Portland, ME 11-19-15

[Roonie1685]

Grateful Dead - Philly Spectrum - 09-24-87

 

Set 1: Touch Of Grey, Minglewood, High Time, Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Big Boss Man, Brother Esau, Bird Song-> Promised Land

Set 2: Box Of Rain-> Iko Iko, Hell In A Bucket, Fire On The Mountain-> Drums-> Space-> The Other One-> Black Peter-> Throwing Stones-> Lovelight

 

Encore: Knockin' On Heaven's Door

 

Filler: Golden Road

 

 

[Roonie1685]

This is my first DSO review on here so forgive me if it's all over the place. I'll do my best.
This show certainly didn't disappoint. The band was high energy throughout and a nice set-list to work with.  The Touch opener got things off to a promising start. It was well played and got everyone moving. Minglewood was typically dope with Skip thumping the place and some nice slide work by Rob E. High Time was actually the low point of the show for me. It may have been due to the side conversations where I had been posted up in the balcony section, but also the lack of a meaningful solo. From there the rest of the first set was great. Big Boss Man is always a blast and I always welcome an Esau. The real Standout  was a blistering Bird Song-> Promised Land that easily may have been the highlight of the night for me were it not for what was to come in Set II.
The Box of Rain (often a hot dog song for some of the people I was with) was beautifully done and the Iko was all smiles. Hell in a Bucket was stupid good as the band hit on all cylinders and Jeff shredded throughout. After HIAB my father in-law turned to me and asked "And Trey was the best choice for Fare Thee Well?"
What came next was exactly what makes DSO second to none (for me) when it comes to seeing live music today. Fire -> Drums/Space-> TOO-> Black Peter was just straight smokin. I've always felt that they handle Fire better than anyone and last night proved that to me once again. The drums were very tasty and kept me grooving. Space was more of a beautifully slow-developing Jam than a typical Space. It continued to build layer by layer for a few minutes, simmering along with some obvious Other One teases and a free-form jazz flavor. Skip came bombing into TOO with an aggression that reminded me of Cape Cod 79 (maybe not as long, but the shook the house). TOO was pure awesome and incredibly jammed out for an 87. Black Peter is one of my favorite ballads so maybe I'm biased but clearly still high off the cosmic energy off the set, the band handled it with an unusual amount of power and purpose.
Although the rest of the show didn't again reach the same levels for me, it was all well played and kept me dancing and smiling. Was cool to hear Knockin' on Heavens Door (don't think I've heard DSO play it before) and Golden Road was a short but sweet piece of filler.
Anyway, really happy with last night's show and eagerly awaiting Albany.
 

[gr8fulpair]

Sorry to hear Hightime was a low point for you as its a personal fave, but as much as I love Mattson, he can't touch the "come in when it's raining" line the way Jerry did. That line is the goose bumps moment in that song for me. Pretty boiler plate late 80s set list, but I'm sure they made it great. Good review Roonie. Thanks.

[Roonie1685]

I agree on High Time. For me.. that and Comes a Time stand out to me as two "not quite the same" tunes whenever someone else does it. Although Jeff was definitely channeling Jerry a few times last night in Albany. Anyway, thanks gr8fulpair.

[PoetryGirl]

Jeff does have a powerful Death Don't Have no Mercy and Black Peter !!

[Roonie1685]

I agree on High Time. For me.. that and Comes a Time stand out to me as two "not quite the same" tunes whenever someone else does it. Although Jeff was definitely channeling Jerry a few times last night in Albany. Anyway, thanks gr8fulpair.

 

Comes a Time in Concord tonight... I take back what I said here. Jeff was Channeling Jerry big time. Incredible!