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Englewood 5.24.12


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First show in awhile, and just when I thought it was safe to go and see one show, it is outrageously good. Wishing I could see more now, but will have to wait for something this Fall. Every song seemed to get better as they went, highlights for me were the lazy lightening/supplication, dancin, and it stoned me. Thanks so much for a fantastic nite!!

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Let me just start by saying I had a blast last night, even though I am still tender and sore from the hernia surgery performed on me last week. Kept the dancing to a slow waltz, and tried to limit sudden movements (no easy feat with a band that surprises around every corner!) While the memories are still fresh, here is my take on the show:

Arrived a few minutes late, and heard "Alabama" from the lobby, which sounded pretty tight. "Johnny B. Goode" to follow was like a second show opener, and so it felt appropriate. Not an over-the-top version, but Eaton handled the lyrics perfectly, and it was a punchy, lean effort. I summized by the two opening numbers that we were most likely in the throes of an elective show, and it turned out to be. The crowd was sparse, but those already there were now officially warmed up. Jeff really shined on "Candyman", with absolutely beautiful singing, and handsome solos. This song can sometimes be a downer at a show for me, but not this one... no, sir! "All Over Now" was nicely stretched out, and I noticed that every band member contributed mightily to the whole, with playful interaction between them all. Kevin was dropping bombs right and left, and he appeared to be having some fun. Once again, Eaton proved to be in fine voice, and used it to powerful effect. Jeff had a couple of great solos, and Rob B. was just a wild man on the keys. I was watching him alot last night, and, man, does he ever continue to boggle my mind with his mastery of piano, traditional organ, and modern keyboards. Not to mention his wonderful, flexible voice. A man who seems very content and happy in his job, which is very fortunate for us! Speaking of Rob B., the following "Easy to Love You", which is one of my favorite Brent tunes, was another way for him to show his care for the original music, while at the same time keeping it fresh with his enthusiastic approach. A wisp of a song, no doubt, but Barraco likes to include it in elective shows, and I always enjoy hearing it. Jeff took the story of "Jack-A-Roe" to new heights, with careful, deliberate vocals, and soaring leads. I have always loved this song, both the slower-paced early versions, and the speedy later ones, and this effort was just outstanding! I just marveled at his ability to sing a verse, then display a guitar solo that continues the emotion of the previous verse so closely. I also noticed how tightly Dino and Koritz wrapped around Jeff in rhythmic support, and the rest of the band seemed like they were dancing around Jeff, coaxing him on. Well now, what would a self-respecting elective show be without a Lisa treat, and, boy, "Sunrise" did not dissapoint! I know, I know... there are many other songs that Lisa has in her repartiore that are certainly more exciting, and easier on the ears, than "Sunrise", but do not be fooled - this version was simply amazing! Like "Easy To Love You", it is done almost as soon as it is out of the gate, but Lisa did such a spectacular job with the vocals, I am tempted to call this as one the highlights (don't arrest me now, please) of the show. I was focused on her delivery, and her voice was strong, clear, and deliberate, without being calculating or wooden. A joy to hear, and the crowd roared their approval at the end. The interaction between Jeff and Rob Eaton on "Lazy Lightning>Supplication" was fun to witness, and Lisa added some extra sweetness to the "my lightning too's". Speaking of highlights, the following "And It Stoned Me" took me by complete surprise, as I'm sure it did everyone in the room. The band took its time building this song up, but build, they did! Jeff bathed in the spotlight again on this number, his leads alternating between gentle and warm, to driving and raunchy. I also loved the playfulness in the vocals by Jeff and Lisa, and they really appeared to be having fun with it. I was elated upon hearing the opening bars of "Unbroken Chain", and Rob B. proved that he can handle the vocals quite nicely, having taken over the duty from Kevin. A beautifully crafted version, and it brough a tear of happiness to me eye upon its completion, it was that sweet. "Rubin and Cherise" was a perfect choice to close the set, and it definitely had the crowd's approval. Once again, Jeff knocked us off our feet on several occasions with his commanding vocals, and powerful, well executed solos. While I could not dance much, this song pushed my envelope and got me singing, swaying, and releasing my arms to the heavens.

Set two opened with a "Music Never Stopped" that started off a bit tentatively, but gradually came together and proceeded to try and rip the roof off Bergen PAC! Eaton really honed in on the vocals, with support by Lisa, and took this version to amazing heights. It got pretty loud, and rightly so. The "High Time" that followed also caught me off guard, but was a pleasant way to cool off after the previous romp. A simply stellar version, with gorgeous singing by Jeff, and great harmonies from the others. Hi solos were also ringing with emotion, and I found myself grinning from ear-to-ear during the entire song. Yet again, a tune that normally would be a downer for me ended up being a serious highlight. "Dancing in The Streets" was a great way to get folks back in the groove, and it worked in spades! I always much prefer these late-70's versions that have the extra "wah,wah,wah" coda (do not know how else to describe it, but you know what I mean!) built into the jam, compared to the shorter, 1980's style. This one reminded me of the version we saw at Bergen PAC last year (7/22), when they were covering the famous Englishtown, NJ show from 9/3/77, only this night it was actually cool and comfortable in the venue, whereas last year we roasted our collective asses off... it was so oppresively hot last year that you could see steam falling like rain from the ceiling, but the band (of course) did a great job, in spite of the heat. The "Cryptical" was given a gentle treatment by Jeff, and then the band took off toward the stratosphere with "The Other One". It took a long time to get to to the first lyric verse, but during that time the band really heated up, and faces were melting all around me as Eaton and the rest brought out the goods in droves! Talk about loud... and wild! Eventually, the jamming settled down and segued gracefully into "Drums", which were just awe-inspiring tonight. I watched from the comfort of my chair as the typical exodus of people occured, and I took in the mind-blowing sights and sounds Dino and Rob K. unleashed on those left in the auditorium. Several themes were explored, some delightful, others a bit scary, but all cohesive and pleasure to witness. "Space" was short, but included some light teases of what I heard as "Dark Star", and flowed nicely into the opening notes of "Dear Prudence". Never one of my favorite JGB covers (or Beatles songs, for that matter), this band showed what can be accomplished when you have a leader like Jeff, who has a habit of taking relatively mundane pieces of music, and creating whole new ways of interpreting the art form. There is something about the slow lilt to this song that I usually find boring, but this version soared, swooped, and cascaded through many emotions, and had me swaying (carefully, mind you) and singing with relative abandon. Another highlight of the evening for me. Back into the quick finales of "The Other One>Cryptical", which were handled well, then on to an extremely powerful version of "Throwing Stones". I have seen this one by DSO a few times, but never before had I watched and heard Eaton deliver the lyrics with such profound gusto. The "we are on our own's" sent shivers down my spine, in a way that Bob Weir used to do, back in the day. The crowd ate this one up. To wrap up the set, I got my first ever "Viola Lee Blues", and boy, did it get crazy! And by crazy, I mean good, hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-your-neck, crazy, with everyone giving it their almighty best. Yes, they came pretty close to veering off the tracks at times, but that's what makes this song so fun. By the final climax, the whole room was awash in energy, from the sparks flying on stage, to the heat coming off everyone in attendance. I honestly could not think of a more stunning way to end a show, and I was glad to finally get one! The "Golden Road" encore was a quickie, but sent me on my way very, very happy to have made the effort to be at this show, even in my diminished capacity. A terrific time, decent venue with cool staff, and great way to spend a rainy Thursday night.

Topher

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Was feeling the elective from the moment I looked on stage and when it was Alabama Getaway to open I had visions of my first show and there was lots of front row dance space as the crowd had not yet arrived.

Show started with Barraco telling us all a little story about a lil boy and girl that stood in the front row and wouldn't shut the fuck up and I think the shut the fuck up story should preface many more shows as it was a real tear jerker :)

The first two got the show fired up (after Johnny B Goode, Jeff said "goodnight" as a joke and we def giggled pretty hard, I love his sense of humor!!!) and Candyman (a song I don't get crazy over) really got me and it may have been my favorite I've seen. The all over now JM solos were absolutely unending and phenomenal, so much so I took a note of it. By easy to love you I had to go upstairs to be with Mango cause he's so easy to love and all and I could tell the front was about to get crowded cause this show was ONE OF THOSE SHOWS for a lot of people and the electricity was really getting wild!

Barraco and Jeff absolutely took the crowd to another time's forgotten space in Jack a Roe and Rob especially got his solos up and running at this point and I knew it would be one of my favorite shows for a long while, despite the kinda shitty sound in this particular venue.

I was just talking about Sunrise and was really happy to hear Lisa come out and call the sun forth and all the women in the room really kept the movement alive as she sang it was breathtaking.

Oh yeah, LL>supp, OH YEAH!!!! Everything I could have wanted and as our buddy that rode with us had called it forth in text the night before it took us all through the roof. We danced in the very back of the venue most of the night and it was magical feelings with so many smiling faces everywhere. OH, bolt of inspiration, the way you strike me NOW!!!!!

During it stoned me I had a truly ecstatic experience out of my body (ya'll know my style of sober show going so don't discount this!) when poetry sporadically came to me during Jeff's solos and by the peak of his final one it brought tears of joy and relief crashing through my eyes and love just poured out of my heart into my selenite and out onto everyone and it was DIVINE. Moments like this in songs I wouldn't expect to do it are why its all worth it. After that to just end up Unbroken and then at the Carnival watching a painted mandolin took my soul right back out of my body and I watched as the musicians tried to lead us all to freedom though betrayal cuts deep and it is a war of destiny and density and with this shining path we might just make it through.....

thank goodness for set break was my thought!

Everyone leaped into the air for Music and by High Time I was told by Mango he was taking over setlist but the dang pen troubles happened and it was back in my court. Really wonderful way to get the second set going and after that High Time at THIS venue I can finally let go of all the lies a certain rotten egg had told me once and I naively believed. And just as these revelations of spirit occur the band took us all Dancin and since they had opened with 'Bama I was now in "first show nostalgic heaven" and I even at one point thought "what song is this, again" during one part of the ridiculous jamming only to really struggle to remind myself we were still just dancin..... oh I LOVE THAT.

cryptical other one prudence sandwich with great drums>space really gave the second set- the whole show- a life and texture that few that were there will be able to forget. They really went for it. I felt they went for it so hard that the throwing stones and viola ended up maybe just a tad little bit rushed but that did not change the quality of the music it was still top shelf energy and of course no one could dance through all of viola cause at a certain point Jeff just puts our faces, brains, and bodies in a stupor of "oh my goodness I can barely hang on!" but once he released us we danced through the rest and with a rush back to the stage they did not do the ballad that was on the setlist, instead choosing golden road to keep the energy up and send us all home wanting to join the party every day. HEY!!!!

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Thought the first set was a little uneven or off balance. Maybe I just wasn't completely there but it was fun nonetheless. Felt like things really started to pick up after sunrise, on which Lisa did a beautiful job on. And it stoned me and Reuben were both very special.

LL>supp was very jazzy.

The second set scorched from start to finish. Jeff drove the jams on TMNS so hard. High time was angelic. Other one had some very deep jams, very nice interplay between the whole band. Cryptical reprise was explosive. Dear prudence was nice and stretched out. It really allowed for Jeff to showcase his skill. He kept taking us higher and higher. Throwing stones was performed to a T and viola just destroyed me. Big fun.

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