My Bobby kick continues! It’s funny to me because Stranger isn’t one of those songs I typically go out of my way to listen to, but when trying to figure out what today’s song would be it just popped out to me. When I think of Bobby tunes Stranger and I Need A Miracle are two that rarely appear at the forefront of my mind. I’d have to say that of the two I like Feel Like A Stranger better, but that’s just me.
This show took place on Bobby’s 42nd birthday so that may explain some of the extra oomph! this evening. That, and from what I understand, NYC area Dead shows had an energy all their own. There are a lot of gems on Nightfall of Diamonds!
This version of Feel Like A Stranger starts off with Jerry and Brent leading the way. Brent’s using that synth sound again. I’m still not sure what I think about it, but I do know that I prefer the runs he makes on the regular keyboard much more. I want to say Jerry is using his envelope filter for that thwacking sound. Stranger is one of the songs that seems like it was almost always delivered with a lot of energy, and that is certainly the case here. Bobby’s “let’s get on with the show” line evokes a cheer from the crowd of NY Deadheads. Garcia searches for the right notes in a jammed out chorus and Phil just keeps moving. Always moving. Forward. Furthur.
Jerry and Brent add backing vocals throughout and Bobby even seems to cede the lead vocals to Brent so he can add his own ad libbed response to Brent’s call. Jerry and Phil dance around each other in the solo that follows. Phil covers the fretboard like a jazz player here. Around 5:30 Brent starts to assert himself as well, before giving the spotlike back to Jerry. Bobby throws out some interesting rhythm parts, as is his wont, as well. Finally Jerry tags the main melody line and the rest of the band falls in line. A final flurry of notes precede the final three staccato hits to end the tune.
The first verses of this are top-notch, and when Bobby declares that we know it’s going to get stranger, he adds, “Some things you just know!” So there may have been a plan to make this show live up to his prediction. By about 3:00 the song proper has ended and we are winding up the jam machine by riding on those repeating phrases that insist it will be a crazy night. Brent is prominent here, for better or worse. Jerry gets hot on the quacker as the singing ends and the playing intensifies. Listen to Phil here as he funkily cracks open this nut. Bobby adds nice color, too. The jam is relatively short, but all of it is meaningful. The end is signaled with a fast quote of the theme and all of the finishing touches are utterly on-target.