In anticipation of the "1973" Phil & Friends at TXR next week...

[John A]

Since I’ll be attending the Phil & Friends 1973 celebration at Terrapin Crossroads next Monday night (Stu Allen and Rob Eaton sitting in as Jerry and Bobby and Ron Barraco sitting in as Keith) I thought I’d do some custom analysis with my Deadbase.  Since I’m a certifiable freak, it was inevitable that this would get a bit out of hand.  

 

In this spirit, I offer the following, sure to make some eyes roll:

 

I wanted to get a statistical sense of where ’73 fits in, songs played wise, with other years in the “modern era” which I will conveniently describe as 1972 forward.  I think a good case can be made that said nebulous “modern era” began when Keith joined the band, but since the sample size is too small in ’71 I’m defining it starting with ’72.  In addition to ’73, I analyzed ’77, ’83, and ’89 to look for a periodic evolution of song patterns.  Part of the reason for including those years is none of them featured an inordinate amount of unusual one off stuff, like guest appearances, acoustic sets, etc.   Also, the number of shows was somewhat consistent throughout these years, with a high of 73 shows in both ’73 and ’89, 66 shows in ’83, and a low of 60 shows in ’77.  But for the purpose of this investigation, I’ll conveniently overlook the slightly disparate show totals.

 

Obviously I went into this assuming more unique songs would be played in a given year as time went on, but I wanted to get the sense of a pattern (if there was one) of the percentage of songs that were in heavy rotation vs. those that were played more occasionally.  The extent to which these numbers go to suggest “predictability” is a bit of a misnomer; in ’73, for example, Morning Dew could open the show or show up late in set 2 while in the ‘80s it was highly unlikely to be anywhere but the ballad slot. In fact, many more song in ’73 were likely to appear in either set vs. the later years.  

 

So with the goal in mind to uncover the degree of less often played songs in these sample years, I randomly set the threshold of “not in heavy rotation” at 10 appearances of a given song.  A somewhat arbitrary cut off point to be sure, but I think as reasonable as any, not to mention easy to read on the Deadbase columns as single digits!  I also decided to throw out spurious data, i.e. if a song appeared just once and that appearance was clearly driven not by what the band would have played but by virtue of a guest musician.  Armed with these parameters, we find the following:

 

1973:  68 different songs and only 12 songs < 10 times.  Throwing out the two unprecedented songs played at RFK with The Allman Brothers (That’s Alright Mama and It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry) we are left with 66 songs and 10 occasional songs.

 

1977:  74 different songs and 19 songs < 10 times.  Nothing to discard here, so 74 songs and 19 occasional songs it is.

 

1983:  89 different songs and 37 songs < 10 times.  Throwing out the Brendan Byrne Stephen Stills driven appearances of Black Queen and Love The One You’re With plus the John Cipollina New Year’s Eve Goodnight Irene leaves us with 86 songs and 34 occasional songs.

 

1989:  A whopping 127 different songs and an equally whopping 52 songs < 10 times.  Four of these songs need to go, all played in Los Angeles:  Monkey and the Engineer with Dylan plus How Long Blues, CC Rider, and I’m a Man with Spencer Davis (CC Rider would not rejoin the rotation until 1991). This leaves us with 123 songs and 48 occasional songs.

 

In the event anyone is still reading, here are my math/conclusion(s):

 

1973:  66/10 = a rate of 15.2% of songs that were played but not heavily.

1977:  74/19 = a rate of 26.7%.

1983:  86/34 = a rate of 39.5%.

1989:  123/48 = a rate of 39%.

 

So, what to make of these numbers?  I suppose they bear out what I was expecting to see going into this research.  In ’73, there were less total songs as well as a smaller percentage of unusual songs.  Although set lists were long, they were mostly constructed of the same material albeit in less predictable slots than in later years.  By the late 70s, a bit more material had crept into the setlists, and while many songs were played virtually night in and night out the occurrences of less played songs increased.  As the 80s unfolded, many more unique songs joined the party, and not surprisingly with the increase in material there was also an increase in relative rarity.  But what’s interesting is that from ’83 to ’89, while the number of songs increased by almost 50%, the percentage of songs played less often remained almost identical. 

 

With all that said, I’m anxious to see what Phil’s modern interpretation of ’73 is all about…One can only hope that it’s more interesting than this post.

 

[cusnjohn]

John A,

 In the words of Monty Python "My Brain Hurts!" However, you seem like someone I'd like to play scrabble with. Enjoy the show. JB

[PoetryGirl]

Great analysis.

This makes me wonder how the overall show length and songs length varied with time.

[HelpSlip]

John always appreciate your love for the stats! 

 

this "celebration of 73" also means attention to some original styles of songs like TLEO, FOTD, Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, Wave that Flag (doubt it), Bertha, China> Rider

[Tea]

Eyes 1.0

[John A]

And China Doll 1.0...

 

Torin,  it will be fun to see what Phil will do in the spirit authentication toward the era.  Will he even tease at DSO level adherence? He does, after all, actually have two members of DSO there with him. Stu better start studying those extra TLEO lyrics.

[PoetryGirl]

How interesting it would be to touch on your former self of olden days.....if you subscribe in practice that no one ever remains the same. I tend to greet others with a loose knowing but never pigeonholing someone because the depths of the soul are mysterious and profound. We all greet each day with a fresh face hopefully. Therein lies the grace of forgiveness. Never the jailed and jailer which Emmett Fox speaks to. A mixture of different heart energies, growth makes a new recipe of flavors in us all.

Philosophically, one ought to be closer to thy true self with age in peeling the onion layers and by shining a truer light but some dirty the windows of the soul I suppose and never remove the grime...... so it could go either way per usual.

It could be cathartic to capture the essence of a feeling, an outlook you had at a certain period of life. Feeling would come through the musical expression . Recognizing and remembering would be ike a fountain of youth.

[HelpSlip]

wow so they recreated 2.28.73 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City ! Nice !

 

Cold Rain, BIODTL, TLEO, Mexicali, Sugaree, Box of Rain, El Paso, He's Gone, Jack Straw

 

China> Rider, Big River, Row Jimmy, Promised, Truckin> Other One> Eyes> Morning Dew, Sugar Magnolia E: Bid You Goodnight

[John A]

Last night, my friends, was a big one.  Perhaps the best show I've seen at TXR and that includes DSO.  The mix was great, the vibe was better, and the music was sensational. Stu Allen really brought his A-game.  To be quite frank, I didn't think he had the level in him that was on display throughout the show. I've always been a big fan of his vocals, but he seemed to take his playing to another level. The interaction between all the musicians throughout the night was especially palpable. One could really sense how much fun they were having.  During the final section of Box Of Rain, Rob B couldn't help but sing some of the words.  Everyone was caught up in the moment. 

 

Intense jams included, but were not limited to, Sugaree, He's Gone, Jack Straw, Rider, Big River, The Other One, Eyes, and a Morning Dew that had Phil and Stu embracing when it was done.  The deep space jam bridging Truckin' with The Other deserves particular note.  This was primal. Simply glorious, it hinted at various times of Dark Star but finally came crashing with the utmost authority into The Other One.

 

Great as the show was, it had to work to top the round table discussion to kick off the night with a moderator, Phil, and Jack Casady, all on stools center stage.  It was incredible story telling and stand up comedy all wrapped into one.  Jack was hilarious.  Also priceless was seeing Eaton and Baracco off to the side of the stage taking in the Phil and Jack banter with rapt expressions and ear-to-ear grins.  This was just a special night all the way around.  What a treat to see Phil having come full circle from his many years of constantly striving to reinvent this music and finally arriving at a place where he’s comfortable being a part of such an authentic interpretation.  I got the sense that the female vocalist, Elliot Peck, was looking at Eaton next to her thinking, “what’s with this dude up here with no cheat sheets in front of him?”

 

Rob and Rob, if you are reading this, thanks guys! The flame burns brightly.

[Tea]

Sounds like quite an expereince John - let's see...where's that jealousy emoticon Another barn-burner in store for tonight

While they are bound to repeat a song or 2, I'm hoping for a big, fat, stomping, mother of a WRS>LIG!

[sonomajon]

The show really spread it's wings and took off in the second set...I must say one of the things that really stood out to me was the quality of the vocals throughout the night...this is not always the case with P&F shows...Eaton was his usual fantastic self...

 

https://soundcloud.com/quinfolk/16-truckin-the-other-one-eyes?in=quinfolk/sets/txr1973

 

or if you prefer video

 

 

[SunSue]

You sure picked a great show to catch live, that was amazing last night even from the couch!! Both Robs, as well as Stu and the rest of the band, were just on on fire as well as in sync with each other it seemed. By far and away the best yet of these "year shows" that Phil is doing at TXR. Can't wait to head back to 1974 tonight!!

 

Though I'm not sure Rob B. appreciated Rob E announcing between Dew and Sugar Mag that "Mr. Barraco had to go tinkle", lol! 

[Rude]

Thanks for the link. Great quality. Will watch it tonight

[Dancin' Fool]

Jack describing Bear...Priceless!!

[John A]

Given I started this thread with OCD statistical ramblings, I'll add that the He's Gone from 2-28-73 was the penultimate first set appearance.  The next time they played it, in Nassau, it followed the Promised Land opener. Then it never appeared in the first set again. 

 

Dancin' Fool - yes, the bit where Jack had fun with Bear's character was a treat.

 

Tonight (I'm told as I sat this one out) is 5-14-74 Montana.  Perfect compliment to Salt Lake City.  Only 5 repeats.  Stu is playing what is said to be a replica of Wolf, not the real thing.   

[Tea]

Compliments of the zone:

Phil Lesh & Friends

Tue. April 28, 2015

The Grate Room

Terrapin Crossroads

San Rafael, CA

Phil Lesh - bass, vocals

Stu Allen - guitar, vocals

Rob Eaton - guitar, vocals

Rob Barraco - keyboards, vocals

Ezra Lipp - drums

Elliott Peck - vocals

Set 1 7:30pm - 9:05pm

Bertha sa

Me & My Uncle re

Loser sa

Black Throated Wind re

Scarlet Begonias sa >

It Must Have Been The Roses sa

Me & Bobby McGee re *

Tennessee Jed sa

You Ain't Woman Enough ep *

Deal sa

The Race Is On re *

Brown Eyed Women sa

(Happy Birthday to Rob Barraco)

Playing In The Band re

During the entire 1st set - Stu Allen played a replica of "Wolf." Barraco's birthday was yesterday, but they sang to him again tonight.

Set 2 9:35pm - 11:10pm

U.S. Blues sa

Mama Tried re *

Here Comes Sunshine sa *

Weather Report Suite re >

Let it Grow re >

Dark Star sa >

China Doll sa

Not Fade Away all >

Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad all

E: donor rap

One More Saturday Night re

band intros

* Not on the original 5-14-74 set list... (1st set > Bobby McGee replaced Jack Straw, You Ain't Woman Enough replaced Mexicali, Race Is On replaced Big River. 2nd set > Mama Tried replaced El Paso, no Promised Land after China Doll)

Played tonight to not repeat songs from Monday's 1973 recreation show.

Original performance: 5-14-74 @ the Harry Adams Field House, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.

[John A]

Cool song changes to avoid repeats.  Was anybody there both night who cares to comment if they throught the band was in a better groove one night vs. night two?  Hard to imagine them topping night 1!

 

Tea - Rob S from The Zone informs me that Jack didn't participate in the pre-show chat last night and he posted this in error so you can edit that out if you see fit.

[Mango]

I was there last night but not Monday. I thought it was utterly fantastic. Glorious. Only improvments I would make would be to have Lisa Mackey on vocals and Dino on drums. Remake vocalist was okay. I like Ezra lipp but I felt like he dropped the beat a number of times last night. For a show of this proportion I think a more experienced drummer was in order.

The sunshine was long and tasty. Definitely confused me as I knew there was only one in 74 and this wasn't that show. Weather report>dark star>China doll was extremely good. Dso quality. Doesn't hurt that Phil lesh was playing the bass.

This was my first txr recreation show. I hope to score tickets for 1977.

Wow, i'm really tired. Up at 700 and off to school now.

But happy that I got to experience that last night.

Grateful.

[PoetryGirl]

I am curious to know what it was like to play with Phil from Eaton and Barraco's POV, especially having played together so long.

[sonomajon]

Barraco has played with Phil a helluva lot...Eaton just a handful...this was one of the best shows I witnessed in the last decade or so...

 

https://archive.org/details/DSO2012-10-13.SBD.flac

[PoetryGirl]

Nice! I wish they had that blog space I heard about here. It could be a fun read musically to know what the experienced afforded differently in creative and / or traditional expression having that connection of recreating for years and then recreating with Phil. Obviously, Phil loves the intellectual side of musical expression. Maybe a just as interesting read would be how Phil felt about it!

[Rude]

We watched the whole 73 show(on YouTube). Was lots of fun. I'm guessing someone will throw up the next night too. I love that original Montana show, even though they changed several songs to avoid repeats.

[SunSue]

Here's the 1974 show. Not quite as spectacular as the previous night, but still some of the best music at TXR this year! It's going to be rough going back to Grahame on guitar, rather than Rob, for the 1975 show next week.