Loogar, Dumpjack and Yail Bloor listen to the Dick's Picks Series

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:06 pm

Listened today while I was out working on the road so my comments are all from memory. I will say that this incarnation (with Hornsby and Welnick) is the first that I saw live (RFK '93). It also occurred to me today that the Dead should have broken up after the 15th Anniversary shows in 1980, Jerry should have just played with Grisman and the JG Band. There were some decent moments in '89 and '90 sure but the predominance of the 80's was really druggy and everything after '90 was, well, spotty. Anyway,

"Hell in a Bucket" - A late era "Reliable Rocker" and a great way to open any show EXCEPT that Bobby totally fuck it up almost from the jump. I wonder if anybody has made more money playing music with less talent?

"Cold Rain & Snow" - Pretty swell but Jerry probably hasn't been awake very long and is dragging a bit. Rehearsing might have been a good idea occasionally.

"Little Red Rooster" (Dixon) â€“ I'm a fan of this song on principle but this drags on a bit and Bobby, oh Bobby...Quite possibly the worst guitar tone in history.

"Stagger Lee" â€“ Pretty good. Nice song that you don't hear enough.

"Queen Jane Approximately" â€“ Phil really shows up with some swell playing here (And as a bonus he doesn't sing this or anything here). I bet Garcia Band would have done this 100x better but this is ok IMHO.

"Tennessee Jed" â€“ This song has had a tendency to drag going back to the mid 70's but this one didnt bother me as much. Its long but I didnt get bored.

"Cassidy" â€“ This just kicks all kinds of ass.

"Deal" â€“ As does this. Jerry kills it.

"Samson and Delilah" - Good second set opener, the drums sound strong [Note: This is the closest I'll get to listening to "Drums"]

"Iko Iko" - I'm in the camp that this is just a good time and tons of fun, accordion and all.

"Looks Like Rain" - I'm also in the (admittedly small) camp that this Cheese Fest is actually a good tune. Don't ask me why.

"He's Gone" - The first ten or so minutes is awesome but then it really starts to drag...I remember this part of Dead shows not fondly

"No MSG Jam"
"Drums"
"Space" - About a minute into "MSG" I skipped ahead and pretended I was outside the arena smoking cigs and trying to get my shit together.

"Standing on the Moon" - Glad I came back inside for this: Pretty well done but who isn't sleepy at this point? (band included)

"Lunatic Preserve" - I actually kinda liked this. It went somewhere in a short enough time that I was kept interested.

"I Need a Miracle" - Another Reliable Rocker. I'm a fan.

"Morning Dew" - Jerry catches his eighth wind and turns in a pretty nice read on this. If I had been at this show, I would have been excited.

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" - This is a pretty strong closer and roughly 1000x better than "Johnny B Goode" or "One More Saturday Night" one of which seemingly closed every show in this era.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

Ryan Adams tried to make the dead hip again, it was cute.

DumpJack · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:31 pm

jewels santana Wrote:

Ryan Adams tried to make the dead hip again, it was cute.

Was it?

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

DumpJack Wrote:

jewels santana Wrote:

Ryan Adams tried to make the dead hip again, it was cute.

Was it?

that lovable scamp gives good interviews.

Black Magic Putin · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:45 pm

I have no interest in this band/thread but I wanted to complement the driving forces behind what is kind of a cool project idea.

Dalen · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:51 pm

you are guys are waaaaaay too involved with a shitty band.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:57 pm

DumpJack Wrote:

jewels santana Wrote:

Ryan Adams tried to make the dead hip again, it was cute.

Was it?

I had a confused kid ask me what those songs were when he did four Dead and one Byrds tune a few years back. Just for reference, his versions of "He's Gone" and "Bird Song" were better than 90% of the Dead's.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:04 pm

jsh Wrote:

There are 36 Dick's Picks? Indeed, autumn down the tube.

Yeah, if you guys are real sweet, maybe we'll send around the DVD's with all of the audio files that DJ gave me as a wedding gift[sic]

DumpJack · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:57 pm

Okay, here's the next one for tomorrow or later tonight wherever you may be.

Dick's Picks Vol. 22

Quote:

There are many reasons the Grateful Dead are cultural icons; primary among them is their uncanny ability to stretch the boundaries and test the limits concerning any preconceptions or expectations from their music. Dick's Picks, Vol. 22 examines a band wrought with experimentation fuelled by the vigor of youth. This double-disc release compiles four sets -- two nights, two sets per night -- documented at the Kings Beach Bowl bowling alley in Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe, on February 23 and 24, 1968. The Dead were on the very cusp of what would become the band's second phase -- highlighted by the inclusion of keyboardist Tom "T.C." Constanten less than a month after this performance. His avant-garde influence can already be heard on some of the burgeoning material, such as "Born Cross-Eyed," and the "Alligator"/"Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)"/"Feedback" montage -- all of which would be included on their second long-player Anthem of the Sun. Even the Ron "Pigpen" McKernan-led blues standards -- which have been featured in the band's performance repertoire since their pre-Dead days as the Warlocks -- have somehow shifted during this era. The exemplary readings of "(It) Hurts Me Too" and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" on this set are exceedingly frenetic. In true Grateful Dead style, the performance is replete with surprises and musical diversions -- some anticipated, others not. The incipient "Dark Star" -- which clocks in at a relatively brief seven minutes -- is notable as a vehicle for Garcia's crystalline-toned fretwork. Deadheads with keen ears may note something familiar during "Feedback." A few seconds of this performance is included on Anthem of the Sun, during the album's waning "Feedback" section. Garcia returned to that segment when scoring a scene during the opening animation sequence of The Grateful Dead Movie.

Disc 1

Code:

http://www.hidelinks.com/?0uk79n7ajh

Disc 2

Code:

http://www.hidelinks.com/?36c5qwxv0f

jsh · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:37 pm

psyched to wake up tomorrow!

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:07 am

I'll kick this off--

Quote:

CAVEAT EMPTOR WARNING: This is not an audiophile recording! Many of you may have read the numerous Dick's Picks Caveat Emptors over the years and thought "Oh yeah... sure... whatever." Well, those old analog recording source exhibits many audio flaws including high distortion, low vocals, tape hiss, and missing pieces. No fair calling Customer Support and complaining! However, let it be known that this CD also includes some pretty damn exciting and historical music, and for that reason is brought to you with pride.

Viola Lee Blues

This is smoking. Completely a great show opener. Great example of the material that they were playing first few years live. Guitarwork is amazing at halfway point. I'm actually digging that this is a 20 minute first song to kick off the set. Not much filler between song #1 and #2.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:19 am

(It) Hurt Me Too

Another blues standard courtesy of Elmore James and Tampa Red. Is it me, or did Skynyrd steal some of this for "Tuesday's Gone"? Maybe its just the guitar tone, but seriously think about it while listening.

PIGPEN! Damn, that harmonica sounds good this morning.

DumpJack · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:19 am

Flying Rabbit Wrote:

Viola Lee Blues

This is smoking. Completely a great show opener. Great example of the material that they were playing first few years live. Guitarwork is amazing at halfway point. I'm actually digging that this is a 20 minute first song to kick off the set. Not much filler between song #1 and #2.

I've got this on at an unreasonably high volume for 7:18am. Smoking is an apt description here.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:24 am

Dark Star

Early Dark Star performances are always good. Interesting also that they waited until the 3rd song to do an original. Also, this seems like one of the shortest versions of the song, coming in under 7 minutes.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:28 am

China Cat Sunflower

Ok, that works somehow. Dark Star>CCS. Dark Star is kinda a downer in a way, and then it segues perfectly into CCS. 2 classic GD tracks back-to-back.

I kinda like the "Europe '72" version of this better. It had more time under its belt by then.

jasn · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:36 am

I think I'm only a few minutes behind Rabbit. The first two tracks were cool because they're a more raw and bluesy GD guitar sound I'm not as familiar with. I really liked the segues from Dark Star into China Cat into The Eleven. The groove now fits like a glove.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:36 am

The Eleven

Always a song I look at the title and scratch my head at what it sounds like, then when it plays I'm like "oh yeah". Through this exercise, I've come to the conclusion that the prior thought is fairly indicative to this track. Its not anything special, its just there. A solid jam piece, but nothing that I'm too worried about if I miss some of. Filler.

DumpJack · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:38 am

jasn Wrote:

I think I'm only a few minutes behind Rabbit. The first two tracks were cool because they're a more raw and bluesy GD guitar sound I'm not as familiar with. I really liked the segues from Dark Star into China Cat into The Eleven. The groove now fits like a glove.

I'm on 'Hurts Me Too' right now. This is the stuff I really love and missed in the Dead post-'72.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:41 am

DumpJack Wrote:

jasn Wrote:

I think I'm only a few minutes behind Rabbit. The first two tracks were cool because they're a more raw and bluesy GD guitar sound I'm not as familiar with. I really liked the segues from Dark Star into China Cat into The Eleven. The groove now fits like a glove.

I'm on 'Hurts Me Too' right now. This is the stuff I really love and missed in the Dead post-'72.

Yeah, and when they did play it, there was a lack of the grittiness. I truly believe there is a difference in believing what yr playing and just playing it because you like it.

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:50 am

Turn On Your Lovelight

Who hasn't done this song? I'm digging this version of the song. Is that Pigpen singing? Great stuff. Awww call and response. Nice.

Drums build-up, I'm digging. This is where that garage element you were telling people about yesterday comes into play.

DumpJack · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:51 am

Flying Rabbit Wrote:

DumpJack Wrote:

jasn Wrote:

I think I'm only a few minutes behind Rabbit. The first two tracks were cool because they're a more raw and bluesy GD guitar sound I'm not as familiar with. I really liked the segues from Dark Star into China Cat into The Eleven. The groove now fits like a glove.

I'm on 'Hurts Me Too' right now. This is the stuff I really love and missed in the Dead post-'72.

Yeah, and when they did play it, there was a lack of the grittiness. I truly believe there is a difference in believing what yr playing and just playing it because you like it.

Or just playing it because you have to. Bloor brought up a good point earlier about how they should have disbanded around 1980. From what I've read, Garcia's heart wasn't even in the band those last 15 or so years but was more or less obligated to keep it going. Hence all the heroin and ice cream, I guess.

On China Cat right now; this show is hot stuff.

Sex, Drugs, and Dave · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:56 am

Dalen Wrote:

you are guys are waaaaaay too involved with a shitty band.

qft...

Flying Rabbit · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:56 am

DumpJack Wrote:

Flying Rabbit Wrote:

DumpJack Wrote:

jasn Wrote:

I think I'm only a few minutes behind Rabbit. The first two tracks were cool because they're a more raw and bluesy GD guitar sound I'm not as familiar with. I really liked the segues from Dark Star into China Cat into The Eleven. The groove now fits like a glove.

I'm on 'Hurts Me Too' right now. This is the stuff I really love and missed in the Dead post-'72.

Yeah, and when they did play it, there was a lack of the grittiness. I truly believe there is a difference in believing what yr playing and just playing it because you like it.

Or just playing it because you have to. Bloor brought up a good point earlier about how they should have disbanded around 1980. From what I've read, Garcia's heart wasn't even in the band those last 15 or so years but was more or less obligated to keep it going. Hence all the heroin and ice cream, I guess.

On China Cat right now; this show is hot stuff.

True. The side projects like Bloor said--Grisman, etc.--were a lot better during those years.

jasn · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:57 am

Flying Rabbit Wrote:

Turn On Your Lovelight

Who hasn't done this song? I'm digging this version of the song. Is that Pigpen singing? Great stuff. Awww call and response. Nice.

+1

I'm still wondering how you can set up in a bowling alley? "Take lanes 24-36 and put on these doofy shoes while you play."

DumpJack · **Posted:** Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:57 am

Flying Rabbit Wrote:

Turn On Your Lovelight

Who hasn't done this song? I'm digging this version of the song. Is that Pigpen singing? Great stuff. Awww call and response. Nice.

Drums build-up, I'm digging. This is where that garage element you were telling people about yesterday comes into play.

I've made entire playlists out of just this song.

Loogar, Dumpjack and Yail Bloor listen to the Dick's Picks Series

Who is online