the dead on tour again. ---two questions:

Hey, I would put the original Grateful Dead on my list of the top five rock bands of all time. I regularly listen to their classic albums (American Beauty, Skull and Roses, Steal Your Face, Workingman's Dead, ETC). But let's get real--the last time I saw them (in 1981) they were well past their prime and they still had Garcia playing lead guitar. Am I the only one that considers these aged rock/nostalgia acts sadly absurd? Pay well over a hundred dollars to see a 60+ year old Pete Townshend smash his guitar ONE MORE TIME? To watch Mick Jaggar strut his 60+ year old "stuff" on stage? The whole idea of these "has been" bands reuniting for profit to play huge concert venues with bad sound really turns me off. Yeah, the Dead will probably sell out wherever they go. So will the Allman's at their annual Beacon Theater series--yeah, a friend with free tickets dragged me to one of those about 10 years ago--what a horrific spectacle that was! I just don't know what it is about these events that compels people to open their wallets. It must be pure nostalgia because the music sure stinks and the sound, more often than not, is worse. I don't mean to come off as a "dick" but I just can't imagine why anyone would want to see the tattered remnants of the Grateful Dead at another arena tour concert. They were awful 25 years ago--I can't imagine how much worse they sound today.

It will be nice to see Jerry playing again....

How are you going to do that? Are you planning on joining him?

Dodgealum,

If you saw Allman Brothers 10 years ago I can understand you thinking of them as one of those "aged rock/nostalgia acts" as that was the direction that Dickey Betts was leading the band in, and was one of the reasons why that Dickey was let go.

But that's not way the band sounds nowadays. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks definely keep the band sounding fresh and vital. If you get a chance check the Allman Brothers out again. Also if you a chance, check out the Derek Trucks Band, as it will give you a good idea of what musical direction Duane Allman might gone in, if he had lived. Even Downbeat magazine has spoken well of Derek in past issues.

Speaking of Duane Allman, that's one musician I wish I could see play again.

For those of you interested in listening to live shows throughout the years and have a PC audio system of some sort, check out this website if you haven't already:

http://www.archive.org/details/GratefulDead

There are streamable soundboard recordings and downloadable/ streamable audience recordings. Like comfort food to me...

Best, Peter

The difference between bands like the Allman Brothers (the last 8 or so years), Ratdog, Phil and Friends, and the likes of the Rolling Stones and The Who is that the former are jam bands where there is allot of improvisation and different song sets every night. I love the Stones and The Who but at this stage their live show is a little bit, well, old and irrelevant.

I saw the Allman Brothers in Atlanta a couple of years ago and it was fantastic. They had a couple of guest including Susan Tedishi, Derick Trucks wife, and a violinist from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. It was an exciting concert full of surprises. You could tell that there wasn't allot of rehersal and the musicians were looking at each other to see what to do next all the while not missing a beat. They were both tight and loose simultaneously and having a ball. Musicians in these type of bands are melding improvisational jazz, rock, alt country and everything in between. I've been to my share of concerts of this ilk and I've seen a few stinkers. But for the most part, Ive witnessed some very creative musicians taking chances and making memorable and fresh sounding music.

These are musicians musicians and Jerry was at the top of the heap... just ask the likes of Dillon who once said that Jerry was his favorite interpreter of his songs or Eric Clapton who claims Jerry as one his favorite guitarist. Warren Haynes is well on his way garnering this type of respect from his peers.