TXR #2

[Island Bro]

5/12/77 Chicago

F: Let Me Sing Yer Blues Away

Ooo eee ride me high

[Tom Banjo]

Just did 5/11/77 in Vegas.  Good to see May 77s popping up on this tour.

[John A]

Comes A Time, as one might expect, was the showstopper here. 

 

But my biggest impression was how tight everything sounded, particularly coming right off the looser sound of the previous night's elective.  Personally I am more a fan of the elective vibe, due to the sense that the band may be open to take more chances.  But mixing around eras, as they did in Friday's elective, doesn't yield quite the level of cohension that is palpable in the recreation of something as polished as Spring '77.

 

Indeed, the craftmanship on display when they dip into an era like May '77 is downright stunning.  Take, for example, the ending of Estimated, where Eaton played with dynamics masterfully, his final vocals coming from at least a foot off the mic.

 

And, as it turns out, hearing Terrapin Station at Terrapin Crossroads is a pretty powerful concept. Imagine that!  The energy in that room from "to get to Terrapin" through "the whistle is screaming" was way heavy.  Audience plus band truly coming together as one, if you will. 

 

Finally, I think they were flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the Jack Straw jam.  No way Garcia shredded it that hard in Jack Straw before at least '79. 

[Mango]

I absolutely loved the show last night. May 77 is some quintessential GD without a doubt and DSO does wonders with it.

 

Yes, the Jack Straw was definitely over the top....I'll give them a pass on it!

 

Disc 1
1. Bertha [7:16]
2. Me and My Uncle [3:04]
3. Tennessee Jed [9:32]
4. Cassidy [5:05]
5. Peggy-O [7:52]
6. Jack Straw [5:45]
7. They Love Each Other [7:47]
8. New Minglewood Blues [5:20]

Disc 2
1. Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo> [9:54]
2. Dancing In The Street [14:19]
3. Samson and Delilah [7:07]
4. Brown-Eyed Women [5:28]
5. Estimated Prophet [9:25]
6. Sunrise [3:46]

Disc 3
1. Terrapin Station> [10:13]
2. Playing In The Band> [8:36]
3. Drums> [4:06]
4. Not Fade Away> [14:15]
5. Comes A Time> [10:20]
6. Playing In The Band [7:00]
7. Johnny B. Goode [4:18]

 

Half Step>Dancin' was phenomonal, I get so lost in the jam. Jeff nailed Garcia's mutron(or whatever they call it) sound in Dancin. Brown Eyed was extra hoppin. Really all just classic shit, especially the Comes a Time which featured an absolutely Beautiful Jam winding down....

 

....ahhh GOOD times.

 

...Til Redwood~

[Tom Banjo]

The second set looks like pure goodness.

[Island Bro]

Comes A Time, as one might expect, was the showstopper here.

But my biggest impression was how tight everything sounded, particularly coming right off the looser sound of the previous night's elective. Personally I am more a fan of the elective vibe, due to the sense that the band may be open to take more chances. But mixing around eras, as they did in Friday's elective, doesn't yield quite the level of cohension that is palpable in the recreation of something as polished as Spring '77.

Indeed, the craftmanship on display when they dip into an era like May '77 is downright stunning. Take, for example, the ending of Estimated, where Eaton played with dynamics masterfully, his final vocals coming from at least a foot off the mic.

And, as it turns out, hearing Terrapin Station at Terrapin Crossroads is a pretty powerful concept. Imagine that! The energy in that room from "to get to Terrapin" through "the whistle is screaming" was way heavy. Audience plus band truly coming together as one, if you will.

Finally, I think they were flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the Jack Straw jam. No way Garcia shredded it that hard in Jack Straw before at least '79.

John, your description of Saturday Night's show very much reflects my experience and I would describe it very similarly . In fact, 'craftsmanship' is the main word that came to me throughout the evening. This show was so finely crafted all the way through start to finish. The masters were hard at work carving their way through the beauty, painting the loveliest picture, and expressing their art from down deep through the ebb and flow of it all. This was such a satisfying show,,,left me feeling very complete after the triad of Bay Area gigs. All had a lot to offer and this really polished things off on a way I can dig.

I REALLY appreciated how Terrapin was not oversold--had plenty of dance space both nights. Very classy approach indeed.

Gratitude....