Saturday, June 2, 2018

Dead & Company 2018-05-30, Mansfield Xfinity Center

     Summer Tour is finally here!  Dead & Company are starting off with an East Coast leg of the tour, and my parents and I managed to catch the opening show down in Mansfield.  After the last two tours we saw we were very excited for some more excellent music, even if we were expecting a little shakiness after a few months off.  It was the perfect day, sunny in the mid-70's, and when we got to the lot everyone was in great spirits.  Since we are only seeing two shows this tour, we decided to spring for low-tier VIP tickets for this show, which meant we got early entry and crowd-free shopping.  The merch tent didn't really have anything for us, so we didn't take much advantage of the latter, but we enjoyed getting in without a crowd (getting out was another story) and getting great seats right behind and to the left of the soundboard.  The lines of sight were great, but I didn't love the sound in this particular amphitheater; John was occasionally lost in the mix, and the crowd noise kind of echoed in the bowl area.  Though I do have some nitpicks to make, I had an excellent time at this show, so let's get into it!

First Set

  • Shakedown Street (BW)
    • What a great way to start the tour.  To get the elephant in the room out of the way, the tempos have not really sped up at all, and this song has a bit of plod to it.  That said, their slower approach to some of these songs sometimes pays off in big ways, and I think it really works for Shakedown.  It's not danceable in the same way it used to be, but it has a wider groove to it now.
    • Jeff and John lead the band through what sounded a lot like the Mind Left Body Jam for a bit in the middle, with Jeff also throwing in some teases of Feel Like a Stranger and leading them back into the chorus to end the song.  This was the first of a few songs where it seemed that Bobby wanted to jam into the next number, but the rest of the band (except Jeff) couldn't get on his page.
    • While I thought I was a Jeff fanatic, the couple next to us were head over heels about him when we were talking before the show.  This meant we were all pleasantly surprised when Jeff showed us right in the opening number that he was really going to lead the band this show.
  • Alabama Getaway (JM)
    • A debut for the band, and performed pretty well.  Again, slowed down from what it used to be, but it had a cool kind of bluesy feel to it this way that suited John's style nicely.
    • John flubbed a couple of lines, but that's the classic Jerry thing to do in this song, so I don't think anyone held it against him.  Our new friends had heard them do this at soundcheck, so we were ready for it, unlike a lot of surprised people in the crowd.
    • The versions of this I've seen previously turned the last solo into more of an extended jam, so I was kind of surprised when they wrapped this one up so quickly.
  • It's All Over Now (BW)
    • Two debuts in a row!  This has a very new arrangement that I really dig, even if dancing to it is a little confusing at first.  The changes aren't where you think they should be, but then you get used to it.
    • This is a great example of what's so weird about this band: while the show so far had been really fun and already had some hot moments, the last two songs felt a little shaky in places.  But here the band was doing a new arrangement of a song they hadn't played in years, and the whole group was nailing it!  The drummers in particular snapped to attention for this one, making the band feel so much tighter than it normally does.  They broke it down in the middle of the song, with everyone getting their own little solo, including the drummers.
    • Bobby switched to a red guitar that people are telling me is a Gretsch for most of the rest of the set, and I think I have a new favorite guitar of his.  I've always loved the sound of his green D'Angelico, but this one sounded even better to my ears.  He also seemed to be having more fun using this guitar.
  • Brown-Eyed Women (JM)
    • This one felt a little stiff to me, with the drummers almost losing the beat at a couple of points.
    • The solos here were fantastic though, with Jeff once again leading the charge.  John took some great leads with Jeff hot on his heels in the traditional solo spot, but in the second solo section that they've opened it was Jeff City, baby!
  • Tennessee Jed (BW)
    • I was so glad to get this one crossed off my Dead & Company list.  This song takesgreat advantage of the sweet groove that the band can find when they take their time.  Bob slipped up on one verse, but that's still par for the course, and he more than made up for it with his playing.
    • One great thing about this song, and really the whole show, is that Oteil was so high in the mix, and playing so well.  During the very first Dead & Company tour back in 2015 he was very upfront in the mix, but in all the tours since then he's played a more ambient and supporting role.  But here he was really playing more of a lead bass, and in a very different way from Phil.
    • The jam at the end of this song is of course where it's at.  The band starts out by laying the foundation for the building they're constructing, and then using that foundation to reach for the sky.  That might sound like nonsense, but I can't really describe this song's jam in any other way; they build a musical house slowly, and bring it all crashing down to the ground at the very end.
  • Bird Song > (BW & JM)
    • This one started out very weird, with everyone doing a bit of feedback while Mickey got the Beam rumbling.  Bob and John split the lyrics like they usually do, with things getting either a little loose or sloppy, depending on who you ask and how you feel about the band.  I'm kind of in the middle, but I think overall the song was great, once again with Jeff leading the jam.
    • At the time I really felt like John either wasn't turned up enough or we wasn't playing assertively enough.  But listening back to it now it seems like they were really going for a more laid back and ethereal sound, as opposed to an extended guitar solo.
    • Bobby's Gretsch was sounding really great, but he switched back to his regular strat for the rest of the set.
  • Loose Lucy > (BW)
    • All of a sudden Jeff and Bobby switched the key and rhythm, and it was Loose Lucy!  There are a lot of nay-sayers about this particular sandwich, and I can see how they might see it as a jarring pairing.  But I think Lucy is a great song, and I love that the band is trying new things and surprising pairings.  They definitely need to work on their inter-song jamming (always a weak point with this band), but they have the right idea.
    • This sounded like it could have used a little more rehearsal, but Bobby did a great job singing it like always, and to belabor the point even further, Jeff really carried the band through all the changes.
  • Bird Song (BW & JM)
    • The transition into this song's jam was a nicely drawn out jam on Loose Lucy's chorus, kind of like what Bobby did with Phil back in March, but when they tried to come back into the lyrics there were a lot of crossed signals.  One thing about this band, though, is that they've learned how to avoid a total trainwreck, and even if things do go off the rails they are quick to correct it.
    • Mickey got back on the beam after the first vocal reprise, and instead of finishing the final verse they all just kind of drifted off into space.

     Bobby told us they'd be right back, and I couldn't believe how right he was.  It was about 30 minutes of intermission, which barely left enough time for me to get to the bathroom and back.  The bathroom I found was quite the labyrinth, and by the time I made my way out of it I heard the band starting up the next set!  I ran/danced back to my seat in time for the second verse, and we were off on another adventure.

Second Set

  • Scarlet Begonias > (BW)
    • I've been hoping for a surprising transition from Scarlet, but it's impossible for me to complain about getting another Scarlet > Fire, especially after the one I saw at the Boston Garden last Fall.
    • Bobby was on his green D'Angelico for the entire second set, so my dad and I were thrilled at times it didn't seem do do what he wanted but overall it sounded so great.
    • They really rocked the solo for everything it's worth, going around again and again, John was looking just pleased as punch to be doing this again.  The outro jam was also masterfully crafted, with John stepping up to the plate much more than he had been in the first set.  He and Jeff had a lot of musical conversation going between them for this whole set, and with Bobby and Oteil propelling them forward they made the exciting, if a little hiccupy, transition into Fire.
  • Fire on the Mountain > (OB)
    • Oteil has really made this song his own when he sings it, and the crowd erupts every time.  I really think he should be singing more Garcia songs, because there are plenty that aren't really in either Bobby or John's ranges.  He also plays it in a way very much his own, a lot jazzier than Phil's approach.
    • John does a really good job of playing the required riffs that keep the song together without just copying Jerry's famous leads.  Sometimes when he plays something new it kind of throws the band and/or the crowd off, but once again I think it's important for these guys to try new things, even if they don't always work out perfectly.
    • Instead of doing the regular Scarlet ending, or even doing the hard ending they did for their first couple tours, they instead just falter out, until John starts them back up into Althea.
  • Althea (JM)
    • While I would argue this song really belongs in the first set, this is a classic case of a first set song being given extra teeth when put in the second set.  Always a great set-piece for soloing from John and Jeff, here in the second set it felt like it had extra oomph.
    • Even on his D'Angelico I don't understand some of the noises Bob insists on making during Althea, but I'll let it slide...get it?
    • The solo section right before the "there are things" bridge is where the song really took off.  John had been taking all the solos so far with everyone else doing their regular rhythm stuff, but all of a sudden Jeff caught fire and John started burning up with him.  They were perfectly synchronized, both of them taking staggered leads at the same time that tied together and around each other, and bringing the band into a smooth and powerful transition into the bridge.
  • Estimated Prophet > (BW)
    • The solo section in this was pretty hot, with some big leads being pumped out, but the rest of the song felt a bit static, like they didn't know where to take the outro jam.
    • I did like that after spacing out the first verses like he's been doing for years, Bobby then did the second verses all together like the Grateful Dead originally did.  And even if it was a little static, the band was still pretty tight for this weird song in 7/4 time.
  • The Other One Jam >
    • Right when I was starting to think Estimated wasn't going anywhere, Bobby shifted into this familiar rhythm and things kicked back into gear, if only for a little bit on this theme.
    • They did this in 7/4 time as well, just like the last Furthur show I saw at Bethel Woods.  John seemed a little slow to pick up on it, but the rest of the band really started churning.  Oteil was looking at Bobby as if wondering whether he should do the run into the song proper, but then Bob took a sharp left turn- a little too sharp, as it left the rest of the band reeling, but eventually everyone caught onto where he was going.
  • Eyes of the World > (BW)
    • While Estimated may not have done it for me, this Eyes was fantastic, maybe the best one I've seen the band do, but it's too early to say for sure.
    • As if John had felt my complaints about him not taking charge, during his solo he really stepped up.  I've mentioned before how Garcia-esque he is on this song, in that he doesn't really solo but instead just lets the song flow from his fingers, but now he was doing so with just a little more authority than in the past.
    • Ok, last time I'll rave about Jeff in this review.  We and our neighbors and knew as soon as Eyes started that Jeff was going to get to do a solo, and as we expected it was the highlight of the night.  He was very methodical in building it up, and the band patiently let him take his time.  As he brought the music higher and higher the rest of the band started to chime in, until once again he and John were locked together in dual solos, creating a heady, jazzy blend of music that had us dancing and crying.
    • Oteil took his customary solo as well, and this was definitely the best version of it I've seen.  With sparse accompaniment from Jeff and the drummers, he channeled music from another plane of existence, playing power chords and arpeggios in quick and brilliant succession before the rest of the band jumped in and brought the song to a close.
  • Drums >
    • The drummers seem to have a lot less drums in their playpen this tour, with neither the big thunder drums nor the big electronic ones appearing behind them (maybe they're hidden).
    • Mickey immediately got working on the Beam, joined by Oteil who did some very cool feedback against it on a different bass than he normally plays.  Billy drummed along to the pulsing and droning rhythms that those two Pranksters were putting out, with Micky running from drums, to sound effect pad, and back the Beam whenever he felt he could put something new into the mix.  Jeff was also present on his synthesizer for most of Drums.
  • Space >
    • Billy took off for a short bit while Mickey kept the Beam roaring and the rest of the band came out to noodle a bit.  Soon it went from a loud and chaotic maelstrom to being more delicate, with John teasing something that I just can't place.
    • Bobby was playing a different white guitar that I also can't place, and I think he first started using it for Space and beyond this past Winter.  Soon he slowed things down a little and counted everyone off and I knew I was about to cross another song off my Dead & Company list.
  • Stella Blue (BW)
    • I had only seen one version of this from Furthur 6 years ago, so this was a real treat for me.  While I bet John or Oteil would sing this beautifully,  this is one Garcia tune that I think Bobby does a fantastic job on.  His odd timing works very well when the band has rehearsed it, and it sounded like they had because once again they were very tight.
    • Bob's white guitar was sounding great on this one, with him getting some really beautifully spooky sounds out of it.  John's guitar work was delicate up until he needed to solo, when he really made that thing cry.  Once again he played the song in a way Garcia never would, yet still totally worked.
    • The outro jam was just exactly perfect, with the whole band really focusing on and playing off each other, peaking triumphantly again and again.
  • Touch of Grey (BW & JM)
    • This was a surprising transition, and got everyone up and dancing a bit.  For whatever reason this band has trouble getting this song to really kick, but this was probably one of their better versions at it.  And even jaded and picky Deadheads can't help but sing along with the final chorus.

     The band surprised us by coming out and taking a bow immediately, and leaving the stage.  Surely there must be an encore, right??  But the lights turned on and an army of men in hardhats rushed the stage and started tearing everything down.  Some of us were in shock, but then the magic word started circulating in the crowd: "curfew!"  That was a bit of a bummer, but it had still been a pretty long concert, and a pretty front-heavy second set to boot.  We hung out in our seats for a while with our new friends, figuring we weren't going to get anywhere soon, and we needed to meet up with a friend we were driving home.  The crowd situation was truly apocalyptic getting out of the venue, let alone getting out of the parking lot, but we were in no rush, and I live just around the corner so I was going to get home in no time either way.

     All in all this definitely wasn't the best Dead show I've seen, but it was a hell of a lot of fun.  I was able to go into this one with little to no stress or expectations, and therefore there was nothing to be disappointed about; I had just seen a Dead show, how good!  So what if some parts were a bit sloppy and John didn't always do exactly what I wanted, everyone still had so much fun and the band did play some truly spectacular music.  Writing this now after watching the webcast of the next show in Camden, NJ, it looks like whatever shakiness I saw was just from it being the tour opener.  We are seeing them again in two weeks, and that show is bound to be fantastic!  So until then, let me know what shows you're seeing, and how you feel about the tour so far.

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