favorite favorite favorite favorite

I agree with Phil, although I'd emphasize the 'pretty'. :)



Set one starts off with a bang, certainly - and how can you not grin when they segue it into Alligator? Unfortunately, after this big launch they have a few sort of shrug-the-shoulders moments - Bobby makes an earnest attempt at Memphis Blues, with the band flailing around, trying new arrangement...John K.'s Loser is the show's "too-close-to-Jerry" meh moment...Bobby has some trouble remembering El Paso (as he did later in the year @ MSG), and I'm really not sure how I feel about all that Woman Smarter with two female vocalists too-obviously turned up on the mix....call me old-fashioned, but I prefer this all-too-true tune sung by a bunch of hapless doofuses like the boys back in the day. More of an ironic touch that way, I think.



Now this set 2 is one I can certainly get behind. Bobby absolutely dominates this set vocally, and GOOD ON HIM - I'm for Bobby taking the Jer tunes over John K - can't imagine the latter trying SOTM without fans grimacing - probably why Bobby got it to begin with. This set allows the band to show its chops to a cool degree - just little subtleties on the arrangements on Half-Step, US Blues, Sugar Magnolia (GSET?), Hunter's beautiful Eleven lyrics shining brightly (that's a hard one to sing, and Bobby nails it).



The real serious treat here, though, is King Solomon's Marbles. When they start moving on this one, it's another confirmation for me on why I can't and won't give up on Furthur like so many others tend to do. I mean, this is pretty white-hot stuff!



So, yeah, dig that opening and then hop on over to Bertha and let it all play out. There's some great music throughout this show.

- February 18, 2014*pretty* good...