Live Dead 69
Hall 2
The Sage
Gateshead

2018-02-09

A combination of "circumstances" and me "getting on the bus" relatively late meant I never got to see The Grateful Dead. Definitely a "live" band. The studio albums have their moments, but I often feel they were made more to tee up the live experience by providing new material to jam around with an audience.
For me, '69 through '71 was when they were at their most stimulating and exciting. More a sensory experience than mere music.
So, all things considered I was delighted to have the opportunity to warm my hands on the embers of a "Great" band, with Tom Constanten and cohorts pulling up in "Toon".
It's a delight...start to finish, and whilst Tom's the only one to have been a part of the band, the others have "lived it" one way or another by association. It matters to them and it shows.
Setlist appears to change every night, but from what I've seen it's always good. There are moments...you can almost imagine being "back there"...almost.
Many highlights, and a long overdue reminder that I'm not listening to enough "Dead".
This is so much more than just a "tribute act". It's got integrity, and opens up into a heartfelt celebration of something we'll never see the likes of again.
You know, I can't quite work out why the Grateful Dead's music is as good as it is. On the face of it, there's nothing to it. But, it's just sooo bloody good...
Now, where did I put that Complete Fillmore box set...?

S101 Tom Constanten Intro
S102 Rain & Snow
S103 Me & My Uncle
S104 Me & Bobby McGee
S105 Dark Star
S106 St Stephen
S107 The Eleven
S108 Turn On Your Love Light
S109 Death Don't Have No Mercy
S201 Not Fade Away-Mountain Jam
S202 Bertha
S203 Playin' In The Band
S204 The Other One
S205 Wharf Rat
S206 Encore Break
S207 We Bid You Goodnight

TOM CONSTANTEN
SLICK AGUILAR
MARK KARAN
RICHARD NEWMAN
TONY MORLEY

SP-CMC-4U >
TASCAM DR-40 >
Sound Forge Pro 10 >
Trader's Little Helper (level 8) >
Torrent Site

A Rocking Regimental Recording

See the band & buy some stuff to keep the bus Truckin' along...and enjoy the ride!