Uncle John's Band

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Listening to a great version tonight and wondering if there isn't a more appropriate song for these days 

Been my fav tune since 1970 when I first heard it.

I mean

It's the song

 

Ship of Fools ... would easily qualify for these days.

^^^^^

Excellent point 

It's the last song I heard Phil play, as an encore at the Warfield.

I'm OK with that.

Hey 'Lance' you suck. Lol I had to find my last song. Ripple. Not awful 

Well damn. I was just now on YouTube for something completely different and this popped up...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcgymL9WKQY&list=RDNcgymL9WKQY&start_rad...

My goodbye to Phil song. And recorded by an old zoner no less.

It's worth a listen.

That's pretty good Heathen Tom. Thank you for posting that.

Not to spin this in another direction but last song I heard Phil play live was oddly enough - Dire Wolf     Has to be a rare encore.  

The UJB from 12-31-2001 at HJK is one I remember well. After sets by Derek Trucks Band (with a very pregnant Susan sitting in), Ratdog, P&F, and Crusader Rabbit for the midnight set, P&F came out at about 2:00 AM for an amazing set (with Derek sitting in) that ended with an epic UJB.

https://archive.org/details/2001-12-31.paf.neumann.boden.6820.sbefail.fl...

 

Did Crusader Rabbit come in on a float above the crowd? 

 

As I remember it, they made their way to the stage through the crowd on the floor.

>>>Not to spin this in another direction<<<

If I may be so bold to speak for all of us, we're fans of the Grateful Dead, so spinning things in different directions is in our DNA.

And yes, Crusader Rabbit came through the crowd wearing masks & costumes, revealing themselves when they got to the stage. I can't remember if they were on a float or not, and I may be mistaken, but I believe that was the first time all members of the GD had performed a set of music together (Billy had sat in with the Other Ones at Shoreline, but just at the end and not on a kit).

That was an interesting night.

the problem has been, very few of the guitarists can play the outro properly.

Looks like there were no UJBs played in 1978, and in fact none were played between 10/06/77 (Tempe, AZ) and 12/26/79 (Oakland Auditorium).

https://www.setlists.net/?search=true&venue=&city=&state=&month=&day=&ye...

The song’s first documented performance was at the Fillmore West on December 4, 1969. It was released as the opening song on Workingman’s Dead in 1970. It remained steadily in the repertoire, and was played a total of 330 known times. The only year in which it was not played, aside from the 1975 hiatus, was 1978.

https://www.dead.net/features/greatest-stories-ever-told/greatest-storie...

 >>>>>and not on a kit

Huh - the way I remember it, Bill took over Molo's kit, and Molo played hand drums of some kind.

That could well be. I was there but working, moving around the bowl listening but not watching much.

I know he did play percussion at some point that night, maybe at first, but I think my mistake is that just last week I finished reading Kreutzmann's book (which is pretty bad) and he mentioned that show in a negative way and said he just played percussion, but as we all know, it's a mistake to trust most of what all those guys have said over the years.

Either way, I do think that NYE show was the first time all of them played together for a full set.

My absolute favorite Uncle John's Band (since I first heard it) was from the Boston Music Hall on 12/1/73. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2yq42yAQr2g&time_continue=4&source_ve_path...

The band actually played Playin' > UJB > Playin'. 
The above picks up from the UJB. 

Yes they came in costume on a circular float that was spun slowly by the crew as the made their way to the stage. As they passed us Billy was shouting fuck you and giving us all the finger.

Awesome night 

Great thread, folks.  And, thanks for the inspiration.  Just gave that Boston Music Hall Playin' > UJB > Playin' sequence a listen. That's the stuff!

And, you got me thinking about those '01 NYE shows at the Kaiser (12/30 and 12/31).  To think that's 24 years ago!  We were pretty excited about those shows at the time.  I haven't listened to the Q in a while, so just now I played the Help > Slip > Jam > Dark Star and the UJB.  Completely different sound, but also pretty damn good.

And now, on to Cape Cod '79, another Zoner-inspired pick.  I like that late '79 stuff.  Thanks again!