So far now, I've been to five Phil & Friends shows, one Ratdog show, and five The Dead shows. Unfortunately, I haven't quite had a chance to make this page look decent yet.
The more and more Dead I listen to, Grateful or not, the more I really love the band and wish I'd gotten on this boat earlier. Of course, that would mean I would have needed a major attitude adjustment in my late teens and early twenties in respects to my views on music and recreational drug use.
Anyway, I'm feeling much better now. And I'm guessing when I put the "Steal Your Face" sticker on my car window it became official that I'm slowly turning into something of a Deadhead. Not that that's a bad thing by any means.
I've been waiting to see if Joan Osborne would be hitting the road with them again. I liked them with Warren Haynes, but--don't get me wrong--when he plays with them everything just seems to sound like Warren. A little bit too ABB or Muley for my tastes, when what I really want is the happy sounds, the Joy that springs from Joans lungs and makes my spirits soar.
Unfortunately, though, The Dead quit touring after summer 2004, and I was really disappointed not to see them together anymore. But, I guess I made up for it in 2005 where I could and saw Ratdog at the always amazing Bonnaroo Music Festival and then caught up with a new version of Phil & Friends in Buffalo in December. The Phil Lesh & Friends project has really become one that really captivates me. If the sheer talent and variety of the artists Phil brings on tour with him isn't enough, I think it's the way that each version of Phil & Friends reinterprets the music according to their own stylings. Ive seen so many versions that are so different that it's hard to say which is best. I can only say that I definitely hope to hear more again with Joan Osborne or Jackie Greene.
Liquid Blue Sports Bears
Setlists from the shows I've been to
2002 | Darien Lake PAC I, Darien, NY | ||
2003 | Bonnaroo 2003, Manchester, TN | Vernon Downs, Vernon, NY | Darien Lake PAC II, Darien, NY |
2004 | Bonnaroo 2004,Manchester, TN | Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY | |
2005 | Bonnaroo 2005, Manchester, TN | Shea's Performing Arts Center I, Buffalo, NY | |
2006 | Bonnaroo 2006, Manchester, TN | ||
2007 | Mule Mountain Jam 2007, Hunter, NY | Shea's Performing Arts Center II, Buffalo, NY |