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.
