From: gt0021c@prism.gatech.EDU (Chris Edward Perkins)
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Subject: Re: Oakland 11&12 observations
Date: 17 Dec 92 03:35:57 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <1992Dec16.203238.22962@leland.Stanford.EDU> dkeisen@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dave Eisen) writes:
>As long as we're voting here, I'll throw my vote in with this
>poster. I've seen people raving about Saturday night's show,
>and frankly, I just don't get it. They played all right, but
>other than Dark Star and Standing on the Moon, the second set
>didn't really have anything to offer.

I'll concur with this assessment.  I thought Friday night was raving and had
a gppd feeling about Saturday going into the show.  The Jack Straw opener was
very hot, but I thought the rest of the set didn't really catch fire, and
it ended after a mere six songs.  Didn't even get the expected Promised Land
rocker out of Birdsong.

When the second set opened with Picasso Moon I knew we were in for trouble.
I think its an OK song, but not for such an important slot in the show.  (I
have to admit that I was singing "Lobster Moon" and "bigger than a TV dinner
OO-EE" to myself.  That damn post has ruined this song forever:) ).  Crazy
FIngers was sweet, and I was starting to think things might pick up here. 
Oddly, Dark Star even leaped to mind as a possibility at this point, but 
was filed away as soon as I heard Women begin.  Ooops.  Wrong again.

Dark Star was OK, but definitely not the best I'd ever heard or anything.  What
WAS incredible was the jam they put together after Jerry left the stage. Man
were they groovin on some funky riffs, led by the very loud and very dominant
Phil, Master of the Bass and All Things Deep and Resonant.  He was particularly
out front all three nights, even taking solos.  Sounded like 73 at times.  
Yeah Phil!!!

The jam out of Space was sweet too, displaying hints of a Dark Star reprise
and another structured, yet nameless, jam before dissolving into a so-so 
Miracle that seemed top interrupt the flow yet again.  Standing on the Moon
was superbly played, although it was a lyrical disaster as Jerry forgot the
words at least twice, if not more.

Rain did send us all home on a good note, though.  I really liked this version,
and the little background flourishes by Bob were a lot of fun.  
>
>Now Sunday, that was a show! The run from VOTC to Dew *was* 
>brilliant.  Best show I've been to in a *long* time.
>

Again, no argument here.  I'll confess that I was not that excited about the
HC Sunshine debut last week.  I was impressed by the fact they brought it out
after so long and was curious to hear it, but it was definitely not near
the top of my list of favorite songs or long-hoped-for breakouts.

That said, this tune cooked and blew me away.  It is a LOT different than the
album and the 73 versions I have on tape.  It had a lot more body to it, a
much fuller and forceful arrangement, more like an Eyes than an Attics.
A killer second set allaround, and another great jam into Drums.  These pre-
drums jams are gettingto be my favorite parts of the show lately; they're 
more structured than the post-drums Space jams, but they still cover a lot
of ground and give the boys a chance to stretch out and do what they do best.
Reminds me of some other points in the past, like some of the great 73-74
jams and, to a lesser degree, the 78-79 era.  

BTW, the sound was superb for all three nights from my vantage points (back
of the floor and front of soundboard, Phil-side) and that of one of my friends
(behind stage).  I could hear just about every nuance in the music, and the
volume was fine.

BTW2, what was the name of the opener on Saturday night?  Those guys put on
a helluva show, and everybody around me was dancing away by their third song.
They definitely won over some new fans, myself included.  


Chris

-- 
Chris Perkins, Georgia Institute of Technology, MSM 1993 (?)
uucp: who cares?         Internet: gt0021c@prism.gatech.edu
'I was blind all the time I was learning to see'
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead