Forum MVP comesatime Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I always felt that the first song set the pace of the show , or maybe it set my pace , or both for that matter ... but many , if not all pre-show conversations included " what are they going to open with " ... the later conversations unfortunately included " I hope Jerry's doing ok today " ... but still , we were always excited about the first song and it became sort of a game to guess song one ... of course you would have to get creative during those big MSG runs , but I always looked for a Bertha or Iko opener ... Subject is not limited to the GD show openers and should include DSO and Furthur show openers !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just a dream Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Here Comes Sunshine Miss. 1/2 Step Dark Star [1969] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP cm_hayden Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Bertha, Playin' usually indict a lively night. Deal, Sugaree usually meant Jerry is blowing the roof off tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP bs69 Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I always felt that the first song set the pace of the show , or maybe it set my pace , or both for that matter ... but many , if not all pre-show conversations included " what are they going to open with " ... the later conversations unfortunately included " I hope Jerry's doing ok today " ... but still , we were always excited about the first song and it became sort of a game to guess song one ... of course you would have to get creative during those big MSG runs , but I always looked for a Bertha or Iko opener ... Love a Half Step opener, also love Stranger openers on Bobby night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP comesatime Posted July 18, 2011 Author Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Love a Half Step opener, also love Stranger openers on Bobby night. Bobby night - Stranger ... Hell In A Bucket got the show off to a good start also ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJed Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Great question. I have lots of favorites but, if I have to pick one, it would be: Help/Slip/Franklins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave t Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 a couple of the best shows i saw opened with morning dew; wash dc 6/10/73 and jersey city 9/27/72. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanAY Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'll wait for someone to throw tomatoes at me, but I really enjoyed the Furthur show in Reading with "Celebration." When I hear the the P&F recordings from the early 00's, that one stands out to me. Nice Barraco vocals, typically. I love a good Half Step opener, but there is one problem I have with it: if the Half Step cooks just right - I'm talking one of those mega-powerful Half Step's with the truly epic "across the Rio Grande - oh," and the guitar is just perfect, and the energy...then I don't think it can be topped. Something makes me think that the show can somehow only go downhill from a perfect Half Step, because that's a PERFECT opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddy Waters Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 My favorite Openers in this order: Jack Straw 1/2 Step MIght As Well Honorable Mention: Cold Rain and Snow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP New York Steve Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 My favorite Openers in this order: Jack Straw 1/2 Step MIght As Well Honorable Mention: Cold Rain and Snow All good choices, I'll take a bucket or stranger if Bobby takes the lead... these days, half step by far if Bobby would stay out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP Tea Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 My favorite Openers in this order: Jack Straw 1/2 Step MIght As Well Honorable Mention: Cold Rain and Snow Very Close to mine: 1/2 Step Jack Straw Bertha 1st Alt: Shakedown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHeyne Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I haven't been on the forum in over a year. It's nice to be back. I agree with a lot of what has been stated here. 1/2 Step is just such an awesome tune in every conceivable way (one of the songs that most aptly epitomizes the GD sound, in my opinion), so I always loved it as an opener. However, sfagan09's point is a good one: When a great 1/2 Step opener is followed by something like Me & My Uncle>Mexicali, you can't help but experience a bit of a let-down (of course, this is the case with any really strong opener). When it's Bobby's turn, I love Stranger because it can really open up and get interesting, and a raucous Jack Straw is always fun, too. Question: How come nobody mentioned Shakedown? Is that an oversight, or are people legitimately no that into it as an opener (seems hard to believe)? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP VincentPuleo Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 a couple of the best shows i saw opened with morning dew; wash dc 6/10/73 and jersey city 9/27/72. damn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugdog Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Stranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP arm Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Bertha, Playin' usually indict a lively night. Deal, Sugaree usually meant Jerry is blowing the roof off tonight. The Dead almost never opened with Playin' - maybe 5 - 6 times ever, including the big 9/82 flirtation with doing so. Interesting to think where they could have gone with shows had they done it more often. Based on shows I attended, my favorite openers were: Jack Straw, Shakedown Street and The Music Never Stopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP acududeman Posted July 18, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Here Comes Sunshine Stranger Hell in a Bucket Alabama Getaway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypnotist collector Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Music Never stop, never stop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP Supplicated Velvet Thunder Posted July 19, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Here Comes Sunshine Stranger Hell in a Bucket Alabama Getaway REALLY feel this list. (especially love DSO shows that open with these) but gotta say I'd have to go with promised land or jack straw as far as GD shows.... these songs really speak to me, especially the specific opening lines "left my home in norfolk, va" being from VA, and "we can share the women, we can share the wine" for too many reasons to really get into on here. then there is the whole very uh, churchy, for lack of a better term, feel to both of the songs for me... like breaking bread and preparing for a journey and whatnot.... really gets me going. as far as Furthur openers.... any song they are letting John sing at the moment. hehe, cause then the show is usually a REALLY good one lol. (Jon just threw in that Golden Road is a particularly fun one with them, and I agree) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP Dstone5553 Posted July 19, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I've always been partial to 'Mmm Bop.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP Supplicated Velvet Thunder Posted July 19, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I've always been partial to 'Mmm Bop.' we actually had a super fun conversation about the original mmmm bop with some kids just the other day thanks for making me smile!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonomajon Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Sugaree always brought a smile to my face as an opener...like 12-28-78 which I listened to over the weekend...I forgot what a monster that show is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP cm_hayden Posted July 19, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 The opener for my first GD show was Truckin' (12/14/71). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subcooler Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Bertha has been favorite opener since 1st time I seen them start a show with it! Just a good indication of the energy about to pour out from the stage.......when Bertha lead the way! Peace, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP FunkyBass13 Posted July 20, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Samba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum MVP Island Bro Posted July 20, 2011 Forum MVP Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 I like how Here Comes Sunshine sets a great tone, but I also really dig the ripple of energy that goes through the crowd when they bust into Shakedown...implying some sort of intensity being set up for the evening.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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