Reviewer:
Mind Wondrin
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 7, 2018
Subject:
An often overlooked '77
There is so much competition when listening to '77 that this one is rarely seen on lists. Probably because the SBD isn't the best (not a likely candidate for official release). Also, this is the show before the Norman OK show (Dicks 29 & Road Trips 1-2). At this point a strong market had built in Colo, and since they hadn't played here for 4 years they were able to play the region's largest arena. They'd be back in 9mos for their first Red Rocks shows, and frequently thereafter, with 9 shows in the next 3 years. The high point of this tour is probably Colgate (Dave's 12), but the best tracks here are on par with the richness of '77.
First Set. Except for a middling Cassidy the first half is on par with '77. There's some drummer popcorn machine in Looks Like Rain. Brown Eyed Women has a cut, and then our luck changes and the quality improves in both the SBD and the playing. Jer has a nice snarly tone in Lazy Lightnin'>Supplication and some pre-Foolish Heart licks. Sugaree is whiteflash then nice cruises and cool as shit - in the '77 Top Ten, which is saying a lot. Listen to how Jer takes over the 2nd break from Keith and then gallops. The Music Never Stopped swims around out of focus and then back in, several times. Watch it swim around [I'm sure there were people there who could watch the music].
Second Set. The mix is much better starting with Samson. Check Phil; super fine. The first half of Scar>Fire may be average '77, but the latter is in the upper list even though there are so many great '77s (5/11, 5/13, 5/17...). Stick your head in the Billy/Phil room. At this point, Bobby had learned hammer-pull chording while singing in Estimated. Not easy! These are those big-hand, wide chordings [L channel]. The SB isn't the best here, but the playing is there. Is the thick and heavy, solar reverb from Jer his onboards/amps, the soundboard recording, or the hall? He's Gone has an exclamatory finish into a relatively concise Truckin', all average '77. Terrapin, however, is nearly perfect. Bobby's arpeggio chording is heard clearly. It's a long version of Around, with some drummer soup. "Easy Now!" Is the Casey Jones encore awesome? We'll never know!
1st Set: B
2nd Set: B
Overall = 4 stars HG
Highlights:
Lazy Lightnin' >Supplication - snarly tone and pre-Foolish Heart licks on the wonderful second half
Sugaree - whiteflash and cruises; cool as shit
The Music Never Stopped - swims around, blurs then focuses
Fire on the Mountain - one of the great '77s
Estimated Prophet - Bobby's big chordings and Jer's solar reverb
Terrapin Station - perfect version
SOURCES: edited.Since first posting this review a better source became available (miller_109972). It's balanced, cleaned and pitch corrected. All sources are missing the encore and there are no AUDs in circ. Otherwise, you have to EQ, pushing the highs above 10k and rolling off below 100hz. Keith and Mickey are low or left out of the mix in places and Bobby's guitar in others. White guy problems.