...unlike a true Dead show. It definitely was made with the object to sell the CD instead of celebrating the music of Jerry.
Phil gives an outstanding opening combo. Jimmy Cliff nails it with The Harder They Come. Widespread Panic does a good job of capturing the vocal emotion Jerry used to put into Morning Dew when he practically cried the lyrics. Tennessee Jed is a natural for a country version and Eric Church did a good job at it. Jorma & Buddy Miller also deserve credit for good renditions.
Many of the acts I found to be middling at best. Nonetheless, it was hard to dislike anyone as I loved the songs so much.
Complaints. Songs for the most part all had fast tempos and could have been slowed down. There were few slow, drawn out, meandering songs like Jerry & the boys excelled at. It seemed strange watching 5 active guitars playing for many of the tracks. Though the bluegrass was good, it was hard to adjust from rock to bluegrass and back again. I'd have preferred an all bluegrass opening stretch, followed by all rock to the end. No jumping back and forth; a seamless transitions from song to song instead of sudden jolts.
It was cool seeing Phil's son on stage with him for the opening few songs. Why didn't Phil ever play with the rest of his former bandmates? It took me a minute to recognize the new look of Peter "Elmer Fudd" Frampton. Where did all his hair go? Why were there teleprompter screens at the artists feet with the song lyrics scrolling? Are they really that old?
I can't pass judgement on this last bit: From what I've read, the lineup was longer than the venue's time limit allowed and several top acts were scrubbed at the last minute. Shame, for I would have loved to see their renditions.
Overall, the show was good and worth watching. It needed two more hours, both to slow the songs down and to allow for the cut acts. I keep thinking of what it could have been, as the potential was enormous with such a large pool of talented performers.
