Dead. Where Is Thy Sting?

With so many shows officially released You need not depend upon audience recollections or in fact, anyone else’s opinion.  You can hear for yourself and decide whether they are your cup of tea. Personally, I find them maddeningly inconsistent so I listen to the recordings I enjoy and don’t bother with the rest

While in the studio to record Terrapin Station, producer Keith Olsen cracked the whip and demanded they up their game. I don’t care for his production but their live shows in ’77 benefitted from his influence. This suggests they had the capacity to play at a consistently higher level but lacked the interest or drive to do so. This inevitably leads to a discussion of their so-called "ragged but right" ethos. I’ve already expressed my opinion of this in the past, so I won’t repeat it here. 

As to the "sting", for me it's out of tune vocals and at times, Garcia's wayward intonation. My ears/brain have a low tolerance for out of tune music.

I saw them years ago and Jerry Garcia would at times tell the group to STOP...and he would walk of stage ....lol.I think to much acid. Because your minds is telling you how to act.Like looking in the mirror and your taking to yourself  but there are two people, you and your reflection are totally different...lol.

I only saw GD live once, big stadium in Philadelphia, 1988, age 40, Awesome.

While entering, there was a group of youngsters, dressed just like hippies in the 60’s when I was in college, tie-dye, flowers in their hair, .... holding hands, doing a circular dance to the music, in the outer ring inside the stadium. An hour later, looking across, thru the tunnel from the seats to the outer ring, there they were, dancing while moving, never sitting down, one of the coolest things I ever witnessed.

Many must know, the GD encouraged taping their shows, actually setting up ’taper’s areas. A lot of ’bad’ sound and/or video is home made, not the best IQ available to pros.

My son became a deadhead. He had an old hippie (probably my age) live with him for a month who taught him and his friend master tie-dye techniques, and he sold them and grilled cheese sandwiches to finance his cross country following.

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Bob Dylan is another hit or miss performer, maddeningly so occasionally. I posted some recollections of his shows, pages 2,3  here

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/best-concert-you-ve-attended

I probably saw close to 100 shows and just like with two channel Stereo, the room has the greatest effect on the sound. I spent many shows racing from zone to zone trying to find that perfect sound. Depending on where you were sitting, the quality of the sound was vastly different. 

I'm by no means a Dead Head. Recently acquired Dick's Picks #31 on cd.

Been enjoying immensely.