2017 - 3/17 Cap

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How was it? What'd they play?

phil lesh's 77 birthday run at the capitol

went to thursday & saw the other two on ustream.

wed was a nice celebration of phil on his 77th bday. phil sang alot, sj did his jazzy plucking while phil went deep. it was funl to hear space. during break i watched an hour long, moving video tribute to phil. i laughed as the bday cake peter was presenting to phi slid off the plate. phil was catching it. ha. the lights went down as the whole crowd held up battery candles, while singing happy bdy to a stunned phil.  it could not have been better.

it was lots of fun to be there on thurs. full house brought lots of friends. the band erupted out of the gate full energy. we calmed down a bit with althea. great set. joan had a full voice and it was a delight to hear. sj made good use of his time to shine. it was jazzy. he also spiced up our songbook as scarlet b & franklins (esp) were outstanding with his touch. i loved it. jk  served as a backbone of the ground as well as his usual take command performance. esp jerry tunes. i particularly like the drum style of ml as he keeps a steady rhythmic drum pace. as opposed to the driving force of other drummers. i prefer more space between the notes. crosby on keys is just about perfect imo. he is integral to the success of the mix. full force keys. i like him alot. at times they formed little pods and played looking at each other. smiles all around. it was fun to see. i thought that the jams were directional and tight.

as far as fri goes i wish i was there.  with this setlist and the tightness of the bad i would say it is the best of the run. 

long live phil lesh... heart

^^^... as opposed to the driving force of other drummers...

i refer here to the JRAD style of forceful driving beats. not other plf configs.

jason reminds me of a young keith g from a distance.

Long time for me since I last saw Phil and was   hoping for the best show of the run,,,at the very least I  got the best second set in a long time.

The band  came on very late at 8:30 PM

Cold Rain was allitle subdue as Stanley was  giving most of the soloing by  John and he was somewhat tentative.Alamaba Getaway rocked out and SJ really amped thos one by getting more raunchy in his tone, which was only the begining of more to come. To these ears when he threw it back to JK , John attacked his solo but he was in the  wrong  key and it was not till the end of his solo, which was also very raunchy, did he  right the ship.

Next Time You See Me was perfect with Joan adding that assertive knowing of a woman having been previously scorned.

Viola Lee was a  early set surprise and the entire band  rose up to the occasion, this one vocally was very strong and both JK and SJ soared on it, Jason Crosby  also started throwing gas on the fire as well. The ending was quite unique with  Phil bringing the  jam to an almost a silent close except for an  extending bass playing segment, almost a  bass solo, before  leading the  band back into the final chorus.

Candyman wa text book  perfect with JK hitting all the right  notes.

He's Gone was another pleasant surprise and except for  one minor vocal miscue by JK this was a  perfect sing along. The  jam was really  good with the band completely in the  groove.

Casey Jones was a very strong finish.

 

Set II...where can I begin?

Dear Mr, Fantasy was excellent and  very  high energy. JK threw everything he  had into it and even SJ was impressed. The  jam out of it was excellent with Phil really playing some very cool  stuff and leading the jam into more textural landscapes rather than meltdown steal your face implosions. The transition into St, Stephen was also quite  good and they knocked this one out of the park and once again the jam before the  finally chorus was excellent with everyone contributing something quite enjoyable to listen to.

I knew Unbroken Chain was due and we got a majestic doozy. The band really went out there and it was nice how they really owned this version. It was one of the best I have seen in quite awhile with the ending being stunningly beautiful. Phil was clearly pleased. This went into a  scorching Watchtower. It was  powerful and  sadly  too timely with  you  know hoo occupying the  White House. This version  had another  cool jam in it  before coming to a complete stop.

Joan  came  back out and the band broke into Morning Dew...Wow!

Joan really was the true singer on this one, she  added a  depth of sadness that was  as observant as it was righteous, Then  you had the  band  backing her  up. JK really  was at the  top of his  game and during the  bridge he gladly tossed it off to Jason who had a very tasteful solo on the Leslie before handing it over to SJ who  was totally  into it.

When it came to the  final verses Joan was stunning and the  band  just exploded, SJ was  jumping up and  down and JK was simply raging and they  blew the old roof off the Cap tonight.

One of the best Dews I have seen since Further broke it out at Cornell.

Then  you are like what could  happen  next?

SJ leads  Phil, Jason and John into a instrumental jam that pulls Little Wing out of  thin air. Stanley completely inhabited this song, along with  channeling alittle  Jimmy, and he was introspective and nuanced and then just as  quickly became explosive. Phil was completely  enamored and his playing reflected that.Stanley leaped the  the front of the stage soaring on every note,

Perfect!

Next we  got a wonderfully performed Wheel that featured  great  harmonies and most excellent crowd participation. Joan and John both  sand  verses to Midnight hour which had the place rocking and Phil dropped two distinctive Phil Bombs at the  very end he was so please at what had  unfolded.

After a heartfelt donor rap we went back to the State of the Union with a rip roaring US Blues to close out this epic second set.

Finally after band introductions by Phil Lesh, Stanley got the  biggest cheers, it was photograph  time with a seven foot ladder set up behind the  drum  kit with the  band  posing with all us Phreaks photo bombing them.

Happy Trails!