favorite favorite favorite favorite

The only source on the archive, as of today...



Promised starts off with good energy, and no SQ issues, other than Bob singing in an annoying quasi-falsetto

Bird comes in the set early and will be long. I don't get hung up on GD singing, but sometimes it's like they purposely would sing bad harmonies, this one is definitely an example. The important part will be the jamming. It's a great, thematic jam that really does the job. Then comes the second verse and a powerful outro jam. After the song they experience difficulties which take up about 3 minutes attributed to the song, should be a separate track, but whatever.

El Paso has a good, fun tempo to it. Jerry is great behind Bobby's singing.

Sugaree is a good time, not rushed nor too slow. Again technical issues are declared after the song. In both cases Phil has been funny on his mike.

MAMU comes out of the gates with a nice rhythm, picking up some energy. You could generally count on as much from this song.

Jed is missing!

Big River... since Jed is missing (can we confirm it was played? seems it would have been because it would be sandwiched by Bob songs per the norm), we accidentally have what may be the first MAMU Big River, a pairing that would later be quite common. Energy levels through the roof here, super twangy and fun.

China Rider is nicely delivered! Trippy and fun, with potential to really get good early. The transition to Rider happens quickly, and I like that, preferring the Rider portion due to higher energy levels. Northbound train features a yelling Jerry and the boys are rocking and rolling.

BTW has a great tempo for the song.

Deal is fun and stomping.

Cumberland is always a favorite of mine. This version leaves not wondering why. Jerry's noodling that sounds like picking blows my mind. You might want to turn Phil up. A+ version here.

PITB is the moment I've really been waiting for here in the 1st set. Very nice tempo is highly encouraging. The early moments of the jam are awesome, everyone is on board, and Jerry starts fiddling with his tone so that I get the idea they'll go into a Tiger portion. There's a small cut, and the idea of the Tiger is still floating around, only 6 minutes in and this one is focused and smart. If you don't like this stuff, something might be wrong with your hearing. An A+ PITB for sure. We do get a small Tiger around 11 minutes, but lots of driven jamming throughout.

Casey Jones, after a Playing like that, it was probably impossible to get off stage... it'd be like trying to sleep immediately after winning the lottery.

A 5 star first set.



GSET is a great set opener as always. I have heard better Garcia on the song, but it's still fun. I'd say Keith is the star of this version.

Don't Ease brims with energy.

Mexicali can't be a let down...

Black Peter is rather bluesy, but a bit slower than I would normally prefer. There's also a cut.

Bobby McGee maintains the slower tempo from Peter (it's faster than Peter, but not as fast as it could be). While I'm not a huge fan of this song, it is growing on me for the playing, but I've definitely heard better renditions.

Bertha is good times. Energy builder, as usual.

Jack Straw is missing!

FOTD is missing!

BIODTL is missing!

Ramble On is ALSO missing!

1/2 Step>Sugar>NFA>GDTRFB>NFA is the meat portion, and will take us to the close of the set. No deep jam vehicle in here, so it's going to come down to energy, tempo, how the transitions/segues go and overall coherence for me. 1/2 Step is definitely on the money. Donna is bla, of course, and it's too bad with all the equipment issues they've been having her mic didn't blow out... permanently. A little too much vocals for me. Sugar Mags is played about as well as it can be, full on, after the switch watch transition into it.

That takes us to the closing sandwich in the sequence.

NFA is fun, bringing just what we would expect. Phil is in great form. Bob is a little quiet. GDTRFB comes out of an energetic segue, and gets kind of slow... by the end of the song, in true form, it's blowing doors off hinges! The return to NFA is fun.



UJB has got to be the best encore option for the period. Excellent, driven jam here, another A+.

JBG as our double encore of the night, extra dessert. I like this in any period.







Great show, though it suffers from missing 5 songs. I'd also like to have seen a real jam vehicle in the 2nd set... but that 1st set PITB is cream of the crop stuff.

- November 18, 2013PITB takes command!