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grendel

Books and Music

+24543


Submissions

5
Wharf Rat
Sept. 27, 1976
Community War Memorial Auditorium

Keith shines on a long, flowing intro section that spills into space-mellow Rat-Goodness
14
Last Time
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Emerges from Space with a very long intro & very distinct and sustained St. Stephen tease! My favorite version.
10
Dear Mr. Fantasy
July 18, 1989
Alpine Valley

Part of what made this Alpine run so legendary. Soulful and Brent-astic.
5
Big Railroad Blues
Aug. 14, 1971
Berkeley Community Theater

Maybe the best pure hard riving Rock&Roll version. Lean, mean, and Jerry supreme!
38
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Nov. 2, 1977
Field House - Seneca College

Rarely heard (left out of DP Bonus tracks for Vol. 34) but another sweet/smooth '77 winner.

Comments

Here Comes Sunshine
June 22, 1973
Pacific Coliseum

Minor hiccups (lyric flub, one stutter step in one of the chord changes) can’t detract from the overall brilliance of this version. Jam section between verse 2 and 3, which makes or breaks any HCS is almost too sweet for words. New box set sound reproduction provides clear and distinct separation of instruments to be heard like never before. Keith’s fills and Billy’s subtle drum accents come alive in particular.
Playin' In The Band
May 21, 1974
Edmundson Pavilion

The great new box set can't even change my mind on this version. It's not even the screechfest middle section that bugs me so much, it's more that there's no cohesion to this marathon piece at all. It feels like four or five different sections of things they could have played separately throughout the show in different jams, with varying results. I'd probably dig about 2 of the 5 in this one but it's length is more a novelty than an indication of its worth. Compare with 11/1/5/72 which is also long at 30 mins. but has far greater flow and continuity to the musical soundscapes they visit than this one does. Just a 2 cent opinion after listening closely again from the new set, which really is proving to be fantastic.
Eyes Of The World
May 21, 1974
Edmundson Pavilion

Better than a lot of ones from the same year currently higher on the ladder. Blissful post second verse second jam.
Wharf Rat
May 21, 1974
Edmundson Pavilion

Great point Carrion makes about the Birdsongish quality of this Rat, especially in the outro jam which manages to be dreamy and intense all at once. Great vox from Jerry on this one too. I prefer this song mostly in 1977 but of the pre ‘77 versions this might be my favorite especially as heard in the new Pacific Northwest box set. Excellent group of shows and hopefully this one will get attention beyond the 46 min. PITB
He's Gone
June 7, 1977
Winterland Arena

Hadn’t listened to this one in forever. End jam has got to be the best they ever did for this tune. Easy +1 & glad for all the commentary on it.