New Bob Weir Interview, Dead & Co.>FTW

"Dead 50 was full of spirit, but the band was un-rehearsed"

Nailed it!

 "In fact, Weir reveals he's been working with Amazon himself on a potential weekly TV show centered on the band. "I think it's gonna work," he says. "Let's see if we can't get to the other aspects of that whole story." "

From Captain Kirk to Captain Obvious

not sure it can get any worse than FTW. 

MAKE IT STOP!

Sure it's "better", but It wasn't a very high bar to begin with.

>>>"Dead 50 was full of spirit, but the band was un-rehearsed"

>>>not sure it can get any worse than FTW. 

Not sure who didn't want to rehearse but it was odd bob and mickey were rehearsing with mayer before FTW.    That seemed like a poor choice if you truly cared about the music.   

As far as FTW being the worst...I think it wasn't great but there has been plenty worse both before and after it.    Listened to a live stream of dead and co this week and it was far worse.  With that said, the band seems to be doing better and has it's moments.  I'll give it that much.   Worth traveling for....nope.    Worth a night out listening to your favorite tunes....maybe.   

Phil is playing Terrapin Crossroads this July 4 for FREE, though It's probably good form to purchase a couple of beverages.

FTW:

These guys toiled for years from a financial perspective. Had fun I'm sure. Started making real money in mid to late '80's and then shit got weird and it ended right when there was a lot of what they call "fuck you money" (money where you never have to worry about a nickel again) was out there for all of the rock and roll bands. 

Over the ensuing years, they watch bands like the Stones, Who, U2, Petty, etc. come around every once in a while and kill it. Often times, they did it under the mantle of XX years or even worse, "last shows ever". Meanwhile, their legend grows as they get some smart folks in there (Rhino, etc.) who know how to market to all of us. We, as we buy up every Dick's or Dave's Picks, go to Bob shows, Phil shows, DSO shows, all of the growing bands on the "scene" and of course, any local bands who kept playing the music, drive that demand. They come up against their 50th year and there's a ton of pressure, probably internal (those who want to make buck, those who want to "honor the legend") and external (promoters, fans) to play. 

Tons of water under the bridge to deal with and there was no way they were all going to fall in line, have a big group hug and go hunker down to rehearse. Hell, they weren't doing that in their homestretch (although their frequency of actual playing helped). 

Guitar Player:

Clearly, Mayer had fallen in love with the music and had gotten an easy entree into their lair given his chops. With the exception of hearing the body wonderland song once, I honestly never heard the guy play before. When I read he literally lived in a little RV deal outside the studios when he could've easily stayed at the nearest Ritz and had a limo drive him to and fro, I was impressed with the dedication.

That being said, there was NO way Shapiro and the rest of the promoting team was going to allow him to play at FTW. While they may have had a good feeling, there had to be some concern about the attendance which, of course, is absurd to think about after the fact and results. Furthur was doing OK, but less than 10k people OK, not big stadium OK. Adding 2 drummers doth not equate to another 90k people! Mayer, while he had star power (and yes, he has "fuck you money"), would've been too much of a chance. Hell, even D&C's inaugural tour was underwritten by a promoter with trepidation. You could not give away an extra at their first ever show (Albany). Trey was the obvious choice. Jam band guy. Played with most, if not all, of the core four. And, of course, would bring the Phish market into the equation.

All in all

Was fortunate to have scored cheap seats to FTW and had a ball. Old tour crew together. Great lodging downtown Chicago. Great weather. Bit of old school "fear and loathing". Loud, Grateful Dead music with 100,000 like minded freaks. Could they have been more rehearsed? Sure. Could I say that for alot of shows in the 80's and 90's when things weren't well? Absolutely. I'll take what's left in their tanks as long as they're playing.

Same applies to D&C. They have gotten consistently better. Caught 5 shows on East Coast. All great weather, most played well, but again, as always, not everything was. Good friends, youngest son in tow getting a "feel" for what fun can be. 

Ultimately, not looking for nor expecting 3 -4 seventy plus year old guys to break a whole hell of a lot of ground. If they're willing to play, it's reasonable from a location and financial standpoint and I can swing it, I'm doing it. Some day, it will be just tribute bands (which I'm OK with, love the music and love it live) and us "searching for the sound" in some other space and time.

It's not about da money.......it's about da money....

Judging music quality is a fun thing to do. IMHO Duke Ellington hit the hammer on the nail when he said "There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind."  At my first GD shoe (Dillon Stadium, Hartford, CT  ~ 7/16/72), people were saying that this was not the same band as 'back in the day.'  Years later, comparing 1969 to 1972 the people who said that were not wrong.  Though there was not as much raw energy, the level of musicianship improved.  

To the best of my knowledge, Trey first played with Phil on 4/14-15-16/99.  I first saw Trey play with Phil in 2006.  He showed up at the Beacon Theater one night (2/12/06).  This show was very impressive.  During the summer of 06, for part of Phil's tour Trey's band (not Phish) opened while Trey sat in with Phil for some PLF second sets.   Understanding that music is a subjective value judgement, IMHO these show were all there then some.  

As previously stated, guitarist John Mayer has chops.  From the little I have heard he plays well, but there is little if any effort at musical conversation.  Many people seem happy with Co, so far be it from me to rain on their parade.  I'm glad that people are enjoying Co shoes, but (4 me anyways) this music lacks soul. That's my take & i'm sticking 2 it.  Feel free to flame away (ducking 4 cover now).  

One last note.  Keith, your post here put a big smile on my face.  Thx 4 that.   

>>> it was odd bob and mickey were rehearsing with mayer before FTW.

It sure was. Almost like they had a band ready to go, but Phil rejected it. I wonder why. :)

>>>As previously stated, guitarist John Mayer has chops.

He mimics chops. They have no novelty. There is no search for the sound. Have you ever heard a Mockingbird?

>>>not looking for nor expecting 3 -4 seventy plus year old guys to break a whole hell of a lot of ground

Phil has broken plenty of new ground since 1995, so it is possible with the right band. Just not with DeadCo.

Hot. Garbage.

https://youtu.be/ToXgnRV1n4I

>>>Phil has broken plenty of new ground since 1995, so it is possible with the right band.  Just not with Deadco.<<<

Nor the Terrapin Family Band. Phil has been cheapening the musical experience the past few years himself; but not the ticket prices.  Go figure.

>> Ultimately, not looking for nor expecting 3 -4 seventy plus year old guys to break a whole hell of a lot of ground. If they're willing to play, it's reasonable from a location and financial standpoint and I can swing it, I'm doing it. 

My sentiments exactly.

I like this band. The show in Atlanta was way better than the Grateful Dead shows I saw in Birmingham, AL, in April 1995. From my perspective as a 57 year-old show vet since October '77, Dead and Company is a natural evolution of who is left (Bob, Billy, Mickey) and willing to continue on the road. 

I say enjoy the music being played by some of its creators while you can. They aren't getting any younger and neither are any of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eFORZUush8&feature=youtu.be

Nah,

None of these post-GD bands have ever taken this music anywhere. Period! 

Good shows, fine music, great times....ABSOLUTELY. 

People will argue the Q did, but not really. That was just some over the top southern twang extended jams that for the most part went on way to long. Like I said, good shows, fine fine music, and great times....that's about it.

I know people are going to disagree with me....this is a Phil site after all and I am talking about his beloved Q and Phil. Perfectly fine with me....

Happy 4th All

this is a Phil site after all <<<

Barely barely barely..

None of these post-GD bands have ever taken this music anywhere. Period!   <<<

Wrong

^^^

Not really.

^^ Yes really !

for ex 12/17-12/19 2004 - 1999 and October 2000

Post GD is groundbreaking psychedelic novelty 

I would argue that the GD didn't really break any new ground after 77 or 78; maybe even 74 or 75.

Oh yeah

some over the top southern twang <<<

MrB....

Stabler

https://archive.org/details/2001-11-17.paf.mbho-ehrsam.vernon.6404.sbeok...

Jam>
Rainy Day Women (instr)>
Watchtower>
Tomorrow Never Knows>
Passenger>
Eyes of the World>
*No More Do I>
Box of Rain Night of 1000 Stars
Unbroken Chain>
Other 1 V1>
Wheel>
Other 1 V2>
Help on the Way>
Slipknot!>
Golden Road Encore:
Franklin's Tower>
Bid U Goodnight

I think I would have to agree with surf.

Plf, it's all good. It's just my opinion about the post gd stuff. 

surfdead 1989  thru '92 good times that is when i stopped GD

ZZz all Right Hooper Happy 4th  Holidays ! GD PLF.

Absolutely

Hope you have a great 4th as well

11.17.01 Stabler

TNK

Just Amazing Fire

5 Cylinders  PLQ

phil lesh

warren haynes

jimmy herring

john molo

rob baracco

i have some Source Originals That Will BLAST Any stereo Alive ! Top 5 plq shows possibly then there are 4.29.01 2.16.01 and 11.23.01  Phil Lesh.

Hot. Garbage.

https://youtu.be/ToXgnRV1n4I

That is shit.. Wrong tempo, too lazy... just plain bad.. this on the other hand 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1VvopWKEZI

or This 21:20 in .. epic 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzMug3IY9S8

I had some great times at PL&F, and even was moved to tears a few times.

They didn't break any new ground. It was just really good rock and roll. Almost all the songs were covers. Most of the originals, off TABA, just plain sucked. Some of the jams were sick, many were just wanking time wasters.

 But hey, if people need to hold on your a romantic ideal that Phil always searches for the sound and always finds it, far be it from me to try to stop them.

I merely provided the Phil version of shakedown because it is better than the current iteration. Its faster, funkier, and has more energy than the anemic version we've seen recently. The Q's version is better than the original in these respects also. In that sense they did break new ground on that song and others from the Dead's catalog.  

We're all grasping at the flicker of shadows

Who said Phil always searches for the sound and finds it?  Most have been critical about the last several years. 

The fact is that without PLQ this scene would not exist today & you'd be seeing Weir at your local bar. 

>>The fact is that without PLQ this scene would not exist today & you'd be seeing Weir at your local bar. 

That's a fact? Seems like more of an unfounded opinion to me.

Hahahahahaha

Deadheads just project their own wants and needs of the post-1995 era. You could make a case that it all sucks if you wanted to. 

>>Its faster, funkier, and has more energy than the anemic version we've seen recently. The Q's version is better than the original in these respects also. In that sense they did break new ground on that song and others from the Dead's catalog.  

By the same reasoning, you can also say that DeadCo's slower versions also break new ground. Your assertion that the speed makes it "better" is merely an opinion.

>That's a fact? Seems like more of an unfounded opinion to me.

It's not that hard of a time line to follow.  Go back to 97-98, follow Weir's career.  See how the bookings were drying up.  Then see when Phil jumps back in with PLQ and follow how the scene has only flourished from there. 

the other ones were selling out sheds and arenas prior to the Q. 

>The fact is that without PLQ this scene would not exist today & you'd be seeing Weir at your local bar. 

Step away from the craQ pipe bro

>> the other ones were selling out sheds and arenas prior to the Q. <<

True for me.

I never went to the FurthurFests in 96/97. No interest in RD.

98 Other Ones brought me back because of Phil Lesh.

Too bad Kimock and Phil can't find a way to play together.

PLQ fall 2000 versus Other Ones fall 2000 w/out Phil.  Need I say more?

^just saying bobby would've been fine w/o the Q touring, haha. funny typing that out. 

i agree, ned. too bad indeed. that'd be the real terrapin family band. phil/kimock/crosby/kid kimock/throw in graham, who gives a fuck at that point! 

I have been unable to listen to any PLQ shows for over 10 years.  It all just sounds so boring to me.

I might get flack for this,  but I like the 2007 NYC run with Jackie and Larry better than any PLQ.   A lot of it probably has to do with liking Jackie/ Larry singing better than Rob/Warren. 

I don't know, Jonas, that correlation is a really big stretch. Ratdog played over 700 shows between 1995 and 2009. They had a pretty big following, and it had nothing to do with Phil. The crowds at RD were also pretty different, much younger.

Shit, a lot of people I know stopped seeing RD because of Phil.

>>>>>> Its faster, funkier, and has more energy than the anemic version we've seen recently

But but there's no "Shake it Down Shake It Down Shake It Down Down" :(

 The crowds at RD were also pretty different, much younger<<

Ratdog: Bringing "jazz" to a new generation

>The crowds at RD were also pretty different, much younger

That must have been on the East Coast because I would say it was the opposite in the Bay Area, I went to both RD and Phil shows early/mid 00s

The Dog opened for Phil summer of 01....

>>>>But but there's no "Shake it Down Shake It Down Shake It Down Down" :(

Please make it go away.  Sometimes I wonder if they are trying to make Garcia turn so much in his grave that he'll come back.   

All I'm saying is that RD played a lot of shows over a lot of years, and it had zero to do with Phil. The size of the venues they played didn't get bigger because of PL&F, they were the same after as they were before. It's just asinine to think that Phil's band increased RDs popularity. 

http://ratdog.org/stuff/year

One could also make a strong case that Phil didn't do anything really new with the music. He had new musicians, but the music was in the same vein as the GD. RD, Mickey and BK3 all took the music and did very different things with it. I'm not saying better or worse, just very different.

>> One could also make a strong case

And how would one do that, pray tell. Lol

Beats me. If someone can make a strong case that RD played bigger venues because of PL&F, they could also make a case that RD was more exploratory.

I'm not making the case, just saying it could be made.

What did BK3 do different with the music?

>> I'm not making the case

No, but you are implying it's a reasonable logical conclusion by saying a "strong case" could be made for it... and that's just incorrect. Which we both know. Lol

I will argue the addition of Phil and Billy to the post-GD scene escalated the audience of all the resulting sub-projects thereafter. P&F and RD needed each other to fill sheds in summer 2001/2002.

Then there was the Alpine Family Reunion 2002 gig. Suddenly they are doing a fall tour in hockey rinks,filling summer sheds for The Dead 2003/2004.  The rest is jumbled mess.

I don't remember Phil ever opening for Ratdog....I do remember Allman's and Phil co-headline the same summer tour the bobster opened...a New Years in there as well...Phil was a bigger draw 2000-2003 than da Dog...not to mention 6-7 nights runs at the beacon as opposed to the Dogs 3..

Beats me. If someone can make a strong case that RD played bigger venues because of PL&F, they could also make a case that RD was more exploratory.<<

Um, no.

(So they were "exploring" during those lame opening jams.  Hmm.)

The shit with DJ Logic was definitely exploratory. 

Well, Bob did add that extra measure in Estimated.

To answer your question, Timmy, BK3 made GD music sound like a cross between Phish and the Dixie Dregs. It doesn't get more exploratory than that!

That's just silly, BK.

If BK3 was playing Dregs and Phish tunes along with the same old GD tunes, you might have a point.

>>> It doesn't get more exploratory than that!

you don't do much exploring, do you?

The ultimate point I'm making is that none of it was or is that exploratory. PL&F, RD, TOO, TD, BK3, DeadCo: it's all just GD music. It all had night and lows, but none of it pushed any serious envelopes.

>>> The ultimate point I'm making is that none of it was or is that exploratory.

Briank on Thursday, July 6, 2017 – 02:58 pm

To answer your question, Timmy, BK3 made GD music sound like a cross between Phish and the Dixie Dregs. It doesn't get more exploratory than that!

BK goes to the Target across town for adventure!!

Good Grief.

Sarcasm, Trebor. The Dregs were exploratory for their time, but a cross between Steve Morse and Trey, who often tries to sound like Steve Morse? 

>I will argue the addition of Phil and Billy to the post-GD scene escalated the audience of all the resulting sub-projects thereafter. P&F and RD needed each other to fill sheds in summer 2001/2002.

I will also argue that lots of deadheads were in no hurry to see Bob, Phil, Billy or Mickey perform without Jerry in the late 90s... my first post- show was the Q at the Greek in 2001

Phil brought back king solomans marbles...w the mighty white cloud...