GD50 Santa Clara: A Weekend Synopsis

Why on earth are the Grateful Dead message boards riddled with negativity? They’ve just capped off two of their final five shows, yet there couldn’t be more negativity in the air. It’s like the band owed us a concert. Not only did they owe it to us, but hell it better be flawless. The negativity is too much. It’s too bloody much I tell you. And shit, if I’m telling you its too much, you know we’ve approached precarious territory. I feel like I should blame our society as a whole, but this unusual deviation probably isn’t what you want to hear, or maybe it is, you sick bastard. It appears we’ve evolved into entitled morons, unappreciative of the endless beauty throughout our reality that exists in every waking moment. I’ve got enough of my own god damn negativity, let alone the time to hear wasteful reviews of an absolutely magical 50 year anniversary of the Grateful Dead. Maybe I’m just sad that I have to leave California and head back to desolation in Michigan. It’s always hard watching your ideals and aspirations being shit down the drain, but enough about my love life. I must rise above the negativity, and it’d be beneficially for you to do the same. 

So where’s the love you ask? The love remains right where it began, within the community. The spirit of the dead and the culture surrounding it. The beauty is found within the airports upon realizing people came from all over the world to experience these “shitty” shows. Shitty in the eyes of some pompous schmuck from Billboard magazine whom is arrogant enough to make an asinine claim that the Dead payed $50,000 for a fake rainbow. Seriously, give me a fucking break! I won’t even dignify this absurdity with any further elaboration. 

This community of dead head’s has a general respect for the music and all that encompasses it, something utterly unfamiliar and threatening to anyone outside of scene. Once again, we fear what we cannot understand. Most of these lovely humans (Grateful Dead fans) don’t have anywhere near enough nerve to sit down behind their computer and attack the validity of the Grateful Dead’s music. The people at the shows aren’t complaining about the music. They are embracing the love, and sharing their appreciation with each other. The hatred lies within the walls of the online realm, where any troll with a deranged finger can type the most subjective and passively distorted rant they can think of, but enough with the hate. How about a real review of the weekend shows in Santa Clara? The shows with a real fucking rainbow, and a sunset not derived from the hands of the government, at least not to my knowledge.

It’s interesting to hear people spend so much of their time wasted on pointless endeavors, like how I enjoy complaining about other idiots. That’ll be the title of my upcoming book, “An Idiot Complaining About Other Idiots”. Take a step back from the subtleties of the music and enjoy the fact the band even decided to play at all. Bob Weir sounded more energized than I’ve probably ever experienced. It’s clear he is here to give us his all. However, it’s obvious he was his usual self, forgetting a line here or there, not ending the song at the right time, but ultimately who gives a shit? So the band didn’t all end a the same time, what do you want your fucking money back? How high can one’s expectations be to have the nerve to bitch about some meaningless nuance? Take the perspective of the shows as a whole and it’s an unbelievable experience to reflect on. For christ sake, people forget that Bobby is dyslexic. Give the man a break and enjoy the show. These guys have been around spreading the love and the music for 50 years, and they’ve been on the road for most of that time and people have the fucking audacity to complain about this shit. It’s an outrage and the last person who should perpetuate this unlawful arrogance should be some self absorbed asshole writing for a dying magazine like Billboard. They should be focused on not filing for bankruptcy and keeping their pathetic establishment afloat instead of bashing a band that has shaped and ratified the history of Rock n Roll. Well, that was a load off. Quite the cathartic endeavor. On to the show we go…

Night one was incredible, and I was one of the fortunate to experience the magic. The band started out solid as they opened the show with a couple of classics, Truckin’, followed by a lovely rendition of Uncle John’s Band. The vocals harmonies were striking and one of the high points during both shows. Things got weird at the beginning of Alligator, or at least in the eyes of Phil Lesh. The song began with Phil seemingly outraged at the drummers, Mickey Hart and Bill Kretuzmann. Whatever the mistake might have been, it most likely happened unbeknownst to the fans throughout the stadium. Unfortunately, Phil’s controlling demeanor went on for most of the night, and I’d like to believe it impacted the show in a positive way. Or at the least the anger didn’t deviate from the front of the stage, but probably not. There’s a reason this band isn’t headed out on a summer tour, and it’s likely to do with inner group tensions. Things continued with a solid Cumberland Blues and then Born Cross-Eyed, which could have been seen as a lull in the show to many, but to each their own I suppose. The set ended on a soaring high with a ripping Cream Puff War, then a spacey fifteen plus minute version of Viola Lee Blues coupled with a gorgeous rainbow encompassing Levi’s Stadium. Jeff Chimenti started to show through in a big way during this track as he was locked in behind the organ most of the night. The first set felt short, but undoubtedly sweet and the rainbow and sunset carried folks peacefully to the second set. 

The second set continued right where they left off in set one, with a set list derived similar to that of a late 60’s show. Things began with Cryptical Envelopment that cruised without a hitch. Set two was a phenomenally explosive set that pressed on with a wildly spacey Dark Star. If Dark Star lost a few people to the beer lines and/or the shit carousels than St. Stephen brought them running back. To my recollection this is where Trey really began to shine as he hit the changes and melodies note for note and soared through a burning St. Stephen. This transposed into The Eleven and then Turn On Your Lovelight where Bobby really let his vocals shine. His vocals were viciously powerful and heart felt. Next came Drums and Space which basically entailed Mickey Hart delving off into the land of outer space techno. Something of which was intriguing and petrifying at the same time because it felt as if it would never end. Albeit a very enjoyable fear, it was appreciated when they transitioned into something else. That something else ended up being What’s Become of the Baby, which was apparently only played for the second time ever in their history as a band. It’s a weird song on the album, with shards of glass and deranged vocals, it got even more bizarre with Phil singing. It took me until the next day to find out exactly what song it was. After that came the inevitable, The Other One. One of my favorite Bobby tunes, sadly it became a tad bit forgettable, probably mostly due to my over exertion and exhaustion from dancing. Set two closed out with Morning Dew, a Garcia tune that had a touching delivery from Bobby. The Encore was a surprising Casey Jones with Bruce Hornsby on vocals. Bruce on vocals and piano was such a treat, and a great choice to join them in the band. What a great way to end the night! Here’s the entire setlist:

6/27/15

Set One: Jam -> Truckin’, Uncle John’s Band, Alligator -> Cumberland Blues, Born Cross-Eyed > Cream Puff War, Viola Lee Blues

Set Two: Cryptical Envelopment -> Dark Star -> St. Stephen -> The Eleven -> Turn On Your Love Light -> Drums/Space -> What's Become Of The Baby -> The Other One - > Morning Dew

Encore: Casey Jones

Seeing as at this point I’ve inevitably exhausted my readers, I’ll change perspectives and simply talk about the highlights of show 2 rather than a complete 

review of the show. It’s beneficially for me to stay away from my longwinded tirades regarding peace and love. Unfortunately for you the reader, my highlights begin with the first song of set one, Feel Like a Stranger. A predictable choice as earlier in the day we stumbled across Stranger echoing from the stadium during the band’s soundcheck. Nonetheless, it was a rocker and Bobby’s insatiable vocals ripped through the stadium with veracity and fervor. Singing, “It’s gonna be a long, long, crazy, crazy night”. I’ll skip Minglewood and talk about Brown Eyed Women. Bruce on lead delivered a magical portrayal of the song, still evoking the storyline images of the lyrics of which Jerry always did so well. It was a joy to hear and it sounded well prepared and flawlessly delivered by the entire band. A surprise highlight was Alabama Getaway, thus bringing up the overwhelming influence of the crowd. The song started off strong and got the crowd dancing and it was nice to hear Trey actually sing a song as most of the time he seemed restrained and understandably oppressed by the band. The first set closed out with Hell in a Bucket that seemed to get the whole stadium smiling and singing along.

Set two highlights should begin with He’s Gone, which was a touching version but I never know if I’m sad because Jerry’s gone or I’m broken hearted because of my deluded transposition into she’s gone, and more of the usual woman runaway problems. Regardless, He’s Gone got the emotions stewing. I was ecstatic for Death Don’t Have No Mercy, yet a little disappointed that Bob sang the whole song as the normality of the song calls for 3 different vocalists, at least when Brent Mydland was in the band. Set two closed out with Sugar Magnolia that fed the masses with a perpetual groove of happiness. The encore entailed Brokedown Palace, as much as it’s not a Bobby song, he delivered on a spiritually evoking level. Quite the tear jerky and ultimately a rough way to leave the show, it seemed like a respectful way to end their run in Santa Clara, with a literal “Fare the well”. Here’s the complete set from the second night: 

6/28/15

Set One: Feel Like a Stranger -> Minglewood Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Loose Lucy, Loser, Row Jimmy -> Alabama Getaway-> Black Peter, Hell in a Bucket

Set Two:  Mississippi Half Step, Wharf Rat > Eyes of the World -> He’s Gone -> Drums -> Space -> I Need a Miracle -> Death Don’t Have No Mercy -> Sugar Magnolia

Encore: Brokedown Palace