New New Dead & Co. GGP Thread

You make $12 beers sound good.

weather looks good.

Been foggy in the am so the fields could be wet come showtime. I may walk over to see the progress of the stage build-out

with Silicon Valley nearby we should have had  an  AI generated Sphere.

Maybe a low ceiling of fog could provide that... haha

make sure to where some flowers in your hair (and layers)

ditto

The bison paddock is probably my favorite thing at golden gate park

dutch windmills runner up

and blue heron lake

well, there's actually a lot to like

I really hope the Jerry guy wears the signature Audemars opening night he looks so suave in it!!

https://www.audemarspiguet.com/com/en/watch-collection/royal-oak/26574BC...
 

whoa, oh what I want to know-oh

where did my 18k royal oak crystal sky self winding perpetual calendar calibre 5134 go?

note: there is no lap swimming in the fly-casting pools in GGP

How about lap dancing? 

First entry lottery

https://goldengateparkconcerts.com/dead-company-first-entry-general-admi...

^^^ "priority numbers," revisited

Friends used to get drunk and jump the fence on the bison paddock.   Another pal  (r.i.p.) rolled his VW one night near there- got out - pushed it back over...drove off.

And then there wad Nicki and me and the infamous M-80 explosion---yikes !   Right near Spreckels Lake.

The park could be fun.

Weir should enter that first entry lottery

I bet he's a slow walker also...

exactly. my Sunday plan...

crashing the gates for old times sake?

It's crazy how cheap tickets are and my go to cheap hotel on the edge of the TL is going for $700 a night. People are coming from far and wide for this.

$700 a night.  <<<

JEEBUS.

 I listened for 5 minutes last night by happenstance. Phish was playing gayute which easily won, as he's my spirit animal.

This night I have it on or I had it on and it was clear it was going to be good times opener but it was just so slow I mean we've all said this before and I don't know what everyone is saying now no one talks to me so I don't read everyone else that thoroughly either. 

But it's just terrible. I'm just going to reiterate that I find it to be utterly soulless and without musical interest. Trying to hear Grahame play big brown and he's in the mix you know he's better than anybody else they could possibly have but he alone is no saving Grace for me. 

Hopefully everyone else finds this to be amazing and wonderful and is having the times of their lives

I also want to make this observation 

Phil played with his friends 

$Dead plays as a "company"

Right on jlp..... nailed it

The amp head John is playing through is called a Dumble Overdrive Special

That's one single piece of gear

A "cheap" one is around $100k

You think John plays thru the cheap one?

Much better music show tonight 

I had a fun time this afternoon.

Despite enjoying Dead & Company to varying degrees over the years (by actually going to multiple shows) I had no intentions of going to any of these shows because the physical effort for a big show in the park is just a bit too much for me these days.

Even after a comp for today's show found itself in my possession a few days ago I just didn't see myself motivating, which made me a little sad, because Golden Gate Park/the Polo Field is a place I have revered since I was a child, it's a cathedral for concerts and in many ways is Ground Zero for Grateful Dead music, but I've been there and done that and I've (mostly) come to terms with my new normal so ultimately I wasn't feeling that bad about not going.

Then around 5:00pm today I'm just sitting around, it's a beautiful afternoon and I'm feeling pretty good so I decided to get in my brand new car I got three months ago and just take a nice late afternoon drive up to the city, cruise around to look for a parking miracle and maybe get in for just the 2nd set.

The drive up the Peninsula was lovely and I got to the park easily, but after trolling around the blocks with businesses and timed meters, which often open up spots, even with my new ADA placard I couldn't land a spot (but I could hear the music echoing through the park & neighborhoods, VERY cool) so I went over to a close by and lifelong favorite spot of mine, Sutro Heights, and hiked around taking in the classic views.

After that I cruised around the park once more and actually found a spot with maybe a 10 - 15 minute walk to the gates. I parked, collected my stuff and moved out... until I got to the corner and looked at the hike down, and more importantly was considering the hike back UP the hill, and suddenly I had no energy or real desire to make the effort just so I could tell myself I was there. Because I've been there many, many times before.

So I got in my shiny new car and started for home, feeling OK about my decision after enjoying a nice afternoon adventure, understanding that the wheel keeps turning, that I've been on the ride for quite a while now and that things change.

Then while driving through the park on my way out I could clearly hear Scarlet Begonias echoing through the trees, and I remembered that I now have Sirius in my new car, and sure enough the show was live on the GD channel so I listened to the 2nd set on my drive home, pulling into my driveway just as they headed into drums, with everything to that point sounding really good.

So, in the end I can say that I made the effort, that I "was there", that I heard the music live (driving in and around the park I clearly heard I Know You Rider, They Love Each Other & Shakedown, and leaving I heard Scarlet; it's always very trippy & very cool to hear live music echoing through trees and buildings) and overall I had a very nice afternoon.

So now that it's over, despite what anyone may think about the details, I don't think any can argue successfully that this weekend wasn't a MASSIVE success for legions of dead heads, for the ongoing legacy of the Grateful Dead, for the city of San Francisco and for the many MANY musicians and local businesses that were able to profit from D$C coming to town.

And that's far out.

Long live the Grateful Dead!

Kind of bummed I didn't see any mention of Billy the Drummer this weekend.at At least Justin was there.

Yeah, as a few guests popped up I expected him to show but....guessing they asked and he declined.   Or didn't ask because of previous rifts.  

I listened to the scarlet fire this morning and just felt a bit like a guitar wank fest.  Three different opinions of how the music should go.  I do think it was better than Fare Thee Well and I'm sure people had a great time. 

Surprise of the weekend - Grahame's Heart of the Town was the show to be at.  

Jen & I were driving on Sunday, and heard the NFA and Knockin from 1st night on sattelite radio.
We were game to give it a try, but we were actually shocked. No, we aren't fans, but good god, that was the worst NFA in history.
It has faded away.
I am laughing out loud at all the pronouncements of "The next night was better"
There is literally no way it could be anything but better, because what we heard was the worst ever. Disgusting.
It truly is Mayer's band now (he owns the majority share). Perhaps it will be a better band, once Mayer rotates out the old guys?
He will obviously keep milking the thing, as long as it continues to net custie tens of millions.
Bob should have respectfully hung it up when he fell over on stage that time.
Have a sense of grace, you gross old creep.
I have zero respect for any of these musicians who signed on to be part of this, there are plenty of things to support that still celebrate the legacy, and respect the music.

JLP hit the nail on the head, as mentioned above 

Would have been a much better idea to have a festival set up where a bunch of fam bands play all day and through the evening, ala Furthur Festival '96. A great tribute with past and present artists who love the Grateful Dead.

But this next level cash grab, cloaked in nostalgia of a 60th anniversary? Rough. 

Where was Dark Star, Other One, Lovelight, Viola Lee, Death Don't?  Even Minglewood would represent the first few years.  (As would Bill Kruetzmann)

You would of thought they would of put in a few special Easter eggs into each set, but this was pretty much safe pop song version of Grateful Dead. Not many stretch it out melt your face journeys on this run. Go out on a limb? They used a latter and never got into the tree.
 

God Bless Phil Lesh and all those years he spoiled us all with the "goods". Thank you, Sir. You're son made you proud this run, he elevated whatever this was. 

...

It's DeadCo - you're going to get DeadCo. That means some shitty sets and vocals like on Friday. You'll also get the exact opposite, like on Saturday, and plenty of the in-between. I listened to Fri and Sat and don't feel like I wasted my time. It was way more enjoyable than some shitty movie on Netflix. There were some awesome moments too. I think the key is to expect them to be who and what they are, not what it could be or what individuals subjectively want.

I think we'll get Hologram Jerry, Easter eggs, and all sorts of on-stage shenanigans and revelries for GD 75

Looks like Billy received his residual check. 

Good for him.

I bet that by 11:30 every night Bobby was comfortably tucked into his own bed with an electrolyte and vitamin B drip.

So when's the name going to change to "Mayer and Company?"

The highlight for me was Trey and John trading licks during Fire on the Mountain.

lol at people thinking faces would melt.

viola? dude, phil's not here maaannn...

and nice story lance. thanks for sharing. touching.

Based on what people are saying on social media, lots and lots of faces melted. I'm not going to begrudge them or yuck their yum. It's awesome that so many people had such an amazing time.

We got a Viola Lee Blues and Death Don't Have No Mercy (with Peter Rowan) from Stu and Mars Hotel on Saturday.

I wonder what Bill Kreutzmann did do last weekend?

Epic weekend, fantastic music shared with good friends I shared shoes with over the last 47 years. People crawled out of the woodwork for these shows and it was one grand celebration!

the right drugs will make some fools think any music is #facemelting

lol, isn't that what critics have said about both the GD and Phish for decades?

Viola? dude, Phil's not here maaannn...36 times by Dead & Company/4 times by Ratdog: Setlist FM

Coulda, woulda, shoulda:  Per Google...

Essentially, "coulda, woulda, shoulda" is a way of acknowledging past regrets and missed chances, often with a sense of resignation. It can be used to express frustration, disappointment, or even dismissiveness about situations where things didn't go as planned. 

I had a great three days. Hit the first two solo VIP and went with my wife and son  Sunday GA. The sound was fantastic. Below are random thoughts on my weekend. 
 

First night had very special moments specially Box of Rain with Grahame on Big Brown. It just seemed so right. Billy Strings was the best act there. John Mayer continues to amaze me based on my preconceived notions 10 years ago. Very cool seeing Trey from FTW band playing with John the guitarist for Dead & Company who were already rehearsing prior to FTW. Broken Arrow was sweet. What I liked most was the Terrapin Nation & Dead & Company finally coming together. It warmed my heart. Saturday was an awesome show. Sunday was also very nice. Bob struggled Friday. 
 

all on all I'm very very glad I was there. Also my first show of any type at GGP. 

> the right drugs will make some fools think any music is #facemelting

> isn't that what critics have said about both the GD and Phish for decades?

While it's true critics have said that sort of thing for decades, I'd say those types of comments came from outside the community mostly.

JLP is definitely not in the DeadCo community. 

> JLP is definitely not in the DeadCo community.

So are you saying the DeadCo community is not part of the GD community?

Some come to laugh the past away.

Some just bitch.

OMG, people have OPINIONS!

Initial thoughts:

The DaveMatthews-fication of the band is complete.

If you went solo- you had 59,999 friends there. 

Bobby didn't look and sound like his old self until the final Sugar Mag. He kept wiping his nose like a little kid with a cold and his eyes are deep and sunken.  I sorta felt bad for our road warrior. 

Drugs were being openly marketed as much as at any show I've been to. 

It was all about weaving thru the crowd like a guppy to get to a porta pottie.  

SF can handle crowds, though getting out of there was a clusterfuck. 

Guest sit ins were the musical highlight.

I won the early entry lottery number 89 and 90, but didn't run to the rail -  we hung back a bit.   

It was interesting to see the Grasslands exposition and cannabis consumption so aggressively marketed on the big screens.  Under the persistent hiss of nitrous tanks on the way in, you could hear people hawking "acid, shrooms, molly."

If you are old-school, it was sorta like a sanitized version of Englishtown -- but with gummies replacing Seconals and the-nice-guy-from-highschool-who-wanted-to-be-cool replacing outlaw bikers.  

It was basically 8-10 hrs of mostly standing.  You had to get in line about noon or one of you wanted a decent spot. 

Alcohol was probably the most prevalent drug. There had to be 100 or more bars in the venue. Maybe 200. 

Grassland was the first legal weed supermarket I've seen at a concert. 

Visible police presence was minimal.  

It was an all ages crowd -- skewed toward boomers, of course.

I didn't witness any fights. 

> 8-10 hrs of mostly standing

Alan, did you ever decide on a portable seat?

>>So are you saying the DeadCo community is not part of the GD community?

From what I've seen, not all DeadCo people are totally into the GD in the ways one would think, and not all GD fans care for DeadCo at all. Maybe DeadCo is an outcropping of the GD community that shares a subset?

As for opinions, saying that if someone was melted by the music then it must have been drugs, that really isn't an opinion or an observation. That's just a put-down. An opinion would be, "I think DeadCo sucks donkey dongs."

>> JLP is definitely not in the DeadCo community. <<

I think I can say I'm not, but I'm not sure what that even is. I love that people of all ages are finding their excitement in music, and as always, the feeling of like-minded community.

Fun's fun.

And yes, Alan, what did you choose to sit on?

arguing about nothing for no reason.

>>>The DaveMatthews-fication of the band is complete.  

This seems like an accurate description.  No judgment but a different breed of head.  Perhaps it's the evolution of touch heads into Dead co fans over 30 years.   It's a revolution whatever it is.  Extremely popular.  And good for the band.   Heck Billy S is even back on the teet.  

Glad people had fun.   

Imagine the demand for DeadCo if the music was actually good. It would off the charts. Probably best for all involved that it sounds like it does.

I like DeadCo for what they are. I love that other people love them and it melts their faces.

60k plus paying >$200/show sounds like demand to me...

hell we went to see '95 GD and the music wasn't good ha

>>>arguing about nothing for no reason<<<

I don't see anyone arguing, just some commentary on people thinking anyone who disagrees with them is a fool.

The age-old human way of having certain and absolute knowledge based on limited evidence or experience is most definitely alive and well in the 21st century.

>>>arguing about nothing for no reason<<<

I don't see anyone arguing, just some commentary on people thinking anyone who disagrees with them is a fool.

The age-old human way of having certain and absolute knowledge based on limited evidence or experience is most definitely alive and well in the 21st century.

I came back and didn't like that second comment, but it was too late to edit it out.

I believe in general it's an accurate statement, but it's a separate conversation and didn't really fit with my first point.

As the young generation fake dead heads and DMB fans say... my bad.

Went Friday and Saturday. Got one ticket for $130 and one free thanks to Grasslands. Stayed with friends so all in all the cheapest two day show I have been to in a long time. I went in both days around 2:30 and easily found a great spot about halfway behind the second stand of speakers and the sound was great way better than the final tour show at the baseball stadium. No chompers around me, lots of room and lot's of respectful people. It wasn't a sea of phones taking videos. My only quibble is why build a stage so low that no one if the field can see it. It was like being on the lawn at SPAC. 

The music was meh but the Playing in Band, Wharf Rat and Morning Dew where all good, and the Box of Rain with Graham was sweet, and the one song I enjoy slowed down is Estimated.  I would say everyone around me was on drugs just not big doses and there were lot's of non-psychedelic drugs as well. Didn't see one fucked up person being obnoxious and almost zero cops. I would say it was by far the best run large event I've been to in a long time. 

I mean I stopped going to see this band a few years ago because anytime I went with expectations I would end up getting annoyed and there is no reason to pay for something just be annoyed, but then the final tour happened and I went to one, and then the Sphere happened and I love the Sphere and then this happened and I couldn't say no to a free ticket. I would say I had the most fun this weekend, but have long since stopped being invested in the music. 

My only connection with young dead heads is from Reddit and I would say a truism of that community is that they pretty much only listen to pre 78 dead so at least there they have some discerning taste. 

If you didn't go you didn't miss anything and if you went I hope you got to connect with friends. That was by far the best part of the weekend for me.

GD75 LFG!!!!!!!!!!

my poncho is already in line

Mike- we should have invested in those plastic stools that start out the size pf an old boy scout canteen and expand into a mushroom  / talking drum shape. They were everywhere.  I didn't buy one in advance but tried one out at the show. It was surprisingly sturdy.  Some even included a cushioned seat. 

The funny thing though.... hardly anyone used theirs.  It looked like an abandoned drum circle around us. They did make a decent fence of sorts; dissuading folks from cutting through your area.  

We used ours before the show and during break. Whoever designed them must have done very well because they were just about everywhere!

I had only seen Deadco live once before and after three more shows I feel the same way -- John Mayer may play guitar stylistically perfect and relentless and fast, but underneath, the intent is soulless, vapid and based on pop sensibilities.  It's just talented guitar playing. It has no balls. 

So funny watching Trey confidently "knock the jamband cigarette outta his mouth" so to speak during the guitar gunslinging duel.  "It's psychedelic based music..... step aside Mr LA Rolex."  I'd never seen Trey be so (politely) aggressive.

Sturgil.... not my thing.  Sure there were country influences in the song catalog, but the GD were more pirates than rednecks. I"ll take Georgia southern rock or Bakersfield cowboys over Nashville "wife ran off with my pick-up truck salesman" singers anyday. 

And Billy Strings.... he showed how Dead music could / should be played from here on out on the big stage. Dude oozed integrity, reverence and authentic Grateful Dead spirit. 

Mayer Industries produce  'em

probably won't be allowed in any venues DeadCo ain't playing

I have one word to say to you John : Plastics

my therma-rest was fine plus I filled it with nitrous...

my therma-rest was fine plus I filled it with nitrous...

Visionary move.

Alan, I agree 100% with your review.
 

of course the masses disagree and the marketing machine will keep this  going ad infinitum. 

So such demand and so much money to be made.
 

Like i was telling my friends on the way out Friday night Mayer is a great guitarist but doesn't have a psychedelic bone in his body...

To me, the difference is who has something to say, the ability to express something unique that resonates, and plucks the heartstrings. Mayer has ridiculous chops, as Clapton pointed out. He is a placeholder who does nail it from time to time. Trey has chops galore. Garcia didn't possess chops imo( wasn't even interested), but he had something that's far more moving than chops, as we all know and Clapton also noted. There are guitar players and there are artists. Different beasts. Clapton offers interesting reference points. When asked what it's like to be the greatest guitar player, he said, "I don't know, you should ask Prince", diffusing the question, but a telling response nonetheless.  Clearly, he understands the difference between an accomplished, defining stylist and an extraordinary talent like Jeff Beck or Derek Trucks, for example.

Who brings tears to your eyes? 

Billy has his version in spades. 

Soul matters.

No Alice D Millionaire? 

(I didn't intend to take the thread in an anti-Mayer direction; back to the show thoughts:)

The Balto Wash airport was the place to be to depart to the West coast -- it's a Southwest Air East Coast hub and people from all over gathered there to get the nonstop.  Cool... a plane full of semi-inebriated Deadheads! A nice relaxing way to fly if you have to. 

The theme of the whole experience was meeting up with friends, old and new.  Thankfully, texting exists.

At times, even the most cynical Deadhead was smiling during one song or another.

The park was more conducive to community than the 50th anniversary shows held in stadiums. There's something about dancing on grass.  

The most interesting person I met raised longhorn steers. And she had a 150 acre ranch in Maryland of all places.

SF still has killer Thai food.  

In retrospect I'm glad I went to this tribal pow wow but spent way too much money and probably had enough tequila for quite a while.