EPIC "Mountain Jam" Red Rocks 9/19/2003 - w/Johnny Neel, Kofi Burbridge, Karl Denson


Of all the ABB shows I've attended this one is my favorite (and I had been seeing them since '72). The venue is magical with excellent sound quality throughout the amphitheater. A totally enjoyable setting. The setlist IMO was perfectly constructed including five or six songs that I was hoping to hear. Got every one of them! Just several days prior, the band had added a version of "Layla" to some sets and that was the perfect encore. The weather was spot on for a mid-September show (one Red Rocks show I was at in even earlier September it actually lightly snow and was just miserable to sit through). As the show continued, as you looked to the right, there was a huge bank of clouds (maybe 20 miles away) and there was an incredible thunderstorm going on with an unbelievable amount of bold and bright lightning. That all started as the band went into "Dreams," it was like Mother Nature had waited for that song to start a fabulous accompanying light show. That was in addition to seeing the night lights of Morrison behind and to the right and left of the stage overhang. As I said, an absolutely perfect setting and venue. The entire show was amazing. I still listen to it often reliving the enjoyment of that night and recalling the large number of "blue site" folks that were able to be there.
ABBsolutely perfect experience.
"My friends say I'm ugly I got a masculine face." Tom Waits

I enjoyed this Mountain Jam too. And it was interesting that Johnny Neel was on it in 2003. Apparently in 1990 Gregg and Butch in particular, felt Johnny wasn't a good fit for the band so the four founders voted not to resign him.
I thought you said the night before closing at the Fillmore was your favorite ABB show. Butch Trucks always insisted it was the best show they ever played. But it was 1971 not 72.
I first saw them in early 1970 but only just three times at the Fillmore and not the next to closing show which Butch always called "the Holy Grail"show.
Here is a very fine Whipping Post from 1973. I hope the coming archival release from RFK stadium 1973 is this good.
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