Grateful Dead

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I've seen them a few times over the years and i got the idea that they are more of a revolving door than a disposable band. It may just be the times and order of the shows i've seen but i got the idea that it's who is free, who's in the country / in town, who does what is happening that particular go-around.

The things that pop into your head at times: listening to Bob sing this one in Cary last week, my first thought was a common lament for me -- wishing that I'd had a chance to see Pigpen just once. But as Bobby was singing the "I'm a schoolboy too" lines, I started laughing, as the idea that ANYONE is going to mistake Weir for a schoolboy nowadays is just plain comical. I mentioned it to the guy standing next to me, who said, "Well, maybe like a non-traditional college student, ya think?" So we both riffed back to the song: "Tell your momma and your papa, I'm a non-traditional schoolboy too." Smile, smile, smile... And if the show proved nothing else to me: Jeff Chimenti is on fire, and my oh my do those harmony vox sound absolutely lush! UJB, Here Comes Sunshine, vocally have never sounded better to me...a case of the band more than living up to the source material.

I saw them at Simpsonville last year and at Wanee this year. Those shows were great. Caught the Cary show and it was a little weak overall. Of course there were some good sparks but on the whole it was a bit flat. Everyone seemed tired.

I'm listening to 1970-03-21 right now. Way more fun than last night in Cary NC. They played real good. I was real bored. Jazzy jams are great and I love that to a point. WTF look at the closing songs and encore selection. How do you end a concert with "the days in-between" ? Oh no, they warmed up to it with that smoker, "a foolish heart" and encored with, Box of Rain. I love Furthur. If I encountered many shows like i did last night in Cary, NC, I would just stop going. This 1970 show has so much soul and rock n' roll that I'm uplifted. Last night was a flat tire just lookin' for the offramp. PS: great crowd, way fun

pretty great setlist!

FURTHUR was FANTASTIC!Caught the Philly Show and it was a Rockin' Time! I find it amazing, the diligent care each song finds in the hands of these awesome musicians. Hearing Phil and Bob masterfully drive the music into the capable hands of band-> it's remarkable. The moments they let go to let them ride musical heights then jump back in like a whirl wind and put in all back into context was incredible, to me. The crowd was a great heart of gold band, it reached a favorite choir status several times; and wow it was special to say the least! Philly was present and accounted for! It was so hot and even so they kept on dancing. If there were a party to be at; the Mann Center was IT on 7-7-2012! Thank you for a real good time! I do believe there is more in store, xo! I love this band. Way to go! May the road rise to meet you--------- and the wind be always at your backs. All the best wishes are heading your way--- Love to You, All...ALL! Rock ON! I Love You oh but Jesus Loves You the Best! Set List 7/7/2012 FURTHUR Set 1 Truckin'> Nobody's Fault but Mine Fire on the Mountain> Cassidy Peggy O Tennessee Jed My Brother Esau Deal Set 2 China Cat Sunflower> I Know You Rider> Space> Dark Star> (v1) Jam> Dark Star> (v2) Caution Don't Step on the Tracks Saint Stephen Unbroken Chain Dear Prudence The Wheel> GDTRFB> We Bid You Goodnight Donor Rap E - One More Saturday Night

A hot (93 degrees) afternoon commenced at 3:30pm as about 1000 waiting people piled into the parking lot. Shakedown was in full growl in the dusty, unpaved parking lots in about fifteen minutes. Numerous vendors were happy, if not exactly busy despite the size of the crowd. There was very little hassle from McCoy Stadium security. The attitude was whimsical: "This is what it is these days, about 4 hours before the show and about a half hour after." Attitudes were as sunny as the sky as many old friends met up after the journey to the venerable triple A minor league baseball park. Furthur came out and did a sound check at about 4:30. Amazing how they can just launch into a jam at will... The show was crowded, though not sold out. The stadium holds 10,000 and the grandstand was about half filled with the entire outfield almost packed from wall to wall for the general admission show with the band's stage set up in deep center field. If the paid attendance wasn't 10k it was damn near close for the GA event. Temps. came down significantly after twilight and settled into the high 70s for the rest of the show, with a decent breeze. The boys came out at 7:15pm and launched into a nice Dancin' that segued cleverly into a spry Shakedown that was tasty and morphed into Jack Straw. All in all a nice way to open the tour. Bob did a nice job on BT Wind. JK shined on Reuben & Cherise. The Last Time had a nice beat to it reminiscent of All Over Now. 70 minutes of music for the 1st set ended with a passable Casey Jones that had all the flourishes but not the insanely fast ending Furthur is known for, though the pace did pick up. The second set set was tasty with a Golden Road opener. That's It>Other One>That's It was very nice. Phil still gives a hint of the old days when he revs it up for the O1 intro. Bob throws a nice SOTM ballad and then Furthur does a great job of jamming Hey Pocky Way which to my ears was the highlight of the second set. Uncle John's Band was a sweet ending to the first show on the tour. 2nd set timed in at 90 minutes. The shows are 20-30 minutes shorter but it seemed to be about just right on this mid-summer eve. I had a great time seeing old friends drop in from out of the woodwork and hanging with "T-Shirt Tommy" who was hawking beer and soda and water and woman's t-shirts under a canopy. It is not the same as a Grateful Dead show. Nothing ever can be, but it definitely has all the elements of "Grateful Dead Liite" and you have to love the band for that.

sounds like a lovely time.

I feel now, more than ever, after reading about how Bralove, by Jerry's order, collared Welnick by not allowing him to have the instrument of his choice on tour that Bob & Phil have collared John Kadlicek. Not by not allowing him to have the guitar of his choice, but by making him play a subservient role to them in the band. They will not allow him to get in front of them in any meaningful way with creative soloing. JK is more than capable, as he showed in the first dozen or so shows after Furthur kicked off. I blame Bob more than anybody for this, as he seems to have control of things on stage. But, fairly, Jerry set the precedent with Welnick. It seems to be a highly personal thing. It's not necessarily that you have to preserve a memory. I think a commitment to excellence in the genre of music you are playing is more important than building memorial shrines. I certainly feel that way as a ticket holder. Whatever, they certainly have the right to do what they want and I have the right to choose if I will go to a show. I'll do one more this summer and then done. I think what Bill & Micky are doing with disposable line-ups is more honorable and transparent than the kind of aping Furthur is doing. It's just sad. They have all the machinery there to give us a fantastically good time.

the best comment ever!Are you on the Furthur forum? Furthur.net Thanks again. very nice