• https://www.dead.net/features/2011-review/blairs-golden-road-blog%E2%80%94one-mo-time-2011
    Blair’s Golden Road Blog - One Mo’ Time for 2011!

    What a wonderful year it was for the various Dead-connected bands crisscrossing the continent. So many good shows in venues ranging from tiny clubs to cool old theaters to arenas to festival grounds … to our computer screens!

    I am often chided for being too much of a cheerleader for the ex-GD—guilty as charged! I just happen to really like the directions the Core Four are heading these days.

    Two-plus years into the great Furthur experiment, Phil, Bob and Co. continue to play with tremendous passion, consistently keeping their set lists and their musical interactions fresh and spirited. They rarely have a bad night and their overall batting average is amazingly high. Fortunately, the widespread rumors of their impending demise, which circulated during the second half of 2011, proved to be inaccurate. Even so, it’s been nice to see Phil branch out with occasional gigs featuring other “Friends,” and for Bob to convene from time to time with Scaring the Children and in other configurations.

    Bill Kreutzmann and Papa Mali of 7 Walkers

    Bill K.’s 7 Walkers showed that they are a serious band by gigging all through 2011, picking up new converts to their unique N’Awlins psychedelic gumbo at every appearance. With a fine repertoire of evocative originals co-written by guitarist-singer Papa Mali and Robert Hunter, and cover tunes plucked from the Grateful Dead, Dylan, Dr. John, The Meters and others, the group takes listeners on quite a journey from show to show. The bass slot has been in constant flux, with three able players filling in—George Porter Jr. (who’s the theoretical “permanent” bassist), Tea Leaf Green’s Reed Mathis (who is all over the superb 7 Walkers album) and sousaphone player Kirk Joseph (of Dirty Dozen Brass Band fame). With a new album in the planning stages right now, 7 Walkers have the potential to make 2012 another big year for the group. Here’s a link to a pretty good audience recording of a 7 Walkers show from Madison, Wis., last spring.

    The new Mickey Hart Band was just hitting its stride as 2011 ended, and that group, too, promises to have an album out this year. Mickey’s had so many bands through the years—each cool and fascinating in its own way—but this one is quite a bit different. At the heart of this group is a solid collection of new songs featuring lyrics by Robert Hunter and sung beautifully by the band’s two main singers, Tim Hockenberry and Crystal Monee Hall. In Gawain Matthews they have a versatile guitarist who can play nasty and sweet (and lots in between), and of course any unit with Mickey in it is going be a polyrhythmic wonder—here he’s helped by bassist Dave Schools, drummer Inx Herman and talking-drummer Sikiru. They play a handful of Dead songs, but that’s not what drives this band. The original songs and the players’ obvious chemistry are propelling them to a bright future. This audience recording from the group’s Dec. 9, 2011 show in Boulder gives a good sense of the MHB’s range.

    Some other highlights from 2011:

    Best New Venue: Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA. Like a lot of folks, I first caught a glimpse of Bob’s deluxe rehearsal, recording and Internet video broadcast facility when Furthur did a pay-per-view concert there on June 7, 2011. Later, when Slightly Stoopid played there in September, I had a chance to check it out in person and I was blown away by this remarkable, state-of-the-art music playground. Bob’s been putting it to good use, too, letting different friends and acquaintances take advantage of TRI’s stellar equipment collection and crack staff of Grateful Dead sound and video veterans (and many others). The neo-supergroup Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, et al) rocked TRI a little while back, and several less-known groups have also performed there on the Web, including The Fall Risk (led by Furthur singer Jeff Pehrson), Matthew and the Atlas, Scaring the Children (with guest Jackie Greene) and others. Next up is a FREE live RatDog Reunion webcast on Jan. 25, beginning at 5 p.m. West Coast time. The band will consist of the most recent lineup plus alumni Steve Kimock and Rob Wasserman. Should be very cool. Check out TRI’s website (lots of great video there) and sign up to be able to watch their streams; it’s easy!

    Two Furthur Shows You Should Check Out: A few weeks ago I offered a list of some of my favorite shows from the first two years of Furthur’s existence. But that was before the group’s fall 2011 swing, which was generally stronger than their summer tour. I will point you to two consecutive shows from the fall you might enjoy:

    The 11/10/11 Madison Square Garden concert is notable for its off-the-charts stellar song list but also for the appearance of guitarist/fiddler Larry Campbell and his thrush of a wife, Teresa Williams, both of whom have played often with Phil & Friends (Larry had one of the longest tenures) and Furthur. The duo take the lead vocals on a spunky first-set version of “Tennessee Jed,” and Larry’s fiddle adds a warm, down-home quality to several tunes, including “Uncle John’s Band,” “So Many Roads” (another fine lead vocal from JK) and “Box of Rain.” In the second set, Larry mostly plays guitar, and there are times when three guitars going at once is a bit much, but you can also hear them pushing each other to new heights. The trio of “Shakedown” > “The Other One” > “St. Stephen” really lights up the Garden early in the second set, and later on Teresa surprises everyone in the house with a gritty, wailing version of the old Rev. Gary Davis blues number “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” (popularized in modern times by Hot Tuna). And if Teresa’s in the building, there’s a better than even chance you’re going to hear “Attics of My Life”—it’s another gorgeous version as the encore.

    The next night, 11/11/11, upstate at the venerable Oncenter War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, NY, the band is back to its regular configuration, but the inspiration that was dripping from the MSG show is all over these sets, too. On paper, the first set might look motley, but I love these songs, and they’re all played well, from “The Last Time” to “Reuben and Cherise” to “High on a Mountain” (my favorite of the newish songs) to a raging “Jack Straw” and a “Revolution” set closer that seems particularly apt in the midst of the current Occupy movement. The second set opens with a solid “Weather Report Suite” and includes an amazing sequence of “Playing in the Band” > “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” > “Dark Star” > “We Love You” > “King Solomon’s Marbles.” That’s some serious tuneage, folks. The encore, which started exactly at 11:11 (on 11/11/11) was—natch—“The Eleven,” followed by “U.S Blues” and then—get this—a recording of the “Star Spangled Banner” by some military band. Strange but cool! I can’t recommend this show highly enough.

    Coolest One-Off Event: The “First Fusion” concert at Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium May 7 featuring Bob Weir & Friends with the Marin Symphony Orchestra. More than a year in the making, this intriguing marriage of Grateful Dead songs and symphony musicians could have been a disaster. The world does not need Muzak Grateful Dead. But with Bob working closely with Italian composer/arranger/conductor Giancarlo Aquilanti (who teaches at Stanford), this concert offered something much richer and deeper. Aquilanti wrote orchestral arrangements for a varied bunch of Dead tunes, including “Playing in the Band,” “Dark Star,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “Days Between” and “Jack Straw,” but left space for a rock band to play with them, so Bob was joined by his RatDog buddies Jeff Chimenti, Jay Lane, Robin Sylvester and Rob Wasserman, as well as a small choir that backed up Bob’s lead vocals. (A first set had the RatDoggies playing occasionally with a string quartet and a few soloists from the orchestra.) The results were frequently stunning, particularly the two halves of “Dark Star” and the best-sung version of “Days Between” I’ve ever heard from Bob. The acapella “Attics of My Life” that closed the night was sublime, as well. You can hear a fair-to-middlin’ audience recording of the complete First Fusion concert here (though it doesn’t begin to capture the complexity of the arrangements or the fullness of the sound in the hall).

    The good news is that Bob is actively exploring the possibility of staging similar “Fusion” concerts at a few different venues, perhaps even this summer. Don’t miss it if it comes to your city!

    Mickey Hart scored a ballet
    called “Triangle of the Squinches”
    for the Alonzo King LINES Ballet,
    which returns to SF in April.

    Dance to the Beat of the Universe: Major props to Mickey Hart for providing the spellbinding intergalactic score for the Alonzo King LINES Ballet original production called “Triangle of the Squinches,” which had its world premiere last April at the intimate Novellus Theatre at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The piece has graceful and athletic dancers interacting with one another and with two very different kinetic architectural sets (designed by Christopher Haas), accompanied by a fascinating sound collage by Mr. Hart.

    There’s exciting news here, too. The ballet will be performed again at Yerba Buena April 12-15, 2012. You can find out more and order tickets here. I know there are a bunch of you adventurous types out there who would really get off on this. It’s both trippy and compelling; mind food and eye candy.

    Another Show You Need to Hear: Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam at the Asheville (NC) Civic Center, 12/10/11. Warren’s annual star-studded holiday benefit concerts (this one supporting the Asheville Habitat for Humanity) typically run about eight hours, so I guess it's not too unusual to have a one-time-only version of Phil Lesh & Friends allotted two full hours. The “Friends” in this case are Warren, Jackie Greene, Jeff Chimenti and Joe Russo, with Jimmy Herring sitting in for the whole second half — that’s a lot of guitar firepower! The sequence of “Dark Star” > (The Beatles’) “She Said She Said” > “Dark Star,” is incredible, and “The Other One” (with Phil singing it really well) is also deep and mysterious. Jackie sings lead on “Deal” and the rollicking “China Cat,” and he and Warren trade verses on a riveting “Sugaree.” The whole set is bursting with energy nearly every second. The quiet encore, “Angel Band,” offers a lovely contrast to the Wall of Guitars that dominate the overall sound.

    Best Archival Release of 2011: Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings, of course. It’s a shame so many people were disappointed by different aspects of the megabox—from the marketing foul-ups early on to the packaging (which I love)—because the music is unassailable. It’s never sounded this good and its going to be a cherished part of my collection until my dying days.

    Best Archival Release Under 73 Discs: Europe ’72: Volume 2. It’s just two discs, and what’s with the no artwork on the interior gatefold (inexcusable!)? But it’s a worthy companion to the original Europe ’72, with memorable versions of “Dark Star” > “The Other One,” “Sing Me Back Home,” “Playing in the Band” and lots more.

    And a Final Tip o’ the Hat to: Robert Hunter, 70 years young and still writing great songs. Besides the stack of new ones that went to Mickey’s band this year, RH also collaborated with Jim Lauderdale on their third full-length album together, an instant bluegrass classic called Reason and Rhyme. In early December, the album picked up a richly deserved Grammy nomination in the bluegrass category, and though it’s going to be tough sledding against perennial winner Alison Krauss and living legend Ralph Stanley, Jim has already won our vote. It’s a sparkling piece of work!

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  • marye
    12 years 2 months ago
    wow!
    what Blair said! tell all!
  • Default Avatar
    blairj
    12 years 2 months ago
    I didn't know that, vootie...
    What's the scoop? Sounds VERY cool!
  • Default Avatar
    vootie
    12 years 2 months ago
    Hunter/Payne
    And speaking of Hunter, in 2011 he quietly co-wrote 9 songs with Little Feat keyboardist and co-founder Bill Payne that are stunning. "Rooster Rag" is already turning up in FEAT setlists and there's lots more where that came from. It seems these two have found inspiration and energy in the pairing and are knocking them out!
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14 years 11 months

What a wonderful year it was for the various Dead-connected bands crisscrossing the continent. So many good shows in venues ranging from tiny clubs to cool old theaters to arenas to festival grounds … to our computer screens!

I am often chided for being too much of a cheerleader for the ex-GD—guilty as charged! I just happen to really like the directions the Core Four are heading these days.

Two-plus years into the great Furthur experiment, Phil, Bob and Co. continue to play with tremendous passion, consistently keeping their set lists and their musical interactions fresh and spirited. They rarely have a bad night and their overall batting average is amazingly high. Fortunately, the widespread rumors of their impending demise, which circulated during the second half of 2011, proved to be inaccurate. Even so, it’s been nice to see Phil branch out with occasional gigs featuring other “Friends,” and for Bob to convene from time to time with Scaring the Children and in other configurations.

Bill Kreutzmann and Papa Mali of 7 Walkers

Bill K.’s 7 Walkers showed that they are a serious band by gigging all through 2011, picking up new converts to their unique N’Awlins psychedelic gumbo at every appearance. With a fine repertoire of evocative originals co-written by guitarist-singer Papa Mali and Robert Hunter, and cover tunes plucked from the Grateful Dead, Dylan, Dr. John, The Meters and others, the group takes listeners on quite a journey from show to show. The bass slot has been in constant flux, with three able players filling in—George Porter Jr. (who’s the theoretical “permanent” bassist), Tea Leaf Green’s Reed Mathis (who is all over the superb 7 Walkers album) and sousaphone player Kirk Joseph (of Dirty Dozen Brass Band fame). With a new album in the planning stages right now, 7 Walkers have the potential to make 2012 another big year for the group. Here’s a link to a pretty good audience recording of a 7 Walkers show from Madison, Wis., last spring.

The new Mickey Hart Band was just hitting its stride as 2011 ended, and that group, too, promises to have an album out this year. Mickey’s had so many bands through the years—each cool and fascinating in its own way—but this one is quite a bit different. At the heart of this group is a solid collection of new songs featuring lyrics by Robert Hunter and sung beautifully by the band’s two main singers, Tim Hockenberry and Crystal Monee Hall. In Gawain Matthews they have a versatile guitarist who can play nasty and sweet (and lots in between), and of course any unit with Mickey in it is going be a polyrhythmic wonder—here he’s helped by bassist Dave Schools, drummer Inx Herman and talking-drummer Sikiru. They play a handful of Dead songs, but that’s not what drives this band. The original songs and the players’ obvious chemistry are propelling them to a bright future. This audience recording from the group’s Dec. 9, 2011 show in Boulder gives a good sense of the MHB’s range.

Some other highlights from 2011:

Best New Venue: Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA. Like a lot of folks, I first caught a glimpse of Bob’s deluxe rehearsal, recording and Internet video broadcast facility when Furthur did a pay-per-view concert there on June 7, 2011. Later, when Slightly Stoopid played there in September, I had a chance to check it out in person and I was blown away by this remarkable, state-of-the-art music playground. Bob’s been putting it to good use, too, letting different friends and acquaintances take advantage of TRI’s stellar equipment collection and crack staff of Grateful Dead sound and video veterans (and many others). The neo-supergroup Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, et al) rocked TRI a little while back, and several less-known groups have also performed there on the Web, including The Fall Risk (led by Furthur singer Jeff Pehrson), Matthew and the Atlas, Scaring the Children (with guest Jackie Greene) and others. Next up is a FREE live RatDog Reunion webcast on Jan. 25, beginning at 5 p.m. West Coast time. The band will consist of the most recent lineup plus alumni Steve Kimock and Rob Wasserman. Should be very cool. Check out TRI’s website (lots of great video there) and sign up to be able to watch their streams; it’s easy!

Two Furthur Shows You Should Check Out: A few weeks ago I offered a list of some of my favorite shows from the first two years of Furthur’s existence. But that was before the group’s fall 2011 swing, which was generally stronger than their summer tour. I will point you to two consecutive shows from the fall you might enjoy:

The 11/10/11 Madison Square Garden concert is notable for its off-the-charts stellar song list but also for the appearance of guitarist/fiddler Larry Campbell and his thrush of a wife, Teresa Williams, both of whom have played often with Phil & Friends (Larry had one of the longest tenures) and Furthur. The duo take the lead vocals on a spunky first-set version of “Tennessee Jed,” and Larry’s fiddle adds a warm, down-home quality to several tunes, including “Uncle John’s Band,” “So Many Roads” (another fine lead vocal from JK) and “Box of Rain.” In the second set, Larry mostly plays guitar, and there are times when three guitars going at once is a bit much, but you can also hear them pushing each other to new heights. The trio of “Shakedown” > “The Other One” > “St. Stephen” really lights up the Garden early in the second set, and later on Teresa surprises everyone in the house with a gritty, wailing version of the old Rev. Gary Davis blues number “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” (popularized in modern times by Hot Tuna). And if Teresa’s in the building, there’s a better than even chance you’re going to hear “Attics of My Life”—it’s another gorgeous version as the encore.

The next night, 11/11/11, upstate at the venerable Oncenter War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, NY, the band is back to its regular configuration, but the inspiration that was dripping from the MSG show is all over these sets, too. On paper, the first set might look motley, but I love these songs, and they’re all played well, from “The Last Time” to “Reuben and Cherise” to “High on a Mountain” (my favorite of the newish songs) to a raging “Jack Straw” and a “Revolution” set closer that seems particularly apt in the midst of the current Occupy movement. The second set opens with a solid “Weather Report Suite” and includes an amazing sequence of “Playing in the Band” > “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” > “Dark Star” > “We Love You” > “King Solomon’s Marbles.” That’s some serious tuneage, folks. The encore, which started exactly at 11:11 (on 11/11/11) was—natch—“The Eleven,” followed by “U.S Blues” and then—get this—a recording of the “Star Spangled Banner” by some military band. Strange but cool! I can’t recommend this show highly enough.

Coolest One-Off Event: The “First Fusion” concert at Marin Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium May 7 featuring Bob Weir & Friends with the Marin Symphony Orchestra. More than a year in the making, this intriguing marriage of Grateful Dead songs and symphony musicians could have been a disaster. The world does not need Muzak Grateful Dead. But with Bob working closely with Italian composer/arranger/conductor Giancarlo Aquilanti (who teaches at Stanford), this concert offered something much richer and deeper. Aquilanti wrote orchestral arrangements for a varied bunch of Dead tunes, including “Playing in the Band,” “Dark Star,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “Days Between” and “Jack Straw,” but left space for a rock band to play with them, so Bob was joined by his RatDog buddies Jeff Chimenti, Jay Lane, Robin Sylvester and Rob Wasserman, as well as a small choir that backed up Bob’s lead vocals. (A first set had the RatDoggies playing occasionally with a string quartet and a few soloists from the orchestra.) The results were frequently stunning, particularly the two halves of “Dark Star” and the best-sung version of “Days Between” I’ve ever heard from Bob. The acapella “Attics of My Life” that closed the night was sublime, as well. You can hear a fair-to-middlin’ audience recording of the complete First Fusion concert here (though it doesn’t begin to capture the complexity of the arrangements or the fullness of the sound in the hall).

The good news is that Bob is actively exploring the possibility of staging similar “Fusion” concerts at a few different venues, perhaps even this summer. Don’t miss it if it comes to your city!

Mickey Hart scored a ballet
called “Triangle of the Squinches”
for the Alonzo King LINES Ballet,
which returns to SF in April.

Dance to the Beat of the Universe: Major props to Mickey Hart for providing the spellbinding intergalactic score for the Alonzo King LINES Ballet original production called “Triangle of the Squinches,” which had its world premiere last April at the intimate Novellus Theatre at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The piece has graceful and athletic dancers interacting with one another and with two very different kinetic architectural sets (designed by Christopher Haas), accompanied by a fascinating sound collage by Mr. Hart.

There’s exciting news here, too. The ballet will be performed again at Yerba Buena April 12-15, 2012. You can find out more and order tickets here. I know there are a bunch of you adventurous types out there who would really get off on this. It’s both trippy and compelling; mind food and eye candy.

Another Show You Need to Hear: Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam at the Asheville (NC) Civic Center, 12/10/11. Warren’s annual star-studded holiday benefit concerts (this one supporting the Asheville Habitat for Humanity) typically run about eight hours, so I guess it's not too unusual to have a one-time-only version of Phil Lesh & Friends allotted two full hours. The “Friends” in this case are Warren, Jackie Greene, Jeff Chimenti and Joe Russo, with Jimmy Herring sitting in for the whole second half — that’s a lot of guitar firepower! The sequence of “Dark Star” > (The Beatles’) “She Said She Said” > “Dark Star,” is incredible, and “The Other One” (with Phil singing it really well) is also deep and mysterious. Jackie sings lead on “Deal” and the rollicking “China Cat,” and he and Warren trade verses on a riveting “Sugaree.” The whole set is bursting with energy nearly every second. The quiet encore, “Angel Band,” offers a lovely contrast to the Wall of Guitars that dominate the overall sound.

Best Archival Release of 2011: Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings, of course. It’s a shame so many people were disappointed by different aspects of the megabox—from the marketing foul-ups early on to the packaging (which I love)—because the music is unassailable. It’s never sounded this good and its going to be a cherished part of my collection until my dying days.

Best Archival Release Under 73 Discs: Europe ’72: Volume 2. It’s just two discs, and what’s with the no artwork on the interior gatefold (inexcusable!)? But it’s a worthy companion to the original Europe ’72, with memorable versions of “Dark Star” > “The Other One,” “Sing Me Back Home,” “Playing in the Band” and lots more.

And a Final Tip o’ the Hat to: Robert Hunter, 70 years young and still writing great songs. Besides the stack of new ones that went to Mickey’s band this year, RH also collaborated with Jim Lauderdale on their third full-length album together, an instant bluegrass classic called Reason and Rhyme. In early December, the album picked up a richly deserved Grammy nomination in the bluegrass category, and though it’s going to be tough sledding against perennial winner Alison Krauss and living legend Ralph Stanley, Jim has already won our vote. It’s a sparkling piece of work!

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What a wonderful year it was for the various Dead-connected bands crisscrossing the continent. So many good shows in venues ranging from tiny clubs to cool old theaters to arenas to festival grounds … to our computer screens!

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I couldn't agree more about the "Core Four" and all the music we got in 2011. I was fortunate to catch everyone during the year at one place or another (including the Syracuse show you mention) and was never - not once - disappointed. Furthur continues to light it up, but 7 Walkers really spun my head this year. Deep swampy psychedelic goo(dness) oozing from every note and beat. And Hell Yeah to all the new Robert Hunter lyrics pouring from singers who know how to do them justice. It's pure bliss seeing/hearing Hunter's images again (again, huge shout-out to the Papa Mali-Robert Hunter collaboration). Thanks to all the guys - and to everyone they bring on-board and share the stage with - for keeping the music alive and vital in 2011. No museum shows in clear plastic wrap here. Just Furthur and Beyond into 2012...
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I find that I have little or no interest in seeing Furthur. From the few recordings I've heard, there is something that is missing (and I'm not talking about Jerry). Nothing against them, and I'm very happy that they are out playing music, but I don't feel drawn to go to the effort to see a band that doesn't excite me. I did catch 7 Walkers (w/ George Porter), and really loved what they were doing. Could've done without most of the Dead tunes they played. I'd rather hear them create their own music and not rely on the GD songs for a draw. It was interesting to hear George sing "Eyes Of The World" though! Certainly a different take on that classic... I agree with you on the re-emergence of Hunter (which has been quietly ongoing). That Jim Lauderdale album is a real gem. Would love to see him do some acoustic shows with some Dead members, and/or relations. Thanks for your opinions and insights Blair. They are always appreciated!
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well... just saw my first serious leonard cohen vid... works for me
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The Best Archival Release Under 73 discs can't be the same as the first pick. There are rules here man, and the dude abides. Anyways, sarcasm notwithstanding, my pick for second place is one of the 2011 Road Trips releases- 6/9/76 and the Denver 73 show are both stellar. If the 12/6/73 bonus disc is included in the contest, we have a winner. Honorable mention to the excellent Philly 82 and Jersey 88 Road Trips: A great group of selections from different eras. Of course it's easy for these to be blinded by the blazing light cast from the Europe Box. I wonder what will be the finest release of 2012...Thanks Blair for the fantastic article as always!
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...though as an anthology, Europe '72 Vol. 2 isn't, strictly speaking, the same as the megabox. My pick for a non-Europe choice would be the Boston '76 Road Trips. I still play that one a ton!
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May very well be Furthur's best run period. Mind boggling good stuff.
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yep, all in all a pretty good year.7 Walkers the only one that really excites me personally. a great sound, great new songs and great backdrop. Robert Hunter turnin' it on. Kreutzmann still has that magic. (great to see him digging and joining Johnny Vidacovich with George Porter Jr. & Anders Osbourne at JamCruise 9 - http://iclips.net/watch/andersosbornegeorgeporterjohnnyvidacovich-1-8-2…) Further still leaving me filled with apathy but i'm hangin' in there, dipping in when the mood strikes. One of those instances when no amount of quality live recordings and the "right ambience" can really inspire like experiencing a show in person. (Always makes me chuckle when i see all the promotional fuss of Europe '72; i didn't think those boys knew where Europe was anymore....). The economic pinching is all too apparent but a short jaunt to these fair isles would surely be worth it, financially and spiritually. Japan would be good too. European Heads would shift hell and high water to see them. Further at the Royal Albert Hall? "please Sir, i'd like some more...." the Scaring The Children sets at JamCruise 9 were also interesting. both days with the Rhythm Devils good too. Tim Bluhm a fantastic fit vocally. not quite getting the Mickey Hart Band stuff. a little bland for my tastes. although the new Mickey Hart website and those great video interviews regarding the Mickey Hart collection re-releases were real jewels. (apart from an appearance by master whore George Lusucks). but really enthused about Terrapin Crossroads. good ol' Phil. a great piece of news to start the new year. i really hope he taps into the various rich musical scenes around the U.S. (and the world) and gives them another fantastic venue to spread that rich beauty we call music. here's to 2012 then.
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Hey now, just wanted to comment on a few things I've read here. What a wonderful year it was for furthur. I mean, man, that band is the shit. Your reviews of the new year's run are well worth the read and can't wait to hear them, thanks for providing the links. Furthur has come a long way from when I saw them back in Feb. 2010, and in a good way and I am so glad to hear that it was just a rumor that they would be going on hiatus this year, now, could you get the band to come back to asheville, they leapfrog over the NC area and haven't been back since the above mentioned show. Would love to see them again, I'm sure they are a completely different band now then when I saw them 2 yrs. ago. Was lucky enough to catch 7 walkers this summer and again, I was impressed, not only with the playing, but the song structure and the new lyrics by Hunter make it all mesh in a way best described by Blair, psychidelic "goo". Yes Virginia there is a santa clause and he came early to the western NC area in the guise of Phil and friends at the Asheville Civic Center, all I can say is wow, you had to be there, quaint, cozy little venue that is always packed for Warrens jam and this year it was the hottest ticket in the area, sold out in hours. Phil looks good and sounds even better. I also caught DSO this summer and if you haven't seen them since Jeff Mathson has taken up the lead ax slot, you need to go, just a great time and fun, fun, fun. The only negative of the year was the europe megabox, I can't agree with you on that one Blair, crapy packaging, skipping and scratched discs and absolutely no customer service, in fact, this little half a paragraph that you write above is the only mention of the fact that there were even complaints, well alone the botched job of production and packaging. Still to this day, nothing from customer service ie replacement discs or new sleeves for the ripped packaging. IMHO this was a big black eye for the Dead organization. Thanks, for a real good time this year guy's, and lets keep it rolling thru 2012 and beyond.
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Good book, I enjoyed reading it.Hey... maybe they can get you to write a few liner notes for some of the new releases...? That'd be cool.
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Thanks for the kudos on Growing Up Dead, Bach 2 Bach. I'd love to do liner notes if there was a show I felt I could do special justice. I've lobbied for a release of Kingswood '87 (the show I wrote a bunch about in the book) which is a stellar show with Healy's echo wizardry (which I love) in full effect - and that's one I'd be thrilled to write for if it ever materializes. I'd also love to do a Brent-heavy show from '89 to rhapsodize on his role in making that such a peak year. I second Unkle Sam on DSO with Jeff Mathson too. I saw them play 2/28/69 back in November and it was (yet another) musical highlight of my year. One of the things I love about 7 Walkers is they bring that psychedelic goo (hey, that was my line, not Blair's) that's dripping across the late 60s shows - and DSO mucked around in that goo just right when they played 2/28/69. I also interviewed a bunch of the band before the show for a new book I'm working on and they were all solid, mentally engaged, and cool as hell. It was esp interesting talking to Jeff M and Rob Eaton about the early days of taping, how they used to sneak their gear into shows, the origins of the taper section, etc. It gave me a whole new respect for the history they bring onto the stage with DSO and allowed me to listen with sharper new ears.
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"psychedelic gumbo." Goo or gumbo, it's a good thing! Sticks to yo' ribs!
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I always wanted the Dead to cover that would be perfectly suited for Phil's voice."That close to you" by John Prine. Maybe he will get wind of my suggestion and take it out for a ride in 2012.
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My favorite event of the year was the highly-anticipated return of THE GRATEFUL DEAD MOVIE to the big screen back in April of last year. I saw the film twice at the Multiplex in Westbury, Long Island. The first viewing, we were forced to watch the movie from the second row, but It was good to see Jerry and the boys eight feet high!! The stereo sound was remarkable. My absolute most favorite moment of the movie experience was the hypnotic version of "Stella Blue" which in my opinion, is one of the hallmarks of the '74 Winterland run, and of all time. Other great songs include: "Eyes of the World" "Playing In the Band" "US Blues" and "Truckin." Of course the opening animation sequence is a feast for the eyes. I was in pre-school in October 1974 and can't believe how great the movie looks some 37 years later.
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...familiar with that Prine song. I'll have to check it out. I like him a lot. (He put out a real good live album last year.) I'd like to see Phil revive "Broken Arrow"... Was the Dead Movie revival really this past year? Or was this the second go-around? Whatever, I totally agree with you, Cryptical--great seeing it on the big screen again and that "Stella" is breathtaking! Jerry's fingers on the neck, looking like a violin virtuoso... that far-off but locked-in look in his eyes... the space between notes... wow...
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either way... yummmm...
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I wouldn't know, I ordered one and never got it. Gave up trying back in October because all I got was the runaround, whoever is running this part of the operation should be fired out of a cannon.
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is the name of the album. It was released in 1975. Classic John PrineI think any fan of the Grateful Dead would have no problem enjoying this or any of his material especially his first two albums without a doubt. An American treasure he is.
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and Blair thanks for cleaning the mess I made all over page 2 earlier today.c36NF
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That was literally my favorite John Prine album! Haven't owned it for many years, however...Great songs on there... I always liked that line about some girl "looking real good, like Natalie Wood on a Pontiac hood" (a reference to her in Rebel Without a Cause). What's that other one--"Wedding Day in Funeralville"? I may have to go order that!
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singing back-up on "Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard"
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And speaking of Hunter, in 2011 he quietly co-wrote 9 songs with Little Feat keyboardist and co-founder Bill Payne that are stunning. "Rooster Rag" is already turning up in FEAT setlists and there's lots more where that came from. It seems these two have found inspiration and energy in the pairing and are knocking them out!
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16 years 10 months
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what Blair said! tell all!
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...ANY of the Trigger Hippy shows...they friggin' ROCK......and last, but not least...Jackie Greene's birthday show at the Fillmore 11-26-2011....I can't stop listening to these shows.....a bit of the old favs with a healthy dose (pun fully intended) of new stuff.....the legacy started with the GD is safe and heading to great new places!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lzobrkQK1g&list=FLgD3R-nidNldZUmZgIeJ6l… This a good quality video of Teresa's amazing performance. She is clearly putting her whole body into the song. It was absolutely captivating, seeing it live. She is the real deal. Her performance (with Phil) of "What's Become of the Baby" at Radio City last March is among the weirdest, most psychedelic pieces of music I've ever witnessed. Now, I can only listen to the CD if I'm not operating heavy machinery...