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Mango

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Posts posted by Mango

  6. Viola Lee Blues is the greatest song ever written

    in Random Thoughts

    Posted

    On 1/10/2022 at 12:49 PM, Mojo Hand said:

     

    I have a similar thought to what John A says above;

     

    In the early to mid-sixties....the idea of improvised and extended musical improvisation was something brand new in the world of rock and roll.  As it pertains to performing in front of a live studio audience, this sort of thing was really only being done by jazz artists.  The Grateful Dead were the first to bring it to the rock and roll world.  Add in LSD.....and the perfect storm was brewing.  

     

    The Grateful Dead played out the experiment for all it was worth and I will posit another idea that will be unpopular.  I don't think the phenomena of the Grateful Dead would have continued into the the mid-70's and beyond if they did not mature beyond the extended jams of Viola Lee Blues, 30 minute Dark Stars, 25 minute Lovelights, Pigpen Blues, and some of the early "psychedelic sound" songwriting efforts.

     

    As the 60's turned into the 70's is when they matured as songwriters and wrote more music that had legs.  More accessible song structures combined with extended, interesting, and diverse musical improvisations is where the magic happened IMHO.  I think that most of the music from the 65-69 was retired with good reason.  Viola Lee Blues is fairly one-dimensional.  The Grateful Dead's future efforts were far more diverse.  That sort of song was interesting in that time period because no one had played like that before.  But if that sort of song continued to be the calling of the Grateful Dead, I don't think they would have lasted. 

     

    Something like Viola Lee Blues epitomizes why I think the jam band craze of the late 90's and early 2000's was so over-rated.  Jamming for the sake of jamming may have been interesting when it was new.  However, the Grateful Dead graduated beyond that and into a new realm.  Most of jam bands of the 2000's practiced a form or "musical masturbation" that the Grateful Dead left behind when they played it beyond its' useful life.

     

    One man's opinion....

     

     

     

    As far as limiting the discussion to Hunter/Garcia tunes.... I don't know about that?????  

    For many years, I would have answered that question with "Music Never Stopped".  While it may not be at the top of your list.....that can't be wrong....right?

     

     

     

    You make some good points.  However,  DSO and perhaps other post-GD bands have taken Viola to places that the Dead were not able to at that time. I've experienced some fairly mindbending and epic Violas. 

     

    Of course what you are saying is true- the music most always evolve~

    • Like (+1) 2

  7. Your favorite DSO show

    in Random Thoughts

    Posted

    2 hours ago, DesertDead said:

    Just one, as of right this minute.  No need to list many or explain that you can’t pick just one.  We all get it.  
     

    Mine is Napa, California.  October 11, 2014.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    City Winery Napa
     
    Set One: Deep Elem Blues ; Dark Hollow ; Operator ; Box Of Rain ; California Earthquake ; On The Road Again ; Rosa Lee McFall ; *Rain ; It Makes No Difference ; Friend Of The Devil ; Wake Up Little Susie ; I've Been All Around This World ; Big Iron ; Ripple 

    Set Two: Till The Morning Comes ; Sittin' On Top Of The World ; Dancing In The Street ; It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World ; Cryptical Envelopment > drums > The Other One > Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Viola Lee Blues 

    Encore: Alligator > And We Bid You Goodnight
    Show Notes
    Set one acoustic. Set two electric. 

    * First Time performed. Song by Donna Godchaux 

     

    only time performed that I'm aware of. Great show, one of my Favs. Also an amazing recording of the show, which I've played for many delighted ears.

    • Like (+1) 3

  9. A band I saw last night

    in Random Thoughts

    Posted

    20 hours ago, Tea said:

    Agreed!  New Potato Caboose is another one I'd love to see them do - been hiding since 2014!

     

    wow, didn't realize it had been that long. a bunch in 08/09 and then 2 in 2014. I saw the 2nd to last, with Bob Weir at the Great American Music Hall. Bass solo and all.

    • Like (+1) 1

  15. Favorite opener

    in Random Thoughts

    Posted

    The best opener is different every day. That said,  I've been known to enjoy Half Step>Franklins or a Stranger>Franklins. I love Hell in a Bucket as well, it's an easy way to get dancin.  

     

    Hardpan, i also love that 75 HSF. It was an early CD in my collection back in the day. Another one was DP3, i love that funicula>TMNS. I've always wanted to see DSO recreate this one....

    • Like (+1) 2

  17. A band I saw last night

    in Random Thoughts

    Posted

    I saw Melvin at Ardmore a couple months back. Very strict about the masks. Clearly to many people it is acceptable. I am happy for them. I strongly dislike having to wear a mask inside. While dancing. But i'm still considering going to Splintered Sunlight tomorrow night.

    • Like (+1) 1

  19. Capitol Theatre - Nite 2

    in Reviews

    Posted

    I definitely heard that prudence theme.  

     

    Very crowded. Ended up dancing in Garcia's last night,  which was actually pretty cool despite not really feeling like i was at a show. 

     

    Despite being oversold the vibe was good. Feels good to be back dancing indoors. Looking forward to Albany 

    • Like (+1) 2

  20. RMGDR #3

    in Reviews

    Posted

    They did in fact play on Sunday night.  It was fantastic again. I'm having a hard time remembering...

     

    Cold rain and snow

    Feel like a stranger

    She belongs to me

    We can run

    Pride of Cucamonga>

    Truckin>

    Pride of Cucamonga

    Bertha

    Jack straw

     

    China rider

    Black throated wind

    Scarlet

    Uncle John's

    Terrapin

    Drums with beat boxing

    Space

    Sugar mag

    Franklin's

    Sugar mag

     

    Werewolves

     

    Surely not correct. Huck?

     

     

     

     

    • Like (+1) 4

  23. RMGDR #1

    in Reviews

    Posted

    Half step

    Minglewood

    Tom thumb blues

    Lazy river rd

    Me and my uncle

    Big river

    Bird song

    Other one

    Bird song

     

    Box of rain

    Mr. Charlie

    Crazy fingers

    Women are smarter

    Drums

    Space

    Gimme some lovin

    Nfa

    Gdtrfb

    Nfa

    Morning dew

     

    Midnight moonlight

     

    This is surely misssing something and in wrong order.  Good times.

    • Like (+1) 1
    • Thanks (+1) 1
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