JRAD, they're worth the effort

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I wasn't feeling that great today and had decided to skip the show, but at the last minute I figured because it was just an easy half-hour away I headed down to Palo Alto and caught the 2nd set of JRAD's show at the Frost Amphitheatre tonight.

I'm very glad I did.

Once again I was reminded of how "outside" the genre they go, how far & how deep they dig into the jams, and how effortlessly and how powerfully they do that.

They were all great, Benevento was amazing as always, Russo was brilliant and the Ween bass player was THUMPING. There were many excellent moments, in particular a solo by Tom Hamilton in Estimated and the SMASHING end to a super quiet Stella, but overall it was just how tight they were, and how loose they were, how hard-hitting they were, how delicate they were, how interwoven they were, how rockin' they were, how pin-drop quiet they were.

It was damn good stuff.

And it was also damn good to bump into our own Rob Scalcione. He's a damn good guy, and it was damn good to see him. 

And BTW, the Frost is SO MUCH BETTER at night. The sound was outstanding and the vibe was perfect. With just a few minor changes and having the shows at night the place is a whole new venue compared to what it was, and about ten times better. I'm really looking forward to going back tonight for My Morning Jacket.

And I'm also really looking forward to seeing Joe Russo's Almost Dead again.

Hopefully sooner than later.

Thanks for the review Lance.  I like JRAD for the same reasons plus how they can tease just about any tune from any other tune.


I was reminded of how "outside" the genre they go, how far & how deep they dig into the jams, and how effortlessly and how powerfully they do that.


overall it was just how tight they were, and how loose they were, how hard-hitting they were, how delicate they were, how interwoven they were, how rockin' they were, how pin-drop quiet they were
 

Yes indeed, Lance. The Music, Venue and (light) Crowd  hit the trifecta last night. 
 

JRAD was as good as  homegrown tomatoes.

the conclusion ive eventually come to about JRAD, and in a way about post-jerry dead music in general, is this -

the "magic" of the dead has always heavily revolved around 2 things - the jams/improvisation, and jerry. nearly everything outside of the jams that made the grateful dead special either revolved around jerry, or at least heavily involved jerry. all the ballads, all the moments of sweetness, alot of the "tributes" to the classic american songbook, the "spaces between the notes" - all of that stuff largely hinges on jerry.

since jerry left us, various configurations of former grateful dead members have made attempts to rekindle that magic. they have found moments of success here and there, but they have never been able to rekindle that magic on a consistent basis from show to show or tour to tour - the magic has always been rekindled in fleeting moments that certianly do not appear in every show or even within every major post-jerry configuration.

the one aspect of the grateful dead's magic that does seem possible to consistently recreate is the jams. when you get a group of skilled improvisors together that know the songs well and know each other well, some really really wild moments can consistently be conjured up within the jams.

so rather than try to chase these fleeting moments of jerry's former glory, just JAM THE FUCK OUT. thank you joe russo.

That just felt right last night. No hassles, good people, great songs and improvisation. JAM THE FUCK OUT they did.

good to see you, Dan! Off to Stern Grove today
 

Last year at the Frost was great, but even better yesterday - probably helped that Tom Hamilton wasn't hindered by shoulder injury

JRAD is certainly worth the effort. Everyone in the band rips. I've been seeing them off and on since their inception, playing in bars. They are Rock N' Roll Dead. You won't get the highs>lows>highs of the Grateful Dead with JRAD but if you want ripping upbeat rock n' roll versions of Dead tunes, check 'em out and gig the night away! 

Now, if you want the real deal..... Phil this Saturday in Bethel!!!!

 

Best dead jams for the price out there