The hype was over-the-top. The ticketing situation was handled poorly, and it was hard to not see the cash-grab reality of what it meant for the “Core 4” remaining members of The Grateful Dead to unite for five summer shows with three other brilliant musicians, one of which played over 100 shows with the original band. But it was worth it. In every manner possible these shows were worth it. Santa Clara ended up being the perfect warm-up, but it was all about Solider Field. It was all about the music, fans, and making the effort to be there. And in the end, it was all about the spirit of “the greatest band that ever was, The Grateful Dead”.
Sunday Highlights
Set One When looking at these five shows as a collective, it’s tough to beat Friday’s offering from Solider Field. But last night’s effort was valiant. As much as the show was solid as a whole, set one from last night is in the top tier of the ten sets from the run. Seven songs woven together like a patchwork quilt, the set was largely clean, driven and poignant.
“China Cat Sunflower”>”I Know You Rider” A pleasant choice to get things going for the last of the monstrous shows, “China-Rider” got the job done. As the band showed across several sets, they were never afraid to take chances, explore, and jam. With Trey Anastasio fully coming into his own style channeled through the unique music of The Grateful Dead, Bob Weir as fired up as perhaps he’s been in decades, and the interplay between Jeff Chimenti and Bruce Hornsby on the keys, this classic pairing once again set a special tone for the next several hours of brilliant music.
“Mountains of the Moon” As much as Deadheads like to dance and shake their bones, there’s always been something about the slower numbers that cause thousands to momentarily pause in their spinning. Last night’s version of “Mountains” was gorgeous. Dripping, enlightened and reflective, Phil Lesh took us on a trip, Trey Anastasio once again did justice to another grateful gem, and a difficult song to pull off, especially when thinking about only two songs being repeated over the course of five shows, was pulled in style.
“Throwing Stones” Bob fucking Weir. I’ve seen Bobby quite a few times in the last twenty years, and as much as I can recall his energy at times, here, like later in the show during “Not Fade Away”, Bobby was en fuego. There were no pink collard shirts, and no short-shorts, but the “Other One” himself set Solider Field a blaze last night with one of his most beloved songs. Setbreak felt like the end of a second set, the stoke factor of Deadheads in the audience was in unison, and the energy was both literally and figuratively as high as the last time Bob was on a stage adorned by a Steal Your Face.
Setbreak Music/Fireworks I could write for days about how unfortunate it was for so many fans to get shut ot of buying tickets, and so many who put in for mail orders/lottery within the first second of availability only to get the worst seats across the five shows. But at the end of the day, Mr. Shapiro, well done. Neal Casal, your creativity with the intermission music was sublime. Productionists, incredible work. Another fireworks display to treat the crowd before the start of set two? Massive screens to ensure even those in the nosebleeds felt more connected to the happenings on stage? To every single human who put in effort to honor this timeless music, to honor the greatest band that ever was and the greatest fans known to music, thank you. It was noticed by every single attendee and went a long way in support of the vibration, feel and community over all five shows.
“Truckin’”>“Cassidy” Like many others, I had thought “Brokedown Palace” was more of a lock than anything else for a repeat. But one more spin of “Truckin’” made sense. For those who were not with us in Santa Clara, and for the long strange trip it’s been, this was a perfect choice to kick off the last set of the run, ending with reasonable flow into “Cassidy”. Of the numerous lyrics that help identify just how unique The Grateful Dead are, “let your life proceed by its own design” is one of the best. It’s a mantra for life, for the adventurous, for those looking outside of the status quo. “Cassidy” offers that wisdom with its words, and last night the music paired. With a stretching jam that was as daring as it was engaging, this was special moment when this band felt like a polished unit.
“Day’s Between”> “Not Fade Away” This first choice could be seen as a questionable decision, to drop a very slow, deep tune in the heart of the last set of the run. But Bobby once again stepped up to the plate, honoring his friend Jerry, honoring the institution he helped build, pouring his heart out to every Deadhead listening. The energy was already a little off after a more stagnant than blistering “Unbroken Chain”, and when this one dropped you could feel the liveliness of the crowd sink, but it ended up doing what I feel the band wanted to do. Taking the tune out for a slight walk and bringing it into “Not Fade Away” was key. With drummers and key players in permagrin, and the front three barely able to hide their smiles, everyone at Solider Field jumped, danced and clapped our collective way to a poignant end.
“Touch of Grey” Should the new title be “Touch of Trey” or should we just marinate for a moment on the “Let Trey Sing” shirt Bobby adorned for this first of two encores? It was moving and appropriate for this song selection and placement, and when Trey stepped to the microphone, the energy of Solider Field ramped up for one more last hurrah. But it was the move later in the song, which was in fact well played, when Trey seemed to look to Bob saying, “sing it”. We saw it in the pit, I’m sure it could be seen on the screens, and to be blunt, it was touching.
“Attics Of My Life” Was that it? What else could possibly cap this whole circus off? With an impeccably produced screen montage of old and new members of the band, behind a group of musicians digging to lock in harmony to one of the most vocally beautiful pieces of music ever written by The Grateful Dead, it was the as good of a way to wrap it all up as could be.
They Delivered Last night, and over the five shows in sum, plain and simple, they delivered. As I’ll speak to below and could have done in a much darker light across every show, these were far from perfect concerts. But was there ever a perfect show? Was it ok to see the vulnerable moments of the band botching certain songs, missing cues, and flubbing vocal duties all to see that when things did come together, that is was as close to The Grateful Dead spirit as could be achieved in 2015? In this reviewers eyes, yes. It was organic enough to know this music, the soundtrack to so many of our lives so well, that you knew Trey missed a line in “Help On The Way” before even he knew he messed up. But it was all right. In all ways, shapes and forms, it was right, and these seven musicians, and everyone who made this all go down delivered. I’m not sure what it will feel like, the next Dead related show we all attend, but I can say from one perspective shared by many, these were a unique run of five shows that will not be able to be replicated. And that, the live experience, living for and in the moment, is a major part of what this dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago is all about.
Small Misfires
As both a journalist and college professor, to write a proper review of a musical show one must remain as objective as possible. Truth be told I tried, but it was difficult. Checking the reality of a deep understanding that without this music, many others and I wouldn’t be who we are today, the dagger, in my eyes, is easy to stab. Right from the beautiful show opener we saw Bruce look over at Trey to sing, and a moment pass once again signaling that the vocals-who was signed up to sing which song, verse, and when to come in, was one of the biggest flubs of the entire run. “Unbroken Chain”, in my opinion, one of the more beautiful, difficult songs to pull off was welcome to the ears of everyone in attendance deep in set two. But it didn’t get to the place it could. Those of us lucky enough to live in California, that can travel to see Phil play at his hometown venue, Terrapin Crossroads, have seen versions of this song ramp the energy level beyond what some might seem possible. The potential was there on Sunday in Chicago, but whether it was Trey not taking the command he could have or the Rhythm Devils not driving the train a hard as they could, it didn’t quite get there.
When taking a step back and looking at the shows as a run, how could the band choose to play “Foolish Heart’ and not “Ramble on Rose”? How could they play “Cumberland Blues” twice without one take at “New Speedway Boogie”? No room for a direct honoring of Pig Pen with something like “Easy Wind” or maybe just one Brent Mydland song thrown in there?
The fact is the hammer can be dropped on multiple fronts. There wasn’t a show out of the five where there wasn’t a major flub in the timing of a song or bringing a tune to a proper close. The sheer reality of a band playing just five shows in a live setting was present at all times from Santa Clara to Chicago, but in the end, it’s why this subjective reviewer couldn’t be brought to ripping apart arguably the poorest show of the run on Saturday night at Solider Field.
The reason is authentically, since Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995, there hasn’t been an effort made to honor Grateful Dead like what just unfolded over the past ten days. Yes, the Alpine Valley gathering was huge, and of course, the flame burns brightly each time a band chooses to play Dead-whether it’s an actual member of The Grateful Dead or another outfit celebrating their music. But in a succinct, direct way, this vibe was something else. From the first notes of “Truckin’” in Santa Clara, to the final drop of “Attics” in Chicago, of the hundreds of Dead family shows this reviewer has seen since 1995 this vibe has never been so alive. The spirit of The Grateful Dead is something that has touched millions over the last 50 years and if we learned anything from these Fare Thee Well shows it’s that this music is as much timeless as it is built to last, and there is absolutely nothing on planet earth like a Grateful Dead show. And in that light, rippling the energy Mickey Hart has shared more than once, if those touched by these songs, these shows, this spirit can truly be kind, and do something good with the beauty that was just experienced, the world just might be a better place.
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