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grendel

Books and Music

+23517


Submissions

4
China Cat Sunflower
April 5, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Nice early stand alone with a long intro. You can hear the transition from the old intro to the more familiar pickings of later versions.
5
Darkness Jam
Nov. 21, 1973
Denver Coliseum

Not really a darkness jam but more of a dark star jam than what it's listed as (PITB) leads into Wharf Rat & is beyond beautiful.
8
Wang Dang Doodle
Oct. 22, 1983
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

The boys really "throw a mess" on this one, making the carrier dome sound like a down and dirty old time saloon. Slinky sick stuff
2
Row Jimmy
April 18, 1987
Irvine Meadows

Check out Jerry's "giddy-up" riffs in the final "Row" choruses!
4
Estimated Prophet
Aug. 31, 1985
Manor Downs

Hot as the night in Texas on which it was played.

Comments

Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
March 21, 1991
Capital Centre

One of those I've had in heavy rotation for years but always forgot to bump here on the list. Just a spectacular coupling of both tunes--not just "for this era"--but for any. Deep calypso vibes twirl throughout Scarlet & Jerry is belting as best he can for '91 & nails all the lyrics and damn if he doesn't bring back some of the old magic from about a decade earlier when he'd fly through a tapestry of notes, sprinting along at a fast but not too fast pace- and the Fire does not disappoint either with a furious full throttle band transition into it, and of course Bruce adds his usual brilliant flourishes. With scores upon scores of S>F to choose from I get how a '91 show version especially might get lost in the weeds, but this one really should have far many more votes than it does now.
Brother Esau
Dec. 30, 1986
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center

Stunningly hot precision funk version--best drumming I've ever heard performed on this tune. Outstanding +1 & candidate for best ever.
Shakedown Street
Oct. 22, 1983
Carrier Dome, Syracuse U

Overshadowed by the "other" Carrier Dome shredfest the following year? Maybe, and that one's a beast, but oh my Cats Under the Stars so is this!!!! Grand furious funk ensues here -- as said above by other posters the whole band is dialed in. Get this one higher please
Scarlet Begonias
March 16, 1990
Capital Centre

it really is...super rare late era non-Fire pairing but a real winner
Althea
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

Sleeper sensation...Jerry kicks it into overdrive on the closing jam