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5/9/2012 Plymoth NH


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Love these reviews of the original (from LMA):

Under-Noticed Classic

This little-known show is a real gem. It's right at a point of major transition - Keith is on board, but no Donna yet. The band is clearly energized by the added sophistication of his piano, but he is clearly not comfortably integrated yet, so Bobby still carries most of the rhythm duties, with Keith embelishing. Phil still sings the high harmonies.

The material is a mixture of old familiars and new ones that would appear a year later on Europe 72. The band is confident, both instrumentally and vocally, simultaneously energetic and relaxed.

Listening to this show, you'd never anticipate how much the band's sound would change in just the next few months, as Donna took over high harmonies, and Keith's piano took over primary rhythm status. Both Keith's piano and Donna's harmonies formalized the arrangements of the songs, as did re-adding Mickey a little later; there is a level of looseness and innocense in this show that was gone forever in just a few short months.

I won't do a play-by-play of the setlist, but a couple of highlights: the number for the intro of BIODTL was 25, and Billy blew it, ending at 24. So they started over, but you can hear Jerry re-set the count to 3. The Other One is a great reading, going deep into the void without any frantic flailing. Energetic but calm, extremely confident, then segueing into a Wharf Rat that is somehow both exquisitely delicate and ferociously muscular. As great as the best '72 tp '74 performances could get, this type of joyous looseness was over once the piano was fully integrated into the mix.

The combination of new sophisticated material and old flexibility, recorded remarkably crisp and clear, makes this show irresistable. Get it

Set 1

Bertha

Beat It On Down The Line

China Cat Sunflower ->

I Know You Rider

El Paso ->

Sugaree

Jack Straw

Big Railroad Blues

Me And Bobby McGee

Loser

Playing In The Band

Tennessee Jed

You Win Again

Mexicali Blues

Casey Jones

One More Saturday Night

Set 2

Truckin' ->

Drums ->

The Other One ->

Me And My Uncle ->

The Other One ->

Wharf Rat ->

Sugar Magnolia

Encore

Johnny B. Goode

My assignment to cover The Dead concert

I was eighteen and under the influence. I was guilty of being intoxicated by rock music. I was on a mission. I knew what I had to do. My moment in to shine lay before me as I entered the Daniel Meyer Coliseum on November 14, 1971 with credentials! I had been allowed to have early access to the venue by means of a pass. My high school newspaper (The Eastern Hills Highlander I think) had “sent” me to cover the show for its intrinsic cultural value. I was ever so humbled to oblige my duties for my fellow students.

It was still warmish for November but perfect for one of my own tie-died creations consisting of white tie-died jeans and t-shirt. My mid-back length red hair in a pony tail, my camera bag and notebook clutched close and I was “IN”. As I sauntered across the basketball floor like a cat that’d just gotten the mouse I could still smell the musty sweat of the ball players. I thought to myself “this is going to change when the show starts”. The noisy commotion that drew me towards the back of the stage was the roadies off-loading the bands gear. Sauntering in that direction continued.

I was a ghost it seemed as I walked freely from room to room looking for someone to interview. There were no security concerns back in the day. The New Riders had too much going on and didn’t want to talk nor stand still for a picture so I went through another door. It was hot back here so I followed the cooler air to a room that had a door open. I went in stood just inside the door getting cooled off when a voice said “Would you like something to drink?” I turned to look at the source and wound up face to face with Phil Lesh the bass man for the Grateful Dead. I explained what I was here for and he motioned me to the double coca-cola coolers full of every kind of beer and soft drinks and passed me a joint. Hesitant, I thought is this a setup? Nah, this was the Dead backstage!

There I was in dreamland with a real touring rock band! My thoughts were not about how great the Dead were instead I was interested in the set list and what sort of bass Phil plays. I was in my own rock band at the time so it was a musician thing. The bond cemented I remember asking Phil if they were going to do Casey Jones that night. I had purchased “Workingman’s Dead” the year before and that was one of my favorites on the album. He said he didn’t think so but that he’d ask the others.

Sound check over everyone gathered for last minute snacking and drinking then it was on with The New Riders of The Purple Sage. Pandemonium insued. The Sage done In true Dead fashion an hour or so later they took the stage. Being allowed on stage to photograph the band all I could think about was “so this is what it’s like to play in front of this many people!” Cool. Click click click and off stage I went. Thinking I had made the biggest score of my life I rolled up my film and watched the rest of the show. When Casey Jones came up in the set my life had been completed.

I still drag the original photos from the show out and go through them every so often while listening to “Drivin my train….”

Charles C. Smith II

Fort Worth , Texas

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Dear DSO Band, Crew and fellow dancers and spinners,

I am back in my office writing to you now. I just wanted to write and say thank you and my lucky stars for that spectacular 3 night run that I was fortunate enough to be a part of. I came sooooooo close to not making the show last night. Long story short, I looked down at my dash while driving on 89 near Randolph Vermont between Burlington to Plymouth and my temperature gauge was maxed out *above* the H. I don't pay attention to cars as much as I should (especially one 14 years old with 200K miles) and I don't want to embarrass myself, but in time, I was able to get certain fluids (more than 1 type) into the engine and continue on. It was the thoughts of the back roads yet to come between VT and NH that made the red flags wave. The dashboard indicators did improve as I traveled those mountain roads with hardly a cell phone signal and still encountered moments of temperature spikes.....but I made it! Thank God - indeed a friend of mine yesterday.

What can I say about the shows, but that I am a happy man. God-speed to those who continue traveling with the band and onto the next shows (I'm a little jealous but we play the hand which I am grateful for). Oh, and I hope you agree the Monkey is a dream venue.

Frank

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My bad, made a typo. Sing Me Back Home was still in my head from Mexicali. Spaced out, what can I say. Thats a definite demerit.

"Spaced out," huh? Well, this really gives me something to look forward to as we cruise around God's country during the Week of Bliss... the blind leading the blind.

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The Flying Monkey worked out great. The sound was great. I ended up with more room to dance in Plymouth than in either night in Burlington which was kind of surprising considering the seats and dinner table set up at the Monkey. However, after retreating to the balcony, the dance floor was spacious and there was plenty of room to spin and freak out. The connections one makes through this music are so wonderful and fulfilling; they certainly compliment the ecstatic feelings felt during the show with moments of love and kindness one can never forget or even understand how to possibly payback, although no payback is required. The friends I have made during my travels have done more to shape me as a person than any other group of people, outside of my parents. I am very fortunate that I have a great mom and my father was the greatest man I will ever know. My only true role model. This tour already I got to spend two nights with a great friend to many of us here. Thank you Sarah, your kindness is immeasurable. I can't wait to see you further down the road towards the end of this tour. Thank you again. Then, after the Plymouth show, a cast and characters and I stayed at a good friend of mine, in these circles we call them family, back in Vermont. It was so great of him, his wife, and family to welcome us into his home for that night. They were very gracious host and I can only hope that the feeling of gratitude was returned. After a great meal prepared by fuzzy Brian, we set sail for New Haven were I currently find myself writing these words. I'm going to call it a long paragraph, but the peanut gallery, namely the lady in velvet, calls it an essay. Thank you DSO - band and crew - and thank Jerry and the boys for creating this music. This journey has certainly help make me a better person as I continue to learn to love and grow through life's journey.

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Such an eloquent essay, good sir. Could have been at least three paragraphs so it doesn't change what it is just because you made it all one big grateful cacophony of loving expression which isn't surprising since that's what we are all surrounded by when following this whirling dervish we celebrate in universal orchestral alignment at each show. In the spirit of what's come before, I will keep it as brief as possible ;)

Mango called the Bertha and the speed was set for the night (giving me images of casey jones coming in the back end of the set)- I strapped in during BIODTL when I noticed that when the band hit just the right run of notes together and the crowd responded with just the right timing of movements in dance the FLOOR would literally become a wave under our feet as it vibrated and undulated along with us. Stomping madness in and out of the kitty's flowery sunshine and the lady's sugar shaker and by Playin' I was becoming desperate for a break because the tempo was relentless and told Mango they need to just deal me already but we both knew it wasn't that close yet so I just kept dancing and marveling at the consistent joy leaping from the crowd, bouncing into the band to be melodically spewed back into our faces. You win again felt mighty especially fine and that casey jones didn't end it til we had one more saturday night was just absolutely perfect and I HAD to break out the fan and take my hat off at set break and I def fanned off other front rowers (was accused of rail ratdom when we went to the balcony for second set but I must say though i was born in 84 which def makes me a big mouse I slightly disagree with the ratage labeling since I am clearly some type of mythical space creature that thrives in the front row ecosystem though can tolerate the distance from the source in the joy of the space to move horizontally instead of just vertically).

Haven't gotten Truckin' in quite a minute so it really grabbed me good and with all that space in the balcony and seeing Mango in the passed on bear(over)alls and being there with such amazingly kind and gracious people I really had to sit my third eye back into that reminiscing of that light just a shining on me that pulls me through this strange trip that somehow gets stranger just as it feels like the routine of forever. Great drums and when the Other One just appeared on the heels of spaced out rhythms but didn't actually come to a verbal head until AFTER the sparkling face stealing of me and my uncle can I even FIND WORDS to talk about this..... nope. Stolen.

Wharf Rat in the balcony was great because I could swoon and not be distracted by the drunks that force their way to the rail every time this song lands on us and by the sunshine daydream I was plain exhausted but johnny b goode always forces me to dance so damn hard that once again I was left with no choice but to loose myself in thoughts of gratitude to this amazing band that consistently blows my mind.

I LOVE SING YOUR BLUES AWAY sooooo much it was just what the whole place needed. Again, the crowd was just loving every second and the staff really got into it... this VENUE was amazing in every way! Scarlet made everyone keep wanting Fire.................

more that you give the more it will take..........

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