The Duo 6 show Mini Tour..... Your Thoughts

Phil Lesh playing great. 

Bob Weir behaving himself.

Dead heads paying top dollar to sing along to each other.

And so it goes.

Ken

Thanks for starting this off. My first reaction was : bad idea. Saw some youtube of duo stuff in the past and it was not particularly good.

Listened the first night and was VERY impressed. Watched the 2nd night and remained impressed.  They were SO tight.  Trey was fun, but iy got a bit unrehearsed and sloppy. He couldn't hit the notes on his The Wheel vocals and kind of lost me for the rest of the set.

Bob & Phil? Top form, good tempos and as deep jamming as a trio could do. Drummer was there, never out front. Just really well done.

Count me as skeptical bordering on skeptimistic when these shows were announced.  I can't say I was feverish with anticipation for the first show because I forgot it was on that night.  Reading the reviews yesterday made me curious enough to listen to some stuff on youtube,, and I was impressed.  I decided to check out last nights show, and I am so glad I did.  I loved it.  There's just something about seeing these 2 together like that that is just exactly perfect.  I thought it was fantastic, and I can't wait to check out the remaining shows.  

Phil may let Bob steer some, but he ain't taking his foot off the gas.

That's why it's working so far.

Thought you might like this SpanJam

Thanks for the link KK

Watching St Stephen on the link and Trey is on fire.... I take it back.  2:49.29 until the next verse

Oh my! Am I a crotchety old guy?  

Excuse me whist I introspect (and dance...)

That St Stephen is some superior live music......

Love it so far, Bob and Phil wally has been wonderful.

those three with Steve Kimock.... never happen but yeah... would be heaven.

Weir plays so well and focused with Phil.... the first two gigs have been off the map good.

first night full show still up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGxk6x8bMnY&feature=youtu.be

check it out while ya can

Who's got a link to the st. Stephen?

I'm happy for them both to get to play together in such an intimate setting. I was not worried bout rehearsals or chemistry as they have over 50 years of playing together and over 50 years of chemistry. Call me crazy but I like the first night better than the second. Just loved Bob & Phil solo after all these years. Quite heartwarming and really good playing and set list.  

I have really enjoyed both shows.  But I enjoyed the Weir Wasserman stuff too so whatever.

Did the duo go home? They should be doing mid week club gig sit ins with anyone that wouldn't mind a couple Dead tunes.

Thanks to the fan who picked me up as I fell during taping Row Jimmy. I had an aisle seat and was leaning on the seat in front of me and the row, rowed to the left and shoved me out into aisle its self.  He assured security, I wasn't drunk I just had bad sticks.

I also apologize as to not knowing or recognizing who a Noah Lehrman is...

He was sitting to my right and I was supposed to know who he was.

Awkward.

Here you go Noah, free press on a relevant board of fans

http://noahlehrman.com/home

Personally I’ve been waiting for this for decades. When Jerry checked out and they seemed ready to get on the road again...I always felt like they should just move forward without a replacement, or as it’s been in most incarnations, several replacements. They never quite nailed it with the rotating guitarists over the years have they?

my musical Dream was for them to stay as the original line up....but move into this appropriately mellower and aged stripped down version. Maybe shake off the behemoth crowds and vast and impersonal sports arena s and tKe it back to the intimacy of smaller theatres- something they’ve all expressed they grew to miss.

 Billy, Mickey, Bruce and/or Vince, Bobby and Phil. The keys would have filled in the high end sparkles just fine and come to find out on this tour, Bobby is able to play a phenomenal lead/rhythm hybrid (check out the Row Jimmy night 2). He has a broad range of very interesting effects pedals that take his playing into some very trippy, full and juicy directions. And Phil’s bass is a powerful lead line all it’s own. They’re sound as that configuration would have only improved in time. The sets could have had more acoustic sections and some expansion on drums>space explorations. Round it out with occasional high quality guests of their peers like Jorma, Santana, Branford, Kimock etc

Im a GD purist though and want this music played by the guys who touched that original flame of consciousness expansion that sparked off in the Haight. To me it was always as much about a connection to that energy and lineage as it was the rock and roll music being played. And then as time inevitably marched on to new generations, I wanted to see a more precisely selected lineage established as to who the flame would be passed to. So far the vibe at these shows reflects this - many old school heads that stopped coming out after Jerry and solid numbers of Hells Angels. 

I know this this isn’t the popular opinion. I’m sure for the band it would have involved a lot more hard work to carry it all as a 5 or 6 piece.  They all clearly relished the freedom the dissolving of the GD offered them to expand their musical language by bringing in other voices, influences and flavors. Makes sense. In doing this they cast musical seeds of influence across far and wide genres of American music. I think they had grown somewhat bored of just each other and recognized the importance of pollinating other musicians with what they had found along the way. Ideally they would have kept playing with original members as the GD and still pursued and toured with their own side bands like Phil and Friends, Bob Weir Band, etc

so for me, this tour is a real gift and I dropped everything to do the whole run. If you listen with your heart and a mind open wide like a sail, the silence around them is a rich ocean where nothing is missing and whispers of their fallen brothers can be heard playing along brilliantly. The spaciousness is a vast canvas upon which Weir and Leshes true mastery is showcased 

That all being said, Trey killed and elevated things to the next level. His reverence towards them was palpable and so beautiful. The roof of that theater was tearing at the seams from the thunderous screams and applause when that curtain lifted and he was standing there. At this point, Trey has been gifted the inheritance of the Flame. And he has earned and deserves it in my book. He’s put in his time and has risen to the level of mastery himself. It has been fascinating to watch the evolution of Trey and Phish since FTW...the traditions and iconography of both bands has merged seamlessly into one culture.

>>His reverence towards them was palpable and so beautiful.

He knelt at the end of Dark Star like he was being Knighted.

i thought the duo thing was interesting.

would have been bummed to see trey get wheeled out.

Funny hat Bobby never really learned how to play an acoustic guitar. That being said, the duo wasn’t bad.

<<<>>>would have been bummed to see trey get wheeled out.

yeah, bad call, i agree. night 1 was better-adding trey made it sloppy, and bobby was already in that vein for the night anyway.

looking forward to the boston wknd coming up. overall i thought phil and bobby did great.

Luckily Trey didn't ruin it.

I was surprised at how tentative and deferential he was

Night One def. better.

But Night Two wasn't bad..

^totally agree.

>>>>>Funny that Bobby never really learned how to play an acoustic guitar

In 1968, when Weir was "fired" from the band, Jerry told him he played the electric guitar like an acoustic.

How is there a "way" to play an acoustic guitar?  I mean, play it how you play it.  It seems to be working for Bobby.  I love his acoustic playing.

KK, 

The Duo Tour will be extended thru the B’day Cap run. Be there!

h2

I loved both nights at RCMH.  Understand how some say night one was better.  I think from a little into Jack Straw through St. Stephen on night two was just incredible; as good of live GD music as I've seen in a while.

Bobby doesn't play electric or acoustic guitar like anyone else.  Sometimes that works out better than other times.  In this Duo setup, it worked out almost always.  Phil is a true maestro.

h2, do tell more about B'day run.... 

Goldy - Thanks for that. 

Hope you enjoy the rest of the shows and look forward to hearing more from you along the way.

Its funny how if you enjoy a stream nobody takes issue but if you don’t enjoy it you’re not allowed to judge a show by a stream.

But it makes sense. Most shows are "better" live. If you like it from the couch it was probably good in person. If you didn't like the stream the show still could have been good live.

In other words, good stream usually means good show, but bad stream doesn't always equate to bad show.

^how's that work? just the experience of being at a show will will make it better musically?

After reading these reviews I'm pretty sure if there was a vote on the Zone for the best replacement for Jerry - No One would win in a landslide. 

^for sure.

doesn't change the fact that it's kimock:)

Timmy, you can't ever judge a show by a stream. You can only judge the stream.

>>>just the experience of being at a show will will make it better musically<<<

Absolutely and without question being in the room is a completely different sonic experience.

>>>just the experience of being at a show will will make it better musically<<<

>> Absolutely and without question being in the room is a completely different sonic experience.

You know, the inverse of that concept is that you can't judge a shittily-recorded Charlie Mingus gig accurately because the sound is so shot. The whole idea that you can't evaluate a performance unless youre in the room has always been, to me, just a deflection from criticisms when the band is laying a real fuckin' stinker - as happens more often than not with Phil's lineups these days.

These shows were okay. Nice sleepy-time music.

Lol'ing at the delirious notions of knighthood and passings of batons.

Also Lol'ing at the fanfare these shows have received with little to no actual musical critique. Little of substance being said. Mostly bliss-ninnie beaming, and most likely due to the fact that we've all come to expect a subpar product from PhilCo. and his dishwasher band.

You guys all have access to the soundboards of RCMH in circulation right?

if not let me know and I’ll post them

Try this;

listen to them without distraction on a set of really good headphones. I especially

recommend the Peggy-O, Row Jimmy> Cassidy and the Mountains of the Moon > Birdsong. Also the Trey

set from Dark Star on. The subtleties of this format really shine even more on headphones than

they did even in the Theatre. 

Phil shines like a God among men. 

Wow. Exhibit "A."

Even Rolling Stone liked it... 

 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/bob-weir-phil-lesh-trey-...

Links for tonight??

Streams don't sound like different guitar riffs and drum beats. 

If Ross James sucks, he sucks both live and on a stream. 

Being at a sing-along show is worse than listening to a sbd stream.

The Rolling Stone guy said it best;

” But at Radio City, without a lead player for three of the four sets, Lesh and Weir made a music that was so uncharacteristically spare that it bordered on spectral. Minus a faux-Jerry, the music was akin to uncut Grateful Dead, uncluttered by outside voices, leaving musicians and listeners alike free to grapple with the resultant emptiness. It was a musical concept that (usually) retained its elegance – and left Deadhead-packed audiences aglow – even when the music itself seemed on the verge of coming undone.”

whats up Ateix....been awhile!

Good thing Atex is here to tell everyone how the cow ate the cabbage.

$25 for SD broadcast , this better be sweet

You can't say it's not sweet just from watching a webcast. 

I beg to differ

<<h2, do tell more about B'day run.... >>

It's just an ugly rumor that I've started. Don't believe anything I say. But of course if that's a lie, than maybe it's the truth? A quandary.

Nice 

Larry is fine

Teresa is too!

>>>Good thing Atex is here to tell everyone how the cow ate the cabbage.

Classic LocalCountyLine line.

Thanks for Bob Dylan '69 disc LocalCounty!

Lol. Sorry your asses chafe so easily. Maybe next time you pony up 200 bucks for some subpar open-mic material you can ask for a little lube with your ticket?

I love the old people that feel threatened by Ateix and his ability to discuss music past “heady jams brah”

KLEPPER: (As character) It's called mental nationalism, and it's an idea whose time has come. That's right. Here at "The Opposition," we believe in our own Golden Rule, may you only hear from others what you've already been telling yourself

Teresa Williams & Larry Campbell are a poor white man's Sandy Denny & Richard Thompson.

fact.

Tix for Phil at The CAp Friday are 38$ for floor seats on stubhub.com

>>>>>I love the old people that feel threatened

 >>>>>are a poor white man's

OK, we got ageism, classism, racism, and sexism.

Anybody else got one?

Lol when the entire audience is old rich white men then it’s not prejudice, it’s just fact.

I understand why folks are testy. If I paid 200 bucks for open mic night, I’d be upset too.

>> Lol. Sorry your asses chafe so easily. <<

Textbook bullying material, right there.

I feel like ateix is actually being fair with his comments in this thread, generous even, especially with the fairport comparison

((((Zone Bullies))))))

So rich black women like Fairport Convention?

Ateix....how does it feel to live this life treating others and even people you know nothing about so 

unkindly? You have a unique sense of musical sophistication that’s important to you to try and pursue

and share, but you feel insecure enough about it to feel you have to first denigrate and pull down 

the feelings and experiences of those around you first to give your point more strength.

Just try and find your own exciting and creative ways of expressing what you find interesting and joyful

in music with your community without also trying to hurt people first. Focus on channeling your intelligence and creative observations 

into new ways to talk about and share music in a way that lifts and lights people up. Your world will be a better place for it and you

wont have that trail of quiet harm to others following behind you as you go through life

It was Bob Weir & Phil Lesh in Boston, Walt Whitman.

The white stuff is snow.

I think Barry got it.

 

Uh right got it the first time. 

Phil. Bob. Snow. 

cool

Put down the pipe, brah.

Was I too verbose for ya’ll?

Sorry. That fine fine California acid does have a tendency to get your thoughts

flowing. 

It’s solid advice brah. You’ll be happier

Take it or leave it 

but at least just try to be kinder to other people 

Try asking everyone to be kinder to Thom. 

The only thing worse than a hippie is a pretentious, affluent hippie.

Cringy af.

The ignorant at it again.

The name-calling, bullying shit is not right for Viva. It's that simple. 

Please talk about the music, the politics, the topic, without making it about the Zoner.

we can't have nice things

vivalasnark!

It was the pretentious hippie thing, wasn't it. A bridge too far

You guys crack me up.

Hey Bluelight, you're welcome. Not every day you see Dylan, Clapton and Al Kooper playing together.

Glad you had a good time at Radio City.

I assume admins message is directed to localcountyline

what does "cow eat the cabbage" mean?

And who are you calling old, Timmy?

The majority of Deadheads.  Especially on this website.

Got it.

I'm getting reports of a mini west coast duo run.

How could they skip over the beloved bay?

Oregon please.

Thank you.

As if.

Didn't Phil just play Oregon?

Guess there wasn't enough funds in the special guest box for Bobby.

It was Grahame and the Dishwashers.

I  am sending warning email's off to a few of you guys on this thread. Shape up or ship out.  You know who you are.

Is the duo getting one?

^^ fair warning.

good looking out, JR.

Just met and rode the hotel elevator with Wally Ingram. He confirmed, there’s been a terrifying aspect of

no rehearsals! What a sweetheart of a guy too. And a recent cancer survivor so right on!

made it to Chicago from Beantown for the final two! With each passing city I’m 

more and more stoked with being on the road. Touring is an art form of experiencing

our great country. Everywhere you go you see that people are more alike than different

and full of uniqueness and beauty. I’d been in California too long....needed this to be reminded 

of each cities wonderfulness

Really digging Wally in the spots where he's obviously comfortable.  Thursday's Box and Alligator, 'frinstance.

Larry & Teresa:  Good stuff.

Trey:  Meh.

What's up with Bob and his sudden inability to end a song?

I don't usually have video on screen if I'm working.  Does Bob engage in less amplifier-tweaking when playing acoustic?

Thursday, while it lasts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zny0Bj3YTIk

Yo KK

respect brother! I appreciate your kind words and encouragement. Think of you all

out here on the road when there’s something sparking in my skull to share. 

Usually catch more shit for it than good. But it’s worth it when I know some folks find something in it.

Love hearing all you alls stories and angles on this weird fucking trip too!

peace brother.......{{{{*}}}} Goldy

Light years better than either Deadschlock or the Bus Boys band, but then, that's a pretty low bar.

You’re right KK, it’s a “snooze fest”, snooor.  

You’re right KK, it’s a “snooze fest”, snooor.  

I'll check out one or both shows tomorrow at work.

Bob's been hit-or-miss for so long I feel I should be getting paid while listening.  While, not for.  Don't anyone get all pissy.

Mainly, tho', I don't listen to Phil on a computer without the good headphones, and they're at work.

Actually, just dialed last night in on Roku, by searching the user name on the full show link.  So Phil is thumping through the big-ass speakers (which turn 35 this year).

Thanks, VLB.

was at both boston shows , both great , second greatest , girl from north country had the place in chills and tears , second set jamming fantastic ...i fucking love these shows , two old men can fill a space thats for sure ..really showcases bobby's unique style of playing ...those two , make it a grateful dead show , turning old theaters into spaceships

I got plenty to say once I get my head back on a little tighter and finally sleep a little

yee-haw! Old school east coast tour run!!!