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kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1285
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 6:17 am:   Edit Post

I got my birthday wish and caught Phil at the NJ Perf. Arts Center in LOVELY (sic) downtown Newark, NJ this Tuesday night past. While Newark leaves much to be desired (I went to school there and currently work there as well), the traffic was horrible with parking not much better, the venue is gorgeous. It's a brand-new opera house designed for ballets, plays, etc. with symphony orchestras (this is the home of the NJSO), so the acoustics, seating comfort/layout, and the aesthetics are first-class.

On to the show: no warm-up...Phil came on before 8:00pm for a 7:30 show. Two long sets, a short break and one encore....I didn't get out of there until Midnight!

Lot's of Pig Pen-era ditties like "Cosmic Charlie" and "That's It For The Other One"! Rousing versions of "Sugaree", "Althea" (2nd tune), "Truckin'", "Peggy-O" and the Stone's "Gimme Shelter" were stand-outs. They did a few country-style numbers that I didn't know the name of or I plain didn't know, but they were a good change of pace. It sounded like the Band, with all the multi-instrumental accompaniment going on.

Barry Sless was awesome! He sounds more like Jerry than Jimmy Herring. He's great on pedal steel as well...He went to the school of Buddy Cage it appears, LOL! Newbie PLAF member Larry Campbell was great as well...Guitar, Pedal Steel, Mandolin, violin, etc. As Phil put it" If it has strings, he can play it!" He sings well too! I've never been a Chris Robinson or Black Crowes fan, but he aquitted himself well. He did most of the singing (excepting Cosmic and The Other One), and his performance was respectful to Jerry (If you've heard his Zep stuff w/Jimmy Page, you know what I'm talking about, LOL!). The whole band was tight and sounded great.

The house was packed, and everyone danced, including the ushers! What a great way to cap off a great birthday! Usually, my B'days s*ck, especially since the BIG 40 loomed, but a great girlfriend and PLAF made this one for the ages! I can't remember a better B'day ever!

Do yourself a favor and catch Phil this tour. Ticket prices are reasonable and you more than get your money's worth. This is as close to a Dead 40th Anniversary tour as your likely to get, so enjoy it.

My only dissappointment: NO "Unbroken Chain"! Didn't Phil know it was my Birthday? LOL!

Highly Recommended!

Cheers,

Kevin

BTW, how many out there remember where you were/what you were doing on 11/22/63? Anybody older than me should know what I am referring to.

(Message edited by kmh364 on November 24, 2005)
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 720
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 7:22 am:   Edit Post

i was in 5th grade class and at 2pm they made the announcement my friend
and our lives were never the same.,,,

i downloaded this show kev
was very good
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 721
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 7:23 am:   Edit Post

ps- HAPPY FRKN BIRTHDAY
consider the series one my present to ya-lol
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 220
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 10:27 am:   Edit Post

Happy belated birthday Kevin! Glad you enjoyed the show. Phil definitely still knows how to throw down - and he puts a pretty good band together. Phil has been playing a couple Ryan Adams tunes - possibly the "country-style" material you heard.

Hey Jeff - keep us informed if you happen to run across downloads for the early December shows with Scofield.

Couple of weeks until I'll be checking out the other wing of the Dead - An Evening With Bob Weir and Ratdog as it's being billed here. Small venue should provide for a night of hot sweaty dancing here in Sin City. =)

Tom
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1288
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 5:05 am:   Edit Post

Thanks for the belated b'day wishes, guys. Being born on THAT day is to anyone near my generation akin to being born on 9/11/01 (or any other infamous day in history)...it's a horrible legacy that you carry for the rest of your life. Mom tells me I was born within a hour or two of the assassination. Seing that Zapruder film clip, the John-John casket salute, and the eternal flame at Arlington Nat'l all over the news year after year on your b'day (as a child particularly) has a profound effect on you.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1289
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 5:10 am:   Edit Post

FWIW, According to the bootleg on BTREE, this was the setlist from 11/22/05 at the NJPAC:

Jam
Scarlet Begonias
Althea
Long Black Veil
Tennessee Jed
Peggy-O
Sugaree
Cosmic Charlie
Just Another Whistle Stop>Jam
Big Railroad Blues
Caution
Cowboy Movie>Jam
Gimme Shelter
Cryptical
The Other One
Truckin'
I Know You Rider

Encore: Do Right Woman

I can't remember for the life of me which tune Phil whipped out the Godfather, but use it he did, albeit for one tune only. His Modulus VI got most of the duty.
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 725
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

i still feel the godfather(guild hybird) is the best sounding bass i have ever heard. twas a good show kev- i enjoyed listening to it last night...
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 2639
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 8:58 am:   Edit Post

Happy Birthday Kevin!
And yes, I too remember the announcement in school.

(Message edited by davehouck on November 25, 2005)
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 222
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:00 am:   Edit Post

Wow - Cowboy Movie!! - One of my favorites from If I Could Only Remember My Name.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1296
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post

Thanks, Dave.

Tom: You mean from David Crosby's solo album? That's one I haven't heard (shame on me)!
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 224
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:48 am:   Edit Post

Yeah - the Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra - released as a David Crosby solo album. Lots of Bay area musicians, including the Dead, Airplane, David Freiberg, etc. Blows Against the Empire is another - released as a Paul Kantner project, I believe. There are other recordings, some released, some bootlegs, that came out of Wally Heider's studio from that time.
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 485
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 12:27 pm:   Edit Post

Kevin, happy birthday to you. I remember the teachers all being called to the principal's office, my teacher coming back a couple of minutes later crying, and telling all the kids what happened. I was 8 years old and knew enough to understand it a little bit.
Rich

P.S. Not to totally hijack the thread, I'm glad the concert was great.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1297
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

There's quite a blog about the show on the philzone talksite that is linked in the "Phil In Reading PA" thread, along with pix. Apparently, Phil used the Godfather (called "Big Brown" on philzone) in "Caution", but hat was it. You could definitely hear the difference when he played it...that thing thunders!

Thanks for all the b'day wishes everyone...this is the best one I can remember!
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 754
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 7:47 am:   Edit Post

HERES YOUR BDAY PRESENT KEVO
phil has released the sdbd as a free download
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1355
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 8:09 am:   Edit Post

Where, pray tell?
flaxattack
Senior Member
Username: flaxattack

Post Number: 755
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 8:19 am:   Edit Post

well btree has it- the downlaod was slow like 25kb
so i went to the further site and am downloading at 700 kb
email me if you need to download further
i know what it feels like to have a show released...
i am on 7 grateful dead cds-lol
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 240
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Friday, December 02, 2005 - 6:42 pm:   Edit Post

The archive has Phil's official digital soundboard release of this show. Amazing quality.

http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=31415&from=BA

Tom
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1358
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, December 03, 2005 - 5:55 am:   Edit Post

Thanks, Tom! That really was a great show, wasn't it? The quality sound is nice bonus! Just no d*mn "Unbroken Chain", waaaaaaah! LOL!
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1372
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Saturday, December 03, 2005 - 9:47 am:   Edit Post

11/23 at the NJPAC is awesome as well! I think the songlist is even better than the one on my B'day!

Shakedown Street
Wheels on Fire
The Wheel
Built to Last
No More Do I
Lovelight>Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms>Lovelight
Sittin' on Top of the World
Cats Under the Stars
Bird Song
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
St. Stephen
Eyes of the World
Uncle John's Band
Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
Donor's Rap/Band Intros.
Encore: Dark Star

http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=31314

Enjoy!
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1382
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 6:21 am:   Edit Post

This tour is great! I'm having a grand time reliving past glories by exploring LAMA's recent postings. All those great, obscure 60's Pig-era tunes are just the sh*t!
tom_z
Advanced Member
Username: tom_z

Post Number: 242
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post

Kevin - after you've explored this tour, check out some of the stuff from 1999. Phil had a very dynamic lineup back then. There are shows with various combinations of Jorma, Warren, David Nelson, Merl Saunders, Billy Kreutzmann, Kimock, Sless, and more. Many are very crispy soundboards - excellent sound quality.

Tom
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1402
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 9:53 am:   Edit Post

Tom:

Will do, thanks.

I hate to admit that it really took it out of me when Jerry passed, so for years I didn't follow what the rest of the band was doing, and I didn't listen to much Dead. I basically ignored their solo stuff (i.e, Ratdog, PLAF, Drum Planet, etc.), and didn't even bite when "The Other Ones" toured. As a lark, I bought tix to the first "Dead" tour in '03...like it was some fatal accident you couldn't help but look at. Once I saw that the vibe was still there, even without Jerry, it was all good! That was my ticket back to all things Dead, and I've been having a blast re-discovering my past glories ever since. I'm sorry that I ignored those guys for so long as they deserve all the support they can get for all they've given to us over the years, plus I gypped myself out of a lot of great music and fun.

I'm definitely trying to make up for it now.

FWIW, I had tears in my eyes when I learned of Jerry's death 10 yrs. past. What made it worse was that I hadn't seen the Dead since that infamous tour when Jerry was recovering from his diabetic coma. The last show I saw (at NYC's MSG) was pathetic...Jerry was enormous and lethargic to an extreme and was, to me, just going thru the motions: worst show I was ever at. I had my ex-wife and two friends (another couple) with me, and it was all their first Dead show. I was mortified and embarassed at bringing those newbies to such a poor showing, even though none of them knew the difference. Regardless, it p*ssed me off so bad, I deliberately never saw them again while Jerry was alive. Talk about biting your nose off to spite your face! I always figured there'd be plenty of time to see 'em...and then Jerry went and O/D'ed. I really felt bad about that ill-fated decision, and once Jerry had died, the regret overcame me as I knew there was no way I could make up for that hasty (and stupid) decision.

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