After it was over, DL2 came back on and said something like, "I wouldn't be surprised if that was put out on CD one day", but then warned that "it's not in the most recent stuff we did". He said that they wrapped up work on Dave's 29 and are starting work on 30. What a tease!
Ween is on tour right now, so makes sense that Oteil is filling in for Dave Dreiwitz. I was supposed to go see Ween's country shows at the Ryman this week, but work craziness made me have to cancel the trip. Grrr.
In "This Day in GD" content, I'm a huge fan of 10/18/78. From Egypt With Love at Winterland. First set cooks.
Um so, starting in on the Ark Box as it were. This thing that we imagine will happen and someday will. Next year I predict, given the irresistible penchant to release goodies on anniversary years evenly divisible by 5. The year Twenty Nineteen will bring forth the Ark of the box, the 40th anniversary of this run of shows. I think a Spring release would be especially lovely, which means, it's not too far off.
Based on 'the narrative' I kept expecting there to be some kind of noticeable decline near the end of 78, but those shows were all really good. Dick said 10-21 was 'perhaps the most exciting show on the West Coast since the late 60s.' so there's that to look forward to in a couple of days, for those so inclined.
Those Alaska shows. There is a real fascination with them. I mean, I am one of them lol, but it's another one of those vibes I think that is special. Some good music, sure, but kind of under the radar shows.
Maybe not quite Lake Placid level, but one of the better Sugarees of the 1980's and the overall feel of those shows in very cool.
Full review tomorrow or Saturday - rough start fir us but maybe not the band. Great second set. Get ready for the highlight: Row Jimmy EPIC Tears came to my eyes. It was that great.
I wonder if part of the bad press is the presentation - two discs only for a '74 show makes it seem kind of wimpy and hesitant (the whole show is not presented, obviously) and after the Playing sandwich on disc 2, the rest is quite tame. The Playing palindrome thingy is regarded as the worst (third best) of the three but it's really quite good. The transitions aren't that impressive but there is a lot to like about it. The back-end of WRS itself is quite stunning so, whatever one thinks about the rest of it, that part makes the whole thing worthwile. It's just that the entirety of that official releases is rather underwhelming compared with, say, Dave's 13 from a month earlier and in that sense I can see why this goes under the radar. I wonder why it was only a two disc release. Trying to agitate more sales by a cheaper price? Rest of the show is crummy? Tape problems? Speaking of shows surrounding the Cow Palance show, I am finally getting onto the recent May '74 boxset,* starting with Missoula (which does sound a little peppy - i.e. fast). I had forgotten how brilliantly dissonant the Playing is. Nevermind the double Donna car crash at the end of it. They go quite deep into this one without ever abandoning rhythm. A high quality version of it to be sure. I already know I love this Star - well, mostly the disintegration of order (I forget - is that the Tiger jam?) towards the end. *That is, the imaginary May '74 boxset, containing the Missoula, Vancouver, Seattle and Portland shows.
