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2015:2015-12:2015-12-31 [2016/01/08 00:30] – [Set Three] randolo2015:2015-12:2015-12-31 [2020/06/14 23:54] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ## Notes ## Notes
  
-Kind of busy for a show day. Rallied for lunch at the Sidewalk Cafe in Venice with our pals Sid and Julie, and added a leisurely stroll up and back along the beach side promenade. Lots of other folks enjoying a fine sunny day by the ocean; plenty of people-watching to fill the dull moments!+Kind of busy for a show day. Rallied for lunch at the [Sidewalk Cafe](http://thesidewalkcafe.com/) in Venice with our pals Sid and Julie, and added a leisurely stroll up and back along the beach side promenade. Lots of other folks enjoying a fine sunny day by the ocean; plenty of people-watching to fill the dull moments!
  
-Had enough time for a short rest at the hotel, then Ubered over to _Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles_ for a bit of soul food with Joe Herzog and a bunch of other folks. Strangely, while we were the only people sitting and eating the whole time we were there, the kitchen was super busy with takeout orders. Guess that's how things work on New Year's Eve!+Had enough time for a short rest at the hotel, then Ubered over to [Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles](http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/) for a bit of soul food with Joe Herzog and a bunch of other folks. Strangely, while we were the only people sitting and eating the whole time we were there, the kitchen was **super busy** with takeout orders. Guess that's how things work on New Year's Eve!
  
-The short drive to the Forum was uneventful, and aside from our driver's frustration that things were different from last night, we scored an amazing parking spot -- perfectly lined up for a quick exit after the show. Of course, that assumption is predicated on our ability to meet up too, which could require some post-show heroics. Whatever, 'tis of no concern for now!+The short drive to the Forum was uneventful, and aside from our driver's frustration that things were different from last night, we scored an amazing parking spot -- perfectly lined up for a quick exit after the show. Of course, that assumption is predicated on our ability to meet up too, which could require some post-show heroics. Whatever, 'tis of no concern for the moment!
  
 Set One? Good enough. _Feel Like a Stranger_ was full of fire and vim, but then they modulated back to that slow lazy shuffle that defines the current band. Great for a lazy afternoon, not so much if you're in the mood to rage. _Sugaree_ brought a huge surge in energy, with no small thanks due to John Meyer for doing his best take on the "amped and shredding" version of the tune pioneered by Garcia. And the closer? Well, it rocked too, even if Bobby voice was kinda ragged. Break seemed to arrive a little quicker than the other nights on tour, but that's probably a function of tonight's altered schedule as much as anything. Set One? Good enough. _Feel Like a Stranger_ was full of fire and vim, but then they modulated back to that slow lazy shuffle that defines the current band. Great for a lazy afternoon, not so much if you're in the mood to rage. _Sugaree_ brought a huge surge in energy, with no small thanks due to John Meyer for doing his best take on the "amped and shredding" version of the tune pioneered by Garcia. And the closer? Well, it rocked too, even if Bobby voice was kinda ragged. Break seemed to arrive a little quicker than the other nights on tour, but that's probably a function of tonight's altered schedule as much as anything.
  
-Second set was significantly more interesting. _Dark Star_ to open? Yeah, I'll go for that! And the rest? Not too shabby at all. I was really happy to hear _Dear Prudence_, everybody loves the Beatles, right? Still, the set was kinda short overall. Logically, a concession to the schedule, but it seemed to me that they had time for another tune or two. I'd rather dance to the music than sit around listening to the PA.+Second set was significantly more interesting. _Dark Star_ to open? Yeah, I'll go for that! And the rest? Not too shabby at all. Weir seemed to be laughing at himself every time his voice cracked. Good to know he wasn't taking things too seriously. I was really happy to hear _Dear Prudence_, everybody loves the Beatles, right? Still, the set was kinda short overall. Logically, another concession to the schedule, but it seemed to me that they had time for another tune or two. I'd rather dance to the music than sit around listening to the PA -- wouldn't you? 
 + 
 +As it got closer to midnight, strange sounds began to emanate from the PA -- creaking and groaning; engine sounds; mechanical throbbing -- weird, right? Just something to throw us all on edge, I guess! About quarter til midnight, the lights went down and the band ambled out to noodle, morphing soon thereafter into a lazy version of Wilson Pickett's _In the Midnight Hour_. Get it? Such jokers they are! The jam skidded to a halt after a lengthy call-and-response segment, and the New Year's spectacle began. Given our vantage in the back, it looked mostly like crazy characters running around aimlessly onstage while waiting for the giant joint to fly in over the crowd. Bill Walton reprised his role as Father Time. A bunch of Star Wars characters were present, along with Groucho and Marilyn Monroe (the New Year's babe? Nah, I don't think so...). If there was any sort of theatrical organization to this part of the event, it was lost on me. Finally it was time for the countdown (a little early by my count, but whatever), and then it was smiles and joy and hugging and kissing while the band played _Sugar Magnolia_. Happily, that segued into another hour of music, marked most noticeably by a truly awkward transition from _Scarlet Begonias_ into _Touch of Grey_, and by a magnificent jam on the outskirts of _St. Stephen_ before winding back into _Sunshine Daydream_ to close the set. 
 + 
 +As the band returned to the stage for the encore (_Brokedown Palace_, natch!), John Mayer made a nice speech to the crowd, thanking us for accepting him into the Grateful Dead world, and mentioning that the band would be touring again in the future. Three cheers to that!
  
 Shirley Halperin posted a [review](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grateful-dead/6828854/grateful-dead-company-john-mayer-continue-tour-new-years-concert) of the show for Billboard. Alex Kluft posted a brief [review](http://www.examiner.com/review/dead-company-closes-out-tour-at-the-forum) for the Los Angeles Examiner. Shirley Halperin posted a [review](http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grateful-dead/6828854/grateful-dead-company-john-mayer-continue-tour-new-years-concert) of the show for Billboard. Alex Kluft posted a brief [review](http://www.examiner.com/review/dead-company-closes-out-tour-at-the-forum) for the Los Angeles Examiner.

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2015/2015-12/2015-12-31.1452238248.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/01/08 00:30 by randolo

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