The View From The First Row!

 

I read a TWEET after Sunday night's show where someone described the show as, "EPIC." I agree!

I couldn't tell if my opinion was a bit slanted since I was sitting twenty feet away from the band. After the show, on the 'thousand-stair' decent, I heard others saying things like, "once in a life time," and "worth every effort I made to get here," and "they were in fine form tonight," and "shows like that remind me of the Jerry days!" And then I saw fans at the airport today who confirmed the same sentiments.

I'm an optomist! I can find a good tune and a decent set list on any night. But, then, there are some shows that can transport me to another dimension. It was one of those nights when everyone involved was speaking the same language, band and fans alike! Maybe the early start time infused everyone with a little extra energy. Being able to see the band, and I'm sure the fans, in the daylight does have its appeal. Plus, I could see the view the band had as the sunset illuminated the red rocks that frame the ampatheatre. Stunning. I get the feeling they LOVE this venue!

I promised myself I wouldn't get into the "set-list" business since there are many gifted bloggers and set-list historians who handle that. Well, here goes. I've replicated this list from @Furthurband, so it should be accurate.

• Samson and Delilah
• Reuben and Cerise
• I Need a Miracle
• Something
• Looks Like Rain
• Tennessee Jed
• Bird Song
• Turn on Your Love Light

• Jam
• Truckin'
• Smokestack Lightening
• New Potato Caboose
• Born Cross-eyed
• Wharf Rat
• Unbroken Chain
• Shakedown Street
• Standing on the Moon
• Help on the Way>
• SlipKnot>
• Franklin's Tower
• E: BROKEDOWN PALACE (!!)

Samson and Delilah started the show off by turning many of us into excited "10" year olds with a brand new bike on our birthday. It was hard to believe we could go FURTHUR up from there. I Need a Miracle, Looks Like Rain and Tennessee Jed just lit up those RED rocks. Bird Song was very touching at such close range. And, after a noticeable absence of Beatles songs, it was great hearing, Something. 

After a jam, opening the second set with Truckin' just made the crowd wild, as did the crashing start of Shakedown Street, which nearly made me consider giving disco another chance. The Help on the Way/Slipknot/Franklin's Tower suite was classic Grateful Dead at its best. And, of course, for me personally, I had a tear in my eye when I heard Bobby sing the first few words of Brokedown Palace, "Fare you well my honey..." What a night!!!!

As they say in the movies, "at the same time, but in a different location," my husband was hearing some of the same songs, Truckin', Help on the Way/Slipknot/Franklin's Tower performed by Dark Star Orchestra at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco. The set was originally performed in Lindley Meadows in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, September 28, 1975.

A really nice group of "locals" from my neck-of-the-woods had the seats next to mine. They danced and cheered and had a contagiously great time. A shout out to my new friend, Wayne, the security guard protecting the stage. He gave every person who walked or wheeled by a fist-bump and let me "cross the line" more than once to take a few photos.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to conclude my first Red Rocks trio of shows! Now, how am I going to get away with coming back next year?