09.01.1989 Merriweather
Post Pavillion
Columbia, Maryland
Friday
10th JGB Performance of 1989
After the very strong 8.19
Grateful Dead show and 8.26.1989 JGB shows, Jerry steamed into the
East Coast. The momentum was retained.
The show starts with How
Sweet It Is. This version has high energy. Jerry’s first
instrumental is a bit typical, but nice flavorings are dropped
throughout. The Seals solo is also typical but well done. On the
second instrumental, Jerry juices the energy and creates a very nice
finale. The vocal finale is particularly well done.
Jerry ups the ante next
with a very snappy Stop That Train. The Jerry solos really fly and
are filled with short but sweet Jerry flavors. This was an excellent
version of the Train.
Next is an all out jam with
a livid Get Outta My Life Woman. As with the previous two tunes, the
energy is at a maximum level. The first Jerry solo is sweeping and
monstrous as his notes develop in to streaking movements that build
into giant plateaus. The flavoring is nearly everywhere. Seals again
provides a great solo backed by a very fast drum pacing. Jerry winds
up the main jam with a fanning meltdown. A scalding finale. How many
tunes into the show? Yup – just three.
Run Roses does not let up
in the least. Each jam cycle from Jerry is very raw and nearly
sloppy. The raw feel permits a ripping theme through each cycle that
leaves the listener just on the edge. Jerry was really on a roll
here.
The Road is next and
provides sweet and tender Jerry solos. The first run through the
chords has Jerry emitting a highly emotional progression that peaks
spectacularly. A very emotion filled version.
Sisters and My Brothers
struts in and makes another fine appearance (ala 8.26.1989). The
band was really nailing this song around this time period with the
sweet harmonies and bouncy rhythm.
Deal is a monster. The main
jam is a straight up ascension that sprints for about 4 minutes.
Jerry provides an abundance of flavors and fannings. A scalding
display.
Another exceptional set
from Jerry. That makes five in a row (8.19, and 8.26, and now this
first set).
The second set opens with
Harder. Exceptional versions of this tune have tight and flavored
solos from the beginning of the main jam. Many versions take too
long to develop and drag on before Jerry hits his stride. But on
this version, Jerry hits his stride with the first note of the main
jam. His flavored deliveries sound great and edgy. Even the Seals
Caribbean solo is well done. The second Jerry run has more edgy
flavors from Jerry. A great start to the second set.
Next is Mission In The
Rain, fresh from the stellar version of 8.26.1989. This version
immediately sounds a bit less polished mainly due to the Seals organ
tone. Jerry’s solo, however, is once again a meandering and
twisting struggle. Eventually the struggle pays off for the listener
and Jerry indeed does break through. Another fantastic version of
this tune. Indeed each peak during Jerry’s solo is passionately
presented and nearly gut wrenching to follow closely.
Like 8.26.1989 the
following version of Think is blistering. Jerry provides very
exaggerated blues from the beginning that slowly tumble onto each
other generating a massive sprint up the fret board. He peaks out
with very impressive cycling of high end notes, and the second jam
is almost sarcastic with its bended notes. This quickly assembles
into another beast that resorts to a series of 3 second fannings
followed by leaps up the freeboard. Seals also provides a
complicated solo. Jerry finishes the main jam with about a 30 second
all out fanning. An unbelievable version.
Next is Mississippi Moon,
and it is a sweet version with nice pauses before the “oh curry.”
Jerry’s jams are not filled with dramatic intensity but are very
well done. The Seals solo is literally explosive. This version just
seemed a bit too reserved.
Oddly, next is a late
second set placement of Waiting For A Miracle. While providing the
same reverb tone from 8.26.1989, this version is paced in a faster
manner. The jam is filled with Jerry flavors and is brisk. Another
exceptional tune.
Next was another ballad -
Lucky Ol’ Sun. This was a stellar version. Jerry’s jam is
sweeping and filled with flavor and passion and the Seals solo is
also magnificent.
This exceptional show ends
with Tangled Up In Blue. The solos are all filled with nice
expressions from Jerry and the tension rises verse to verse.
This was a fantastic show.
Jerry was truly on a roll.
Set 1: 8.1142
Set 2: 8.15
Show: 8.1321
How Sweet 7.7
Stop That Train 8.25
Outta My Life Woman 8.5
Run Roses 8.1
Like a Road 8
Sis & Bro 8
Deal 8.25
Harder 8.25
Mission 8.3
Think 9
MS Moon 7.5
Miracle 8
Lucky Ol Sun 8
Tangled 8
Rob
Goetz ©
