Grateful Dead Music Forum

...after a 13 1/2 year moratorium (the summer of '95 at RFK).

without jerry. not sure about this - - I saw him every year from 74 thru 95.

while realizing that this is might be asking for unlicensed psychotherapy, any thoughts, good people?

peace out,

terry

Unfortunately I'm not one of the lucky ones who ever got a chance to see ol' Jer in action... Just take it for what it is. They won't be the Grateful Dead. Just what's left of em. Enjoy!

<insert Jerry here>

trking8 wrote:...after a 13 1/2 year moratorium (the summer of '95 at RFK).

without jerry. not sure about this - - I saw him every year from 74 thru 95.

while realizing that this is might be asking for unlicensed psychotherapy, any thoughts, good people?

peace out,

terry

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the hardest thing when seeing post-Jerry bands with other members is to listen to and accept what is currently being served instead of what my heart wants. We were used to Filet Mignon, but now are being served NY Strip. A fine steak indeed, but it will never be Filet Migon. It is, IMHO, important not to let the fact that it isn't Filet Mignon prevent you from enjoying a fine NY Strip. If you can get past this, you will be in for a great time with what will probably be a very hot little band.

Go for old time's sake-the music still lives; plus you never know who's number might be up next.

I stongly agree with the last two posters.
You gotta take it for what it is and not for what it isn't or there's no point in going.

FWIW, Penn State (IMHO) rocked---(and that was without extensive rehersal from what I gather). I'm thinking this run of shows might be the very best post-jerry as well as possibly the last.

And although it's just a guess/my own little wierd-o fantasy, I won't be surprised if the core four feel like they have something to prove to all the naysayers out there---especially with Phish being back.

Plus, maybe they want to show the world that even though they're old, they can still deliver the goods.

I stongly agree with the last two posters.
You gotta take it for what it is and not for what it isn't or there's no point in going.

FWIW, Penn State (IMHO) rocked---(and that was without extensive rehersal from what I gather). I'm thinking this run of shows might be the very best post-jerry as well as possibly the last.

And although it's just a guess/my own little wierd-o fantasy, I won't be surprised if the core four feel like they have something to prove to all the naysayers out there---especially with Phish being back.

Plus, maybe they want to show the world that even though they're old, they can still deliver the goods.

What he said.

Just my hamble opinion, but The Dead should do new material. They are a new band. I love the old songs, but what make Ratdog Ratdog is original songs. It doesn't seem enough just to play old songs in new ways. The Phish tour has been called a "reunion tour." I hope it's not just that, makes it seem like old timers' day. I prefer the billing Steve Kimock is giving his tour: this is a bad time, might as well have some fun.

I agree with the majority here. I saw "The Grateful Dead" live in IMO some of their best years, and also IMO, some of their worst. Many of the shows I went to are the source of some of my fondest memories from that era. However, the live performance portion of the Grateful Dead experience is over, and has been for a long time. Even the surviving members of the band realize this, which is why they don't perform under the name "The Grateful Dead". The experience of that band lives on in our hearts and in our memories and in our iPods, and will for a very long time, but the live performance part of the experience is finished, never to be repeated, so expecting that is a set-up for certain disappointment.

Unfortunately, from what I have heard on archive.com, I no longer care for Bob's singing. Bob is still a competent guitar player, and Phil is still great on bass, Mickey and Billy can still play drums. But, given where I am in my life (wife and two young kids), getting tickets to concerts and taking the time away from family has become such a huge hassle, that it is not the kind of thing I can do on a whim; and this different band "The Dead" does not appear to offer enough to me to convince me to tolerate the hassle. So, I doubt I will be seeing The Dead. I hope that all who attend have a great time though.

don't go and expect the grateful dead with jerry, don't go and expect anything less either. It's different. It might as well be a whole new band. Bobby, Phill, Mickey, and Bill have all gone and done there own projects and that lets them all bring something new to the table. plus you got warren and jeff.

I am in a somewhat similar position as you truckin8, but I was pretty much through after 92. I have seen RD a couple times and have check out the other member’s material as well. I never saw any of the post Jerry incarnations of the band so I don’t have any opinion on that.
I must say I am really looking forward to this IMHO it seems the guys have made peace with each other and the situation. The rehearsal vids really fire me up they seem real into it and I am very pleased with Warren (but I must confess he is my favorite (active) player currently.
I am looking forward to a fun evening I am sure there are going to be a lot of mixed emotions going on but I have come to realize how much I miss the scene and the music (live) for one night look forward to a release from the craziness of life and a fun time I hope everyone enjoys it I know I will.

Emoto wrote: I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the hardest thing when seeing post-Jerry bands with other members is to listen to and accept what is currently being served instead of what my heart wants. We were used to Filet Mignon, but now are being served NY Strip. A fine steak indeed, but it will never be Filet Migon. It is, IMHO, important not to let the fact that it isn't Filet Mignon prevent you from enjoying a fine NY Strip. If you can get past this, you will be in for a great time with what will probably be a very hot little band.

I've seen many pre Jerry and post Jerry shows. I doubt if any post Jerry shows were NY Strips imo.

And Ratdog had disappointed me every time I saw them.

groovemongrel wrote:

Emoto wrote: I can't speak for anyone else, but for me the hardest thing when seeing post-Jerry bands with other members is to listen to and accept what is currently being served instead of what my heart wants. We were used to Filet Mignon, but now are being served NY Strip. A fine steak indeed, but it will never be Filet Migon. It is, IMHO, important not to let the fact that it isn't Filet Mignon prevent you from enjoying a fine NY Strip. If you can get past this, you will be in for a great time with what will probably be a very hot little band.

I've seen many pre Jerry and post Jerry shows. I doubt if any post Jerry shows were NY Strips imo.

I try to be kind. My opinion only, but for my money Phil & Friends have put on the most interesting post-Jer shows of all. YMMV.

FWIW, I saw about 25 TOO/The Dead shows. I can't recall ever saying, that show sucked. 98 was a great tour as was 2000. 2002 had some good stuff as well.
It's simply a different experience than seeing them with Jerry. As for doing new songs, maybe they need to be sure they have all the old ones down first and it's worth their time/effort to start writing specifically for this band. I for one, would rather hear the older stuff, especially the great tunes they stopped playing until after Jerry died--think Born Crosseyed, St. S>Eleven>High Green Chilly Winds>Cosmic Charlie>Alligator>DarkStar

BTW, I just put an entry in Fantasy Dead. If you're into it, here's the link.

http://otherones.net/index.php