Mojo Hand

So great. Band played fantastic. fOTd, Chiba/rider, shakedown highlights for me. Once I got my sound Siituated, lift off was achieved. Kudos to the band for Being able to connect in unusual circumstances. Something wrong with Barraco voice????? Lisa on stage for 80’s show? Skipped far from me in 1st set. Barraco hardly sang a note. Love the amount of dancing space. Car speakers and good positioning Allowed me to completely Tune out groups of annoying talkers on both sides of me. Nice option not afforded in traditional spaces. Two groups of young people more interested in selfies and showing that they’re at a concert as opposed to actually being present at a concert. Annoying. bYO is a great thing! so good to dance again and dance I did! Gorgeous night. Perfect weather. Pretty moon.

Not arguing or disagreeing with your politics Rude. Just trying to point out that the only thing that keeps the DSO Forum from turning into the same political shit show that motivated you to leave Facebook is that those on this forum who disagree with you choose not to engage. Hoping it stays that way and looking forward to brighter times ahead. Getting excited for Philly!

A "politics folder" would be a good way to go also.

Rude - I don't mean to be critical and I am sorry if perceived that way. I just want to offer an opinion which came about as a thought from your post which I quoted above. I value and enjoy this forum and want to mention something that could become a potential issue for the forum in the future. Rude - you mention that you were forced to leave Facebook due to the exposed hypocrisy of others. Based on the context of your post above, I am assuming you are referring to hypocrisy in the political arena. In my experiences, Deadheads come in all political shapes and sizes. It is a strong possibility that there are many here who disagree with your political leanings and may even be staunch supporters of our current administration. You have made many political statements in recent months, and I must admit that I am always curious if there will be rebuttals to follow. Fortunately, there have not been many. The reason I say fortunately is because my fear is that too much political discourse would ensue. Soon enough, people would be tuning out of this site for exactly the same reason you have chosen to leave Facebook. In my opinion, it is best to leave politics out of the DSO Forum...no matter how self-assured one is that he/she is on the correct side of the discussion. For the record. Just in case you are wondering what my motivation may be in the above statement, I agree with many of your political statements and disagree with others. I would certainly enjoy talking politics and societal issues with someone like you. I like talking politics with intelligent, well-informed individuals. You are certainly that. I am a down the middle Independent with some left and Socialist leanings, as well as some right and Libertarian leanings. However, in these crazy times, any safe-haven where politics are off-limits is a welcome reprieve. I have always viewed this music and the community surrounding it as the world's greatest safe haven. We unite and find value and love for each other through our shared love of this music ...which helps us to accept, respect, and welcome our differences in the world at large. Rude - I take no issue with your political opinions. I just think about your Facebook statement and by extension the possible same thing occurring to the DSO Forum. I am quite confident that there are a multitude of political opinions amongst this group. If everyone posted political commentary with regularity....this site could very quickly erode into something completely unrecognizable and not all that pleasant. Perhaps I am looking at this the wrong way. I recognize that I am a bit of an outsider here. I like using this platform as an on-line community to discuss matters of Grateful Dead and DSO. I love that it's here and I enjoy reading other people's thoughts on my favorite music. That being said, I am aware that that this site also exists as a means of communication for a group of tour friends and therefore my thoughts above may not exactly apply. Perhaps political commentary on this site should just be viewed as banter amongst friends. Either way.....at least we all know we can agree on black licorice.

I remember them playing take me to the river a few times towards the end. Specifically at Memphis.

10/19/89

9/8/88. My first Grateful Dead show and the first time I tried hallucinogenics. The day everything changed. Super excited to see it show up on a DSO list. Not long after Jerry died I wrote a song about the Grateful Dead. Titled it in honor of my first show. Here are the lyrics. “Spectrum ‘88” You gave the food of love to those who came to listen. We gave it back to you. The dust has cleared and your rays they still glisten. Your legacy is true. A song of love...a song of adventure A song to help you get through the night. A song so pure it could hold all the answers....to life. Thank you boys, you’ve done well. I hope you’re proud of yourselves. Thank you boys, you’ve done well by me. Inspiration bred a wonderful creation. It bears no label or a name. Belonging to no single generation. Were you the players or the game? A song of chance....a song of desolation. A song to help you see the light. A song so strong it spurred on a nation To new heights. Thank you boys, you’ve done well. i hope you’re proud of yourselves. Thank you boys you’ve done well by me.

excellent show. Eaton seemed to really be into the show last night. He was pretty active on the stage. Eaton announced the loss of a close family member at the beginning of the show. Condolences to Eaton and thanks for playing through your loss. Also, it was the anniversary of Jerry's death and they said Matt Reynolds too. When I first got into the venue, I was a little concerned. Most of my area was sitting and I was actually asked to sit down. Took a bathroom break during Duprees and and when I came back, found a new spot with totally better energy. The energy kept gaining steam throughout the night until it seemed like the whole place was up and moving. I bounced around a lot and my favorite area was in the couple rows above the main aisle stage left. There was a good group of dancers in that aisle and security hassled no-one. Of all the DSO original setlists I have seen, this was my favorite. I don't like too many rarities in my setlists or mixing of eras. This setlist stayed pretty true to mid 80's thru early 90's. The first 3 to open the show (stranger/loser/minglewood) were stellar. Minglewood was downright nasty! Me and My Uncle was great. Strange rhythm to Big River. I think DSO put a completely original spin on Big River last night. A little slower and bluesier pace. Not sure if that was from a Dead styling of Big River, but don't think so. Wasn't too crazy about the Big River and it took from what is always one of my favorite pairings. Deal was smoking. Lots of gambling songs in first set to go with the Casino venue. Box of Rain is usually not a live favorite....but they killed it last night. Really beautifully played. Help/Slip/Frank was sick. Mattson tore up Franklin's. Franklin's was among highlights of the night. Terrapin was a monster! Dare I say......I think DSO is making me a fan of Truckin. Song never did anything for me until seeing DSO do it a few times recently. Great truckin. last night. Mission in the Rain was the highlight of the evening for me. Just gorgeous. Really thought that Eaton, Mattson, and Barraaco shined in so many moments last night. On the morning Jerry died I was camping on the Mississippi River during a cross country trip with my girlfriend. Being on the river that Jerry and the boys so often sung about really made it a special day for me. I remember sitting in my campground that morning and looking out on the river (somewhere in Minnesota) and feeling that I was meant to experience Jerry's death right there in that spot and moment, Very spiritual for me. DSO playing Black Muddy River on the anniversary of his death brought that moment back to me last night so vividly. Thanks DSO.

I hate small food.

That was generally my point. Aiko and Women r smarter are essentially the same song with different lyrics.

I love Aiko. I love Women ard Smarter. Not sure how I would feel about them paired together.

There’s an interesting topic. Take it or leave it on the Dylan covers (only as it pertains to dead concerts ....not the Dylan song itself) Take It: Masterpiece Baby Blue desolation row she Belongs to me watchtower maggies farm leave it: queen jane Tom Thumb blues Lot to laugh train to cry ballad of a thin man knockin on heaven door Quinn the Eskimo stuck inside a mobile visions of johanna Now imagine the above as a set list. Throw drums /space in the middle and it’s almost full. That is one boring setlist.

One man’s Victim or the Crime is another man’s Death Don’t Have No Mercy.

Great first set. I got a call from my wife at set break that my son was very sick and I had to leave. BUMMER! He is totally fine now. Little punk stole my second set from me. Feel Like a Stranger had what seemed like a totally different rhythm and pace to it. Wondering if the band was having a hard time finding the groove or it was intentional....or maybe I was just hearing things? Had a hard time achieving lift-off......Half Step finally got me there. Really well played. This was the second time I've seen Eaton do Masterpiece. I love what he puts into the song. That song really holds a special meaning to me. Of all the songs I've learned on guitar in my lifetime......that's the only one that I have never stopped playing. It was one of the very first songs I learned, and I still strum it every now and again 25 years later. The lyrics are just so perfect. Thank You Rob. Birdsong was really well done. Jeff was having a really good night. 3 great selections in the first set and he killed them all. Kind of figured it was a 90's show when the first set cut short. Based on what they had played over the last week, my call last night was for an 80's show with Help, Slip, Frank. I lived in Princeton JCT, NJ for a long time (town right next to Princeton). I don't go back to Princeton very often, but really appreciate what a beautiful town it is whenever I get to visit. Enjoyed that part of the night last night. Lots of dance space. McCarter was not full. Dance seen was pretty subdued in 1st set. Met up with a good high school friend inside. Had fun dancing and wished I got to stay and dance to that Aiko and Throwing Stones in the 2nd Set. Oh Well.....gotta wait until summer. Peace.

2nd set pre-drums list is huge!

Not much to dance to until the end. tough set list. I would have never been able to catch a groove at this show. too many songs from the weaker end of the catalog.....some not really even part of the catalog.

Yes and thanks for asking. So glad I picked Friday. They were just so amazing. The setlist was right up my alley. And the dance space was plentiful. What a night. I have so much more to say about the playing. It is so cathartic to shake dem bones sometimes. Much needed and still in the afterglow. Praise DSO and Happy New Year.

Filler. That’s what love will make you do.

12/28/87 So cool. Excellent 80’s Dead. Played so well. Highlights were sugaree, Cumberland, and sugar mags. Thank thank thank you Eaton for a beautiful Masterpiece.

I am not sure I agree with that statement. Jerry died an addict. He died a slow death. His end days were unhealthy by his own making. He was at a low point in his professional career because his playing was generally sluggish, sloppy, and uninspired. I would say that he definitely did not “nail the dismount”.

I had the good fortune of being at the RFK Casey Jones and the Unbroken Chain in Philly. The crowd reaction to Unbroken Chain was euphoric and big. However, for me it was one of those nights that exemplify the downward trajectory of the band. It was spring of '95. The setlist that night featured an Easy Answers, Way to Go Home, Corrina, Mathilda, and a very poorly played Unbroken Chain. The song never really meant that much to me, so the bust-out was not significant for me and it was very poorly played. Numerous buzzkills in this concert, as was typical for the time period. I've never listened back. I'm sure there were some well played moments, but those '95 setlists could never hold me for very long. On the other hand......the Casey Jones bust-out was one of the highlights in the best week of my life. What a day at RFK! Not the best Dead show I have ever seen....but a great one for me and a day I will never forget. I have never experienced group exuberance like that Casey Jones. Casey Jones is also not a very important song for me.....but the moment was huge. The colors, the smiles, the green grass, the sun, the dancing, the train whistle, the liquid! I will never be able to adequately express what that moment felt like.

Good stuff. Much appreciated. You must be a statistician.

This is a question for the prognosticators in group. I have a houseful of out of town guests the week between x-mas and NYE. I can only get away for one show. Philly 12/28 or 12/29 works best. So.....if you had to guess based on history, does either one of those nights have a greater likelihood of being a recreation than the other? I looked at the history, and I'm not noticing any trends, but there are many of who are far more versed than me. Getting ready to buy a ticket and figured I would seek-out guesses. I definitely have a preference for recreations versus originals and have hit a string of originals lately. Hoping to put my money on the right date. Go ahead and throw me a guess if you have any thoughts. No judgments if the guess turns out wrong.

Thank you rob.

Or......they could save those rare songs for fillers?