Grateful Dead

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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.

thanks for the report!

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.