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This is really good news. Honestly, I was just about to submit a "what the hell happened to Robert Hunter?" post (under "Spinning Free"). I just hope he gets around to the West Coast. And southern California, especially.

do not miss this!

Been waiting too long for this. I've seen Robert every time he's come east since 1979. So happy he'll be here again. Already have my tickets for Allentown, Glenside and NYC. Waiting for Red Bank and Port Chester. How lucky am I that I don't have to travel more than about 50 miles to see any of these shows? When summer time has come and gone, we have Hunter to look forward to. Freakin' sweet!!!

have a great time!

As luck would have it I'm traveling to the east coast during the tour and will get a chance to hear the man, the myth maker and the legend in person!!!

We'll anxiously await your report! (I cannot whine, as I have been blessed with many local Hunter shows over the years, but I do hope he decides he likes his return to the stage and does some West Coast shows as well.)

Just some reminiscing. As a young man, Hunter's "Tiger Rose" was one of my very favorite albums. Right up there with Aoxomoxoa and American Beauty. (still is, really) My first copy was an 8-track tape (gasp!). It was this, original, recording that I fell in love with. Unfortunately, Hunter re-recorded his vocals for the CD re-release in the mid- or late 80's. I think this robbed the album of much of its magic (not surprisingly). I do hope the original recording is re-released someday. I looked on e-bay and apparently the original recording is available on vinyl only. What a shame. There do seem to be some of the original recordings on you-tube- much thanks to the kind soul who uploaded them. Please let's have the original recording re-released!I also find that my second favorite Hunter album "Jack of Roses" is now only available on vinyl. Dang. Somehow, I missed out on "Flight of the Marie Helena" and now it has disappeared completely. The gem "Liberty" is also gone, but I was lucky enough to pick it up a few years ago at a used CD joint. I trust that in time, all these albums will get justice. Just hope I'm still alive to hear them. :/

Here is a true story about Tiger Rose: I also loved loved loved that record. To my ears, Garcia never did better guitar studio work. When I got the CD version with the new vocals I merely liked liked liked the c.d. I understand Mr. Hunter considered the original vinyl version to be "scratch vocals". But I loved loved loved those scratch vocals. I wrote a letter to Robert Hunter registering my opinion. I think I mailed it to the dead p.o. box. About a month later, I get a package in the mail with a brand new sealed copy of the Tiger Rose Vinyl with the original vocals with a personal note from Robert Hunter, saying that I can play this record whenever I wanted to hear the original version. What a gesture! If you read this thank you for that!!! I still have the vinyl but I somehow lost the personal note over the years. So glad to hear Mr. Hunter is returning to performing and I hope he does some west coast shows. I also love Amagamalin Street. Chet and Murphy were the best of friends, but when it comes to Maggie, the friendship ends...one good pal is worth a crowd of folks who don't cry at your bummers and laugh at your jokes.

Chet and Murphy, I, too, love Amagamalin Street. I actually lived that song with a really good friend (he was Chet, I was Murphy) and a mutual woman friend (Maggie). It almost fit our situation, although I did not serve in Viet Nam or live underneath the el. But he did have all of the luck. The line you quoted - "One good pal....." - rings so true to me. My friend is gone now (tragically passed away far too young) but every time I hear the song I fondly remember him and the friendship we had that I will always cherish. If you search Archive.org for some early Dinosaurs shows (1982 - 1984), you'll hear a lot of those Amagamalin Street songs in early versions that are not quite as fleshed out as they are on the final product, especially the title tune. Very interesting to see the genesis of these songs. John Cipollina was brilliant (as always) on the album and with the later line-up of the Dinosaurs.

I got to see a lot of those Dinosaurs shows. So cool to watch the songs evolve, and hear some that never made it into the Dead lineup.

I pulled out the LPs to get ready for this one. Can't wait to see Hunter again. The last time I saw him was when he was touring with the Dead. If this was Japan he would be a "living treasure".

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease. Last time I saw him it was Robert Hunter>Bob Dylan> The Dead. Can you say line-up? Anyway, please play the midwest Mr. Hunter!

Wow, Chet and Murphy, that must be the all-time great "Tiger Rose" story! That one takes the cake. Now so many of Hunter's albums are out-of-print. It's high time for a comprehensive Hunter box-set. I do hope he makes it out to the west coast. The last time I saw him was opening for Garcia/Kahn acoustic in Norfolk, VA. I think it was 1984.

Can't wait to see Hunter, been fortunate enough to see him many times since the 70's.

on the tour page on Facebook:

.........many.many full moons ago--when I was livin in Encinitas,Ca.---friends & I went up to L.A.--to the Roxy--where we saw R.H.--78-79???---it was amazing----I said-"wow--the brains behind the brawn!!!"---all my Hunter stuff is on cassettes--hope all get re-released--Tales of the Great Rum Runners is one of the good ones--like the Rick Griffen cover!!!!---p.s.--Robert--come to Maui!!!!!!!!!!!

until the Boston show.

After pulling front-row seats, was unbelievably psyched to see the Man but then got an email saying it was cancelled. He was supposed to play at Lisner Auditorium on the campus of GW on 10/3 but looks like He's Gone....to CT!!!

I had great seats and was really bummed to see Mr. Hunter skipping out on the Nation's capital. What happened? I feel like a jilted lover. There is a great little place in Alexandria called the Birchmere that treats their talent right. Hook us up with a show there Hunter!

Bob-o: Really you're only doing shows in the East? Man, Arizona is really nice - or will be - from mid-October to Memorial Day. I'm too old to know the best venues around here other than the Rhythm Room and Crescent Ballroom, both close to my house in downtown Phoenix. If ya can't make it, well too bad. Catch ya on the flip side.

so sorry about your DC show!

don't forget Rum Runnerswish he'd come to Europe :)

I'll be up in the balcony in the Wilbur Theater in Boston kicking back, listening to the man for the first time in 31 years. I've just listened to some of my favorite selections on the attached widget to Mr. Hunter's website and his eerie guitar work never ceases to bring me around. How strange is it that Jerry Garcia and this guy hooked-up, for all of us? (All you folks out West, I hope you get some shows and that he isn't testing ticket sales in the core of Deadland. I sure would love to hear him in some place like the Wilma Theater in Missoula that would surely sell out. I'm sure there is a whole arc of places right across the Northwest down to Arcata that would love to host Mr. Hunter.)

Hey friends...keep the boogie going and come down to see Hunter, then hang out at Garcia's, the Capitol Theater's sister venue to Terrapin Crossroads...Garcia's is the home of the scene on the East Coast without doubt...GRATEFUL BRO will be the featured band... Here is a link...see you then! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=368674513263135&set=a.314629672…

of Hunter accepting the Lifetime Achievement for Songwriter award at the Americana Music Honors last night. Go here.

Great to see the tour dates hopefully you can make it to London England some time real soon

Check it out! http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/grateful-dead-lyricist-robert-hunter-set-for-rare-tour-20130925

His usual self all the way in the RS interview. The only thing that surprised me was how Dylan swiped Silvio without Hunter protesting. Not surprised at all that he went to see Rodriguez.

Thank you for posting the link!

even when you're Robert Hunter, you might be a bit diffident about objecting to Bob Dylan's song choices.

tonight's the night for the first show! Oh, to be in Huntington, NY...

I'm new here, and am still poking my way around. Thanks to this thread, I discovered this little gem. I'm sure it's been posted before somewhere, but what the hell. Wish I still lived on the east coast, so I could catch one of his current shows. http://roberthuntertour.com/listen-robert-hunter-spring-tour-2003/

Saw Robert in Allentown last night. He seemed genuinely happy to be back on stage and he looks great. Brilliant Box of Rain to open. He sang Brokedown Palace for Jerry and thanked Jerry for....well, being Jerry, told us about writing Stella Blue at the Chelsea Hotel in NYC and how Dylan pilfered Silvio. All stories accompanied by great renditions of each song (Stella Blue was quite tender). He's definitely still shaking off the rust of not touring for 8 years. When he forgot a verse of Jack Straw, he quickly asked mid-song if anyone knew what we was supposed to sing. With a little audience help he gathered himself and continued and we all sang along with him. Quite a few other lyrical missteps, but that's just nit-picking. It will be interesting to see how this works out as the tour continues. I'll be at the Count Basie Theatre on Tuesday, the Keswick Theatre next Friday and then culminating in a return to Town Hall in NYC to close it out. Furthur! Do Lord deliver our kind.

thanks for the report, we're pining for Hunter shows!

down to the Wilbur show

http://archive.org/details/RobertHunter2013-09-28.akg391.digigal.flac16 It's only a short tour so if you get a chance to see him near you, you won't be disappointed.

Well, as loose as the Allentown show was, that's how tight the Red Bank show was. No stories or other stage banter - it was all about the music. From the first guitar note until the last acapella note Robert was focused like a laser. He began strumming before he even got on stage and segued into a very appropriate So Many Roads. Other highlights for me were Wharf Rat, Days Between, Ruben and Cherise and one of my all-time favorites Cruel White Water. Like Allentown, it opened at 8 and closed at 10 with a 20 minute break - didn't someone say "The quicker it opens, the sooner it closes"? Do Lord deliver our kind.

thanks for the report!

Somewhere between the looseness of Allentown and the tightness of Red Bank lies the Gelnside Show. Robert sauntered onto the stage and opened the show with Bertha. He broke out Key To the Rain, which was a treat, as was Standing On The Moon. Days Between took on an increased poignancy when Robert lamented that it is one of his favorites and it was too bad that (I'm paraphrasing) the band did not have a chance to take it farther (furthur?) but that he was happy they got it out there. The best version I've heard yet. It Must Have Been The Roses was interrupted by a rather obnoxious heckler. Hunter actually stopped the show, asked everyone to please be quiet so that the heckler could continue, and then summarily dismissed him and continued. It was too much when the hooting continued during Stella Blue and he just gave up 2 verses in and broke into Wharf Rat, a song "that you can hoot along to". Overall excellent show, otherwise, as it actually lasted a little longer than the previous shows I attended. Side note: the only previous time he played at the Keswick, I was there and witnessed the ONLY time I ever saw Robert Hunter do a request. A man and his very young child approached the stage and the man asked if Robert could play Wild Bill for his son because it was one of his favorites. Taken a little bit aback, Robert said he had not worked that one out in a long while but would give it a shot for the kid. Wonderful. The clock is ticking down and there are only a few shows left. Get it while you can. I'm looking forward to Town Hall where I'm sure he'll leave it all right there on the stage. Do Lord deliver our kind.

really brings it alive. Heckler? Really? Good for Hunter.

Well, I say heckler but it may also be described as an extremely overzealous, very loud, three sheets to the wind fan. Still, it was jarring and really did interrupt the performance.

This heckling incident is indeed vintage Robert Hunter. When you open a bottle of his wine it is like the Hunter bouquet, if you know what I mean.

the Wilbur show!

For a rilly, rilly big shew this evening with Mr.Hunter. Hanging in the balcony and waitng for the place to fill up. First time seeing the Promontory Rider since Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in 1982. The boyz in the bar room indeed.

and we expect a detailed report!!

The Jack of Roses will beat me to it. He always manages to get to the heart of it. I remember a certain post where put me in his basement playing cards with his girlfriend and her friend, listening to: "Lily, Rosemary and The Jack Of Hearts" Some people have a knack of being able to set the table with their words. The balcony is pretty empty though.

Is certainly one of them!!!

Terrific show last night at the Wilbur Theatre. To my ear the standouts were "Reuben and Cherise", "Scarlet Begonias", "New Speedway Boogie" and "Ship of Fools". The latter two songs were sung with pointed emphasis on certain lines which would indicate a commentary on the present state of "government". The highlight above is not meant to diminish the other songs played-they were all wonderful-these simply resonated with me a little more last night. Hunter was happy to be there and the crowd was happy that he was there. There were roses, roses, roses tossed onto the stage at various points in the show. Oh yeah, another highlight-"It must have been the Roses". As I said, it was all good. PS-the Wilbur is a real nice place to see this kind of show. No hassles by the kind staff either.

You might be hard pressed to find anyone more happy to be at Town Hall last night than Robert Hunter. Maybe it's something in the New York City air but this place always brings out the best in him. He brought his bag of tricks onto the stage and proceeded to empty it, as this was by far the longest show of the tour. To wit: Franklin's Tower; Standing on the Moon; Box of Rain; Dire Wolf>Peggy-O>Dire Wolf>Peggy-O>Dire Wolf; Ship of Fools; Deal; Silvio; Candyman Jack Straw; Cruel White Water; Brown Eyed Women; It Must Have Been The Roses; Reuben & Cherice; Stella Blue; Wharf Rat; Brokedown Palace; Sugaree; The Wind Blows High; Talking Money Tree>Friend of the Devil; New Speedway Boogie Scarlet Begonias; Ripple; Boys In The Barroom At the end of Speedway he just let loose with a few scatted verses where I swear I heard a verse of Liberty. Robert was in absolute top form on both guitar and vocals. Seek out this show on the internets because you will not be disappointed. I do believe this tour has proven - to me (but I'm easy) and to Robert himself - that this can and should continue. He stated he'd be back in the Spring, so we got that going for us (which is nice). Now it's time for all of us to rest our weary bones. .....thank you, for a real good time!