Seeing the Unseen

[BillK522]

Listening to transition to the Eleven while cleaning

my bathroom on a grey Sunday morning, I recalled

Tea for a time had this song as a white whale in

his show attendances.  Mind wandering began.

DSO has provided so much material I would have

never seen if not for the continuation of the Grateful

Dead concert experience.  What's left to see?

Off to the wormhole.  All information from DBX, so 

they maybe a play off here and there.  I started with

the yearly play summary in the DBX, which does 

exclude some 1/2/3 GD play songs (looking at you

Money, Money, Card Board Cowboy, Master's Bouquet,

sorry Greg) so there is a line in the sand as far as deep 

the catalog we look.  Songs I had for sure seen the first

filter and 76 songs remained to be seen.  DSO setlists

found 23 songs I had seen but was not sure, this was a

super fun activity, scrolling through setlists searching

for certain songs, finding out I actually saw Don't Need Love at the 9:30 in 2016. After those two filters, 53 songs remained to be seen.  Songs were grouped in five groups: Acoustic, Played less than 10x by DSO, Played More than 10x by DSO, Never Played by DSO, Never Played by DSO the Late Years.

Numbers after songs are GD Played/DSO Played.

 

Acoustic: (10)  I prefer electric, but could have gone to Hamilton and cross many of these off the list.

All Around This World 18/1           Ain't No Lie 13/10           Cold Jordan 12/6

Heaven Help the Fool  17/21         Katie Mae  11/10             Rosaslie McFall 16/8

Sadie 6/3                                       Silver Threads  17/6       Swing Low  8/14

Wake Up Little Susie  14/21

 

DSO outpacing the boys on a couple of these.

 

Played Less Than 10x by DSO  (15)

Baby What You Want  5/2               Bottom  9/3                   Eternity  44/4

Hand Jive  6/9                                 Hey Bo Diddley  5/4     Hog For You  4/3

How Long Blues  4/2                       Louie, Louie  8/2          

Stealin'  4/2                                      Superstitous  8/2         Thin Man  8/1

That Would be Something  17/3      Walkin' the Dog  6/4    Way to Go  92/4

 

Who knew Way To Go Home was done four times, and once with Vince sitting in.  And they did Eternity, hello 1999.

 

Played More Than 10x by DSO  (8)

 

Green Green Grass  18/21            He Was Friend  17/21          Man's World  11/21

Mason's Children  18/18       Mountains of the Moon  12/27   Picasso Moon  77/35

New Potato Caboose  26/15      Tomorrow Is Forever  10/15

 

Psst. White Whale Alert.

 

Never Played By DSO  (9)

 

Born Cross Eyed  13/0          Cream Puff War 8/0                 Hi-Heeled Sneakers  5/0

Long Black Limousine  7/0    Seasons  5/0                    She's Mine  4/0

Slew Foot  9/0                   Standing on the Corner 4/0       You Don't Have to Ask  5/0

 

My life would be complete with a Cream Puff War.

 

Never Played by DSO The Late Years  (10)

 

All Too Much  6/0              Baba O'Riley  12/0                 Childhood's End  8/0

Easy Answers  44/0          Matilda            6/0                  Samba In the Rain  38/0

Shoe Fits  17/0                   Take Me          4/0                  Want To Tell  7/0

Wave To Wind  21/0

 

Sure most like to block out this group, I managed to only duck Want To Tell.

Did run the Samba ugly dog fanclub, someone had to do it.

 

 

So back to  the original question, What's left to See?

The group of songs played more than 10x by DSO

the best target group.  Hard to believe I have not 

caught a Picasso, not really white whale material

though.  A friend is chasing Mason's Children,

so will leave that one for him, and by the way keep

playing that one.  Mountains of the Moon and

New Potato Caboose worthy of whale status.

I'll add Walkin' the Dog from the less than 10X

DSO plays and reaffirm my deep desire to 

experience Cream Puff War.  Give yourself a 

gold star if you made it this far and feel free to

share your own white whale stories below.

Again Thanks Band and Crew.

 

Praise DSO.

 

 

[Ammagamalin Crew]

I didn't get a Unlimited Devotion until last year from Hyryder and peeps are like it's fairly common among DSO and Hyryder shows. Think of all the straight up JGB (Rhapsody in Red is a WW for me for sure) Don't know if Rob wants to get into Edward the Mad, Born Cross Eyed and Cream Puff are outrageously orbiting.. Standing on the Corner is one I never knew of until it was played. Your writings bring to surface why I'm not really into all these freakin dead cover bands around Cincy. Skilled musicians are prompted by a local promoter here, so they put the sheet music in front of them ridiculous songs like Fire, Eyes and everyone seems to be playing West LA at every show. This conversation is worthy of this forum. Nicely played Bill⚡🇱🇷💫 Thanks for setting it up.....John A around ? I did catch a Crazy Love at the Stone Jan 87, rambling back to the task at hand

I do like all the Viola Lees being dropped since "me and my friends all got life round here "

[Ammagamalin Crew]

I think DSO has a leap on GD. I wander if that resource link that was shared on here a couple of years ago 

In reference to Who Was John? But I bet they're close. Thank God that DSO is still here and touring, incredible wisdom experience and longevity. I'll for sure be at the legend shows, ga has many options once you get there, not in VIP mode these days, still between jobs after 25 yrs with Mental Health America, maybe retirement came earlier than I thought 🤔 

[Rude]

I don’t even know what I haven’t seen. There’s some 2 times played I haven’t but not sure ehst they are. I’ve seen all on the above list but I was hitting tour pretty hard for 4 years pre covid. Saw masons children prob 5x. Valley Road I caught 1-2x. I didn’t even know that was played ever as Thats not an era i play that much. My only real disappointment was hearing them work up low spark at least 10x from space all the way into full band instrumental thinking this was it and then the lyrics busted out at a show I wasn’t at. I was like this is it. Nope. Did eventually hear it with lyrics a few times but was pissed I missed the bust out. 

[Tea]

I wish I had more time for research but.....

The Eleven and Visions of Johanna were my DSO white whales for a good spell.  I got a Visions for the last show I saw with JK but it took a number of years before I got to see Jeff do it.  

 

DSO has filled most of my GD gaps and I'm excluding one-off performances and the 1992+ offerings.  I know a few that I've heard DSO has done live, but have never seen them live:

 

New Potato Caboose

Gloria

Mind Left Body Jam

 

There were a few others I thought I hadn't seen yet but Starbase informed me otherwise  

 

[BillK522]

28 minutes ago, Rude said:

I don’t even know what I haven’t seen. There’s some 2 times played I haven’t but not sure ehst they are. I’ve seen all on the above list but I was hitting tour pretty hard for 4 years pre covid.

 

Would imagine you have me by

a couple hundred shows.

I muster about ten a year.

 

Praise DSO.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Tea said:

I wish I had more time for research but.....

 

New Potato Caboose

Gloria

Mind Left Body Jam

 

There were a few others I thought I hadn't seen yet but Starbase informed me otherwise  

 

 

I excluded a few "Jam" songs, China Cat jam, Dark Star jam,

when working this exercise.

Got Gloria at State Theater recreating 85/11/01

 

Praise DSO.

[Tea]

I messed up the assignment - I saw 2 GD Gloria's in 1993 (CalExpo & Louisville)  This in no way lessens my desire to see DSO bring it back - last time DSO played it was 2015.

[The Other One]

Saw my local GD cover band do Cream Puff War,  Mountains of the Moon, and Mason's Children this past weekend. Pretty amazing stuff.  The whole setlist was really top notch .  It will be tough for DSO to top that when they roll through in a couple of weeks (2/15), but I still can't wait.  Assuming I find a ticket. ☝️

[Tea]

Who’s the local cover band? Masons Children?

[Michael Doc Watson]

About 15 years ago DSO's show at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse was stocked full of songs we rarely hear. Eaton had put together a strange but fun set list.  Rob took a lot of heat and complaints on this forum for doing that instead of the usual often heard songs. In those days Rod would join in the conversations in the forum but due to the bitching of folks about that set list he stopped posting here. I wish he would come back.

Peace and Love,

Doc

[chuckvegas]

I was there for that one, Doc. I remember the fallout. It was a bit much. We were blessed by that show.

[BillK522]

Replies from Doc and Chuckvegas

warms the heart.

Great start to the day.

 

Praise DSO.

[Tea]

1 hour ago, Michael Doc Watson said:

About 15 years ago DSO's show at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse was stocked full of songs we rarely hear. Eaton had put together a strange but fun set list.  Rob took a lot of heat and complaints on this forum for doing that instead of the usual often heard songs. In those days Rod would join in the conversations in the forum but due to the bitching of folks about that set list he stopped posting here. I wish he would come back.

Peace and Love,

Doc

 

2009/02/07 @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA

 

Alabama Getaway-> Greatest Story Ever Told, Stop That Train, Next Time You See Me, Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Pride of Cucamonga, Must Have Been the Must've Been The Roses, Passenger, Brown Eyed Women, Weather Report Suite-> Let It Grow

 

China Cat Sunflower-> Know You Rider, Dancin' in the Street-> Alligator-> Why Don't We Do It In the Road-> The Eleven-> Drums-> Space-> New Potato Caboose-> Uncle John's Band-> The Wheel-> UJB reprise-> Lovelight

 

Encore:
Brokedown Palace

 

Yeah - 2009-2010 was a tumultuous time for this Forum.  When JK departed for Furthur, there were the hyper-JK loyalists who weren't very enamored with the resulting state of DSO.  It was too bad - things got a bit tense on here and a fairly large contingent decided to find a different sandbox to play in as a result.  Eaton posted a few times when DSO decided to go with Jeff in the lead slot, and took quite a bit of unnecessary flak.  JK left because Bobby & Phil asked him too.  What was DSO supposed to do?  The fan anguish over JK leaving got projected onto Eaton so it's no wonder he left the chat.  

 

There are some that could articulate this situation much more clearly than I, but they don't come around here anymore.   

[Michael Doc Watson]

"JK left because Bobby & Phil asked him too." 

  For John it was like playing baseball and getting called up to play center field for the New York Yankees.

[chuckvegas]

Good way to put it, Doc.

 

You can strive to see the unseen. And sometimes it is best to let the sayable remain unsaid.

[BillK522]

Please consider my attendance

at the Wilkes Barre shows during

set list formulation.  Thank you.

 

Praise DSO.

[Greg from Chestertown]

I feel my white whale, master’s Bouquet,  got lost in the great Covid abyss that consumed the Hamilton acoustic shows that were about to unfold in DC when the shit hit the fan. 

[Island Bro]

On 2/3/2025 at 8:00 PM, Tea said:

Who’s the local cover band? Masons Children?

I deduce that OtherOne is referring to Garcia Birthday Band from Portland…they just played at the Crystal Ballroom to honor the 2/2/68 and 2/3/68 Crystal Ballroom shows…I bet it was fun 😉

[2muchfun]

8 hours ago, BillK522 said:

Please consider my attendance

at the Wilkes Barre shows during

set list formulation.  Thank you.

 

Praise DSO.

I second that emotion. This 2fer will end my longest DSO drought since 2003! Yes even through covid caught several parking lot shows.

Look forward to seeing you BillK,

 

As far as JK leaving, of course he had to accept Bobby Phil invite. The manner in which he left vis a vis interaction with band mates, or lack there of was an issue I believe.  As Rob E stated DSO is bigger than any individual member…proof in the pudding! Only current band member present at my first show in 1999 is Lisa.

 

[Greg from Chestertown]

What about the drummers? Yea, Lisa and Eaton for me but that’s ok. I always said that John K. Needs to hook up with Bobby and Phil. I don’t know if it’s because he’s that good or simply because he’s an exact replication of Jerry, save for a couple of blips in his playing. I wasn’t the least bit surprised when he left. I followed him and caught Further whenever they came around, Still kept up Dark Star shows. Further ran its course. There’s a level of fun with Jeff onstage that I don’t remember feeling with John K. It’s a vibe and it is important. It’s everything. 

[2muchfun]

Show was pre Dino and Rob K…Even Kevin was on hiatus.