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grendel

Books and Music

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Submissions

2
Drums
March 2, 1992
The Omni

Heavy calypso rhythms & monstrous punctuation via The Beast make for an epic Drums out of Terrapin. 5 star stuff.
1
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 30, 1978
Red Rocks Ampitheatre

In combo with the equally stunning "Eyes" to follow this is an unheralded, wah-wah Jerry-heavy, Bobby/Donna vocal gem.
4
Beat it on Down The Line
July 3, 1966
Fillmore Auditorium

Flying Pig.
8
Althea
Nov. 4, 1979
Civic Center

Sily smooth Althea from Providence. Rich Jerry vocals & of course, chunks o'Phil. This deserves a listen & some votes!
1
Space
June 20, 1980
West High Auditorium

Short but oh so sweet fuzzfest of Brent-centric gooyness seamlessly into a typically funkified 1980 NFA

Comments

Box of Rain
March 20, 1986
Hampton Coliseum

^^^^You captured the feel of that moment perfectly. I'm so glad you made it! I had a similar experience in that I had agreed to drive the half day it took to get to VA. from New Orleans w/a couple who were attending & wanted a third to split gas money with. They argued and fought the entire way plus it was like monsoon rain the whole time & white knuckle driving conditions & I wondered what the hell I was thinking in even going in the first place. Then that moment you described & it was all worth it times 1,000. I'll also never forget the sight of Dead Heads five rows deep in the outer concourse after the set ended waiting for pay phones (1986, remember!) just to call someone & yell down the line "Box of Rain!" before hanging up. I saw this repeated over & over & was laughing & hugging along with every person there who felt as lucky as I did to have seen & experienced this moment.
Bird Song
March 25, 1990
Knickerbocker Arena

Cgarces is spot on re: his Branford comment. This is a soaring version, far better than many other 90s era versions listed above. Plus Jer's voice isn't a complete croak-fest like in many other 90s renditions. Mid jam is just a tapestry of color and sound and ideas. I'm a MIDI hater & even tho' it does make an appearance here it's not too intrusive & not much different than what you hear on the Without A Net version everyone seems to love so much more. Drums kick in nicely too. No reason for this version to be under double digits, folks.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Dec. 3, 1979
Uptown Theatre

yeah, the AUD patch is a real buzz kill & I get what you're saying about the somewhat sluggish approach, but there's an odd steadiness or balance maybe is the right way to describe it between the two tunes and I like the patient bridge to Fire. As I said in my comment previous I see this as more of a nice sleeper pick or a good version to hear for some interesting early Brent contributions.
Not Fade Away
Sept. 28, 1975
Lindley Meadows, Golden Gate Park

As unique an NFA--separate from any other identifiable era version--as you will ever hear. Jazz inflected...more like Buddy Rich than Buddy Holly...upvoted just for standing out so beautifully from the crowd.
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
April 8, 1978
Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Shame on me for not raving about this one & only now just upping it. Raging, yet laser precision performance, peaks, harmonies, the whole 9 yards. I'm always fixated on getting the word out about the S>F from this show so I overlooked this stone cold HalfStep for far too long. No more.