1974-06-08 Oakland, CA

 

6/8/74 – Oakland, CA (LOADS OF PHIL IN THE MIX)

A rocking Promised Land to open tonight's proceedings. “Typically-excellent-'74-versions” of BE Women and Bobby McGee follow paving the way for a FANTASTIC Scarlet. It's very, very uptempo and Jerry's vocals are perhaps a bit rusty, but check that over-way-too-soon outro solo. Wow. Talk about perfection. 

After a lovely Roses and fine Uncle, we get a great T Jed. And you know that's saying a lot considering I usually want to skip this song as soon as it comes on. But THIS is how it SHOULD be played! Bouncy and lively, not dragging and sleepy. Very enjoyable version! 

Up next is a ROARING GSET that finds Donna practically screaming the lyrics, lol. Pretty enjoyable. I guess the boys feel like rocking tonight because then comes a smashing 15 minute China>Rider, Around and Around, Big River and US Blues all in a row! If you include GSET, that's a solid 40 minutes of uptempo rocking. Wow. 

Special mention to the WONDERFUL MLB jam in China>Rider. What great playing from Jerry. HOLY CRAP LISTEN TO BOBBY HOWL ON AROUND. SOUNDS LIKE HE'S POSESSED BY SATAN! 

Ship Of Fools is just stunning tonight. 

Up next is a smashing 40-minute PITB>Wharf>PITB. The initial 23 minutes of PITB is terrific, if a little disorganized and chaotic. For the first ten minutes it's your “typical '74 PITB jazzy jam” but then it evolves into Jerry doing his wah soloing over some VERY chaotic and random drumming from Billy. 

Simply put – it sounds like there is no song and everyone is playing something different, lol. But then HOLY CRAP FEEDBACK HELL AT 15 MINUTES. We get sucked into a black hole. It sounds like Ned Lagin is perhaps joining in? Or are we really just going full-band Seastones!!!!! 

Eventually around 18 minutes things get ever so slightly less chaotic and Keith starts doing some very cool piano riffing with Billy following his lead. Excellent background jamming for Jerry's continued wah and feedback. 

Eventually around 22 minutes the darkness lifts and everyone's playing takes on a very upbeat and positive vibe. It sounds like we are getting ready for a UJB. But Jerry switches gears and drags us down to the dock with a great Wharf Rat. 

This then segues perfectly out into a great PITB reprise. A fantastic sandwich any way you slice it! :) Thankfully, the desert is a wonderful 17-minute Eyes that is simply gorgeous and perfect in the way most 1974 versions are. Nothing “OMG GREATEST EVER”, but its a terrific Eyes nonetheless. 

At the end of Eyes, it sounds like they are gonna do a China Doll like usual, but instead the boys leap into a rocking Sugar Mag. This highly-enjoyable-yet-nothing-special show ends with Casey and OMSN.