12/30/2000 Reviews

December 30 Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, California
Jam >
Playin in the Band >
The Other One Jam > (w/ Spanish Jam tease)
Jack Straw
Sugaree
Baba Jingo
(Onstage discussion; Bobby: "We've got our best people on it" and later "We haven't figured out dick, but...")
Scarlet Begonias >
Touch of Grey
El Paso (Bruce on accordian, w/out Mickey)
Preacher in the Ring (Alphonso and Bruce; Odessa hints w/ Mark and Bobby at tail end)
Looks Like Rain (Bruce on accordian)
Help on the Way >
Slipknot! >
Franklin's Tower >
Drums >
St. Stephen >
The Eleven
Encore:
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider

It was simply the best of the nine Other Ones gigs I've seen, except maybe that first Shoreline outing.

Of course, from my point of view it's a score that Kimock's crabbed style was absent, but even more than that, having six guys up there instead of seven or eight really cleared things out; I could hear Bruce and Bobby better than I ever had before, Karan stepped out magnificently, and the balance just felt right. Of course, it's a configuration we know and love, so perhaps it just felt more familiar.

In any case, after a tentative Playin', Jack Straw seemed to bring things into focus, Sugaree was redolent with Bruce's inventiveness, Baba Jingo, Scarlet and the surprise Touch were all nicely done, but the show then really took off at the same time the band strapped themselves in acoustically. Bobby was firm and in control of El Paso and Looks Like Rain, which sandwiched a sublime Preacher in the Ring that was just Bruce and Alphonso. Help on the Way was nicely done, but the highlight of the show was a Franklin's Tower just blew the lid off the place. Passionate, alive, intense, spacy, thoughtful, and, as a bonus, beautifully sung by Bruce. Drums were rather short, and St. Stephen was kind of like Help on the Way: a very neat set-up into a roof-raising partner, in this case, a version of The Eleven that had Bobby's heart on his sleeve.

The encore after a 2:10 show was a real surprise: an excellent and nicely extended China Cat/Rider.

No Saturday Night, by the way.

--J R Beresford-Howe

* * * * *

I would have to say that this show rates pretty high - there was good energy, i.e. things moved along at a good pace, dynamic changes existed and the band was pretty tight. The biggest disappointment in my mind though was in the lead guitar area - Mark just didn't step up to the plate like a lead needs to - he wasn't aggressive or assertive, just seemed to be noodling around, following the band and hanging out. I saw him with Ratdog this summer (House of Blues, LA) and he was much better then.

As far as the show goes - there were so many classic tunes played very well that I am really feeling good right now (it is the next morning)... El Paso and Looks Like Rain with Bobby on acoustic - Jack Straw really kicked - Sugaree had some cool grooves goin' which were new - Franklin's Tower was totally groovin' in a different way (although I have to say not as good as the original but the change was refreshing - nothing ventured, nothing gained), St. Stephen > Eleven and Chinacat>Rider are just kick ass songs that are so awesome to see, even if they weren't the best version ever played, who cares? Help>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower, same thing - really unique songs that just seeing a band go through all those changes live is pretty cool (again, it wasn't the best performance of these songs but who can blame them, the band hasn't gigged in a while and the changes are intense, needing often rehearsal/plahying I am sure).

The Bruce / Alphonso duet on Preacher in the Ring was one of the highlights, great interplay between the two. There were some parts where Alphonso was doubling Bruce's piano part and this was really good...

I am still waiting for them to finish Playin' in the Band - they only sang the first couple of verses and never returned to the song after the jam...

Have a great new year all!! May you find peace and happiness in all that you do...

--Jeremy

* * * * *

this show was hot boo-ya is back in the house

--CG701

* * * * *

This was a terrible show in my opinion. It ties the Denver '96 Furthur as the worst Dead related show I've seen. On this night, the Other Ones sounded like a ton of hot air escaping the proverbial New Year's balloon. Half assed, aimless jams were the order of the day. I was surprised, but for me Mark Karan's playing seemed terribly out of place and grating without Kimock's ethereal and expressive counterpoint. I just can't endorse the half-hearted "side project" nature of the Other Ones' collaboration anymore. Without Kimock and now Bruce, they're certainly not worth the trouble.

Highlights were a rockin' "St. Stephen," a Hornsby fest on "Sugaree," and the Alphonso/Bruce "Preacher" was beautiful. Others, like "Touch" and "Scarlet" were brutal, and the "H->>S->F" was, yes, different, but just plain weak and, I hate to say it . . . BORING.

I enjoyed the venue and the crowd generally was very pleasant. The sound was somewhat soft but clear and smooth. Other than that and a stellar effort by Bill Kreutzmann, this show simply did nothing for me, to the point where I walked out before the encore (too bad for me -- leaving before the encore is always regrettable).

Kreutzmann really impressed me -- he played even better and was more animted than last summer. Good to see and hear.

I guess the symbolic moment of this show was when (realizing the curfew apparently?) Bob ran out and prematurely ended the "Drums" while Mickey was just getting into the Zone.

--Thad Taylor

* * * * *

As a Deadhead who has seen 250+ shows I have to say this show was boring. Without Kimock TOO does not make it. Karan is not talented enough to carry the band alone. While the rest of the band played well enough it's pointless without an exceptional lead guitar player.

--Michael

* * * * *

Great show. The band was tight. First time we've seen them since Salt Lake City in 94. Good to hear them again. Universal should have taken the seats out of the amphitheater. Noody needed them.

Come on back to Universal boys...

--Dan Marra and Son

* * * * *

This was an absolutely incredible show from beginning to end. The venue is located right in the middle of Universal Studios and is not really an amphitheatre, but a nice theatre that holds about 6000. The place was pretty packed by the end of Kimock Band's rockin set. Rodney Holmes is a monster and the band was just incredible--it's like watching a jam session cuz they're not playing to the audience, they're just up there jamming in their own world. Great band. After a long long break, the slimmed down version of The Other Ones came out. A nice tight playin went right into an Alphonso-heavy Other One jam, eventually leading into a blistering Jack Straw. Here's where we saw the difference: the hesitancy and questioning was gone without two lead guitarists. We had two soloists--Bruce and Mark--and no looks of doubt. All night, Mark and Bruce solo'd off each other, and there were smiles ALL night between Bruce, Mark, and Alphonso especially as they carried the band through. Mark was incredible. At one point, Mickey tried calling Bobby for a conversation. He got everyone in the place's attention but Bob till Alphonso and Bruce finally got him over to Mick. The two talked for a bit, then Bobby went over behind Bruce's piano to talk for a while. At one point Bobby ran up to the mic and said "uh we've got our best people on it" then ran back to talk to Bruce some more. After a minute or two, Bobby came back to the mic and said "well we haven't figured out dick but" and they went into the next song, I believe Sugaree. Sugaree was rockin, most of the song played without Bruce. I wasn't sure if they'd play Mickey tunes with Kimock, but on came Baba Jingo and Karan stepped up in a huge way. Mickey's lyrics had Bobby and Bruce thoroughly confused trying to figure out when to sing backup. I think Mickey was confused by his lyrics too. Anyway, Scarlet was next (I think they skipped a verse), and in the jam Bruce started teasing Touch. Alphonso, who had a special connection with Bruce all night, looked over, smiled, and started hitting the bass line. Bobby, who had been playing with his amp, turned around kind of amused and shrugged 'okay.' They went into a powerful Touch, with Bruce teasing the Scarlet outro that heads into Fire even before Touch's verses were done. They never did make it to Fire. Next a great El Paso without Mickey followed by a full band and full-on Looks Like Rain. Help/Slip/Franklin's sounded somewhere between the RatDog versions and the summer TOO versions. The transition into Slip was almost flawless, but the composed part of Slip was flawless with Alphonso and Mark leading the way. Franklin's was on fire, though after "If you get confused just listen to the music play" Bruce started singing the chorus. Bobby gave him a "no no no" look and Bruce covered and they went into a building jam. This disintegrated into Drumz, which began with a nice Billy drum solo before Mickey began on the percussion. After a too-short period, Bobby went behind Bruce's piano and kind of waved to Mickey that they were low on time, so the band came out and headed into St. Stephen. Some of the verses were flawed but the jam into Eleven was flat-out amazing. Just rockin! And Bobby went completely apeshit at the end of The Eleven leaving the crowd pumped up and spent at the same time. Encore time, and Bruce kind of fiddled with the China theme, and someone in the front row yelled "China Cat." A little interaction on stage and in they went to a great China and a lengthy jam into Rider. Bobby did his "sun will shine" verse nicely, then began singing Jerry's verse before realizing that Bruce was singing it and he stepped back with a whimsical look. This jam was a perfect end to a perfect night. Thanks for a real good time... and if you didn't have it you were at a different show.

--Dave

* * * * *

This was my first "Dead" related show since 1980. Between '72 and '80 I saw the Dead 7 times, and the Garcia band and Kingfish 3 other times. Reflecting back, this show was better than at least 3 of the Dead shows. The band was tight and energetic and the venue was outstanding. Following the show, I listened to the live recording that TOO released last year and I didn't like it as much. The current line up is a lot tighter. I don't think Ellis added much to the original line up, and while Kimock is a good player the band does not need more than 2 guitarists (no band does). I've always dug Lesh, but Alphonso is a damn good bassist and he lifted the band with a fresh interpretation of the songs.

--Jon

* * * * *

Wow, I must say that after reading some very harsh reviews of NYE in Oaktown, I am so grateful to have been in L.A. the night before. The atmosphere surrounding the City Walk in Universal City was perfect for the return of St.Stephen.

Started out with an excellent Kimock Jam session. I agree that it's like they are jammin amongst themselves and not paying attention to the audience at all.....These guys help set the mood for a ecclectic, electric, and diverse L.A. crowd.

The OO's opener snuck up on me as I was socializing with old friends, I slid down into my "spot" up in the front near the stage and endured a Live soundcheck of Playin'.......I had hoped for Jack Straw as an opener and sure enough it was second. Bob appeared a bit stage shy , but handled the lyrics very well, that had become sort of a "national anthem" for starting shows off right. Sugaree was expected and played..........Bruce didn't seem into it and Mark Karan was laying back, missing Jerry more than ever, I had to leave for drink.

Baba Jingo was cool especially for those whom haven't heard it before, I was dissapointed Kimock didn't join in, it was really missing that good guitar vibe. Scarlet > Touch was unexpected and really got the crowd moving. Preacher in The Ring was Bruces one highlight he offered on this night and it was much appreciated. I first heard the song at the Warfield at the first Other Ones show.( Which by the way, was the best show ever!) The highlight was the Acoustic segment with Looks Like Rain. Very sweet to hear Bob harmonizing with himself , it really took me back alot of years, it was like my whole GD experience flashed before me and then boom.............DA DA DA DA.......Help On The Way erupts. I said, you've gotta be kidding right? Paradise waits without Jerry ? Well although lacking in Guitar works and vocals that only Jerry could define, they meandered thru it into a cranking Franklins and this is when the band finally woke up to the potential they had been squandering ! Whats left after a weak drum solo that never had time to develop ??? The best (only so. cal) St.Stephen>The Eleven anyone could ask for.It was truly the season of "what now ?" This left us wanting more and the band walked off stage feeling good that they finally came together after a somewhat loose gig. We would not be let down for the encore.......China Cat was great and the whole thing was cosmically weaving a mandala for us into The Rider Jam.......It kept building and building and finally exploding. It left me wanting more, I realized this was probably the last time I would see Mick, Bill, and Bob together playing music.

Thanks for the kind memories and you will be missed!

--Forrest Bro