From: russellg@news.colorado.edu (Glenn Russell)
Subject: Re: Oakland 11&12 observations
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:30:24 GMT

Dave Eisen writes:
>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.

Actually, it was the other moon song that I would rave about. [lots of
interstellarness in the set; 2 moons and a dark star!]

Picasso Moon was surprisingly hot as a set II opener.  They
got into an intense little jam near the end that shredded the 
songs inate cheeziness into pieces.

SOTM didn't do me like it normally does.  I thought Jerry was 
struggling to sing above the music.  Consequently, the vocal power 
of the song was lost.  

I loved the Crazy Fingers - a much stronger version than Tempe, IMHO.
I'll confess to my bias in raving of this song.  On Saturday
morning I awoke to a georgeous, crystal clear day and decided I 
needed an altitude fix.  My little Hertz (me too) renta-car soon had 
me in Larkspur where I rented a StumpJumper Comp (mtn. bike) and 
decided to conquer Mt. Tam.  A wonderful 3.5 hour ride!   Rode to the 
top via the Eldridge grade and was rewarded with stunning views in 
all directions.  One of the best visibilty days I've
experienced in SF.  When Jerry sang "Gone are the days we stopped 
to decide, where we should go, we just ride" I was grinning from ear 
to ear.  Course, my quads were burning too!

This was a classicly frustrating show for Weir fans.  Ace can 
do some amazing stuff, really driving the band like in the 
Jack Straw opener.  But just when I'm ready to pronounce him Lord 
he wets the bed and I'm left leading the charge to oust him from the 
band!  Desolation Row was unforgivable!  This needs to be retired 
to the Dylan attic.  In a Blair Jackson interview from years ago 
Weir sez that'll he'll play some Dylan tunes for a bit and then 
move on to other stuff from the Dylan catalogue.  LIAR!  
Absolutely Sweet Marie.  Highway 61.  ANYTHING BUT DESOLATION ROW!!!
:-)

And there ought to be a law about playing Man Smart and Aiko 
on consecutive nights!

Jack Staw, Bertha, Bird Song, Picasso, Fingers, Dark Star, Rain.  
Phil! Great stuff!  But I agree with Dave, Bongo, et. al. - the 
flow wasn't always there.  Uneven.  But I sure enjoyed it. Probably 
because I knew it would be my last show for quite some time.  
For the most part it was your standard, good ole' Grateful Dead.
When they did get going on all cylinders, there was nothing left 
to do but drool.

>Now Sunday, that was a show! The run from VOTC to Dew *was* 
>brilliant.  Best show I've been to in a *long* time.

Dang, I knew i shoulda stayed the extra day.  The Sunday set II was
very similar to 12/4 Set II - a wonderful flow of music.  Anyone
who saw both shows care to comment?

-- 
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
|  Glenn Russell                   "Some rise, some fall, some climb...     |
|  russellg@morse.colorado.edu      To get to Weekapaug!"       :-)         | 
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Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead