2000 Reviews
Mid-tour: 8/31-9/17

Please bear with me since this is more a "tour review," as Penn State was our last night on the tour (8 shows since 8/31) and it was bittersweet. Bittersweet like the end of tour was in the late 80's--sad to be done with shows and happy because, contrary to what someone said in their E-Centre review, we were filled up, sated and satisfied beyond our wildest hopes when we set out on the road two and a half weeks ago. Tours have always been an adventure and this one is no different. It was a little ragged and they were a little unsure at the beginning, but you could feel the POWER was there. So was the magic, bubbling just under the surface. It seemed like it would only be a matter of shows until the formless mass developed its shape, face, arms, legs and teeth. After Darien Lake we took a week off and joined the boys again in Cleveland after their mid-tour break. And the band started to come into its own.

Over the course of the tour I watched this band develop its own personality, while invoking something extremely near & dear to my heart. Over the four shows between Blossom and the Meadowlands they grew and changed every night--sometimes stumbling, never falling. ALWAYS growing. It culminated at the E-Centre with the finest, tightest, most energized show I've seen since Brent passed away. And the double encore was the confirmation. Over 23 years and 215 GD shows I can count on one hand the number of double encores we saw.

Bryce Jordan was the "confirmation show" as my wife and I call them. There have been times when killer shows seemed to always be followed by ragged, weak, poorly played shows. When the band was hot, killer shows were usually followed by well-played, transcendent shows with a slightly lower energy level. Penn State passed the test. From the "Help/Slip/Franklin's" to "The Weight" they were clearly listening to each other, clearly "in the moment" and the music lifted my soul in a way I thought would only remain a memory for the rest of my life. Therefore "confirming" that the previous night was neither fluke nor illusion.

If you haven't seen a show yet, and you can catch one (or more) of the last four, go. If you went to some shows, join me in thanking Bobby, Bruce, Billy, Mickey, Alphonso, Mark, and Steve for a wonderful few weeks of music.

I'm left with only one question for TOO--When's mail order start for the next tour?

--Jack Barton