeing those guys having so much fun
and playing soooo well. And up so close!!
This 3rd year of Furthur far surpasses their prior tours.
Furthur is transportive.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
Red Rocks & the Joint were a delight.
How lucky all us heads are that the music still plays the band.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
Phil Lesh, Jackie Greene, November '12
I'm listening to this lineup belt it out from the recent tour on 11/16/12 and have to say that this is 100 times more lively and danceable than the last Furthur show i went to (which was an above average one).
Check out the recording at archive. You'll be happy you did.