Grateful Dead Fare Thee Well – Soldier Field, Chicago, IL 7/3/15 – Highlights (SHOW RECAP)

Shakedown started at the airport. Strangers became friends, tickets were exchanged, plans to meet in the lot were made.  The guy sitting next to me on the Friday morning flight to Chicago was in Germany on Thursday. His first show? 1971. He chose his college because of that first Dead show, and like everyone who saddled up for the third show of the Fare The Well tour, we collectively understand it’s as much about the journey as it is about the reward. The adventure on Friday night at Soldier Field was as in spirit with The Grateful Dead as anything anyone could’ve asked for. Bumps on the road aside, a special space was forged last night, and at the end of the evening, there wasn’t a soul to be seen without a smile.

Highlights

A Band Beyond Description – It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost twenty years since the last Grateful Dead show. It goes without saying, that nothing will ever replace the late, great Jerry Garcia. But if his surviving bandmates were to try, Friday would make a fine offering. The vibration planted in Santa Clara grew ten-fold on the first of three evenings at Solider Field, and with respect to the different chapters of sound and band members The Grateful Dead personified during its thirty years on the road; last night a band arrived to the stage that wasn’t quite there just a few short days ago.

Fresh Setlist – From opening the show with a masterpiece from the heart of bassist Phil Lesh in “Box of Rain”-the last song ever performed by The Grateful Dead, to a first set  that included “Crazy Fingers”and  “Mason’s Children” to open second set. along with a “New Potato Caboose” from the cosmos, the band is keeping fans on their toes. It’s clear with only two shows left on the tour just how many songs could, or could not get played in Chicago. The fresh takes on this timeless music has been placed well and the feeling being shared live as a result has lent itself well to the greater musical experience.

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Shared Vocals – From a vocal standpoint, the shift on Friday was evident. Phil sang more, guitarist Trey Anastasio sang more, and Booby leading on “Ripple” couldn’t have been better. Bruce Hornsby jumped the gun a bit on “Fire on the Mountain”, but the shared duties made for a more well rounded experience from a vocal perspective than what had been offered recently in Santa Clara.

Textured Sound – If you didn’t notice it in California, the guy playing lead guitar can shred. Friday’s performance was noteworthy for mixing that seemed to do a much better job of sharing the sounds across the stage from all instruments. The piano and keyboards were crispy, Trey Anastasio’s guitar was firing, and the rhythm section kept the beat. All in all, every sound was shared in a more supportive was on Friday.

Set One – We could pinpoint the “Box” opener, surprise in a July 3rd choice to play “Jack Straw”, the beautifully shared take on “Wheel”, or just talk about how fun it was to hear a well played “Crazy Fingers” at all on this tour. But it was the set. It was an opening frame of six huge sets to come that laid a solid base to build from. The energy at the end on “Music Never Stopped” reminded me of a how a good friend used say it was one of his favorite moments at a Dead show. The whole selection of music worked, and the fact that it was the first set of night one at Soldier Field had every Deadhead with open ears as fired up as could be.

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“Scarlet Begonias”>”Fire on The Mountain”  -This is why you go to shows. It’s the reason that it’s so hard to explain to people why this music and this experience matters so much. After the somewhat surprising, brief take on “Mason’s Children”, “Scarlet Begonia’s” blew Solider Field away. I haven’t listened back to the moment yet, but early in the song, a wave washed over the whole venue, led by Trey Anastasio on vocals and the band in unison. The structured portion of “Scarlet” was straight fire, and the resulting jam was transcendent. This moment will for surely go down as high mark for the tour as a whole. When the beats shifted to “Fire on the Mountain” Bruce Hornsby lent his efforts to the vocals, but it was the depth of the bands playing on the whole that continued the onslaught of groove born from “Scarlet”.

“Drums”>”Space”>”New Potato Caboose>”Playing in the Band” – The Rhythm Devils brought it back to the place they explored so many times in years past. With Billy banging away, Mickey plotting which toy to use next, and once again, the production efforts supporting the eye candy factor as strongly as possible, the whole “Drums”>”Space” segment from last night is as much of a highlight as any part of the show. With the same spirit in energy the two percussionists shared for so many years, and with them clearly improving as they felt moved to do so throughout the segment, the beats, time and space explored fit perfectly into the night. With a special “Space” jam honoring an ambient type of mood the launch pad into “New Potato Caboose” which was dripping in psychedelia. There’s just no better way to describe it, and although “Playing in the Band” brought a brief dance moment back to the venue, the space jam out of “Playin’” might have been the most cosmic piece all night.

“Let it Grow” – If you missed last night and want to listen to something to get your day going on this fine Fourth of July, give this “Let it Grow” a spin. As much as the moment in “Scarlet” will be the stuff of lore many years from now, the interplay between all band members on this Bob Weir classic was simply it. Bruce and Jeff Chimenti going back and forth on the keys, sharing ripping solos and passing the torch back and forth with ease, playing off the slayage from guitarist Trey Anastasio who must’ve won over any Deadhead who’s left out there wondering why Trey was chosen for this role by now. Phil was smiling big, as he was for a good portion of the night, dropping his trademark bombs while the drummers built the proper time. Bobby crushed it, sang his heart out, and had the Solider Field crowd twirling as one as much as any moment over the past three shows.

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“Help on the Way”>”Slipnot”>Franklin’s Tower”  – Always a favorite, those pesky bumps in the road that surfaced throughout the night were most certainly felt in this fine selection of music, but how can anyone complain when after a show like this, it’s as deep as can be in the second set, and boom!  “Help”>”Slip”>Frank” to close things out.

“Ripple” – Many were surprised that this song wasn’t shelved for the last show, but in a surprise and fitting moment, “Ripple” brought a close to the first of three nights at Solider Field. Bob Weir did an exceptional job on acoustic guitar, leading the band and a capacity crowd on a sing-along of one of the most beloved tunes in The Grateful Dead catalogue. It was a beautiful way to end a beautiful evening, and with its soft, undeniable glow, the tune punctuated an incredibly diverse show that was exactly what a Grateful Dead show in 2015 should be.

There are no lowlight here folks. In fact, the lowlights framing for these last three shows may not be the most appropriate way to talk about what wasn’t so hot last night in Chicago. The truth is, last night was special. For anyone attached to this music, being at Soldier Field on Friday meant something. The music was more full, the band was more of a band, and thousands of people all seemed to come together in direct community. Yes, as this reviewer will always share from a critical perspective, if you listen intimately you’ll hear the issues. A botched line here and there isn’t a big deal, and it was something the originals were often quite good at.

But the off timing transitions, knowing who’s up for the next solo, a collective feeling on how deep to bring a jam, those feelings get expressed the more a band plays together. So much so that it becomes just a part of the way rather than something to look out for. The more a band can practice, tour and play for live audiences the more that just becomes a reality. I’m not sure we’ll see fully seamless flow for a group that doesn’t have that sort of lifespan. But maybe that’s just not what needs to happen because I don’t think you’ll find a person that wasn’t stoked after their time at the show last night.

Photos by Jay Blakesberg

Grateful Dead Setlist Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, USA 2015, Fare Thee Well

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4 Responses

  1. Tasteful words. Last night was the place. Listening to the U.S. blues check outside the museum and couldn’t be happier. Happy 4th y’all!

  2. This is a gift kids, don’t overlook it, be kind and dance and give it back. Someone out there could use your love.

  3. So the Dead are On The Road Again one more time. Such a Deal! I can hardly wait to go Round And Round being a Passenger and Truckin’ to the Promised Land where The Music Never Stopped and will Not Fade Away.

    I’m done bein’ a Loser, Throwin’ Stones, and goin’ to Hell In A Bucket, ’cause I want to hear again that Masterpiece, that Greatest Story Ever Told, which is when we Turn On Our Love Light, Let It Grow, find our way out of the Cold Rain and Snow, and into the Mornin’ Dew.

    Its High Time, so Gimmie Some Lovin’ and lets make Fire On The Mountain, cause I Know You Rider!

    Now, Death Don’t Have No Mercy and He’s Gone, but Jerry will be there in Spirit. So, It ain’t All Over Now, Baby Blue.

    Join with me in a Sunshine Daydream for some Good Lovin’.

    See ya there!

  4. Nice stoke, Grateful!

    And wise words, Claire!

    Bill, I think I saw you:) but if I didn’t, +10 for that comment:)

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