That's a great call. It's not any better weather-wise here outside Durham, NC. I just fired up 7/18/89 because someone mentioned the 30th anniversary of this stellar run, but after that RT 1.3 might be calling my name...
If I were thinking about skipping tracks on GD releases, Drums is probably not the first place I would start. But I don't skip usually. I'm not that busy, how long is a track, 6-7 minutes? April in general is really good. I can't argue with 4-15-78, but 4-16 is one of my longtime favorite shows, still might be my top set #1 ever. Dick Latvala said 10-21-78 was the most exciting show played on the West coast since the 60s. At least one long-time taper who frequents these boards is very high on 12-19-78. There's a show from Bakersfield I think from January that has one of the longer post-hiatus versions of Playin in the Band...
4/12/78 is also great. I watched the whole grainy Black & White video twice all the way through and the band was absolutely smoking hot. We should get an early April 78 box but as we know we already had/have the July 78 box. Plus so many long time Dead listeners don’t like 1978 because of the oft sighted issues like Keith’s accelerated decline, Bobby’s slide guitar, Jerry’s sometimes raspy voice, curtailed Set lists with some of the great Jerry sung/written songs minimal in the rotation or eliminated completely, rushed or forced delivery of the music, etc. That being said, all the 1978 Dead I have gets as much listening time as any of the earlier classic years in my listening world.
The run of shows 4/21 (Stella is on So Many Roads box), 4/22 (DaP 15), 4/24 (DaP 7) are all worth your time. The PITB from 4/21 is IMO one of the finest from the era. As has been stated DP 18 is hard to beat but the aforementioned are close. Enjoy your journey!
Technically - Southern Illinois University ---- sorry my alma mater, couldn't let it pass (now I feel like Gandalf). My friends were always bummed the only time they played there was such a lackluster affair...
One of my favorite parts of 78 is the way that Jack Straw achieved liftoff on the best nights. Much like how Deal turned into a real burner in the late 80s, the most energetic Jack Straws all seem to be in 78. 1/22 is probably the best ever, but I but on 10/21 (Road Trips 1.4) in honor of this discussion and it rips on there too - with an appropriately uproarious crown response as well. Moving on to Sbegonia > Fmountain now, so Ill update.
A couple more 1978 favorites: 6/25/78 - outrageous high-energy show; awesome Space 12/19/78 - great audience recording; the Stella Blue>Not Fade Away is a must-hear
I get you’re probably bored but I’ll bite. I had my first listen to them yesterday in my buddy’s car. GD Radio was playing 6/4/17, I believe. I caught the Help on the Way >Slipknot! Not sure what I expected but it was better than that. Happily surprised.
Well... this is probably not a topic I should bite on. But I don’t think I have in this forum before, so my 2 cents: I think they’re fine, and capable of some great moments. The one time I saw them live was very good, but they kept devolving into generic, extended SRV style blues jamming, especially in the second set. I preferred the first set, honestly. I will definitely go see them again if they’re in the area, without hesitation. But I won’t be driving cross country or anything. I can listen to the Grateful Dead all day, but unless I’m there live, I can only do Dead & Co for an hour or 2 at most. The difference is they tend to start getting a little exhausting for me. And not having someone with a decent voice to trade songs w/ Bobby doesn’t help. Mayer’s voice, at best, is a pretty lame over-affected white-guy blues thing. At worst, it makes me want to just turn it off. And the way he sings the word “toodeloo” makes me want to stick my head in the oven and cash it in. Great guitarist though. What else? I won’t pile on the “they play too slow” thing because I don’t always agree with that sentiment - it’s an overused knee-jerk statement that doesn’t always fit the facts. They do however have kind of a heavy, plodding aspect to much of their material. I think a lot of that is down to Billy and Mickey just kind of beating basic ABC 123, barebones beats and 1 or 2 hit fills (one big dual drum BOOM! rather than a tasty fill) along with Otiel’s rock solid but somewhat ho-hum approach to bass. They have a hard time getting a good, bounce/swing going. Less get up and dance and more sit back and head-bob. It’s all indica, no sativa. At their best they are excellent. Just not something I’m in the mood for often, and when I am, a little goes a long way.
The way they mix the kick drum in their live mixes is horrible. That’s why you feel the heavy and ploddingness.
Well, you lit the fuse. It's not the mix, it's the drummers and guitarist bro. No Phil, No Jerry, No go. Glorified cover band that cant write new tunes. A lead player that can't improvise psychedelically. That's why the music suffers.
Now I know you haven’t listened to them. Mayer can improvise incredibly. Check out the Noblesville, IN show from 2017.
I didn’t say they can’t swing and feel light, I said they seem to have a hard time doing it. Or they’re unwilling most of the time. I also said I like it, I just can’t listen to a lot of it.
Dead & Co. aren't really my thing, but Mayer is one of the best improvisors they've had in the "fake Jerry" spot.
Oh, I've seen them and that's how I back my opinion. Now I know you haven't seen the GD. Jamming on guitar is not improv. Mayer can jam, but he cannot and does not leave this earth while directing a band with his improvisation. He walks in the footprints of others.
