Of my many, many shows in the shadow of Red Rocks this one has always stood out for me . At the end I remember feeling worn out, as after a hard day's work. This was not the light, sunshiny Deadhead celebration I had expected. But it was a celebration nonetheless, in a different tone, with a longing and a touch of sorrow. There is a darkness to this music, a heft and heaviness, like a rosebud . It bloomed that grey day. Give it a try. Listen for it.

Interestingly, this was my introduction to Ryan Adams. In years since I have come to realize his genius. But back then this was unlike anything I had ever heard. Still is, for that matter. Enjoy!

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thanks so much for taping and sharing . . sounds phenominal! loved these 2 denver shows! they get better with age!

Im shocked to see so many bad reviews of Ryan's performance here. none of his so called " flubs" affect the sound or flow of this show at all. sure he makes some mistakes, misses some notes but have we forgotten how often Garcia did? The Grateful dead has always been a little rough around the edges, thats why all thier shows here on the archive are worth listens, different mistakes lead to different routes of exploration.

This is always been why a lot of people cant get into the Grateful Dead and at the same time has confirmed why we the deadheads love them soo much its their " to damn with conventional ways of playing " attitude that makes them perhaps the greatest live band of all time.

Ryan Adams fits right into this. i love how he improvises and makes up new verses like in Friend of the Devil in the 1st set. i didnt have the privelage of attending these red rocks shows, or the new years show he did later in the year with Phil but i sure hope to get a chance to see Phil Lesh and Ryan Adams play together in the near future! :)

I was at this one. Wanted to go, low on funds, but last minute it wasn't sold out so I called up my old deadhead buddy. He was whining about having a cold, but I twisted his arm and offered him three vicadins. Off we went to the rocks. It was definitely threatening a storm all day and in the line, but the show weather was beautiful, cool, breazy and clearing sky during second set.

Laid back crowd, not sold out, and we were certainly laid back after a few pills and a couple beers, and lo and behold the band brought us a super chill show...fit our moods perfectly, as the breeze stirred and the sun went down over Denver, and the lights changed from green to blue to purple on the rocks...

This is the best of the three downloads to my ears as well, clearer definition. Try it out if you want a really mellow, but well put together Phil show. This one is great when you're chillin', after a long day, or after a bottle of wine. The show really does unfold slowly bringing out its sweet sounds to the patient listener.

Ryan's flubbing the lyrics is super annoying, though, and brings this show down a star, but I like Ryan Adams in general and really enjoyed seeing him play with Phil. I love his two songs played, "Easy Plateau" and "Magnolia Mountain", sweet, wistful, melodic... Jerry would've loved it. I know Phil does. He plays Ryan's songs with or without Ryan in the band. (Joan O does a great job with 'em). Plus, the fact that he could remember Dead lyrics at all with all of whatever was going on backstage and being new to the band and himself releasing a couple albums of original lyrics a year was a feat in itself.

I'm sorry the previous reviewer didn't have a great time, but by the way, Phil DOES sing at this show; he sings on Scarlet->Fire, Terrapin Station, and The Other One at the least, coincidentally my favorites from this show.

Let the show as a whole wash over you. It's worth a listen.

I was shocked to have driven from Oklahoma to see this show. It was pathetic...Come ON PEOPLE..if you were there you would not give this show 2 stars. The hopes were high, only to be let down by this guy Ryan who couldnt nail a SINGLE song, but his own, which were not anything to yell about. Phil didn't sing one damn song, what a let down...Ryan fucked up Bertha even, how can you do that..He forgot the "Test Me, Test Me" part, which WAS the build up to the song..JEEZ...Phil do us a favor and not bring that Ryan guy back, he didnt nail a song, guitar/vocal wise.....

Phil, You should have picked any person in the audience to come up and play ryan's part. It would have been much better and much more interesting, then to hear ryan flub EVERY SONG and to fuck up on the guitar work..Anyone in the audience could have nailed all the lyrics and so forth, get someone who LISTENS and PLAYS dead tunes, Not some guy who sings in a pop band......

sound 5 performance 2

I think it's amazing to hear a GREAT vocalist like Ryan interpreting the music that we love. If this music is going to be alive, it's got to be explored in this way. WAY TO GO, PHIL. Keep the experiments coming.

This show is a treasure.

Wow, I wish I could have been there. I think Ryan did an AMAZING job considering the small amount of shows done with phil & friends. This source sounds the best.

This recording is the best sounding of the three, more clarity and less wind in the front row. The show, as I noted elsewhere, is remarkable! A soundboard would still be most welcome...