Commemorative Colorized US Mint coins (Jerry Garcia)

I've been to a the new Dead & Company shows in Boulder, Colorado for the last couple years... Jerry is missed, but holy cow are they still beyond incredible, it felt just like the old days. John Mayer is so true to what they are/were. As is Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti!

 

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I was a rock musician in those days. Made an honest run at it the entire decade of the 80’s….. And I have to ask….. I did one Dead concert on Halloween night 81-82 thereabouts…. I had to leave because the musicianship was really not good. Maybe I just hit an off night… The real show was in the parking lot anyway….. But really, what was the big attraction? I totally missed it somewhere along the way.

 

Well considering how many thousands of shows, and few of them while drunk/tripping etc...yes, the band had some "off nights" lol.
I have a brother who is a professional musician, a gifted guitarist...he HATES the Dead. But he expresses it perfectly...he much prefers the exact correct intended way to play particular music. As it was originally crafted... The Dead often messed with the original writing, structure...everything. But on an amazing night, they were on absolute fire all night long!

 

I had no idea when I posted this thread that I'd find so many fellow Dead Heads here!
I saw them a few dozen times from 1974-1980. I miss those days! I think. I can't remember much, LOL!

 

Personally, I stopped going in 1980 because I feel they went way downhill starting about 1979. I saw one show in 1980 and was so disappointed that I stopped going and went to college!
Their best years were 1969-1972 IMHO. I wish I could have seen them then. Then 1972-1977 were great.

 

"he much prefers the exact correct intended way to play particular music. As it was originally crafted."
To each their own, but I like improvisation, of which the Dead were masters. Maybe your brother likes Steely Dan! They play every song the same way every concert, exactly as it is on their albums. That's what I've heard anyway. Boring to me.
I'm very glad the Dead were not like that!