Guest Book

Week late Phil & Friends impressions (long). So last Saturday, sitting in a motel room in Eagle, Colorado, bored out of my mind. Had just talked to Southpaw who had just talked to CowboyNeil who was had just seen Phil and Friends in Denver. And I thought, wow, sorry I missed that show, but 2 hours away from where I was and all... So I get out to go have an enchilada breakfast at 12:30 in the afternoon and am sitting there reading the la-de-da Vail News and stuck in the middle is this write up on Phil and friends in Vail.. that night and Sunday. VAIL, Holy Geez, But Saturday was sold out and Sunday was out of the question for me... So I weighed the virtues of looking at motel room walls some more or scouring tha parking lot scene for a ticket... So I head the 30 miles to Vail and the circus is starting to assemble in the parking area, the vendors were laying out the wares, the tye-dies were starting to fly. So I milled and looked for my miracle that I would even pay for... I had an enlightning visit with the cool stone carved pipe vendors and BS'd with a guy who had Sunday tickets.... He said good luck on Saturday, it looked bleak. So, after 2 hours of visiting, BS'ing, and tailgating, and otherwise having lots of fun, I decided, hell, one more scour of the lot and hang it up on ticket hopes. So I make the round by the taper line by the entrance, who I'd talked to most earlier... This guy says DUDE! This cat went down to nail you a ticket, they turned loose a few real low key at the door.... So this guy went out of his way and scored me a ticket on just good cheer, so man, what an omen. Was about 30th in line then, with a smile and new attitude and learned all kind of taping info from a taper... all I got to say is, man, it is a religion to those cats, so we all owe them a giant thanks... and they got WAY more $$$$ in it than I ever realized. Basically, the sky is the limit on gear. So, I wondered what kind of crowd would show in Vail, thought it might be bizarre... Ski money folk go act like trendy hippies, or something, but in reality the real folk snuck out of the hills for this one. Special venue also, a small (1500-2000 capacity I would guess). Phil started a tiny bit late, with a killer Wheel, space jam, and more Whhel... good start. Warren had his black with Red design outfit on he wore BtoP. He was greeted when they walked out to an impromtu audience Happy Birthday sing along that was amazingly in key and loud. My highlights: Tennesse, The Wheel, Uncle Johns Band, a Casey Jones that was the icing on the cake and absolutely had the entire place ear to ear grins. The other one that was mind boggling and ripped it was Too Hot To Handle. Warren was gunslinger extra-ordinare deluxe. I have seen some great ABB shows (Dickey ABB in 99, and 02 Beacon this year). They have taken me to the mountain for sure. But they have always been ebb and flow, and I like that. they sing of the dark and the light. They visit the dark side because they have seen the End of The Line.. and lived it. I like the highs and lows of an ABB show, the mountain top is so special after hearing Gregg growl the blues... so ebb and flow is meant in a good way... But I had the pleasure of seeing prime Dead, 71-72.... When they were hittin it on all cylinders and PigPen got all the ladies shakin and the Dead played so much HAPPY music. I remember it being a magical thing, every face in the place with a grin, the whole crowd in rythm, nobody with an attitude, where borders go away and all is good and you just can't fight the music, it carries your soul wether you choose it or not. Most everyone here has seen shows like that. I know Duane could do it, but I never saw him... My opinion is on a night that takes you there, it is the stars aligned, the band is on, and the crowd is a part of it too... the right mix of people, the jerks stayed home, no fights or attitudes... and it all comes togethor, but mostly it is the night the band just hits it with no let-up. Well that Phil show was all that. Even the security was shimmying in the upper walkways by the end... This guy a few over from me,a 25 year old or so young guy, must a been self concious or new to concerts or something, but he started the show a statue. Mid show, foot tapping. second half, the hands were movin. Casey Jones, full raging boogie. Was fun to watch. I should note Jimmy Herring was incredible also, firing off tasty, Garcia like riffs all nite, counterpoint to in your face Warren, ying and yang. What I'm saying, it was the same magic I saw in 71, and there was no fighting it. Rapture, The Mountaintop, call it whatever, I went to church.... I believe that is a bit of what Butch talks bout now, that ABB is going to some place musically... sorry for long...