Grateful Dead

Wow, I loved that Tweedy rant. Makes me want to check out some of his music. I saw Keith Jarrett give a similiar rant one time. God bless them both!

One to mince words or suffer fools gladly or any other way. At a Neil Young show one time, Neil broke out his acoustic guitar and began to play solo, and some guys in back of me decided that since it was now quiet, it was a good time to start talking to each other. People shot them The Look to no avail, so after the first song I turned around and said, "Hey guys, great show!" And they agreed, we're all pals at this point. And then, "You know, I paid good my money to hear Neil sing, not to hear you guys talk, so could you either stop or take it somewhere else?" They left. They went away. I was really happy that they left (happier still that they didn't decide to punch me out for ragging at them), and a little sad that their conversation was more important than the music. I just don't get it sometimes. I recognized the then-new cell phone problem the first time I spotted someone talking on the phone while standing at a urinal (it was an Other Ones or Dead show, so it seemed real out-of-place to me)..."This call is so important that I'm talking to you while taking a whizz!" At least texting is silent, but the constant glow of the screens, especially at the edge of my peripheral vision, is nearly as distracting as talking. I don't get it, and I'm very content not to.

Good ol' Uncle Jeff.I believe he speaks for all of us on this irritation. And the noise keeps increasing; ever tried to listen to Johnny Cash in a splendid old theatre with yuppies and industry try-hards clinking glasses and chattering like hollow birds? I have.

About cell phone use, especially talking on the phone. The way to get around the crowding is to make the whole place reserved. I hate GA and really hate when half the place is GA and the other half is rsrvd. RR is unique in that there is room to move around but inevitably someone will walk down the aisle then stop and stand right in front of you and you get a perfect view of their ass or they are standing on your feet, then if they are fucked up it's even more of an "adventure". The shows I've been too that are all rsrvd don't get crowded like that but hey when it is all rsrvd you can't over sell the place which I imagine cuts into profits.

I am totally with you on the cell phone biz. And I admit I am a luddite as well. All the people on their phones at Red Rocks (as well as the inside shows I have attended), are a distraction probably related to the phone's light and if the person is trying to talk/yell into the phone. Due to my own reverance for the music as well aspaying big bucks to see/listen it is impossible for me to relate to those persons. And aslo having people fall into us, stagger and/or push/dance/shove does impede my enjoyment. All that happened at Red Rocks, but I will always be thankful for those shows. A real treat, despite unfortunate behavior. My two cents.

Sorry if I seem reactionary about the cell phones. Personal point with me, I noticed at Red Rocks there is enough room for a sold out crowd except when seven guys descend on one person's place cause they "know" their friend. Then all that stuff you talk about happens. It's not the background noise of a cell phone that bothers me, rather the inattention to the event and the people surrounding you. Hell, maybe I'm in the minority about that now, too. I'm such a Luddite.

I'd rather have someone next to me quietly messing around on their phone than sitting in my lap, stepping on my feet or flat out staggering stumbling and falling into me.

Lamagonzo, they are flat out good. They could burn the building down anytime they wanted. Just like the GOGD. They are seriously good and I am enjoying these Furthur shows as much as any Dead show I ever saw. In 1971 I really missed the Dead of 1968, but they were gone and they weren't comin' back. Look what we were left with. I noticed the silver haired matron next to me, a contemporary unfortunately, using her smartphone to record the set list. Brilliant! Doubt I'll do that. I'll just wait for someone else to post it :-). We are so damn lucky to have these days......

"get ready, get set, go furthur If the shows are less crowded and the people less jaded I know I'm going to have a great time in these venues where I've left footprints. Some times popularity kills the x-factor." I've seen a slew of Furthur shows now and I'm ready to say that most deadheads are on board with Furthur and that there will be increased popularity on the upcoming eastern tour in Nov. I don't even mean a lot of sell-outs at the venues, just more people, more busses, more dead-like atmosphere (back in Terrapin for good or ill again). It's the people going to the shows and their interaction with the band that makes the music so juicy and danceable. You may not like Bob and Phil singing certain songs and you may believe that they have too much of a leash on JK but you have to admit this band is dripping psychedelia on a very good night. And there are consistently more very good nights. It is hard to believe Phil is keeping up to the end on most evenings, maybe even better than Bob. I know I'm going to get criticized (even saying Jer-bear missing is not the same class) but Furthur after two years is capable of stealing the Greatful Dead's thunder for any show post-Hornsby on a given night, with a very few rare exceptions such as Chapel Hill. I know I'm going out on a limb here I never thought I would. I hope all you older deadheads 55-75 can hang up your smart phones for a few hours and have a good old-fashioned party with Furthut this fall. I guarantee that you are going to like a lot of the people you meet at shows and you know how much that adds to the experience. Furthur-on you grizzled veteran alumnai with you 40 year grsdustion wings & rings! (And give us your review -- we want to hear if we're in the minority)

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