Thunder & Lightning at TXR: 8/2/17

Absolutely smoking show last night at Terrapin:
Thunder & Lightning at Terrapin Crossroads
Weds Aug 2, 2017

Sugaree
1/2 Step (PL)
I Ain't Never
Sitting on Top of the World (RJ)
Crazy Fingers>
Cumberland Blues 
Mission in the Rain
Cream Puff War

Reuben & Cherise
Brown Eyed Women - RJ
Doin' That Rag
Terrapin Station >
(Southern Man Jam)
Terrapin
China - Rider
Brokedown

Donor Rap

E: Midnight Moonlight

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Stu Allen ain't creepy - no sir.  He frikkin' shreds in my opinion and if you don't think so too fuckin' bad for you.....
Over the past many years and the past 2 nights he was killin' on stage.
Tuesday's Mar's Hotel was fantastic but at times hampered by a song list that carried with it a few meh moments.
The performance had zero issues  though - pure jammy bliss.

Last night's Thunder & Lightning stepped the game up a few major click with the presence of Phil tossing around bass bombs like Zeus sending lightning bolts down upon Mt Olympus.

From a shreddy and widely dynamic Sugaree to a melodically blissful 1/2 step, the opening pair set the room ablaze with happiness.
The often criticized presence of Ross "Motherfuckin," James did a lot to acquit his guitar playing skills with a fat debut GD LP Style Sittin' on top of the World.
Ross has been really going off as of late in a good way.  I'm still not a fan of his generic hum-bucker tonality but he adds a lot of excitement and raging energy to the mix.
His vocals are a whole different story....  The  Crazy Fingers > Cumberland possessed worthy jams and a great transition.  Seeing Phil get heavy on songs he's only handled rarely was pure pleasure and Mission in the Rain was no exception.    The appetizer set closed with a raging take on Cream Puff War, which though toyed with by Phil and Stu over the years was only performed 5 times in '66 and '67 by the Dead.  It is also, the only song Garcia wrote both the lyrics and words too and the energy of last night's rendition was palpable and emphatic.

The TXR community was bouncing with energy and happy heads and the bar band - Colonel & The Mermaids were celebrating singer/drummer/guitarist Alex Korford's Bday before a happy crowd that included some extended jamming from RMFJ's fresh from the Grate Room.

Set 2 kicked hard with Reuben & Cherise with Stu getting heavy with the Envelope Filter and the lengthy conclusion jams.  A very fat teast of some of the Terrapin melody surfaced but was quickly replaced by jamming that rebuilt the R&C theme.

The interesting but bizarre approach to Brown Eyed Women by the "intoning," not really singing, Ross James was to me the low point of the set in it's less then energetic vocal approach, but it still remained interesting for it's alternative lilt.   We were transported quickly thereafter to the primordial, psychedelic era with Doin' that Rag - expertly voiced by Stu with a ton of jammy details propelled by super tasty drumming from Ezra Lipp and great B3 and Nord work from Scott Guberman.

Working from a clean break the opening strains of Terrapin Station brought the crowd to a place of joy.   When it was Ross Jame's time to shine he pushed and cajoled the assemblage into an urgent Southern Man Jam (having just come off stage in the Bar where he was playing Neil Young alongside Alex Korford and the Mermaids) but Stu steered the ship back to Terrapin.  A fat and tasty China Rider with a really interesting transition jam heavily affected by Ross's heavy hand ultimately landed on a crowd pleasing Rider followed by a sweet, but melancholy Brokedown Palace.  A clear nod to the beautiful muse of Garcia to end the show.

Phil surfaced with some curious words about "being pissed off and missing this place," which were difficult to de-mystify, just before he gave his requisite Organ Donor Rap.

The encore was a classic take on Peter Rowan's Midnight Moonlight which was notable only in that it's rare that Lesh has covered this prime piece of Garcia Band sonic-real estate.

In summary, the performance, and performer - audience feedback loop were all set on 11 and between the smoking hot grooves, heavy jams, Phil Bombs and incredibly varied and interesting set list, this was one for the ages!