Review: Furthur @ Madison Square Garden

Keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and guitarist John Kadlecik connected all throughout the night, building off of each other’s musical charisma. Bob Weir also repeatedly brought it, especially during the Eleven where his rhythm guitar was astounding, as were his vocals in Death Don’t Have No Mercy. The earlier Help On The Way > Slipknot! found its proper closure from the set ending Franklin’s Tower.

Saturday night’s performance was one of those shows that you don’t expect the band to top the next night. However, as we moved on to night two, the magic and comfort in a venue so large appeared to finally set in. The venue wasn’t as full as the previous night since the 400 section was empty, yet the crowd was even more involved and enthusiastic on Sunday. The smoking show started with an upbeat Truckin’ and a southern-rock influenced Cumberland Blues. Kadlecik’s singing fit perfectly in Any Road and his fingers managed to tear up the fretboard during Eyes Of The World and So Many Roads. Viola Lee Blues was the definition of jam-rock, reaching out to the fray of psychedelic qualities. Jeff Chimenti was the MVP of Goin’ Down The Road, skittering the keys to step up the set closer.

Sunday’s second set started off with a heavy hitting Born Cross Eyed and moved into a not so special version of The Wheel. A crowd-favorite cover of Pink Floyd’s Time broke up Weather Report Prelude and Let It Grow. This version of Time was the finest turned in by Furthur since they started covering the tune back on New Year’s Eve. Phil Lesh finally grasped the phrasing of the vocals and Joe Russo mastered Nick Mason’s drum part.

The theme of psychedelic rock was reintroduced for the rest of the set, glistening during the dark Unbroken Chain jam, an abnormally extended version of Morning Dew and a fun rendition of Playing In The Band. During Phil Lesh’s donor rap on Sunday, he took the opportunity to tell the crowd how much fun the band had in New York City, noting that it seemed like a two-second show.

Both night’s setlists were some of the best New York City has seen from this lineup. The execution of the music also was brought to a higher level than prior performances. Although, it seemed as if the energy was brought to a much higher level on Sunday. Not even a full version of the Terrapin Station Suite on Saturday exceeded the energy that fans on Sunday provided. Furthur continues to show New York City love, hitting the Big Apple on every tour they’ve done. It is clear that the musicians have locked in chemistry wise, and hopefully will bring the love back to the area soon.

11/20

Set1: Help on the Way> Slipknot > Shakedown Street, Jack Straw, El Paso, Wharf Rat, Two Djinn, Terrapin Station Suite

Set 2: The Mountain Song > Dark Star, The Other One, Saint Steven > The Eleven > Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Franklin’s’ Tower

Encore: Saturday Night

November 21st, 2010

Set 1: Truckin’, Cumberland Blues, Any Road, Viola Lee Blues, Cassidy, Eyes of the World, So Many Roads, Goin’ Down the Road

Set 2: Born Crosseyed, The Wheel, Weather Report Prelude, Time, Let it Grow, Unbroken Chain, Morning Dew, Playin’ in the Band

Encore: Brokedown Palace

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12 Responses

  1. Nice write up Tyler. I am pleased to read your comments regarding Sunday night’s show and the enthusiasm and energy from the albeit smaller crowd than Saturday. I was not there on Saturday but when I read the very impressive set list, I thought..Geez..where does that leave Sunday’s set ? Of course, no disappointments..I followed Further all year and Sunday was the last formal show on the tour. I had not been to the garden since Jerry was around so it brought back a flood of good memories. Thanks!

  2. I appreciate your review attempts however every review that i have read by you seems to be about one epic performance after another. I have seen more shows than i can count and guarantee that not everyone is a gem. I think your reviews would be better if they were more honest. It’s exciting to hear the songs you want to.hear but tell me why this version is better than another or how it ranks to another version. What was the minor flub in el paso? Chord? Lyrics? I get a good sense of the setlist from your review just not of the show. You said it was high ene rgy…how so? You may also.want to take some time to proofread before you post, at least look at rephrasing. Stay away from cliches. Youre a music journalist, make your own! Keep working and keep writing, im looking forward to your next, honest review.

  3. Hey Doug,
    I’ve actually said this to someone else before. I am being honest. Furthur is the one band (along with Railroad Earth) that has not let me down. Now, had I been at Night 1 of Furthur at the Nokia and NOT night two, you would have seen my view as a very poor performance. That show (from what others have told me, videos, and recordings) was not very well executed. At the same time, I do expect to go out and cover different bands that will be my first time seeing, and may not be a fan already. That, will answer your request, and I thank you dearly for the constructive criticism. You can email me at Tyler at Shakedownblog.com for further inquiries.

  4. “everyone after Doug! the NERVE of him having an opinion!”

    You’re criticizing people for criticizing Doug for having an opinion after Doug criticized the author for having an opinion.

  5. scared rabbit

    doug told tyler to proofread, he should have done the same to his post. that’s all i was suggesting.

  6. Grammar police – you are probably right. I should have proofread my post or at least listed the caveat that it was typed from my phone. It wasn’t so much a criticism of the grammar, which was fine by the way. It was more about the phrasing.

    Suckiemcsuck – in no way was i criticizing the author for having an opinion. In fact I want it to be more opinionated.

    But just to set the record straight, I was trying to offer constructive criticism, hoping it would make his writing better.

    Tyler,
    I think you will be a really good writer one day, you just have to look at the story from all angles, not just the good ones. Read what you write, edit ruthlessly then edit some more. Get to the teeth of the story not just the fluff. Good luck and keep writing.

  7. how could you skip over the reviewing the Dark Star…its the first dark star over 15min since furthur festival and i believe the 4th one in total…that is excluding the versions that were split up in to verse 1 and verse 2

    thanks for the review!

  8. Time is so fitting for a New York City audience. Jerry Garcia once said “If there’s such a thing as a recession-proof band, the Grateful Dead must be it.” The world has significantly changed in many ways since the original band was established. But the band has progressed and their society continues to grow. I think that Phil and Bob have made the most of their time and their talents together post-Jerry.

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