1.27.1989 The Orpheum
Theatre
San Francisco, California
Friday
1st JGB Band Performance of 1989
This was the first Jerry
Garcia Band show of 1989, and the first Jerry Garcia performance of
1989. 1989 was to be a legendary year for the Dead with the ultimate
return of Dark Star in the Fall. There was to be one extensive Jerry
Garcia Band tour in 1989 - September. Scattered through the Winter
and Spring were various shows. 1.27.1989 was the first of two shows
at the legendary Orpheum.
The first set starts with
Let's Spend The Night Together. The band sounds pretty tight on this
version and Jerry's vocals are quite nice. But, the main jam sounds
pretty calm and doesn't quite take off (for a _smoking_ version of
LSTNTogether see the following show - 1.28.1989).
Next is Stop That Train.
This version is very well done. The Jerry vocals and the Jaclyn
Gloria harmonies are almost hypnotic. There also is a very sweet
Jerry jam.
Someday Baby is nicely
done, but the Jerry jam is a bit flat.
Run For The Roses is next,
and Jerry provides an impressive slowly developed improvisation jam
which is above average but not exceptional.
Mississippi Moon is very
laid back. The jams are not aggressive and in fact are a bit sedate.
As with each song up to this point in the set, though, the band
sounds very tight and the Jaclyn Gloria harmonies are downright
fantastic.
Waiting For a Miracle
follows, and the sound from the band during the song is nearly
perfect. The Jerry solo is interesting but not filled with
impressive flavors (for very impressive Miracle flavorings, see
1.28.1989).
Next is Hope It Won't Be
This Way. Again there are very impressive and sweet harmonies on
this version, and Jerry provides a very nice (but not exceptional)
jam.
The first set ends with
Deal. The song is well done and tight, but the Jerry jams don't
reach any impressive heights.
As the first set ends, I am
a bit surprised at how sedate and calm its presentation was.
Set 2 starts with Harder
They Come. The song is presented with a sweeping reggae feel that
unfortunately is a bit sloppy at times. The Jerry solo is nicely
done but not aggressive and lacks impressive Jerry signature
flavors. Seals provides a nice Jimmy Buffet sounding solo as well.
The set improves with the
following And It Stoned Me. This audience recording provides a
sampling of the crowd in that as this song starts there is a woman
who through the first verse exclaims "Oh My God" over and
over again. This version is impressive. The harmonies match Jerry's
presentation beautifully. The Jerry solo is a bit sloppy though and
again doesn't feature too many impressive note flavorings.
Next is Knockin On Heaven's
Door. The presentation is interesting in that the verses are sung
slowly and in a dripping manner while the chorus switches to a
swinging reggae sound. Jerry's solo is somewhat interesting in that
his note progressions are a bit flat but at its conclusion he
provides some nice note bendings. The Seals solo is almost funeral
sounding which is interesting.
Think follows and the set
improves because of it. Jerry runs through his blues scale very
nicely and finally provides some signature Jerry flavors. This was
the highlight of the show up to this point.
Next the band opens things
up with Don't Let Go. The jam gets pretty far out there but lacks
any aggressiveness or eeriness. While it is always impressive to
hear an extended improvisation jam from Jerry in 1989, this version
is not too complicated. The following show, 1.28.1989, provides a
dramatically more impressive version.
Lucky Sun is next. Jaclyn
and Gloria continue their near perfect harmony behind Jerry's
moaning. Jerry's solo steps up and is filled with signature Jerry
flavors and note runs, and there is also an impressive Seals solo.
This version was the only exceptional song of the night.
The show ends with Midnight
Moonlight. The song portion is very lively and fastly paced. The
Jerry jams are filled with fast paced grooves, but not with a lot of
signature flavors. Again the Jaclyn Gloria harmonies are flawless.
1.27.1989 was a very calm
show and slightly above average show. Jerry's solos for the most
part are a bit sedate or even flat at times. Of note were the
fantastic Lucky Old Sun and the near exceptional Think. The
following show, 1.28.1989, was to be a different story altogether.
Of note though, 1.27.1989 is sweet in that nearly every song is very
well played and the Jaclyn Gloria harmonies are very impressive to
hear. What were lacking were the typical Jerry signature flavors
we've all come to require on a daily basis.
Set 1: 7.28
Set 2: 7.48
Show: 7.38
LSPTNTogether 7
Stop That Train 7.75
Someday Baby 7
Run For The Roses 7.4
Mississippi 7.2
Miracle 7.4
Hope It Won't 7.5
Deal 7
Harder They Come 7
Stoned Me 7.35
Heaven's Door 7.25
Think 7.8
Don't Let Go 7.5
Lucky Sun 8
Midnight Moonlight 7.5
Rob
Goetz ©
