The Jerry Garcia Band and Bob Weir And Rob Wasserman: “Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound” (2013) CD Review

In the fall of 1989, I was seventeen. I had just acquired my first vehicle, a 1986 Chevy G10 van with windows all the way around (so plenty of places for stickers), and one of the first places I drove it to was Hartford, Connecticut, to see The Jerry Garcia Band. I had seen the Grateful Dead a couple of times already, but this was my first Jerry Garcia show. And it was fantastic.

I caught two more shows on this tour – the two at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts (where Clarence Clemons joined the Jerry Garcia Band). What also made this tour special was the opening act of Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman, with Bob on acoustic guitar. Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound, a six-disc set, contains two complete shows, including the opening sets by Bob and Rob. There were no official taper sections at the shows I saw on this tour. Some folks of course were still able to sneak in some recording equipment, and I was able to get tapes of the two Great Woods shows. But I never did get a copy of the Hartford show. So it’s a complete thrill to revisit that great night now, the first time I’ve heard this music since 1989.

Disc One: Bob Weir And Rob Wasserman, 9-5-89

The first disc contains Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman’s set from the Hartford show. After a bit of tuning, they launch into “Festival,” a tune from Bobby & The Midnites. They then go into “Fever.” “Fever” is a song I’ve always loved. I’ve heard so many versions over the years and they were all so great that I thought the song was fool-proof. But then I heard Madonna’s studio version, and realized it was possible to fuck it up. Well, this rendition by Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman is excellent. It’s the perfect set-up for this song: just vocals, acoustic guitar and that great stand-up electric bass.

They do a really sweet, mellow though powerful rendition of “KC Moan.” They follow that with Dylan’s “Desolation Row,” which Bob also sang at Grateful Dead shows. I’ve always loved the way Bob handled this song. The crowd goes a bit nuts when it recognizes “Looks Like Rain,” another tune I’ve always loved. There are some really beautiful moments in this rendition. “I only want to hold you/I don’t want to tie you down/Or fence you in the lines I might have drawn.” It was such a treat to get to see them do this acoustic version.

After that, Bob says they need to take a moment to tune up. Like every other Grateful Dead fan, I’m so thankful that the tuning is included on the disc. I remember getting some odd Dead bootlegs, where someone had pressed “Stop” between songs, making the recording feel jumpy and incomplete. Anyway, they go into “The Winners,” with the line “He travels the fastest who travels alone.”

I was never really a fan of “Victim Or The Crime,” as the song has kind of an ugly feel to it. But this acoustic version was definitely the best version I saw performed, and it leads into a cool bass solo by Rob Wasserman. They end the set with a very cool version of “Throwing Stones.” I love hearing Bob repeat “On our own.”

Disc Two: 9-5-89 Set I

The second disc contains the first set by The Jerry Garcia Band in Hartford. They kick it off with “Cats Under The Stars,” and something is horribly wrong with the sound of Jerry’s vocals at first. Apparently that was the way it was at the show, but I don’t recall. Anyway, the sound problem is soon fixed (though to my ear it still doesn’t sound quite right when Jerry gets loud).

The band then goes into “They Love Each Other,” a crowd favorite, and one that features some nice stuff on keys by Melvin Seals. They follow it with a cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting For A Miracle” and “Run For The Roses.” Things start to get really good with a gorgeous rendition of “Like A Road.” Jerry’s wonderful lead section is followed by a lead by Melvin Seals to match it. And I love the backing vocals of Gloria Jones and Jackie LaBranch.

The first set is rounded out with a fun “My Sisters And Brothers” and a nice, long “Deal.” The jam during “Deal” is absolutely fantastic, with a tremendous energy that just doesn’t let up.

Disc Three: 9-5-89 Set II

The second set starts with Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come” (that is, after a bit of tuning, which is given its own track). I remember dancing joyfully to this tune at the show, and now listening to this CD, I find myself dancing around my apartment. There is a really groovy, happy-sounding jam, and they stretch it out, which is great.

They follow that with “Mission In The Rain,” which has always been one of my favorite Jerry Garcia Band songs, with excellent lyrics by Robert Hunter. And this is a really good rendition. The version of “Forever Young” at this show is also just fantastic, with Jerry giving a moving and heartfelt performance both on vocals and guitar.

Things turn more toward rock and roll with a cool cover of Los Lobos’ “Evangeline,” before getting a bit mellow again with “Gomorrah.” The band then goes into the always-fun “Don’t Let Go.” I love the vocal jam around the five-minute mark, with Jerry approaching the song in a similar vein to the way he’d do “He’s Gone.” And then they go off from there, exploring some interesting territory in the show’s longest jam. It gets a little chaotic at the end, and then goes right into “Lonesome And A Long Way From Home,” the night’s biggest surprise.

Disc Four: Bob Weir And Rob Wasserman, 9-6-89

Bob Weir And Rob Wasserman kick off the Nassau Coliseum show with “Walking Blues,” a song Bob Weir also did with the Grateful Dead. They follow that with “City Girls,” a tune with a cool groove (the lyrics aren’t all that great) that naturally flows into “Fever.” I love the playful repetition of the line, “All through the night,” and Rob Wasserman does some great stuff on bass in this version.

They then go into the pretty “Blackbird,” the audience clearly excited at the first few notes of the song. That tune leads directly to Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” a song I was always happy to hear Bob do at Dead shows. And this is a really good version, particularly the power and emotion in Bob’s voice. “Someday everything’s gonna be different/When I paint my masterpiece.”

A nice version of “Shade Of Grey” (originally from Weir’s Heaven Help The Fool) leads directly into “The Winners” which in turn goes into “Easy To Slip” (a Little Feat cover that was also included on Heaven Help The Fool). There’s good jam toward the end of “Easy To Slip,” and that song is followed by a bass solo by Rob Wasserman. They then wrap up the set with “Heaven Help The Fool.”

Disc Five: 9-6-89 Set I

The Jerry Garcia Band kicks off the first set as Nassau with an absolutely wonderful rendition of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” What a great start to the show (and with no sound issues). And it’s followed by a good “Stop That Train” and a very cool “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” complete with a fun, joyous jam. And listen to Jerry belt out those lyrics. “No matter how hard I fight it, baby, I’m still in love with you.”

Jerry then slows things down a bit with a sweet “Mississippi Moon.” Things then get hopping again with “I Second That Emotion.” There is so much joy in the band’s playing, that you can’t help but be moved.

They follow that with Van Morrison’s “And It Stoned Me,” then wrap up the first set with “Deal.” Interestingly, “Deal” is the only Hunter/Garcia composition of the night (there were six at the Hartford show).

Disc Six: 9-6-89 Set II

As at the Hartford show, the second set opens with “The Harder They Come.” This time it’s followed by an excellent rendition of “Dear Prudence.” Jerry’s guitar spins all kinds of magic in this one. The band then does the always-stirring “I Shall Be Released.”

Things then pick up with a long version of the Chuck Berry tune “Let It Rock” and the Los Lobos number “Evangeline.” But for me the highlight of this set is “That Lucky Old Sun.” This rendition is gorgeous. Check out those incredible backing vocals. And Melvin Seals provides some phenomenal work on the keys. (By the way, the sun and moon stickers were the first two Grateful Dead stickers I put on my van, one on either side.)

The Jerry Garcia Band then ends the set with a great, fun version of “Tangled Up In Blue.”

Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound was released on December 17, 2013.

Let’s Spend The Night Together DVD Review

Hal Ashby is one of my favorite directors. He directed my favorite film of all time, Harold And Maude. In the 1970s, he was perfect. In addition to Harold And Maude (1971), that decade he directed The Last Detail (1973) Shampoo (1975), Bound For Glory (1976), Coming Home (1978) and Being There (1979). These are all fantastic films. And then in 1981 he filmed the Rolling Stones while they were on tour. The resulting movie, Let’s Spend The Night Together, was released in 1983.

The Rolling Stones were still on top of their game at this point, having just released what I consider to be their last really good record, Tattoo You (they perform several songs from this album in the film). The film features footage from two concerts – at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, and The Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey.

The film opens with the Rolling Stones heading up onto the stage, putting on their instruments. Then the giant curtain opens, revealing a huge stadium of fans. The reverse shot shows those on the floor surging forward as the band launches into “Under My Thumb.”

With barely a pause, they go into “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” with Mick Jagger dancing all over the large stage with his cordless microphone (which is what I remember him doing in 1989 when I saw the Stones at Sullivan Stadium.) Mick does goof just a bit before “Shattered.” This version of “Shattered” feels a bit too fast, and a bit too full. Mick’s face is wild as he sings, “Look at me.”

There is the briefest of shots backstage before the band goes into “Neighbors,” and then a bit more backstage footage during the song, of the band getting ready, getting made up and so on. I like the saxophone in this version.

During the end of “Black Limousine,” Mick struts up the stage extension, and a Frisbee lands just behind him. Later, he picks it up and throws it into the audience. Mick straps on an electric guitar for “Just My Imagination.” He also plays guitar on “Waiting For A Friend” and a few other songs.

I love the Rolling Stones. They’ve put out so many incredible records. Yet in concert there is something rather dull about them. The music seems rushed, rehearsed, played by the numbers, automatic or even obligatory in some way. Like they were just getting through it. Their concert I saw in 1989 was by far the worst I saw that year. I was thinking that perhaps in 1981 it would have been different. But I guess you have to go further back in time to catch them when they still had a genuine excitement about the music. (I remember buying Still Life, a live album recorded on this tour and released the following year, and being very disappointed by it.)  Perhaps a bit of the rushed feel is due to the editing. The film is a brief eighty-six and a half minutes. Surely the concert was longer than that. We need a bit more of the stage banter between songs.

Still, the songs are all good. And there are many cameras, capturing all sorts of angles. And there are interesting moments, like when Mick climbs down a ladder and runs through the audience (though he has several people with him – in front and behind, sort of pushing the audience aside to make room, which is gross). During “Time Is On My Side,” there are some old photos of the band and some old footage of them. There is also some serious news footage that completely surprised me – including a decapitated head on a stick and self-immolation.

During “Going To A Go-Go” we see, in sped-up footage, the stage being erected, though at another venue, this one an indoor venue, The Meadowlands. It’s pretty awesome footage, and it continues through some of that show. That leads, interestingly, to “You Can Always Get What You Want” performed at that indoor venue. This place has a more intimate feel, which is great. It’s a smaller stage, so Mick is a little more contained, which is better. I love that shot of Keith Richards clowning around during the song.

Mick then introduces the other musicians joining the band, and then the members of the band. That leads to Keith Richards singing lead on “Little T&A.” I am much more engaged by the footage shot at this indoor venue.

During “She’s So Cold” we see footage of the different venues, backstage and on stage.  Mick Jagger plays guitar on “Miss You,” and that tune is one of the film’s highlights. This tune, more than many of the others, has a loose, playful vibe. Mick plays guitar on “Let It Bleed” too, and there is some footage from the other show mixed in during this song.

They follow it with “Start Me Up,” which at that time was on the radio like every thirty minutes, one of the great rock songs of my childhood. “You made a dead man come.” There’s a lot of energy, and the crowd is clearly loving it.

We are back at the large outdoor venue for “Honky Tonk Women.” A bunch of girls are led onto the stage for this song. There’s no point to their being there, they’re not singing backup or anything. It’s crap like that turned me off when I saw them in 1989.

We’re back inside for “Brown Sugar.” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Satisfaction” finish up the concert film, the latter played as balloons rain down on the audience at the indoor venue.

This is far from being one of Hal Ashby’s great films. But as far as concert films go, it’s not bad. The main interest in it now, obviously, is being able to see the band at that time. But we don’t really learn anything about them, or get to know them at all, even from the backstage footage.

Let's Spend The Night Together was released on DVD on November 2, 2010.

Magnolia: “Magnolia” (2013) CD Review

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of great discs from Canada. The newest one for me is the excellent debut EP from a band called Magnolia. This band hails from Halifax, and is made up of Leanne Hoffman on vocals and Scott MacLean on guitar and vocals. Joining them on this self-titled release are Clive MacNutt on bass (and guitar on a couple of tracks) and Benn Ross on drums. Erin Costelo, who produced the CD, plays keyboards and saxophone. Phil Sedore, who recorded the release at his studio in Musquodoboit, adds cello, trombone and lap steel to a few tracks.

The lead-off track, “Anybody’s Neighbor,” opens with a kind of sweet, fun groove, which I immediately enjoy. There is a slightly breathy quality to Leanne’s vocals at first. “Did you think we could walk away/Did you think it would all be okay?” There’s a nice build to the tune as well, when Leanne sings, “And you’re asking me why I can’t sleep at night.” I also dig that little fun change on guitar near the end. This is a wonderful tune, and a strong opening track.

I love Leanne’s vocals even more on “Wandering.” Her voice has a great jazzy element on this track. And there is some excellent work on guitar as well. This tune has a hip vibe that I love. Phil Sedore plays both lap steel and trombone on this track.

Leanne’s vocals have more of a power on “Time Will Tell,” due partly to the way the rhythm is structured and supports her. There’s nothing showy here, which helps to keep her vocals at the fore. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “And now our kisses make me nervous/I can’t help but want to lie/Just to keep things on the surface/Just to keep you by my side.” The song then changes, developing kind of a sweet attitude when she sings, “Baby, baby, baby, only time will tell.” There is something loving in her voice then. “You haven’t made a move in weeks, but you could say the same for me if you wanted to.”

“Honey Please” has a different feel, with the bass and drums starting it, and it being a duet, with Scott providing the second set of lead vocals. His singing style reminds me just a bit of Lou Reed or perhaps Adam Green of The Moldy Peaches – just the way he approaches the material. “These are the minutes we cling to/These are the days that will pass all too soon.” I totally dig the horns on this track. Erin Costelo plays saxophone, and Phil Sedore plays trombone.

The guitar’s opening bit in “The Thought Of Love” has kind of the feel of an early rock and roll love song. Leanne’s vocals have a sweet, sad quality and they rise about the guitar part (and the keyboard). “But changes make me lonely/And I adapt so slowly.” And then: “All these things I’ve said and done/I never meant to hurt anyone/But that’s of course what they all say/And it doesn’t matter anyway/’Cause I made decisions/You made some too/Who’s to say what we both should do/I think I’m too young for this anyway.” (Her delivery of the lines “Who’s to say what we both should do/I think I’m too young for this anyway” reminds me of Melanie.) I kind of fell in love with her voice during this song. This is a beautiful song.

The EP concludes with “Cold Dry Hands,” an interesting tune with a simple groove that I like. It’s the vocal line that really grabs me, as it goes in some surprising directions, giving the tune an overall delightful feel. “And we’ll climb some bigger mountains/We’ll fight some bigger wars.”

CD Track List

1. Anyone’s Neighbor
2. Wandering
3. Time Will Tell
4. Honey Please
5. The Thought Of Love
6. Cold Dry Hands

Magnolia was released on November 5, 2013. I am looking forward to hearing more from this band.

Sarah Jaffe at The Hotel Café, 12/17/13

Sarah Jaffe ended her two-week tour last night with an excellent performance at The Hotel Café in Hollywood, California. After a nice opening set by Erin McLaughlin, Sarah Jaffe and her band took the stage – a trio, with Sarah on vocals and electric guitar, Scott Danbom on keys and backing vocals, and Roberto Sanchez on drums. She spent very little time setting up and tuning, and jumped right into her set, skipping any sort of spoken introductions, but rather letting the music itself introduce her to this crowd, letting the music itself make that connection with the audience immediately.

She opened with a relatively new tune, “Defense.” And it is her vocals that first grabbed me. There is something gorgeous about her voice, but with a hard edge, which I like. There is a haunting quality to the tune, due in part to the work on keys.

She followed that with an energetic rock tune, “Ride It Out,” driven by her vocals and guitar. There is even a cool scream at the end of the chorus. It’s easy to lose yourself in her music, and she seemed to do so also, her eyes often closed as she sang.

Sarah checked in with the audience after the second song, making sure everyone was okay. Someone yelled, “You’re really talented,” and she said, “That was a family member, it doesn’t count.” And that is something that might not be immediately apparent to someone listening to her albums. While her music has a very serious sound, she’s actually quite funny. She had the entire audience laughing at several points during her set, like when she talked about getting stuck in Wyoming.

“Vulnerable,” began a cappella, before the beat came in. She sings, “Wake me up just to call me sleeping beauty,” with Scott providing nice backing vocals on that line, their voices blending quite well together. This is one of my favorite tunes of the night. It’s a completely wonderful song. I love the keyboard part.

"Pretender Pt. 1" began with just guitar and vocals – sparse, intimate, and with an openness, a vulnerability that was captivating. She totally held the audience, who were nearly completely quiet. That is something of a feat in Los Angeles, you understand.

Before her last song, she wished folks a merry Christmas and New Year, then said, “I’m being sarcastic, but that’s my sincerity.” She then launched into “Talk,” a good rock tune to close the set. And though the audience called one, she did not do an encore. That is most likely due to the strict time limits of sets at this venue.

Set List

1. Defense
2. Ride It Out
3. Vulnerable
4. The Way Sound Leaves A Room
5. Mannequin Woman
6. Pretender Pt. 1
7. Pretender Pt. 2
8. Glorified High
9. Talk

Before this show, I’d only heard a couple of tracks. By the end of the first song of the night, I was a fan. By the way, she has her albums available on vinyl as well as CD.

Sarah Jaffe setting up before the show

Sarah Jaffe performing "Defense"

Sarah Jaffe performing "Ride It Out"

Sarah Jaffe performing "Ride It Out"