“Terrapin,” of course, is treacherous territory, not only because of its complex key changes and tricky time signatures, but it’s the sort of psychedlia that could easily veer into Spinal Tap “Stonehenge” territory if not handled the right way - which is to say, delicately. On “Althea,” Anastasio seemed to be channeling Bob Dylan with his vocal lead, and launching into the three-act “Terrapin Station,” a Dead anthem if ever there was one, brought the vibe right back to 1977 with the unmistakable intro that is “Lady With a Fan.” On “Cassidy,” he played sherpa to a long, winding psychedelic jam. Grateful Dead Fare Thee Well: Jerry Garcia’s Daughter on the Shows,īut what Anastasio brings to the table goes beyond his signature shredding. But ever the democratic lineup, as these concerts have increasingly showed, the band eased into their second and final full set with a poppy “Truckin’,” a version that, upon repeated listens now (it was also performed in Santa Clara), has benefited from the “touch of Trey” - its melody heightened by the crunch and gallop of Anastasio’s guitar. Shazam won’t help you - a dedicated head is expected to be in-the-know (although now you can hop online and look up the set list in real time) and understand the significance of a mid-set suite like “Terrapin Station” (more on that in a bit). Still, at a Dead show, you’re kind of on your own when it comes to recognizing songs, even as they wind around to parts unknown. (It should be noted that U2 also played Chicago in the last week, at nearby United Center, which seats 50,000 fewer people than Soldier Field The Dead also broke U2’s Soldier Field attendance record from 2009.)īut then again, that’s what the Grateful Dead has always been about: organic fandom without the pomp and circumstance. At the same time, being a part of the greater Deadhead community is like having membership to an exclusive club - one that prides itself on its indiscriminate, open-armed inclusiveness. Indeed, that drive looks to be having an effect on the players as Hornsby and Chimenti kicked things up a couple notches and Weir let his vocals - now warmed up from a week of playing stadiums - stretch throughout “Throwing Stones” ( another favorite from the old days) and into the sort of crowd-accompanied chant you’d expect from U2‘s Bono not the guy wearing Birkenstocks and shorts. (Weir, clearly in on the joke, would later don a T-shirt that read “Let Trey Sing.”) So far, at all five of the shows, the crowd has responded most to Anastasio: the louder the better. ![]() Grateful Dead Too Big To Fail at Fare Thee Well July Fourth Show: Concert ReviewĪmong the perma-grinners was Anastasio, who kicked up the volume and intensity on his solos, so much so that Weir found himself leaning in to maximize the guitar duel. Down on the floor, VIPs like Bill Murray, Jane’s Addiction‘s Perry Farrell and Jon Popper from Blues Traveler, joined the elated throngs. Looking even fuller than the record attendance from Saturday night, the cement rungs of Soldier Field literally bounced as the masses grooved and smiled along. ![]() The slowed-down reggae strut of “Estimated Prophet,” with its wah-wah lead and Cali-proud chorus, suited the audience just fine. Anastasio deftly handled the guitar work, which serves as the real hook to the song and a through line to the extended jam that is “I Know You Rider.” It was a seamless segue, which could not be said for previous nights (or even the rest of this show necessarily) and, again, a sign that this assembly was meant to be. “China Cat” set the tone for a stellar start with Anastasio taking the lead on vocals that, for a second, sounded eerily similar to the late Jerry Garcia. If the first set of the last of five shows proved anything, it’s that this band knows how to cater to its audience, delivering old standbys from the bygone era - “China Cat Sunflower,” “I Know You Rider,” “Samson and Delilah,” “Estimated Prophet” - with the precision of not just a highly professional outfit of musicians, but one that’s finally gelling. Grateful Dead 50th Anniversary: All Our Coverage
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