As far as post-Dead incarnations go, this could be very good. The sound on this show is excellent, very well mixed, although at times I'd like John to be louder, such as on Fire. I'd also like John to take charge a little more. The only thing missing is the blistering solos that Jerry would play on certain tunes, like Fire.
Otherwise, you can't beat the setlist, Phil's doing his usual bass lead thing, the keyboard work is excellent, Bob contributes his snappy rhythms, and the drummers, while not the Rhythm Devils in their prime, are pretty much solid. Also, Bob's singing is the best I've heard from him in years. He actually sings rather than talks. The only weak song is the Other One, which sounds like they're still in warm-up. A bit more blistering guitar, or some sort of space jam to blow my mind, would be needed to give this show 5 stars.

I'm trying to decide whether to drive somewhere to see these guys, since they won't play Pittsburgh. It sounds worth doing, but driving to Buffalo in February is dicey.

John can be a great Jerry.. He can sound like him if that is what was wanted.. I am assuming they told him to sing as himself instead of imitating Jerry.. I have seen DSO many times and John rocks!! Many times I closed my eyes and it would bring me back.. I think the most obvious problem in this band is Bobby insisting on singing songs he should totally let John do... oh, I have been to over 160 Grateful Dead shows so I kinda know what im sayin..lol.. This is the best incarnation of the Dead since Jerry passed.. Hands Down!!

I have seen a hundred Grateful Dead shows and another hundred shows featuring other variations of all the band members under differant titles and they all contain good shows and bad but one common factor remains in all of them .... It is all what you make of it. So for those of you wishing to make it shit so be it but remember this... I saw many of the shows on Jerrys final tour and if you want to knock these shows you better man up and admit to the dismal god-awful presence and sound of Jerry on most of that final tour and also that short of a miricle and Jerry finally sobering up we were to never hear anything worthwhile out of that original line up again. So as much as I miss him (like all of us)I realize that thru his death we have gained untold hours of unbelievable music that otherwise would have never been. I am grateful for the people still willing to bring us this wonderful music and by doing so keeping the flame of our community alive.

I cant believe the ludicrous statements some people make..this particular guitarist doesn't have an original bone in his body, and cant sing to save his fucking life..best Althea or scarlet since Jerry my goddamn ass..if you want that, check out Bill Kreutzmann Trio..a total joke of a band, so glad Mick and Bill ran from this

14+ years post Jerry
45+ years since band inception

God Bless the Grateful Dead.

If you had told people back in the late 60's that this music would still be happening in all its various forms, they would have looked at you funny. But here it is again. Another group of guys rocking the night away.

Thank you Phil and Bobby and the rest of the supporting people. This music has made me smile for more than 1/2 my life. I don't want it to ever stop

Hey, I agree. I don't mind Bobby singing, I am grateful that the lovable old walrus keeps plugging away and giving us more good times. May be he happy and at peace, and may his Pilates instructors be hot...whatever he's doing, the dude is ripped.

These shows were ridiculously fun, from the first note on Night 1 to the last "go on home" on Night 3. Hallelujah.

Second set on Night 1, everything from Althea onward was completely off the hook. Best Althea I think I have ever heard. Best post-Jerry Scarlet for sure. Great St. Stephen and 11! I Loved Touch of Gray.

We will get by!

It amazes me that a scene that is kynder than any other in our world remains so critical and so harsh at a time when we should all be so happy that we have so much to celebrate, enjoy and soak in.

Has music sucked since August (west) 1995? Yeah, losing Jerry was a major blow and one I have thought re every day since. But, did the world stop? Did the creation of wonderful music stop? Did the lyrics/songs we all love cease being meaningful, inspiring and danceable???? I'd say no.

Sure, have we seen iterations of post-GD bands/alums that were less than desirable? Yes. Have we heard songs sung by others that Jerry would have nailed and instead were less than pleasant? Hell yeah. But you know what? We are lucky that there are 4 other guys from the GD out there still producing, creating and having fun.

Will it ever be the way it was? Of course not. But the deepest meaning of all these songs was that they'd last forever if WE let them. Yes, if WE let them. For music has no meaning if there aren't any ears to hear it. Or those before another to guide them in the right direction.

I know we all have our moments and we all think "Damn! If......" But, you know what? This was the 'best damn band in the land' for a reason and it will last, it will evolve and it will never stop changing....kind of like a fractal image constantly swirling, dancing and reinventing itself.

So, for anyone checking out Furthur, or Ratdog, or P&F or JGB, keep that in mind. No one can ever replace Jerry but we also need to keep it in perspective.

Trust me, I fell off the bus for 10 years, but picked back up when Phil rolled thru my Midwestern town and have been kickin myself for the past 3 years. Now, I wonder, what was I thinkin?!?!? So, when i read these reviews - and you have seen them everywhere on archive....

Don't do the same to yourself.....just keep listen, enjoyin, and be glad you were around when the best band ever happened to be makin kynd sounds while they toured the greatest country ever, and the most random democracy/society ever on the most beautiful planet ever in a solar system millions of years old that is a cosmic miracle by itself that could be fading away if our leaders don't start focusing on the preservation of nature/the globe..........when you think re it we are so lucky to be here when we are....

...it's a beautiful place --- or SO it looks from space.


If u dont like somethin, fine, but lets not be critical to be critical lets be glad that Phil, Bobby, Mickey and Billy are around and "...letting there be songs to phil the air...."

Peace thru music,

SLOV

they came out smoking and didn;t let up for 3 nights. this show was perhaps the best i'd seen since phil at the e factory in 2002. althea, scarlet fire, st stephen, and we will survive to wrap it up. thanks for dismantling my universe during the first set jams and slowly putting in back together over the next few nights.

and hopefully Bobby does continue to sing. Seriously whats with the last two reviews saying that "if Bobby must sing". Kinda weird statement as I can understand if you said that about Phil, but Bobby...he's the voice of GD.
The songs would be lame without him. I can't even get into JK's voice, hopefully if this band does tour they keep JK's singing to a minimum like they did with Warren during the spring.
Kadlecik can play guitar great but seriously his vocals should stay in his tribute band..nuff said.

please family, stop hunting for the past, john is not a replacement to complete the grateful dead, let them call the band whatever they want, let bobby sing if he must, nostalgia no longer rules the land, the music has finally gone furthur. without a drop of hesitation the greatest musical adventure i've had in 14 years.