Right In Tune

http://www.archive.org/details/furthur2010-02-05.BayfrontAmpitheatre

Here’s Furthur’s show from last night.  First show of a month long tour.  Furthur consists of Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Jeff Chimenti (Ratdog, The Dead), John Kadlicek (Dark Star Orchestra), Joe Russo (Benevento Russo Duo), and Jay Lane (Ratdog).  They are making some incredible music, check http://www.furthur.net for tour dates.

Setlist from last night:

Set 1

1. Jam >
2. Born Cross-Eyed >
3. The Music Never Stopped
4. Ramble on Rose
5. The Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion
6. Dear Mr. Fantasy >
7. On the Road Again >
8. Franklin’s Tower

Set 2

1. Jam >
2. Throwin’ Stones >
3. Viola Lee Blues >
4. Mason’s Children >
5. Viola Lee Blues
6. Good Lovin’
7. Terrapin Station
8. Shakedown Street
9. China Cat Sunflower >
10. I Know You Rider

Enocre

1. Crowd > Donor Rap
2. Ripple

The Dead- 2008-02-04

http://www.archive.org/details/dfo2008-02-04.dfo2008-02-04.mk41.flac16

The first Dead For Obama concert, which had a different lineup from the 2nd Dead For Obama concert in fall 2008 and tour in spring 2009.  The lineup for this show was Phil, Bob, and Mickey Hart joined by Mark Karan, Jackie Greene and Barry Sless on guitars, John Molo on drums, and Steve Molitz on keyboards.  This show was the first time I heard Barry Sless, who, In my opinion, captures Jerry’s style of playing better than anyone without imitating him.  His pedal steel playing in particular is just gorgeous, I’ve never heard anyone better on the instrument.  This show was also my first exposure to Jackie Greene, who blew me away with his vocals and guitar playing on “Sugaree.”  John Molo is an incredible drummer, and Mickey, Phil and Bobby sound as good as ever.  The whole band just sounds incredibly good for the amount of rehearsal time they must have had.  A very solid show with some really beautiful playing, mostly from Barry Sless.

Neal Cassady, Merry Prankster and beatnik hero, died 42 years ago today.  The character Dean Moriarty, from Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, was based on Neal Cassady.  In the 1960’s, Cassady drifted away from Kerouac and the Beatnik scene towards Ken Kesey and LSD.  Cassady became a Merry Prankster, and drove their psychedelic bus, Furthur, across the country several times.  Along with the Grateful Dead and Ken Kesey, Cassady became a focus of the West Coast Acid Tests, He became especially close with the Grateful Dead during this time.  Bob Weir, who was kicked out of nearly every school he attended, shared Neal’s disregard for rules and authority, and developed a very strong friendship with him.  Weir’s describes Cassady’s famously wild driving: “I used to ride around the city with him in San Francisco, and he could drive through rush hour traffic at 55-60 miles an hour, never stopping for a red light, never stopping for a stop sign, the wrong side of the street, on the sidewalk, all that kind of stuff.  Never hit anything.  And he could see around corners.  And all the time he was driving, he had one hand on the wheel, one hand feeling up his girlfriend in the middle seat, and one hand playing the buttons on the radio.”  The Grateful Dead tried to influence some of his recklessness and daring into their music, and in some ways Cassady taught them the art of improvisation.  He died when he was only 41 years old, while supposedly hiking through Mexico counting the number of railroad spikes.  He’s really just one of the interesting and unusual people of the past fifty years, it’s a shame he died so young.

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1970-11-08.aud.weiner.28609.sbeok.shnf

Grateful Dead- Live at Capitol Theatre 11/08/70 Portchester, NY

This one is a true must hear.  I originally downloaded this show because it was recorded five minutes away from my house, but it became one of my favorite shows.  The acoustic first set is really a true delight, and features some of great banter such as “that godzilla… he was one motherfucker…” from Bob Weir.  The first set features some seldom played live songs such as “Operator” and an unusual, slower acoustic take on “I Know You Rider,” so it’s worth hearing for that alone.  But the whole set is spectacular and the 2nd and 3rd set are equally good.  The 2nd set opens up with “Morning Dew,” always a good sign, and features a very odd but interesting song selection include “My Babe,” “Searchin’,” and “New Orleans,” which to my knowledge were never played at any other shows.  Set 2 also features a great early cover of Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.”  Set 3 is typical of the Grateful Dead’s 1970 psychedelia, with a great “Dark Star” and rocking “Not Fade Away” to close.  Also contains a great opening set by NRPS with Jerry on pedal steel.  Audio quality is very good for a 1970 audience recording.  The audience recording actually adds to the show because it allows the crowd’s energy and the show’s great vibes really comes across on tape.  Just listen to the clapping on “Casey Jones.”  Definitely a recording everyone needs to hear.

Gov’t Mule- As usual, Gov’t Mule will headline Friday and Saturday night at Mountain Jam, with a yet to be named performer to headline on Sunday night.  Mountain Jam is Warren’s festival, and in the past Gov’t Mule has always put on some of their best. most special shows at Mountain Jam.  The Saturday night show last year was absolutely incredible.  It’s always a treat to see Gov’t Mule, especially at Mountain Jam.

Key Tracks- Soulshine, Beautifully Broken, Broke Down On The Brazos, Blind Man In The Dark

Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band- This band’s lineup has not technically been announced as they’ve yet to play a gig under that name, but I would assume this band will be similar to the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival which toured a couple years ago.  That band was The Derek Trucks Band + Tedeschi, Derek’s brother Duane Trucks on drums, and Ron Holloway on saxaphone.  A pretty incredible lineup, and I hope and expect the Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band lineup to be similar.  Should be a hell of a show.  Last year The Derek Trucks Band put on an incredible show at Mountain Jam, but the hour long set flew by too quickly, and I hope this year The Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band can get one of the longer timeslots.

Key Tracks- Sweet Inspiration, I Know, Back Where I Started, Sailing On

Michael Franti & Spearhead- This will be Michael Franti’s 5th straight Mountain Jam, which seems a little excessive.  And having seen a bunch of times, I can say I’m not all that excited about seeing him again.  But then I wasn’t that excited to see him the past couple times I’ve seen him.  But each time, I’ve had a great time.  He does have a great, reassuring vibe about him, and a talent for creating magical moments through his music.  And because of that, I know I would enjoy seeing him at Mountain Jam 2010, although I won’t go see in arenas with John Mayer…

Key Tracks- I Got Love For You, Never Too Late, Say Hey (I Love You), Bomb The World

The Avett Brothers- I saw The Avett Brothers in 2008 and absolutely loved it.  I also hated their critically praised new album, I & Love & You.  So I’m not sure what to expect from them live now, but it’ll probably still be a pretty fun show, as long as they don’t play too many of the new songs.

Key Tracks- Salina, Paranoia In B Flat Major

Les Claypool- I have never gotten into any Claypool’s projects, except his cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals album with his frog brigade.  But I’ve never gotten into Primus, Oysterhead or any of his solo stuff except the Animals cover. ]

Toots & The Maytals- I have to admit I only know Pressure Drop, but it sure is a great song…

Key Tracks- Pressure Drop

Yonder Mountain String Band- I would have rather had Railroad Earth or Cornmeal fill the bluegrass slot, but I’m hopeful that one of them will still be added in addtion to YMSB.  YMSB are a blast too though, they can really play their instruments and have great energy.

Key Tracks- No Expectations, Holdin’, Southbound

Matisyahu- This is one of the only artists who I have absolutely no interest in seeing at Mountain Jam.  Just not my thing.

Dark Star Orchestra- Hope they do a latenight under the stars again, that was fucking awesome at Mountain Jam 2008.  We don’t even know who their guitarist will be at that point in time.  Original guitarist John Kadlicek left the band in November, and Jeff Mattson & Stu Allen are both doing tours with the band to act as temporary replacements.  Mattson is with them for a winter tour and then Allen for the spring tour because Mattson had another commitment.  So who knows who’ll be playing lead guitar by the time June rolls around.  Doesn’t really matter though, both Mattson and Allen are great players.  DSO always put on a great show.

Dave Mason- Dave Mason was briefly lead guitarist of the 1960’s and 1970’s rock band Traffic, and although much of Traffic’s best work was done after Mason left the band, he did write some great songs such as “Feelin’ Alright” which Joe Cocker made famous.  His first solo album after leaving Traffic, Alone Together, was one of the best albums of the 1970’s, and kind of a perfection of the sound Eric Clapton chased in his early solo career.  Since then, Mason has released mostly crap, and his new album is especially unlistenable… but Mason has written some really terrific songs and should put on a great live show.  I know he’s sat in with the Allman’s before so I would expect some collaboration with Warren too.

Key Tracks- Only You Know And I Know, Feelin’ Alright, We Just Disagree

Lettuce- Lettuce will be playing an indoor late night set that promises to be one of the best sets of the weekend.  Their late night at Gathering Of The Vibes last year had everyone in the campgrounds talking about it the next two days.  Should be a fantastic show.

Key Tracks- Move On Up, Blast Off, Sam Huff’s Flying Raging Machine

Animal Liberation Orchestra- ALO have always seemed a little poppy for my tastes but I’m looking forward to catching them at Mountain Jam since I’ve seen nothing but great reviews of their live shows, and they never play out east.  They’re really talented musicians and I think they would probably be much better live than they are in studio.

Key Tracks- Girl I Wanna Lay You Down, Plastic Bubble

Jonathon Tyler & The Northern Lights- I really like a couple songs I’ve seen on youtube.  Don’t know them well but from what I’ve heard, I definitely want to try to catch their set.

Key Tracks- Devil’s Basement

Elmwood- Another band I have no interest in seeing.  Supposed to be just like Dave Matthews.

The London Souls- Don’t know anything about them other than the description on the Mountain Jam website and a couple youtube videos.  Sound like stereotypical 1970’s rock.  Might be interesting but they don’t sound terribly original.

Under half the lineup has been announced so far, so there should be a lot more good music coming including a headlining act for Sunday.  Should be a good weekend.

Yesterday, the merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which I and all fans of live music have been fighting and dreading for months, was approved by the U.S. Government Department of Justice.  Clearly the fellows that make up the Department of Justice do not have the interests of the concert-goers or musicians in mind.  Unfortunately, to say that this merger has the potential to completely ruin the music industry is not an exaggeration.  The question is how the live music industry can survive the merger.

The obvious solution to making a corporation fall is a boycott.  But Live Nation Entertainment (the name of the new Ticketmaster-Live Nation company) will be hard to boycott.  Between the two of them, Ticketmaster and Live Nation control nearly every major concert venue in the United States.  Because of this, if a band wants to become a successful, major touring act, they have no choice but to play at some Live Nation Entertainment Venues.  Pearl Jam attempted to boycott and defeat Ticketmaster in the mid-nineties after learning that Ticketmaster charged service fees.  Pearl Jam’s boycott essentially prevented them from playing in the United States for three years, nearly broke up the band, and eventually, Ticketmaster won.

Although Pearl Jam failed, other bands must follow in Pearl Jam’s steps.  Ticketmaster and Live Nation have become even more powerful and their policies even more outrageous since Pearl Jam attempted to take them down fifteen years ago.  Pearl Jam failed because they had no support.  The only way that Live Nation Entertainments can be defeated is if a great number of artists and music fans work together to stop it.  Fans can support local, independent concert venues and avoid venues run by Live Nation Entertainment.  Bands can attempt to schedule their tours to avoid Live Nation venues whenever possible (which will be difficult).  In the meantime, go see some shows at independent venues and enjoy not having to pay the $15 service charges that Live Nation Entertainment will charge.

The Rothbury Music Festival which was scheduled to take place over 4th of July weekend in Michigan, will not take place in 2010.  Last year Rothbury featured Bob Dylan, The Dead and String Cheese Incident as headliners and was universally praised as a fantastic festival.  It is expected to return in 2011.