• https://www.dead.net/features/news/general-news/bob-phil-mickey-and-friends-rock-barack-warfield
    Bob, Phil, Mickey and Friends Rock for Barack at the Warfield

    Word began to get out on the afternoon of Friday, February 1st, and quickly spread like a prairie fire: Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bob Weir were getting together to play some music for the first time since 2004, in the service of a common cause: the presidential election campaign of Senator Barack Obama. At 5 o'clock that afternoon, tickets went on sale for Dead Heads for Obama, a benefit concert on Monday the 4th at The Warfield in San Francisco, designed to raise funds and get out the vote for Obama in the Super Tuesday primaries being held across the country on the 5th. Not surprisingly, the show sold out in a few minutes, but Dead Heads who couldn't get to the Warfield could avail themselves of a streaming video feed on iclips.net, or pick up the audio on Sirius Satellite Radio's Grateful Dead Channel.

    PressConference

    Photo: Susana Millman

    Just before the band took the stage, Senator Obama himself appeared in virtual form, in a video message recorded especially for the occasion.

    The Senator's stirring words were immediately followed by music that was no less inspired and uplifting. From the first notes, it was clear that Mickey, Bobby and Phil hadn't lost a bit of their ability to read each other's minds and create a musical language unlike any other (as Mickey noted at the pre-concert press conference, "it's in our DNA"). They were aided by a great supporting cast, including Jackie Greene, Steve Molitz and the mighty, mighty John Molo from Phil's latest touring group of Friends, and the most welcome presence of unannounced guests Mark Karan and Barry Sless on guitar and pedal steel, respectively (alternating on some songs, appearing together on others to create a gorgeously orchestrated ensemble sound.

    Photo: Susana Millman

    We'll have more news and photos from this unforgettable evening soon. For the moment we'll just let you know what they played, and remind you to get out there and VOTE!

    DEAD HEADS FOR OBAMA
    The Warfield
    San Francisco, CA
    February 4, 2008

    I.
    Playing in the Band*>Brown-Eyed Women†, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo†>New Minglewood Blues*, Come Together*

    II. (Acoustic)
    Deep Elem Blues, Friend of the Devil, Deal, Ripple

    III.
    China Cat Sunflower*†>The Wheel*†>The Other One*>Sugaree* Eyes of the World*†>Throwin' Stones*>Iko Iko>*†>Playing reprise*†

    E. U.S. Blues*†%

    Bob Weir, guitar and vocals; Phil Lesh, bass and vocals; Mickey Hart, drums and vocals; John Molo, drums; Jackie Greene, guitar, keyboards and vocals; Steve Molitz, keyboards and vocals.

    * with Mark Karan, guitar; †with Barry Sless, pedal steel guitar; %with Hippie Bill, flag

     

     

    Some Reflections on the Warfield Show…


    By Blair Jackson


    Many fingers in the air looking for tickets as we arrive at the already forming line outside the Warfield around 4:30, an hour and a half before the doors open. One person offers $300 for a single ticket… Cold winds are whipping down Market Street; many people are under-dressed for the chill… A couple of small, noisy pro-Obama marches go past the line a couple of times… With door opening at 6 and literally every person having to go through will-call, the odds do not look good for everyone getting through the ever-lengthening line by the 7:30 showtime… About half an hour before doors they decide to split the line alphabetically, A-J and K-Z, causing much temporary confusion and frustration and re-jockeying for position. We luck out and move ahead about 20 feet when all the K-Z’s in front of us depart… We get in pretty quickly and score an excellent spot on the first level behind the pit with some friends. We are surprised to see large TV cameras in the center spot right off the pit; we’re thinking the webcast could be pretty cool and call my teenage daughter at home to tell her about it…The place fills up very slowly, which could only mean one thing: the line is moving slowwwwwwly, with nerves on the street no doubt fraying as the 7:30 start time approaches…. But 7:30 is just a number, it turns out, and it’s a whole ‘nother hour before the lights finally dim, a screen lurches down in front of the Warfield’s big red curtain, and there’s Barack himself, on his campaign plane, saying howdy and thanking Bobby, Phil and Mickey for putting the event together. Lots of whooping and hollering; it’s a cool moment, though we all laugh when he tells us to sit down and enjoy the concert—obviously never been to a Dead show!


    The curtain rises and it’s a septet onstage, left to right: Steve Molitz, Bob, John Molo, Phil, Mark Karan, Jackie Greene and Mickey. They waste no time launching into “Playing in the Band,” with everyone hitting their marks nicely and a big jam ensuing, driven mostly by Mark Karan, who throughout the evening, is the guy who really pushes the envelope in song after song. So great to have him back, maybe better than ever. Phil is all smiles watching Karan get into it, and the rapport that Mark and Bob have had for years together in RatDog is instantly apparent… “Brown-Eyed Women,” with Jackie on lead vocals, Barry Sless joining the fray on sweet pedal steel, comes next. The sound is still coming together and even standing in front of Jackie’s area, I can’t hear his vocal too well. Karan, is a monster on this song, too…. “Half-Step” gets Phil up to the mic and this version really soars, especially the back half with the solos and the “across the Rio Grande-io” singalong…. After a bluesy Bob-sung “Minglewood” (with Jackie on organ, sounding good), the short first set closes with The Beatles’ “Come Together,” a RatDog staple for a while, but new to Phil and his band. Co-sung by Bob and Mark, it's chunky and snaky, with a nice little jam at the close… All in all, well-played, less tentative than I’d expected. The vibes onstage and in the crowd are good!


    Phil comes out in front of the curtain a few minutes later to talk about how he’s fired up about Obama, and that he represents our chance to really change the direction this country if headed, a sentiment echoed by Bob and Mickey, who also come out briefly to talk about the importance of voting…. I call my daughter and she informs me she couldn’t get the webcast, a complaint, alas, echoed by many… A while later, the curtain rises again and the stage is set up for an acoustic set, with Phil and his stand-up bass looming in the center. Bob leads the band down to the mean streets of “Deep Elem,” then spearheads a spry version of “Friend of the Devil.” Jackie sings a rockin’ acoustic version of “Deal” and then the mini-set concludes with a lovely, poignant “Ripple,” with the Warfield Chorus of 2,000 helping out at the end, of course.


    Set Three turns out to be the Big One, where it all falls together in that magical way we’ve seen so many times before--sound is perfect, everything is clicking… “China Cat” is sparkling and in the jam following the tune, Bob and Mark and Phil really get the thunder going… You can hear “The Wheel” pulling itself together for a long spell before it actually arrives, and this version is great, one of the real highlights of the show, with five guys in the band harmonizing, the playing powerful and precise, the peaks as big as you’d want ’em… That eventually rolls into an extended, heavily jammed-out “Other One,” which finds the guitar army onstage slashing and crashing and building and receding, only to build again, many times. At the close of the second verse, it sounds like they might go into the “Cryptical” reprise, but instead it drops into “Sugaree,” with Jackie on lead, about which I can only say, WOW! This has become one of Mr. Greene’s best tunes in P&F (and he’s been playing it with his own band, as well) and he freakin’ nails it at the Warfield. He and Mark and Steve are all magnificent soloing between the verses—in fact, after one of the last solos, the crowd erupted into a sustained ovation for half a minute or so before the last verse!... I love Barry on the steel for the loping “Eyes of the World.” In fact, I loved Barry on every song he played on; a great addition to the line-up… It seems somehow appropriate that Bob chooses to play “Throwing Stones” at what is ostensibly a political event (“Well, the kids they dance, they shake their bones/While the politicians throwing stones”), although he always said the song was anti-political--so is it ironic, then? Who knows… I totally assume that “Not Fade Away” will follow, but am pleasantly surprised to instead be treated to “Iko-Iko” (the night before the real Mardi Gras.) Mickey barks it with spirit and gusto and the crowd is in deep party mode by that point, clapping and singing along, of course… And then, to close the third set, the music meanders back to where it had started, as the “Playing reprise” emerges from some fascinating, dissonant extrapolations on the “Playing” riff before resolving joyously--as it must!... Encore is “U.S. Blues,” sung by Bob, punctuated by a grey-bearded guy named Hippie Bill running across the back of the stage waving a giant American flag on the first two choruses, and then, to wild cheers, a version of the flag with a peace sign where the stars would be; I think, “Yeah, that’s my flag!”

    We rocked. And I voted...

    Photos by Bob Minkin

    11363
127 comments
sort by
Recent
Reset
Items displayed
  • Eric Abrahamson
    16 years ago
    Yes We Can Win, Obama Won!
    Red and whiteBlue suede shoes I'm Uncle Sam How do ya do? Eric Abrahamson Yale University Pierson '71 P.O. Box 1112 Berkeley, CA 94701 510-809-1369 x6149 ericabrahamson@aya.yale.edu ericabrahamson2@horizon.csueastbay.edu ericabrahamso@hotmail.com http://www.EricAbrahamsonsBlog.BlogSpot.Com http://www.h
  • PAPPYPGH
    16 years 1 month ago
    HAHAHAHA!!!
    I was there....I didn't see any shilling. I didn't see much establishment. I saw 4 of my favorite musicians reunite on a stage to create awareness about a guy they all believe in. 3 of them spoke VERY briefly about it. We had to listen to a few people we've never heard of spew a little bit and we got to see a few of the members of the PSU Football squad. Other than that, we got to see Truckin > Jam > US Blues, Playin' > Dark Star, Saint Stephen > Unbroken Chain, The Other One > Throwin' Stones > Playin Reprise, followed by an encore of Touch > NFA. I don't know about you, but I had a great Monday night. Last night I went to a hockey game with my daughter - the Penguins won - and tonight I get to watch our future president debate an old "war hero". I live in America and we need government. That's life. Bohemia doesn't exist. Barack Obama has the right vision for this country. He may not accomplish everything he wants to in 8 years, but he deserves the chance over every one else who's running. ~ Pappy www.theCAUSEjams.com "Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right." - Robert Hunter
  • Default Avatar
    stewman30
    16 years 1 month ago
    shilling for obama
    im not sure i like seeing my favorite band shill for an ESTABLISHMENT candidate or any candidate for that matter...
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months

Word began to get out on the afternoon of Friday, February 1st, and quickly spread like a prairie fire: Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bob Weir were getting together to play some music for the first time since 2004, in the service of a common cause: the presidential election campaign of Senator Barack Obama. At 5 o'clock that afternoon, tickets went on sale for Dead Heads for Obama, a benefit concert on Monday the 4th at The Warfield in San Francisco, designed to raise funds and get out the vote for Obama in the Super Tuesday primaries being held across the country on the 5th. Not surprisingly, the show sold out in a few minutes, but Dead Heads who couldn't get to the Warfield could avail themselves of a streaming video feed on iclips.net, or pick up the audio on Sirius Satellite Radio's Grateful Dead Channel.

PressConference

Photo: Susana Millman

Just before the band took the stage, Senator Obama himself appeared in virtual form, in a video message recorded especially for the occasion.

The Senator's stirring words were immediately followed by music that was no less inspired and uplifting. From the first notes, it was clear that Mickey, Bobby and Phil hadn't lost a bit of their ability to read each other's minds and create a musical language unlike any other (as Mickey noted at the pre-concert press conference, "it's in our DNA"). They were aided by a great supporting cast, including Jackie Greene, Steve Molitz and the mighty, mighty John Molo from Phil's latest touring group of Friends, and the most welcome presence of unannounced guests Mark Karan and Barry Sless on guitar and pedal steel, respectively (alternating on some songs, appearing together on others to create a gorgeously orchestrated ensemble sound.

Photo: Susana Millman

We'll have more news and photos from this unforgettable evening soon. For the moment we'll just let you know what they played, and remind you to get out there and VOTE!

DEAD HEADS FOR OBAMA
The Warfield
San Francisco, CA
February 4, 2008

I.
Playing in the Band*>Brown-Eyed Women†, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo†>New Minglewood Blues*, Come Together*

II. (Acoustic)
Deep Elem Blues, Friend of the Devil, Deal, Ripple

III.
China Cat Sunflower*†>The Wheel*†>The Other One*>Sugaree* Eyes of the World*†>Throwin' Stones*>Iko Iko>*†>Playing reprise*†

E. U.S. Blues*†%

Bob Weir, guitar and vocals; Phil Lesh, bass and vocals; Mickey Hart, drums and vocals; John Molo, drums; Jackie Greene, guitar, keyboards and vocals; Steve Molitz, keyboards and vocals.

* with Mark Karan, guitar; †with Barry Sless, pedal steel guitar; %with Hippie Bill, flag

 

 

Some Reflections on the Warfield Show…


By Blair Jackson


Many fingers in the air looking for tickets as we arrive at the already forming line outside the Warfield around 4:30, an hour and a half before the doors open. One person offers $300 for a single ticket… Cold winds are whipping down Market Street; many people are under-dressed for the chill… A couple of small, noisy pro-Obama marches go past the line a couple of times… With door opening at 6 and literally every person having to go through will-call, the odds do not look good for everyone getting through the ever-lengthening line by the 7:30 showtime… About half an hour before doors they decide to split the line alphabetically, A-J and K-Z, causing much temporary confusion and frustration and re-jockeying for position. We luck out and move ahead about 20 feet when all the K-Z’s in front of us depart… We get in pretty quickly and score an excellent spot on the first level behind the pit with some friends. We are surprised to see large TV cameras in the center spot right off the pit; we’re thinking the webcast could be pretty cool and call my teenage daughter at home to tell her about it…The place fills up very slowly, which could only mean one thing: the line is moving slowwwwwwly, with nerves on the street no doubt fraying as the 7:30 start time approaches…. But 7:30 is just a number, it turns out, and it’s a whole ‘nother hour before the lights finally dim, a screen lurches down in front of the Warfield’s big red curtain, and there’s Barack himself, on his campaign plane, saying howdy and thanking Bobby, Phil and Mickey for putting the event together. Lots of whooping and hollering; it’s a cool moment, though we all laugh when he tells us to sit down and enjoy the concert—obviously never been to a Dead show!


The curtain rises and it’s a septet onstage, left to right: Steve Molitz, Bob, John Molo, Phil, Mark Karan, Jackie Greene and Mickey. They waste no time launching into “Playing in the Band,” with everyone hitting their marks nicely and a big jam ensuing, driven mostly by Mark Karan, who throughout the evening, is the guy who really pushes the envelope in song after song. So great to have him back, maybe better than ever. Phil is all smiles watching Karan get into it, and the rapport that Mark and Bob have had for years together in RatDog is instantly apparent… “Brown-Eyed Women,” with Jackie on lead vocals, Barry Sless joining the fray on sweet pedal steel, comes next. The sound is still coming together and even standing in front of Jackie’s area, I can’t hear his vocal too well. Karan, is a monster on this song, too…. “Half-Step” gets Phil up to the mic and this version really soars, especially the back half with the solos and the “across the Rio Grande-io” singalong…. After a bluesy Bob-sung “Minglewood” (with Jackie on organ, sounding good), the short first set closes with The Beatles’ “Come Together,” a RatDog staple for a while, but new to Phil and his band. Co-sung by Bob and Mark, it's chunky and snaky, with a nice little jam at the close… All in all, well-played, less tentative than I’d expected. The vibes onstage and in the crowd are good!


Phil comes out in front of the curtain a few minutes later to talk about how he’s fired up about Obama, and that he represents our chance to really change the direction this country if headed, a sentiment echoed by Bob and Mickey, who also come out briefly to talk about the importance of voting…. I call my daughter and she informs me she couldn’t get the webcast, a complaint, alas, echoed by many… A while later, the curtain rises again and the stage is set up for an acoustic set, with Phil and his stand-up bass looming in the center. Bob leads the band down to the mean streets of “Deep Elem,” then spearheads a spry version of “Friend of the Devil.” Jackie sings a rockin’ acoustic version of “Deal” and then the mini-set concludes with a lovely, poignant “Ripple,” with the Warfield Chorus of 2,000 helping out at the end, of course.


Set Three turns out to be the Big One, where it all falls together in that magical way we’ve seen so many times before--sound is perfect, everything is clicking… “China Cat” is sparkling and in the jam following the tune, Bob and Mark and Phil really get the thunder going… You can hear “The Wheel” pulling itself together for a long spell before it actually arrives, and this version is great, one of the real highlights of the show, with five guys in the band harmonizing, the playing powerful and precise, the peaks as big as you’d want ’em… That eventually rolls into an extended, heavily jammed-out “Other One,” which finds the guitar army onstage slashing and crashing and building and receding, only to build again, many times. At the close of the second verse, it sounds like they might go into the “Cryptical” reprise, but instead it drops into “Sugaree,” with Jackie on lead, about which I can only say, WOW! This has become one of Mr. Greene’s best tunes in P&F (and he’s been playing it with his own band, as well) and he freakin’ nails it at the Warfield. He and Mark and Steve are all magnificent soloing between the verses—in fact, after one of the last solos, the crowd erupted into a sustained ovation for half a minute or so before the last verse!... I love Barry on the steel for the loping “Eyes of the World.” In fact, I loved Barry on every song he played on; a great addition to the line-up… It seems somehow appropriate that Bob chooses to play “Throwing Stones” at what is ostensibly a political event (“Well, the kids they dance, they shake their bones/While the politicians throwing stones”), although he always said the song was anti-political--so is it ironic, then? Who knows… I totally assume that “Not Fade Away” will follow, but am pleasantly surprised to instead be treated to “Iko-Iko” (the night before the real Mardi Gras.) Mickey barks it with spirit and gusto and the crowd is in deep party mode by that point, clapping and singing along, of course… And then, to close the third set, the music meanders back to where it had started, as the “Playing reprise” emerges from some fascinating, dissonant extrapolations on the “Playing” riff before resolving joyously--as it must!... Encore is “U.S. Blues,” sung by Bob, punctuated by a grey-bearded guy named Hippie Bill running across the back of the stage waving a giant American flag on the first two choruses, and then, to wild cheers, a version of the flag with a peace sign where the stars would be; I think, “Yeah, that’s my flag!”

We rocked. And I voted...

Photos by Bob Minkin

Display on homepage featured list
Off
Feature type

dead comment

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Whomever...please make it possible for those of us who couldn't see it to view it in its entirety sometime soon. I saw some of The Other One>Sugaree, Eyes of the World> and heard Phil's first rap for Barack and Deep Elem. Needless to say 'twas great, but also very late here on the East Coast.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Must have been quite a few heads trying to catch the stream; Iclips was jammed up pretty good. I missed the entire show, but will try again later today. Get out and vote. Ripple!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Of what I witnessed, via internet, it was a grand performance, at it's best. Yet, a somewhat trying time at it's clumsiest. Jackie was "put in his place" by a rather moody Bobby, he should have sung more lead. Phil played with glee & talent.The feed needed some work, obviously, as it sputtered & skipped. But it was a happy time for all there, as well as for some of us out in the stream. I do not like this idea of endorsing politicalness uncorrectly, however, & since The Boys find it important to publically make a point of it, I feel the same about NOT endorsing that move.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

One of the things I have always loved about the Grateful Dead is that they kept their names and their music out of politics; they left the bickering and grand-standing to those who pandered to the media and the mass public; when everyone else was letting themselves be consumed by controversy, the Grateful Dead created a sanctuary from all the ado by continuing to just play beautiful music. The Grateful Dead has always been about the music. I can't say I'm thrilled about these recent changes.
user picture

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Alan here, a longtime dead head who's live Dead show career spanned '76-'95. It was nice to see Weir, Hart and Lesh, all in their 60s, do such a fine job on short notice. And thanks to the Internet, I and many of you, were there. Though I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills, "only" four hours from San Francisco, I just couldn't get over to the city for this special show. If it was 30, 20 or even 10 years ago, I would've done what it took to get there, but at 48 tears old, with huge responsibitities at work both Monday and Tuesday, I couldn't swing it. Which brings me to the joy of the iclips.net feed (I also have Sirius satellite radio, which simulcast the audio). I say joy, because while the video buffered a bit at times and had an intermittent crackle that almost sounded like someone just needed to push a plug in tighter, it was awesome. (Remember how bad our hissy cassette tapes sounded in the 70s?) The band had a plan and offered a fine set list, sandwiching a little acoustic set 'tween two electric sets. Lesh was smiling all night and Weir was workmanlike and gave his usual quality effort. Hart, a Global Drum world music master and ambassador, was comfortably transfomed back to Grateful Dead duties. To me, Mark Karan was a special surprise and was an obvious choice to man the Garcia-reminiscent lead. John Molo was excellent, and Particle's Steve Molitz on keyboards and blues phenom Jackie Greene, mostly on keyboards, added an infusion of youth. The pedal steel on selections such as "The Wheel" and "Brown Eyed Women" were awesome. A big downer on the iclips feed were the comments. Some commented intelligently about the music and today's presidential primary election. Many others, however, made fun of Greene with immature and disrespectful comments. Others made infantile comments about Obama, Hillary Clinton oand others. Yes, freedom of speech is great, but too many inane - and anonymous, of course - comments from the peanut gallery sure took away from the spirit of the cause and the music. Overall, though, thanks for the powers that be that let me sit at my compuer, sip hot chocolate and watch a wonderful evening of music and witness the latest red-letter date in now 43-year Grateful Dead timeline. Alan Sheckter, Magalia, Calif, 2-5-08
user picture

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

Hey there lookatitright, the show is to be replayed today on Iclips. The 3rd set seemed to be worth it, but I bonked out during Sugaree on the East coast myself. The first 2 sets were uneventful IMO, but check out the 3rd!! I suggest we all stop the political comments. I tire of it. Vote for whoever you want. The whiners probably won't vote at all. Sorry. Just tired of it. There are other sites to cry out loud on about this stuff. Recast tonight.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

The Grateful Dead were there when students in this country were looking to pull us out of war and making real political statements on campus and in the street. Supporting people with the power to change for peace. While not directly supporting one candidate or the other, they were there nonetheless with their unique ability to give a nod to the powers of peace. Yes, I agree that the Grateful Dead were much more neutral in the later years, and perhaps too much so as so many brothers and sisters were jailed and harassed. Our country has suffered greatly in the last few years, and we are once again at war. Television and violent media has made us all numb to the reality of the destruction and suffering. The youth on our campus have been accused of being more interested in their ipod or iphone than they are in the pursuit of peace and justice, but for one moment in our history, our band has come together to support a man that has a greater vision and inspiration to assure our future, and I hope everyone comes out to support Obama. There is simply not time to hide behind a mask of ambiguity - these guys have come forward and proudly supported a man that they and I believe will lead us out of war and back to peace and prosperity. I disagree with anyone who thinks that we have the luxury of sitting idle at such a critical time in history. Obama is our hope for the future, Bob, Phil, and Mickey have recognized this as our opportunity to move away from the destructive politics of the past. The only way to move forward is to band together and work for peace. I sincerely hope that everyone will see the importance of our place in history. Thank you to the Grateful Dead, and please vote Obama into the White House, you will be glad you did!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

But tonight it will be on again 2 different times, check out iclips for the new times!! I'm gonna try again too!! Good luck!! :) Peace****Gigi
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

The real stroy is that this could have been the biggest virtual gathering of Deadheads ever, but many couldn't get the stream or it was on and off. What a joke.. iclips was not prepared for the volume of viewers. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Exceptional show...very emotional to see them back up on stage together again... I think it's great that they are getting the word out! Just because they are musicians/entertainers doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to express their political views! And if this helps to get people to go out and vote today (no matter who they are voting for), than mission accomplished! My heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in putting on this fantastic show! I wish I could have been there!!!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years
Permalink

The boys did a great job for the amount of time they had to prepare. Give them a hundred shows and they would/could be great. Let's hope that it happens again and again. And whatever cause got them together is fine with me as long as they continue to Come Together. Quote of the night: Barack in the vidoe saying "And now sit down and enjoy the music." Needless to say, no one sat down. So much for him directing us.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

While it's wonderful news to hear the boys (minus Billy) got together for some fun, it's rather personally disappointing that the motivation was political.First of all, I have loved the Dead in all their incarnations since well before I was able to vote, and mostly enjoyed the scene. What really made the scene, though, was always the fact that such a diverse group of people could come together, many with wildly divergent and sometimes radically fanatical ideals and beliefs and enjoy the show and community, while the musicians largely remained neutral and did what they do best... PLAY! Secondly, while I think it's grate, and indeed unfortunately NECCESARY to encourage more people to vote, It is a truly sad state we have come to that the emphasis to vote was placed on merely ONE candidate. Granted, not MY candidate, but it wouldn't matter who they supported... it is still a disappointment. The message SHOULD be simply TO VOTE! For whoever you think is right, no matter WHY you think they are right. Thirdly, even though I disagreed with the premise in general and the candidate in particular, I was delighted at the very thought of seeing the boys play only to be terribly disappointed that the i-cast didn't work for diddly, after staying up until 1030 EST to stream it, when I have to get up at 0400 to go to work. Oh well. If this were a perfect world, I wouldn't have anything to bitch about... and that certainly wouldn't make me happy either. Lastly, Thanks to the Boys who have been a cornerstone to my life and how I choose to live it, and may I hear and see you play yet one more time before the end...
user picture

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

.... looked like fun, and I sure hope it presages more to come! Hopefully to include Billy, Donna Jean, Bruce, and Jimmy.... imagine how Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT would look if the Dead headlined this year's Vibes Gathering! Obviously as a Connecticutian that's a dream scenario for me.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

If Obama gets elected, maybe we can get him host a Dead show on the white houselawn on inauguration day..... and get the Boston symphony orchestra to play backup on a full Terrapin Station, they would sound great during At a Siding….. Ok, so I’m still half asleep…. But what I was able to hear from the choppy iclips feed, the show sounded great.. cheers Woody www.myspace.com/woodyinthebasement
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 10 months
Permalink

While I give Iclips props for the attempt it came up way short. I got through finally during Half-Step, and then it bonked it's way through Minglewood and by the time I had seen stop and go action of Come Together I was done. Time for bed here on the east coast. Too bad as the concept of joining deadheads together in cyberspace to enjoy the music is great. I just wish it could have been better. All politics aside and even the Iclips issue it seemed like a great night and I wish I could have been there! Peace to all.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Last night was an amazing night, I feel so blessed to have been there :) "The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began.."
user picture

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

So the vibe was good at the show? The boys sure had a case of Perma Grin PEACE
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Bone,"One of the things I have always loved about the Grateful Dead is that they kept their names and their music out of politics; they left the bickering and grand-standing to those who pandered to the media and the mass public; when everyone else was letting themselves be consumed by controversy, the Grateful Dead created a sanctuary from all the ado by continuing to just play beautiful music. The Grateful Dead has always been about the music. I can't say I'm thrilled about these recent changes." Thank you Shipley, my feelings exactly.
user picture

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

Thanks so much for the review. Really dug the Steel. Makes my heart feel pretty happy! Travelin Light, Right on
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

went on down to the warfield even though I didn't have a ticket, for old times sake. I hoped I would be able to watch on iclips but it was hopeless, so I signed up for a free 3 day trial @ sirius, and caught US Blues, a very appropriate encore. If the technology worked it would have been great, but I was still having a good time imagining the deadheads all over the world trying to watch this thing, dancing in front of their computers. Thanks to the band and everyone who made this possible. This is just the primaries, there's a long haul ahead. Democracy works best when everyone participates. Now get out there and vote!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I would love to have an Obama Stealy for my bumper or lapel. The store should sell them...procedes to Obama.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

I attended a DSO concert last night. The band mentioned the show going on at the same time across the country. Year's ago I would have hopped on a plane & stood outside for a chance to be part of it. But I can't complain I got to relive my early 80's touring days listening to DSO for the 1st time in a really nice new theater (Guthrie) rather than a stinky, cramped bar. BTW, they played the ' 81 show from Barcelona, Spain. ;o) Luck to all & look forward to the boyz playing together again. Oh yes, get out & vote!!!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

Although I'm a Democrat and truly believe this is great for the Democrats - I'm sure Jerry is rolling over in his grave knowing the GD has gone this far in politics - welcome to the new world . - now let's get on with solving any and all internal politics and the band back on the road!!!!!!!!!!!! SB
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

First of all, it's fantastic that the boys (sans Billy) got together for the show. I wish I could have been there and would have paid to get in (politics and all), but I live on the east coast now, I'm an old(er) fart, family, job, yadda, yadda, yadda... Here's why I'm in shock - no, perhaps it's better to say that I'm saddened. The Dead have never directly involved themselves in any political campaign of any nature at all - ever! The reason was repeatedly articulated by Jerry: we're in the music business. That was a very good and solid tradition and a great decision. If you've been to even a handful of shows, you'll be sure to recall the mantras: It's all about the music! We're here for the music! etc.... I'm confident that if Jer were still with us, the show would have still happened but not the political endorsement. Wow. That's a big, sad, disappointing (even a bit shocking) change. :(
user picture

Member for

17 years 1 month
Permalink

I tried for 2 hours to get the webcast but to no avail.Look forward to hearing and/or seeing this show. New to the Dead, raisin' little Deadheads and even the wife is coming around!
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I apologize for the double post. I don't know how to clean that one up. Oooops.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I preregistered, then at the start kept trying and trying. Had No Luck. Will try tonight. Our Democracy and Constitution have been under attack for 7 years. The complicity of the Mainstream Media to dumb us down, make this effort timely. I share this knowing that this message was intercepted and stored in NSA computers.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

You poor little boy... If there wasn't any "N.S.A." ot equivalent, I wonder what you would be doing> maybe living in a trash heap? Poor boy, what else would you do, if this country was just like Chad? or Mexico? or Haiti? What indeed, poor boy?
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I have had a hell of a time figuring out which strong Democratic candidate to vote for this time out. I had the pleasure of taking my 8 year old to see Bill Clinton speak here in Georgia Friday night and my decision was made for me. Although I did vote for Hillary today in Georgia (which by the way went to Barack moments ago) , am fortunate enough to be watching the rebroadcast of the Warfield show as I type this. All I can say is WE WIN!!!!! I love you all and I love both candidates. Thank you Phil, Bobby, Mickey and everyone else who helped put on a great event. I only hope this big Wheel keeps on turning for some more stops running up to the November election. Peace - David PS: Welcome back Mark
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years
Permalink

Between sets of the re-stream right now...the sound is annoyingly crappy but the band sounds great. The little acoustic thing was fun..specially Phil on upright acoustic. Looking forward to the 3rd!About politics: Lesh is a true believer in this guy Obama, it's obvious from his setbreak speech. He wants to help Obama become President. This show is his way of doing that. Evidently Weir and Hart agree...Phil could have sold out the Warfield without them if it came to that. They WANT to do this. It's important to them. Whether or not it's important to you is completely irrelevant. Vote for whomever you want to; or not--in this country you vote with your money anyway. But being shocked, saddened, disappointed in Phil Lesh for having strong feelings about it? Get over yourself. If Jerry was alive? a.) He ain't. b.) Two possibilities: he'd be in on it too, or he'd give it a pass. Either way, it's not like he could or would have prevented Phil from doing what he (Phil) thought was right. So enjoy the music (It's rocking) and vote your own conscience, or not, but please think twice about criticizing your favorite musicians for following their own bliss.
user picture

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

I am listening to re-cast right now. I picked it up at the start of China Cat. The video quality is pretty shakey. The audio isn't synch'd with the lip movement. BUT....oh, my God what a joy it is to see and hear the boys together. It would be great to see this group plus Billy and Donna at the Gathering of the Vibes this year. I would move heaven and earth to get there from Nebraska. To the whiners on the political support issue, just remember.....IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC. They aren't supporting my candidate, and this show won't change my mind. BUT....what great music. Get out and vote for the person YOU like, irregardless of who does or doesn't support that person.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

as we are likely to ever see again. And 'nuff with the griping about the reason for doing it. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. And get out and vote!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years
Permalink

Great job on the show guys, not being in San Fransisco anymore it is hard to stay in touch with the music scene and seing jackie greene for the first time was a real treat. Very Nice!!! Hope to see more of you Jackie... Fellow deadhead that is displaced somewhere in North Carolina...Vader
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Just watched it. Even with the technical glitches it made for a great Mardi Gras/Super Duper Tuesday evening. Wave That Flag!
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

anybody know how to get the shirt Phil and Mickey were wearing....Please email me at tbutler61 @ verizon.net
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Wow, Sven, those are some pretty unkind things you said there. It's not about me getting over myself. I'm merely expressing my disappointment over a change in policy of the Grateful Dead. Sure, they can do whatever they like. That's fine. But, so can I! I can state what a cop out I think it really is and that it saddens me. Do you want to censor me? no? Then back off. Thanks.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Just finished watching the rebroadcast. WOW!!!! I hope they can put something a little more permenent together, for those of us who weren't there to experience it. I don't care about the politics, I've got my own oppinions on who to vote for. By the way, my 3 month old son sat on my lap and enjoyed every minute of it!!!!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 3 months
Permalink

i was online at 5pm on friday and snapped up a pair of floor seats. the show was tasty, especially the playing in the band opener and the third set. personally i'm not thrilled with obama but it was interesting to see how excited phil was and to hear him compare obama to rfk. when or where can we get a download of it???
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 10 months
Permalink

Just watched some of the re-cast and I must say the band is pretty ripping. They really kill that Sugaree! Unreal. All of it sounded good. Nice job boys for pulling that one off no matter what the reason. You need to do that again somewhere! Phil, come back to Mtn Jam this summer and bring Bob, Mickey AND Bill with you! Sounds great.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I was at the show; I never saw anything like Bob "putting Jackie in his place" that is a ridiculous thing to say. The boys played fantastically, especially good to hear those two powerhouse drummers in action. The whole show rocked!!I don't see this show as a statement about Grateful Dead policy. Nobody was coerced into buying tickets and going. It was three guys from the Dead, acting on something they felt was important. The Dead did it all the time, from concerts at college campuses, to benefits, to things like no-nuke rallies. Garcia only said he did not like the Jerry Rubin types taking the mic and stirring-up anger in the crowd. If he was here and dissapointed about anything, it would probably be that so many of his fans bitch about so many things these days. What I liked about the ol' days was the easy-going attitude of Dead Heads. Famous for not complaining. That is what is changing in the scene, and it seems to be the anonymous online people who complain, not the people in attendance. They were all cheering, just like they always have done. Peace
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

If he was here and dissapointed about anything, it would probably be that so many of his fans bitch about so many things these days. What I liked about the ol' days was the easy-going attitude of Dead Heads. Famous for not complaining. That is what is changing in the scene, and it seems to be the anonymous online people who complain, not the people in attendance. They were all cheering, just like they always have done. (((I couldn't have said it better, thanks Skywithflame!))) www.GratefulGarciaGathering.com www.Myspace.com/GratefulGarciaGathering
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Anyone know where I can get one? It's all my son wants for his birthday this year.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 9 months
Permalink

Just Love all these comments on the boys playing for politics, Jerry ain't around no more and neither are the dead so i guess they can do what they feel is right.But my big question is why are we paying for the grateful dead channel and getting crappy internet feeds that most people can't even sign on to because of heavy traffic? As a long time taper I was thrilled to finally get some decent access to some early boards of shows I went to years ago before most of us started taping, there was talk of it being on the chanel, but we tuned in and found nothing! Please, let's all see if we can get someone (maybe David Gans?) to try to do the right thing and get this onto the Grateful Dead channel in its entire form. thanks