Furthur / The Dead / The Other Ones | OtherOnes.Net

Well, I for one was skeptical going into the show. Many of my friends have stated that THIS was THE chemistry that the band has been looking for since Jerry died. There has been so many incarnations of the band, I was like 'yeah, yeah. Heard it before'. Nothing could ever prepare me for the reality that last night confirmed. This band has got it! As I stood there 5th row in front of Bob and John, I cried and cried, tapping into every little nook and cranny of my mind and experiencing the energy of the best Dead shows from time's past. Seriously folks, it wasn't that they sounded like the Dead, it FELT like the Dead!!! The interaction was timeless between band members, crowd, etc..... I was having deja vu's like crazy! John's guitar playing sounds something like Jerry, but it totally FELT like Jerry, you know what I mean? I swear I felt the man coming through John in a way that I had hoped to feel someday, but I was not holding my breath. It was like he was there with us! And he was, because he lives in all of us, you know? But I SWEAR on the river Styx (My son's line), I FELT jerry in the building. And I was 100% SOBER!!!!! I saw Jerry 500 times over the years, and I was so hurt when he died. So broken. It hurt so bad. Last night was the beginning of my healing and being able to move on, FURTHUR!!! I had another thought last night as well: My first real show, the one when I "Got it", was 12/27/83 right there at the Civic Auditorium. I was 12 years old, and I remember where I was when the boys went into Cold Rain, and I was hooked. Now, 26 years later, I was a 38 year old man 5th row on the floor of the same venue. When I looked up to see the spot where I had stood 26 years ago, I saw an amazing thing- A boy, about 12 years old, was dancing in my spot! It was like I was looking at myself 26 years ago. Many tears later, I realized that I was reconnecting with my inner chld last night, and that it was OK to move on and be happy again, like I was so long ago. 2010, let the healing begin!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK, OK, enough about me, here are some highlights from last night:

Shakedown- Full of crazy Phil bombs; super tight playing. Alot like circa 1985
Jackstraw- What a killer build up jam. John just came over the top near the end and completely sliced the shit up!! Again, Phil literally shook the walls with crazy bass bombs and a big, shit eating grin
Candyman- Eerie. John's work was masterful. Again, it didn't sound like Jerry, it FELT like Jerry. Bobby gave John a tremendous amount of space to do his thing. At the end of the song, Bobby walked over to John and I swear he almost shook his hand. Bobby was beaming from ear to ear.
Viola Lee- I remember thinking "Wow! So this is what it felt like seeing the Dead in the '60's!!" The sound was unmistakable old school '60's Dead. John was just totally off the hook. I mean, we didn't get anything like that even when Jerry was around back in the day. The jam in the middle was out of control. It was like we were at the Carousel Ballroom. The joint was jumpin'!
Truckin- Classic Truckin. Solid Spoonful/Nobodys Fault jam in there. Thought they were going to go into the Other One.


Help Slip Frank- Good jamming. Solid version. Slow and saucy Franlkins.
Cassidy- Strong cresendo jam. John and Bobby were trading licks like old school times
Wheel- Total 1976-77 feel to it. John's playing was scary hot!
Dark Star- Solid, tight, totally out of this world jam. John was being brutally honest on that axe!! Made me cry.
Time- No words to describe. From the jam out of Dark Star, to the alarm clocks to the heart beats and all the way through, a frigging psycho masterpiece!

3rd set- I will leave for someone else to review. The music just took me to a special place that no words can describe. I do remember Jill L. dancing stage left and just crying her eyes out during So Many Roads. Honest bellowing tears. Yes, family was truly touched last night.

Friends, I hope you all get to see these guys. I liked other lineups that have been rolled out (Warren, Jimmy H., Trey, etc...), but this band is IT!!! I bless everyone that 2010 will be a healing, prosperous year for all of us. You know our love, not fade away!!!

Insane right out of the gates!!
Shakedown all and around baby!! The kind people with
the band that we can all trust backing us up on a historic
New Years EVE !! UNMATCHED !!!!!
Still beaming w/ energy, didn't want them to stop.
thanks for having me Benjammin and peace San Francisco !!!!

This was my 6th Furthur Show. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it could ever get this GOOD!! Like I said in my review after the Asbury Park shows..John must be an angel sent to us from Jerry. Because I felt Jerry in the room through Johns guitar playing....When John broke into the begining of "so many roads" my wife looked at me and said see saw a 52 year old guy with tears running down my face with the biggest smile she ever saw......That song was almost proof Jerry was in the house that night!......
I was standing right in front of the stage in front of John.. After the second set Booy went over to John gave him a knuckel tap and said "that was hot kid".
Can`t wait for NY and NJ next month!

I like your review Jules! I said the exact same thing about Viola Lee Blues to my wife. I also absolutely agree that Jerry was in the house both nights. I have always wanted to see the Dead play NYE in No. Cali and I feel blessed to have been apart of the celebration. The possibilities for Furthur are endless and I can't wait for the CO shows in March.

I was watching some of the clips from the new years eve show on you tube...Who were the 2 girls singing next to John??? The killed on Time!

To TSJ, Toms River. The two ladies singing were Zoe Ellis and Sunshine Garcia-Becker.

Now we know why the Sun shines brightly at Midnight!!?......

The perfect end to the new beginning ~ NFA
brought memories of Stockholm '90, gliding on the open ice & swirling in Blue, like a Spanish Lady in Dublin City......

Today, I swirled beating the same rhythm on the frame drum, with the song of the Magic Flute ~ Body & Soul.......

And so continues, mysteries dark & vast,
All the years combine.....with memories in Eternity.......
leading us to the glorious sounds of the Dead into Destiny.....

and that which is yet to Be!*

The entire night was one of treats and presents from the band, as well as the audience. For the last 20 years, all I have wished for around the holidays was to be in San Francisco for a New Year's show!. My wife and I were more than impressed with the running of the venue, the attitude of all working that night, and the entire experience. Ringing in the New Year wiht Father Time was great!!. As far as the music goes, Bobby sounded strong and the drummers kept pace at a dancing norm without being too frenzied. I have always been a fan of hearing John K sing anything that Jerry did first, and he seems to be adapting his own flair with the solos with each show. Phil seemed to be the one calling the set that night, and it was a set you want to listen to over and over. Kudos with the backround singers too, they added a nice touch to the vocals with each song and seemed to be having a great time. I will see the band if they venture anywhere near Arizona this year, and bring all my friends to see what all those years of brining music gives to the crowd.

Fantastic show from start to finish. The band is killer and needs to be seen by all dead heads both old and new.
My friend in the bands inner circle told me besides the upcoming 22 winter shows they`ll also be touring this summer . Said they will be playing outdoor venues and festivals, Bonnaroo, summer camp, Mt. Jam, all good, gathering of the vibes & Rothbury.
John K gives this band life with his guitarplaying and singing. The best post GD band by fare. Even better then the Dead line-up with Warren last year.