Post #200! Just over halfway done.
I love the rock and roll fun of some of the Dead’s little ditties like Don’t Ease Me In, Might As Well, and songs of that ilk.
These aren’t the songs that people typically rave about from a show but when you go and listen you instinctively tap your toes. On the one hand these songs are “safe” because they’re pretty structured and there’s not a ton of improvisation that takes place. On the other hand, that degree of “safety” enables the band to focus less on form and more on feeling, or so I tend to think, and they just let loose. This is a great example of that, methinks. So while people may not rave about the in-between songs, I tend to think that they certainly notice when they’re NOT there. Ending the set with one of these simple rocks, I’ll throw Deal into the mix too, is a great way to head into the set break and get warmed up for the weirdness of the second set. Really everyone wins.
Lunchbox, congrats on day 200. Sure it’s been a lot of fun and a great way to revisit and relisten to many versions or shows that you might not of done other wise. With so many options now it’s hard to sometimes remember some of the material you have access to. This song from this release is a perfect example. I really have a soft spot for 73, but have not pulled this box out for 3-4 months. Thanks for the reminder, but just yesterday a friend dropped by and gave me the So Many Roads box out of the clear blue. Said he only listened to about 1/2 and knew I’d love it. So this will be on tap at least for a few days.
Agree of your take on the in between songs. I often love these as well, as they often seem to be refocus moments for the band and it’s audience. A time where the band steps back, has a little relaxed fun to catch their breath before another big charge into more challenging playing. Not that they aren’t focused on these tunes, but more that these ones are songs that revisit their roots of the old acoustic music, regardless if that they were often played electric.
This comes as a fun surprise if you (like me) were not reading the list of songs. Jerry sings a couple of verses with medium energy, then plays a couple rounds of guitar with a bit more than that. His next verse is similar in feeling to the first, then he and Keith get together on some hotter licks during the following solo. It’s rough, but pretty swell. Clearly, there is an effort to launch this show at this point. Garcia sings the one about the Texas blues and wraps it up with some final choruses. Nice enough.