6.10.1989 French's Camp On
The Eel River
Piercy, California
Saturday
8th JGB Performance of 1989
In-between the Spring and
Summer 1989 Grateful Dead tours, the JGB entered French’s Camp on
the Eel River in Piercy, California. This was the eighth JGB show of
1989. Two shows truly stand out – 1.28.1989 and 5.19.1989. 1.28
because each version is so tremendously played (note the Lets Spend
The Night Together, the Miracle, the Don’t Let Go, and the
Tangled). 5.19 because of the very well done performances but mostly
because of the jaw dropping Don’t Let Go. After the 6.10.1989
performance the JGB was to wait in reserve for the conclusion of the
Dead’s summer tour.
The show starts with a very
well done Melody. The pacing is rather brisk and Jerry’s vocals
are quite bright. The main jam is filled with complicated Jerry
flavorings and great progressions. Numerous mini peaks are reached
and the overall jam is exceptional. A great start.
Next is They Love Each
Other. The pacing is slower than the brisk Melody as Jerry, Jacyln,
and Gloria emit sweet and direct vocals. The jam starts with a Seals
solo which is not noteworthy and is average. Jerry’s solo is
definitely more interesting and despite reaching a nice peak at the
conclusion is a bit typical.
Get Out Of My Life Woman is
next, and Jerry’s vocals on this version are very direct and
nearly angry. His main guitar solo is well done with some nice peaks
in a very bluesy tone. The jam is extended in length but doesn’t
reach exceptional status. Seals takes a turn after this but it also
doesn’t reach any truly interesting grooves.
Run For The Roses follows
and it too is very average. Jerry’s note progressions fall short
of reaching interesting peaks.
The following Stop That
Train breaks free from the average streak of songs, but in the wrong
direction. This version has numerous flubs during the song portion,
and Jerry’s guitar solos, while slightly interesting at times, is
mostly average and even contains a few flubs.
Next is Mission In The
Rain. This version is definitely better than the previous four
songs. Jerry’s guitar progressions are interesting and filled with
somewhat nice flavorings. Still this version is not exceptional (see
8.26.1989 for a truly exceptional version). Also of note is the
Seals solo that has a very odd sound, but is interesting
nonetheless.
Sisters and Brothers
follows and the vocals are very well done. Enough can not be said of
how well the Jaclyn and Gloria harmonies made Jerry’s voice sound
better. This is a rather nice version of this song.
The JGB had typically
nailed the following song consistently – Deal. In the main jam
Jerry continues this trend with about three different peaks. The
second has a nice fanning finale, and the third is a complicated
cycle of notes.
Set two starts with Harder
They Come. The first Jerry solo again is a bit typical and not all
too interesting. The Seals solo provides the Jimmy Buffet styled
sound which was no surprise. The final Jerry run is a bit better and
hits some nice peaks. Still, this was a slightly less than above
average version.
Waiting For A Miracle
follows, and despite a few flubs during the song portion, Jerry’s
energy is quite present as he literally screams out some of the
verses. The guitar solo is a bit sloppy but does reach a nice peak.
Next is I Shall Be
Released. The version is very well presented during the song with
tender Jerry vocals and sweet harmonies. The first solo is a bit too
tender for my taste as it almost sounds tired. The second jam is
also a bit tired sounding and doesn’t reach any interesting peaks
until the finale wherein Jerry suddenly increases the intensity and
opens up a fanning session. This last burst of energy in the second
jam raises this version from average to above average.
Retaining the burst of
energy at the conclusion of I Shall Be Released, Jerry next launches
into Think. This version is very bouncy and Jerry’s singing very
direct. The Jerry solo is very raw and filled with exasperated note
sprints. Eventually this solo blazes with a series of extended note
fans. After an impressive Seals solo, Jerry returns for another
fanning session to end this very impressive jam.
Riding on the Think
momentum the next tune is I Hope It Won’t Be This Way. This
version is a bit tired sounding. The song portion seems to drag a
bit and the Jerry solo is not very interesting.
Jerry’s improvisational
vehicle is next – Don’t Let Go. The main jam starts out with an
extended driving jam from Jerry that is not briskly paced but is
very complicated. The result is to broaden the horizon. Abruptly
Jerry changes the pace and starts a faster and more psychedelic
sounding theme. The band races to catch up with him, and when they
do Jerry switches themes again – this time for a deeper sound
filled with wah wah. Jerry eventually opens up a soaring jam that
leads to a wide open sound. Jerry slowly drops the pace until it is
a near standstill. At this point he starts some deeply psychedelic
jamming that is very odd sounding. This theme starts out slowly but
eventually increases the intensity and along with Seals creates a
near all out jam. As this reaches its zenith Jerry returns the band
to Don’t Let Go. While not nearly as deep or captivating as the
5.19.1989 Don’t Let Go (not many are) the 6.10.1989 version is
still exceptional. Jerry’s ability to control the pacing of the
jams, and the overall oddness while retaining a bit of structure was
quite present. As noted before, this type of jamming was virtually
absent from the pre September 1989 Grateful Dead performances and it
is a pleasure to hear Jerry jam away like the old days.
Next is Evangeline which is
above average. The pacing is very brisk but the Jerry solos don’t
quite reach the necessary peaks for such a pace.
Lucky Ol’ Sun is sweetly
done, but again the Jerry solos aren’t extremely interesting. The
Seals solo is very well done though.
Tangled Up In Blue ends the
show. Jerry’s first jam stumbles a bit and doesn’t really hit a
nice stride. The second jam is more fluid as Jerry nicely hits the
right spots but not in any breathtaking manner. The final jam
quickly reaches a brisk level of intensity and Jerry provides
numerous mini peaks that drive this version into the above average
category.
This show was a step up
from the 5.20 and 5.22.1989 performances. Of note was the Don’t
Let Go jam. This was the first Don’t Let Go after the 5.19.1989
version and again Jerry put forth a tremendous display. Don’t Let
Go had now emerged as the vehicle Jerry was driving in the pursuit
of something deeper. This deeper surge would lead to Dark Star in
the fall for the Grateful Dead. But, first was the Summer Tour for
the Dead, and despite some great performances (see 6.19, 6.21, 7.7,
and 7.17.1989) the deep and very psychedelic jamming from Jerry was
to take a seat.
Set 1: 7.3125
Set 2: 7.58
Show: 7.44
Melody 8
TLEO 7
Get Out Of My Life Woman 7
Run Roses 7
Stop That Train 6.8
<st1:place>Mission</st1:place>
7.4
Sisters & Brothers 7.5
Deal 7.8
Harder They Come 7.4
Waiting For A Miracle 7.5
I Shall Be Released 7.5
Think 7.8
Hope It Won’t Be This Way
7.25
Don’t Let Go 8.15
Evangeline 7.4
Lucky Ol’ Sun 7.5
Tangled Up In Blue 7.7
Rob
Goetz ©
