We had fourth row for the show. We were beyond excited, as most are before a Grateful Dead show. We spent the afternoon out in the parking lot talking, smoking pot and having fun.
We made our way into the show.....
The moment Jerry took the stage my immediate reaction was, "Ewww! This dude looks awful." We had just been to a show seven days earlier and he didn't look like this. It had not been a good week for Jerry. He was pasty and grey. He seemed lifeless.
Set 1:
Touch Of Grey- Jerry started off the show with the usual suspect. He flubbed a lyric or two, which at this point we expected. His playing was a bit off key, hitting some sour notes. But it was a decent opening.
Little Red Rooster- Bob bores the crowd with a random blues tune, done better by most others.
Lazy River Road- A great song for latter year GD, but Jerry hit so many sour notes during solo's, some downright painful.
When I Paint My Masterpiece- When Bob cries out, "its been a long hard ride." it was as if we all felt the same way about a summer tour that was mired in death, controversy, and Jerry.
Childhood's End- Ok I guess Phil has to sing occasionally.
Cumberland Blues- A sweet and well performed surprise.
Promised Land- Bob forgets the lyrics but in comedic fashion he grins and slaps himself on the forehead. The audience loves.
Set 2:
Shakedown Street- One of the greatest jam's this band can offer is marred by lackluster playing and Jerry mumbling his way through the lyrics. Did he even know what song he was singing?
Samson And Delilah- Competently played. Never one of my fav's.
So Many Roads-God said to Jerry, "Sing son sing!!!" and Jerry came to life and performed the most heart wrenching version of this song ever. And the energy in the audience was silent and full of tears. We had been suffering right along side Jerry and in retrospect this was Jerry unburdening himself of his demons. The song contained so much power and emotion.
Samba In The Rain- Vince songs are sometimes fun. This was a very danceable tune.
Corrina- Bob brings the energy back for a great latter day Dead song.
Drums- I never understood or really appreciated this part of the show. It was time to go to the bathroom or light another joint and sit down for a spell.
Space- Sometimes mind bending, usually just a lengthy tune up by the band.
Unbroken Chain- After so many years the Dead started playing this live, only problem was this was the one song they literally played exactly how it sounded on the album. Fun but uninspired.
Sugar Magnolia- Bob closes the show with some energy and power and rouses the crowd with his, "sunshine daydream..."
Encore:
Black Muddy River- Jerry's voice is very thin at this point, but it serves the song of a man who is walking alone and dreaming of his life gone by. He makes a minor mistake, but the crowd is back with him feeling his pain and hearing the ache in his voice. Its Jerry's final song live ever. The musician has been silenced.
Box Of Rain- Phil the prick forces the band into this song to finish the show. I found it insulting and robbing Jerry of the perfect legacy of playing the final song at the final Dead show ever. And to be left with Phil's Frankenstein voice as the finality of the Grateful Dead pisses me off to this day. The only saving grace is that this song is about Death and is suitable for Jerry's passing one month later.
We left the show in awe of the So Many Roads and I silently felt disturbed by Jerry's appearance. Something was not right, and one month later Jerry died in his sleep.
Its easy to have 20/20 hindsight, but in reality I think a lot of people knew that something wasn't right and the energy seemed to suggest this was the last time we'd see these guys play together.
And it was........
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