The Dead | 04.18 | Worcester, MA Pics from Jay Blakesberg!

sirius rocks my world with this show last night! good job boys!

Ahh! Finially Terrapin!! How the hell was it?

If warren didn't sing it, it was probably bad.

Milestones must have been awesome. I just listened to Garcia-Grisman's So What album where they cover a few Miles songs to go to sleep.

This show was pretty damn good. Bird Song > China Cat > Rider was the shiz. Dancin' > Milestones > TERRAPIN was great. Space and Drums tripped me the fuck out, and I wasn't even dippin' into the stuff. And then Saturday Night (saw it coming) and Johnny B. Goode... the energy was just incredible.

Double post. My bad.

The return to Bird Song was great too. It was funny how Bobby just recognized what he was playing and then went with it haha.

same clothes bobby

What is with him wearing the same clothes every show? I thought athletes were superstitious...

this looks like it was one of the best shows so far... the anticipation for roth is killin me!! Althea > Bird Song, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider must have been out of control so jealous of all those who got to see the show last night hope you guys took it all in i know i would have... and im gonna say either bobby is one dirty mother fucker or he has an entire closet full of plain blue t-shirts and tan pants haha. MAY THE MUSIC CONTINUE

5 shows and haven't repeated 1 song.

pictures look great as well..... tracers everywhere haha

When are they going to do EYES!!

anyone interested should go to the dead's website and click the link that says "touring the universe of sound." it has a little blurb from mickey hart talking about what he is doing for the space segments of these shows... i thought it was really cool

I know I'll probably get showered with a bunch of thumbs down on this until it hides my post, but I'm gonna say it anyhow. I listened to the whole show last night on Sirius and I thought it sucked. Hard. And don't get me wrong - I'm no Dead hater. Not by a long shot. I freakin' LOVE the Dead and couldn't wait to hear this simulcast. It just sounded lame to me and I kept thinking I'd be disappointed if I'd paid and gone to the show. Just a personal thing I guess, but I thought the show just sounded lazy. Especially the second set. From Milestones all the way through Bird Song I was bored - with the exception of Terrapin which I thought sounded good. Even Dancin' was weak (IMO) and I love when they do Dancin'. I don't think it was just my mood or anything cuz I had a room full of Heads listening with me and not one person thought the show was any good.

They're still my favorite band by a mile and I'll sure as hell still be listening to the other upcoming simulcasts, but last night was a big disappointment for me.

BIG THANKS!! to Jay Blakesberg. The photos look great!

/\Agreed i love the dead but i am unsure of this.. great for everyone having a good time but for now i will stay home and listen.. being critical is definitely a part of being a fan..

is it just me or has the setlist been getting more and more lack luster since the opening show?

I caught the china cat rider on sirius when I was in the car last night. It sounded great you could definatly hear the crowd they sounded locked in.

LuLu-Have you listened to the greensboro or charlottelsville shows? If so, what did you think of them compared to last night? Did those shows also suck?

I respect your opinion and the universal right to disagree over music and to be critical. Although I haven't listened to this show yet (as it is not on archive yet), if it is anything like greensboro or charlottesville I doubt it "sucked hard."

I think that people are holding this band to the impossibly high standard of the Grateful Dead with Jerry Garcia. Comparisons between this Dead and the Grateful Dead are unrealistic and unfair. You need to take this band for what it is and don't expect the blistering hotness of 60s and 70s dead.

I had an absolute blast at the greensboro dead show and I thought the band played really well together, had a great setlist, and hit some unique (admittedly, often spacey) jams.

Bottom line: there is only one Jerry and what the band accomplished with him will never be duplicated. The Dead today is still a great band and people need to lower their unreasonable standards and just enjoy the great party and musical experience of this 2009 tour. After all how many more tours do the 4 remaining original members have in left them?

My 2 cents

Hilarious all the comments on these reviews about Bobby wearing the same clothes all tour so far....but in his defense, Jerry's black t-shirts and the rest of his wardrobe was pretty consistent show to show in the later years, enough so to make news with the fans if he wore a different color shirt! I gotta agree I hope Bob's just got a closet full of the same outfits to keep his need to make wardrobe decisions at a minimum, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's just the same duds every night. Maybe with him sporting a beard and the same get-ups each show he's trying to bring back some of that Garcia presence to the stage....

But they'll never be another Jerry, and his beard didn't look like a cat died on his face

Hoping to hit Hartford, even if it's not "the good 'ol daze" it still may be the last chance to catch these guys who's music has been the soundtrack to so many lives

LOOK!! in the last picture , are they really holding Bobby up?,, he looks wiped out, Waren is pretty much the only thing keeping bobby from hitting the deck. i hope he makes it through the summer

This was a disappointment. The show was extremely down tempo and sloppy. There's no need for two drummers in this band anymore. I was embarrassed for them. The jam basically ended after china cat, and then Bobby said something like "now" and they sloppily transitioned into I Know You Rider. Don't get me wrong, there were a few "moments" and it was cool to see, but for the face value of the tix that so many people paid for, the band should be a lot tighter. Can't wait for Phil and Friends to play gigs after this "reunion". I more thing, props to Worcester for being super chill pre-show, and for the folks that sold me and my buddy tix for less than half of face!

I liked Warren's shirt last night. He looked good.

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me

Please forget you know my name, my darling sugaree

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just dont tell them that you know me

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just dont tell them that you know me

I got shut out and stayed on lot last night, please post a link for a show.

thanks friends!

spaceintodrums yeah pretty sure u are one of the few that think that. I was in Gboro and from the sounds and looks of things I would have much rather seen the northern shows. Man people are bitching like we are talking about the disco biscuits or something.

Whoever said they don't need 2 drummers should be castrated. Mickey and Bill were by far the most entertaining and on point in Gboro with a few exceptions. Seriously no 2 drummers? wow there are some douches on this site.

I thought the show sounded great last night. Warren's tone is really melting into jerry territory on most songs. He's doing a great job. Plus they're not letting him sing too much, which he shouldn't on most songs. But I'm pumped for MSG on saturday!! let me get a samson and delilah to tear that old place down!

Saw them in Albany the other nite and thought it was good. People need to chill out and appreciate this band, seperately from The Grateful Dead (Jerry GD that is we all know and love). Seriously people. Enjoy it for what it is and realize they won't be around forever. I am amazed how critical people are on these posts. Seriously people take a chill.

Alright...i need to say my fill. Last night sucked HARD. I am saddened that it has come to this. Basically, all this band did last night was jam. That woulda been okay with me if the jamming was good and inspired. But it was far from that, none of the jamming last night went anywhere, and it seemed like Bobby was a step behind everyone ALL night. Given, i know who Bobby is, but he was unbelievably off last night, and as a impromptu band leader, he needs to step up his game. This band was FAR from tight. The segue from China Cat--> I know You Rider was downright embarrassing and that was all due to Bobby being sloppy. One last thing that REALLY messed with me was Bobby singing Jerry vocal parts like in Terrapin and Althea. Clearly, by growing his Jerry beard, Bobby feels as though he is filling some shoes, however, he does not cut it in that role. It made me sad to hear him singing in Althea and Terrapin, Jerry was probably crying in his grave. I don't recommend this lineup. Phil and Friends is MUCH better if you wanna ex-Dead members cover their former band. However, there ain't ever gonna be anything quite like the real thing.

and i quote matthau, "I don't recommend this lineup. Phil and Friends is MUCH better if you wanna ex-Dead members cover their former band. However, there ain't ever gonna be anything quite like the real thing."

WTF!? this is their former band. at least what's left of it. i think they are all doing their best with what they have and where there at. i think phil is awesome. bobby is bobby and will never change so stop hatin'. he's stayed on the road nonstop since jerry died, almost 14 years ago. so technically he's been on the road touring for about 44 years with hardly any breaks. i think warren is about the best man to fill the jerry slot and has a great voice. no it's not jerry and no one can fill that void the same, but he's a damn good choice. i wish the tix were cheaper, still pissed i'm sittin' out of buffalo. only because of the price though, would still love to see them.

this is a band that have been around for over 50 years and they have gone through as many changes as anything 50 years old would. this is just a new chapter in the Dead story. i miss jerry like crazy and i cuse my parents for not conciving me early enough to see him in his prime but im glad i can still see some of it. got free tickets to the buffalo show, i wouldnt pay what they were askin. the critics are the ones who truly love the band

Dead Up Haters Down.

Hey...i love The Grateful Dead more then anything. I also believe in the music being supported and played. However, what i saw last night was not how i want to remember something that i hold dear. 'nuff said.

I hope this isn't the "We make wrinkles, advertise them as creases" tour! I have yet to see a show but have tickets to the tri-state run. I've read some comments about the first few shows lately and I selfishly hope they hit their stride by next week. So far the set lists look sick, but after listening to some songs, as expected it's slowed down, has no direction and one too many moments of "how does this song go again?" madness! Now, for all the respectable deadheads and dead related debates, I understand that's why we love GD, for their improv and willingness to take the song into new directions, but SOMEONE has to step up and grab the reins! I'm sure the live experience will change my attitude...please!

Thanks for the pix Jay. Looking forward to the recording. For the first set, I'm really anticipating that GDTRFB and see it's hopefully divine redition in '09. Also, will be anxious for the tour's first Terrapin to get everyone prepped nicely for what looks to be and ending that sent the folks back to shakedown with a bang. Props to the tapers getting these shows on archive.

oh lord wont ya give me, some good ol' dead

I agree with many, this show was not that good. I would have hated to spend $100 on this ticket. I listened to almost the entire show live on Sirius radio, and it was not good.

We had some issues setting up, and we didn't start listening until they started playing Dupree's. It was pretty cool to tune in just as they played this song. The rest of the set was great... sure the transition from China Cat into Rider was horrible (at one point everyone stopped to get on the same page), but the playing was good.

The second set was horrible. The opening Dancin' went absolutely nowhere. Terrapin was the only good part of the set. The drumz/space portion followed thereafter. I was hoping for at least ONE more song before this, but alas no. Days Between just sounded awful. The return to Bird Song and OMSN were just boring.

I had three friends over to my house to listen to the show. They all bought airfare and tickets to see the Dead out in LA. They were incredibly disappointed, as was I. We almost fell asleep multiple times during the second set. I am 24 years old, so I have always embraced The Dead (and their various touring incarnates) blindly because I have never been able to see them play without Jerry. However, last night's second set was downright terrible.

***see them play WITH Jerry

Jtaylor365: I actually have listened to the Gboro show, but not the Charlottesville show. I thought the Greensboro show was HOT!!. Wish I coulda been there and WOULDA been there if only it hadn't been Easter Sunday.

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I am holding "The Dead" in 2009 up to standards set by "The Grateful Dead" in their many years of playing music. This couldn't be further from the truth. I think GD music played most anywhere from 67 to 88 is a pinnacle in the writing and performance of music which will NEVER be achieved by any other band. That said, I enjoy music for what it is NOW - not for what it might have been. To imply that I only thought last night's show was terrible because I have unreasonable expectations is just simply inaccurate.

I have enjoyed many smoking Ratdog shows. I have enjoyed many spectacular Phil & Friends shows. I enjoyed many Dead shows back in Summer 2003 and again in 2004. Hell, I even get off on going to see DSO when they're coming through. So I'm not expecting the boys to magically transcend me back to 1977. Hell, I'm not EXPECTING anything! I would, however, enjoy hearing a tight, energetic, well put-together show - even now in the year 2009. I don't think that's asking too much, in particular when the boys have apparently decided their tickets are worth gold. And last night, my friend, in Worcestershire MA, they played an uninspired, lazy, meandering mess of a show. And as stated in my first post, dude, that's based solely ON MY OPINION, right? I'm raising a glass to the boys getting their shit together and blazing through the rest of this tour. It'd make NO ONE happier than me. Those guys are golden to me.

When you DO get around to hearing last nite's Worcester show, I'd be very interested to hear your unbiased impression. Let's discuss it - you can reach me at sshaw13.AT.yahoo.DOT.com. A lively and open-minded exchange on the merits and shortcomings of the Grateful Dead's music is one of those great things that has made this community so unique and so vibrant for so many years!

Peace.

God love you and God love the Good Ol' Grateful Dead!!!!

Lulu-thanks for your response! Learning where your coming from (the fact that you liked greensboro, and have enjoyed many post jerry shows and don't have unrealistic expectations about them) has made me think that maybe this particular show did suck. When I listen to it I'll let you know what i think--and your right, the "lively open-minded exchange" on GD's music has made the scene so great today.

My post was not only in reference to you though, and although I am very glad to hear that you enjoy the music for what it is today I feel that some people in the grateful dead and larger jamband community do not. Those critics like to talk about how great it used to be, while ignoring and hating on the music that’s being made right now without giving it a fair chance. But it seems that you are not one of those critics and judging from the other posts it is becoming increasingly clear that the boys did not have it together this night.

Anyways peace to you Lulu, and it's cool that your from Asheville!

I've never seen Weir with a gut until that last picture. WOW!! No more daisy dukes for him. He needs to shave that cat off his face too- he looks aweful. Kimock playing with this band would be the only way I'd drop 100 bones to see them. It'll never happen because of Phil...which is a shame for Dead fans everywhere. If I want nostalgia, I'll open my drawers of Dat tapes and listen to Hershey '85...instant gratification. Glad everyone had fun though...

Lulu- north carolina love goes out to you, im from the boro!! you have stated what so many cynical fans refuse to: there will never be another GD accept it because its true. its a similar argument i have with my friends when comparing people to michael jordan, you can have a million more great players that may surpass even his stat categories in every field but THERES JUST NOT ANOTHER ONE!. i LOVE that you recognize that the old stuff is on a pedestal bla bla bla but hey now we got this awesome group of new stuff to appreciate and cherrish and this is here and its happening right now who can complain!!?!? i love this stuff for what it was but its more of a blessing to hear new originals from these guys as they continue to transcend generations!!! bring on the rest of the tour keep the fucking faith!!!!

from what ive heard from the shows posted, the dead are lacking abit. im not comparing the dead to the grateful dead(there is no comparison) im comparing them to the last few tours they have done and this tour is twice as expensive with it seems half the tightness. i have seen the dead on every tour since jerry died (and taped many of them)and i want to remember them from those tours. its great they are giving it another go cause it will most likely be their last. i think the music is good but off. warren haynes is a great choice, but not jerry as none are. i hope bobby starts looking alive again soon cause he looks like hes knockin on heavens door. i have an opportunity to go the chicago shows, but i think im gonna pass. i dont want to taint my visual memory of this great band. i will still listen to the shows as they are posted. i hope i can still jam at that age. peace to all and keep on truckin

I guess i wasn't alone on this..seriously, if you really love what once was the Grateful Dead, and have actually seen the Grateful Dead, stay away from this lineup, 'cuz it will just make you sad. Read link below...

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/04/20/the_dead_gets_in_a_jam/

^^ i agree 100% with matthau and several of the above posters. I have seen the grateful dead

many times. I have seen ratdog, the other ones, and phil and friends. I listened to the sirius broadcast on saturady night. It started out good and i was optimistic. But before long, the jamming became aimless, uninpired, meandering, and just straight up boring. I have to agree with the general consensus that this band is not functioning on a level expected of these musicians. I was so put off by what i heard that i stopped listening at set break. It was that piss poor and bad. Warren is awesome, but his tone with the dead is horrendous. Phil sounded great, the drummers sounded great, but as a whole this band is not good. I know i will get flamed for this but its my opinion: the new dead sucks ass. I tried real hard to get it to work for me. I'd assume that if you were at the show and wer eon a ten strip it MIGHT, and i say might sound decent. It was pathetic and i'm glad i felt no need to drop $100 a ticket on this tour. The OBAMA Brothers Band is terrible. Sure they brought back old songs and "jam" out for long periods of time, but if i want to go to sleep i can go to my own bed and take a nap for free. Anyone singing the praises of this new tour is either 1) In a state of denial, 2) Brainwashed to the point that someone taking a shit on a microphone would sound good, or 3) just generally clueless as to what these musicians are and used to be capable of. Seriously, the jams were boring as hell, directionless, and generally a mess. They had to stop "china cat" > "rider"...WTF? bobby gets paid enough that he could actually give two shits and READ HIS TELEPROMPTER. The thought of this tour was nice, but they got back together for the wrong reasons: obama and MONEY. If you dropped doughon this tour, then more power to ya, have fun being put to sleep.

Big Dead fan. Saw them last at the 94 Shows at the Boston Garden. I was really psyched to see "The Dead" w/ Warren. Spent 65 on a ticket, and had a great seat side stage. Made a day of it with a great dinner and brews at Brew City right down the street from the DCU Center in Worcester. Show started out pretty good, but once Mountains hit, it was over. Guys were totally out of sync, had ZERO life, and I felt ripped off. The crowd wanted the show to rock so badly, I could feel it...and smell it. Unfortunately for them and for me, it really never got going. If that is what they are going to put out every night, the tickets need to be $10. Then I might go. No hyperbole here, it was the worst concert I have ever seen all things considered. They should be ashamed of themselves for that, and I can't believe I missed the Bruins to take that in. Would have rather seen "Playin' Dead" the local cover band.

PS...

the feeling was mutual from speaking with those around us, and...we left early. Heard "Terrapin" in the car on Sirius while we were sparking the j we had saved for the second set, and we knew we made a good choice.

I agree with LULU. I was there and the show was seriously weak and most people around me were asleep by the time days between was over.. The terrapin was beautiful and they played a really cool jam right before it, by the time saturday night came on they were expecting high energy but most people were just waking up from their naps.

doner rap was awesome.

Any way we can connect to Bobby directly and see what's going on? Or at least a motivational talk? Anything I can do to help the boys?

so dissapointed after listening to mountains of the moon...had such high hopes

lol bobby does sorta look like hes about to feint in that last pic

The show was great! There was a shaky moment when they went from a late 80s-early 90s "China Cat Sunflower" into an early 70s "I Know You Rider" (thank Bobby for that), but it came out great. Terrapin Station was the highlight for me. There was a lot of good heat from the crowd on that song. I was hoping they'd play it and they did.

Awesome.