To write or not is my current question..first world problems! Well it’s pretty much official at this point..the dead are back in a big way. After a knock out performance in DC, a charity gig at MSG, and last nights woostah show it seems the dead juggernaut is in full swing again. Last night was such a great show that there really isn’t much to critique. Each song was well played, the lyrics were even remembered and delivered in a professional if not heart felt manner. We got bust outs…Dear Prudence (only the 3rd time played if my old deadbase skills are correct) had Bobby looking possessed by the muse by the end of the song. It was followed by a tribute to Allen Toussaint, who passed the day before, in I believe a first time ever played Get out of My Life Woman (of course JGB covered this quite regularly…and again my deadbase skills are rusty). Ripple was spectacular to close the show with Mayer playing the upper registrar of his acoustic guitar so well it evoked the sounds of a mandolin. Every song seemed stretched out..a maturity level to the songs one wouldn’t expect with 2-3 (as a beloved critic of mine has rightly pointed out Jeff is the longest keyboard player the dead have ever had..let’s hope the spinal tap curse doesn’t strike him!!) fill-in members to the band. Was this the longest Cassidy ever played? I don’t know for sure but I wouldn’t doubt it.
So what’s left other than glowing praise from a fan boy? Not much really. I will say they should make me a soundman’s assistant of some sort. The sound was good mind you…but since the essentials are in place we could tweak it a bit..it always could be louder (a problem i had even back in the day..i’m always trying to hunt out the sweet spots..yeah i was mostly in the philzone back then!). As has been often noted Jeff needs to be turned up..particularly when he’s on Brent’s old B3..barely audible most of the night. Mayer has his tone a la 4 Paul Reed Smith’s amps and his new guitar made by the same…it doesn’t come across as much in the streams as I’ve heard live, but he could use to turn down the treble and boost the mids…it would help get that fat old tone we all know and love. Some like to criticize Bobby’s delivery on Jerry songs…not me..I’m just happy he can still sing so well!
Lastly I just want to sound like a cranky old man for a bit! With the dead’s return and popularity come the same old problems that plagued later day Jerry shows. There was gate crashing at Worcester..not a good sign..although we all know the desire is great to get in. If desperate I prefer the bribe the doorman method…much less unseemly. And a note to nitrous tank owners…try to be a little more discreet? Setting up shop right outside the main doors will undoubtedly attract the wrong kind of attention and just doesn’t seem to be the best business plan in the long term!
PS. Rumours are all ready swirling about a summer tour (Mayer is busy in spring) and I for one can’t wait…nothing better than than the dead on a warm summer night surrounded by the best folks in the world! I just hope we don’t end up like the T.Swift or one of Mayer’s other jilted lovers when he inevitably moves on to other projects (maybe I can write a hit song or two about it though!) Somebody on tour dose the hell out of that talented motherf#cker…let’s make it so he can’t leave us!!!
PSS. I’d just like to give unsolicited thanks to the http://www.mezcalcantina.com/…. after show they stayed open late to serve the deadhead masses and did so exceptionally well…their tequila list is an alcoholics dream and their food ain’t bad either….thanks for reading…blakeout!!!!