Dead & Company Diva, Bob Weir, took it upon himself to break the first set curse with the band in Utah last night. I thought for a while that Weir just might sing everything. To start the show, Weir did his best Kobe Bryant impersonation. The brother took the ball and refused to pass. Dude was like my 5-year-old son when they break out a piñata at a birthday party. Didn’t wanna give anyone else a chance. It proved to be a winning formula last night as Stranger, Miracle and Wang Dang Doodle were all really strong and without problems. The band was tight out of the gates and for the first time of the tour for me, they had the same strength getting started as they have had finishing. I was beginning to wonder if Bob was gonna let anyone else take a swing at the Psychedelic Piñata or just sing everything himself, then Row Jimmy came along. Row Jimmy was timed perfectly and allowed Weir to catch his breath as well as allowing fans to get some water, a beer and use the restroom. I know, I know… Row Jimmy was your favorite song and I shouldn’t say that… It did sound pretty good. Mayer’s guitar playing was delicate and emitted much more emotion than I’ve heard from him in the past. It contained dynamics that I often feel are absent from his playing. I appreciate hearing him develop that kind of touch and I look forward to it continuing in the future.
Once Bob got some wind back, he used it to deliver Masterpiece. I still cue the Garcia track in my head for backup vocals during that one. Nobody can belt out the background vocals like Garcia. I imagine there are many of us that still hear him during the choruses of Masterpiece. It makes me smile just thinking about him on that one. Jack Straw continued a set dominated by Weir and executed with as much precision as I would hope for. I think when Jack Straw from Witchita shoots his buddy down, Weir could use some help from the rest of the band on vocals, small things that make big differences. He seems to go it alone. Big Boss Man made his tour debut and is a tune that lends itself pretty organically to John’s abilities. It came across as natural and unforced as the Sugaree that followed. Sugaree was packed with the kind of intensity that wrapped itself up and released itself through the cosmos with the power that makes it a favorite of mine for Mayer. That tune should have a regular spot in his rotation forever. If there’s one song that represents John’s place and contribution in Dead & Company, that’s probably the one. Promised Land closed the set and was the only song of the night that sounded like someone was playing a show from the 90s on a boombox that was running out of battery power. It still hit the mark and provided an exclamation point on the best played first set so far, according to my ears.
During the intermission portion of this piece, I wanna give a shout out to the streamers! When Dead & Company isn’t broadcasting official streams, the regular streamers like the Godfather, Taperrob , Water Girl Nora, Gratefully Medicated, Terrapin Radio, and last night, MagicPez! Thanks bro! I don’t know who many of you are but I thank you for your commitment to getting the music to those at home. I know it isn’t easy contributing like y’all do and it takes a lot of time out of your life that could be spent doing other things. You are appreciated enormously by so many people. I always wonder who some of you are and how I could give ya a hug! h2ogirlnora on Mixlr has some great shit running 24/7. She’s probably my favorite virtual DJ out there and I Love her forever! Many thanks!
The second set continued the diva dominated display with Weir sounding outstanding on Sailor-> Saint. A few nights in his own bed really paid off for Bob. He sounded fresh and free from irritation. I imagine he meditated sitting on an orange rock somewhere and by hearing the setlist, his focus was most likely himself. He breathed in “Bob” and breathed out “Weir”. Say what you will, the shit was working and working good!! For a brother that meditates all the time, you’d think he would give up trying to control shit so much.
It was refreshing to hear the first He’s Gone of the tour that wasn’t interrupted by bomb-sniffing dogs. That tune represents so much more than what it was written about. It’s become one of those musical moments that really roll the footage that is stored in my mind. So many people, places and times that have passed. It triggers my neurology to fully experience the emotions attached to all of those events with the same intensity as the day they occurred. As I travel back and through those spaces, I’m able to alter my response to them if I choose and move forward with some of the weight of those issues removed. He’s Gone has long been a vehicle that allows for the experience of healing past wounds. Another one of my favorite lines from The Long Strange Trip is Mickey talking about being in the transportation business. It’s a statement with powerful evidence to support its substance.
Crazy Fingers into Shakedown is the kind of combination that you get from Dead & Company that breaks the mold of where certain tunes tend to live in Grateful Dead Land. Hearing Shakedown in the middle of a show was unusual but unusually good! It closed the first half of the second set in fantastic fashion and was a tremendous springboard for the journey through Drums and Space. Standing on the Moon came out of Space with a gentle sweetness that caused me to exhale life’s troubles. Once again Weir sounded great and approached the song in a way that made it easy and relieving to hear. I’m not always crazy about his takes on Garcia ballads but SOTM was tremendous! GDTRFB was a perfect way to dust off the questionable emotions that lingered and move ahead with focus, love, and authority! The jams were great and we all got some Cornbread and Beans! U.S. Blues encores are part of the fabric of my life and the many Summer Times that have come and gone, my oh my!
This show was super solid from the first tune to the last. Opinions may vary but I think it was the most well-played show from start to finish so far(until the next). Not necessarily the best set or sets, just technically very good all the way through. Dead & Company are getting tighter with the required repetition and I was glad to hear much fewer moments of sonic discord. You can be certain that many surprises await the fortunate folks in Colorado this weekend! The best is undoubtedly yet to come. Wait until y’all hear what’s on the way! Dead & Company are gaining momentum and beginning to click technically. As long as the principles that power the music are stronger than the personalities that can tear it apart, All will be well!
For those that have been happy about the improvements in tempo, based on everyone’s visits to the dispensaries in Colorado, shit might slow down a little this weekend. Hot temperatures in Utah will give way to ideal conditions in Boulder. The weather report looks sweet for the weekend!!
Why do people always think there’s some kind of cryptic message in things I post? The truth is, I don’t know a damn thing about anything. I’m just a hack with a blog. If I talk about a Sombrero, people think there will be shows in Mexico in January. Mama Mia… After seeing Weir’s post from the grow house, I gotta admit, I thought there might be a cryptic message to it all. I tried to get this done over 2 days in 5 minute increments. It’s probably a little disheveled. I gotta split, completely outta time. Love You Forever!!!
Dead To The Core,
Dean Sottile (pronounced So Tilly)
@gd50th on Twitter
Grateful Dean on Facebook