Warren Haynes 25th Christmas Jam – Second Night: 12/14/2013

After a long night of music on the first night of the Jam, I rested up and felt ready for the second night’s festivities. The headliners for the second night were:

• Aquarium Rescue Unit
• O.A.R.
• Michael Franti & Friends
• Gregg Allman & Friends
• Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• Gov’t Mule
• Xmas Jam Band

In addition, there was a nice array of special guests: Craig Sorrells, Bill Evans, Roosevelt Collier, Casey Driessen, Mike Seal, Dr. Dan Matrazzo, Billy Thornton, Ron Holloway, Mike Barnes, Ron Johnson, Jeff Sipe, Audley Freed, Count M’Butu, and John Scofield.

I had seen all the main acts before, with the exception of Aquarium Rescue Unit and O.A.R. I was totally unfamiliar with O.A.R., but had heard of them. I have to say, they were really good. Their version of Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” with Warren Haynes sitting in on guitar was excellent.

Of all the bands performing that night, I was most excited about Aquarium Rescue Unit. I’d seen Col. Bruce Hampton several times, and was pretty psyched to see the classic ARU reunited for a live performance. They did not disappoint at all, even though my expectations were high. They totally jammed from beginning to end. Unfortunately, this would be my last time seeing Col. Bruce. Just a few years later, he would die in a way that every musician dreams about. He was on stage with a stellar list of musicians, celebrating his 70th birthday with a concert at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. While jamming with his friends, in the middle of performing the Grateful Dead’s “Lovelight” as an encore, he collapsed on stage and died. Here is the Jambase article about his death. When I go, I hope it’s like that; guitar in hand and surrounded by my friends.

Anyway, back to the Christmas Jam.

The rest of the night was incredible. It had to be to keep me up until 3:00 am again. While ARU was the highlight for me as far as bands go, the definite high point of the entire night was when Gregg Allman kicked off his set with “Statesboro Blues.” I can’t think of a better Allman Brothers’ tune to open a set.

Speaking of sets, I could not find all the setlists, but here are the ones I was able to locate. Rock on!

Setlists:

Warren Haynes and Craig Sorrells

• Hope She’ll Be Happier

O.A.R.

• About Mr. Brown
• Dareh Meyod
• Black Rock
• Fool in the Rain (with Warren Haynes)
• Peace
• Heaven
• That Was a Crazy Game of Poker

Aquarium Rescue Unit

• Fixin’ to Die
• Elevator to the Moon
• Basically Frightened
• Compared to What
• Yield Not to Temptation (with Bill Evans and Roosevelt Collier)
• Space Is the Place (with Warren Haynes, Casey Driessen, Roosevelt Collier, Bill Evans, Mike Seal, Dan Matrazzo, Billy Thornton, Ron Hollaway)
• Right Now (with Ron Holloway, Mike Seal, Casey Driessen, Roosevelt Collier, Bill Evans, Ike Stubblefield, Billy Thornton, Craig Sorrell)

Michael Franti & Friends

• I Got Love for You
• I Don’t Wanna Go
• The Sound of Sunshine (with Mike Barnes)
• 11.59 (with Mike Barnes)
• Let It Go
• Life Is Better With You (with Warren Haynes, Artimus Pyle, and Chris Pyle)
• Say Hey (I Love You)
• Hey World

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

• Medicine >
• The Divide >
• Big White Gate
• Stop the Bus >
• Paris (Ooh La La) >
• The Lion the Beast the Beat >
• Nothing but the Water
• Gimme Some Lovin’

Gregg Allman & Friends

(Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Audley Freed, Ron Johnson, Jeff Sipe, Count M’Butu)

• Statesboro Blues
• Just Another Rider (with Bill Evans, Ron Holloway, Craig Sorrells , Greg Hollowell)
• Soulshine (with Bill Evans, Ron Holloway, Craig Sorrells, Greg Hollowell)
• Stormy Monday
• Dreams (with Oteil Burbridge, Bill Evans)
• One Way Out  (with Oteil Burbridge)

Gov’t Mule

• Hottentot (with John Scofield and Dr. Dan Matrazzo)
• Doing It to Death (with John Scofield and Dr. Dan Matrazzo)
• Sco-Mule (with John Scofield, Dr. Dan Matrazzo, Ron Holloway)
• Kind of Bird (with John Scofield and Bill Evans)
• Whisper in Your Soul (with Grace Potter)
• Gold Dust Woman (with Grace Potter)

Grateful Dead: 4/3/1990

This was the third and final night of the run of shows at the Omni. Things get stranger and stranger the more time you spend in the Grateful Dead environment, and while the first two nights proved weird (first night / second night), this day was not without its weirdness.

As was par for the course, we managed to get to the show early and found a spot amid the colorful caravan of freaks in the parking lot. Armando, Tim, and I were hanging out, sitting on the hood of the car, watching the parade of oddities move past. Then this one particularly wild-eyed casualty came up to us. His face looked recently scabbed, like he’d taken a nasty fall and scraped his face on the asphalt. He walked up to us with eyes darting schizophrenically around, like a cartoon character.

“Have you seen the Easter Bunny?”

The three of us were puzzled. Armando pressed him for more information: “The Easter Bunny?”

“Yeaaaaaah. I keep hearing the Easter Bunny. Don’t you hear the Easter Bunny? I hear the Easter Bunny!”

I replied sarcastically, “Oh yeah man, I hear the Easter Bunny too.” I had no idea what this guy was talking about.

Then he excitedly pointed to a car a little ways down the aisle, where a crowd of freaks was standing around an entrepreneur with a tank of nitrous oxide gas, selling balloons full of nitrous. “There’s the Easter Bunny!!” And he stumbled off to join the line of people waiting to buy nitrous gas. We finally figured out that this dude must have thought the balloons looked like Easter Eggs. The guy clearly spent way too much time in Grateful Dead parking lots.

After a while, he came back, balloon in hand and smile on his face. “Easter Bunny.” He proceeded to inhale the gas, and we watched as his eyes rolled back in his head and he muttered incomprehensibly. After a while, he wandered off, and we concluded that the Easter Bunny dude must have blacked out from huffing gas, smashed his face on the ground, and sustained his injuries. I felt sad for him. Another lost soul.

The rest of the day was uneventful. We went in to the concert and ran into some friends of ours from South Florida, which was cool. We all hung out together, danced, and had a great time digging the music. The next day we would make the trek back to Miami.

Here’s the setlist from the show.

Set 1:

• Shakedown Street
• Hell in a Bucket
• Sugaree
• We Can Run But We Can’t Hide
• When I Paint My Masterpiece
• Row Jimmy Row
• Picasso Moon
• Tennessee Jed
• Promised Land

Set 2:

• Estimated Prophet
• Scarlet Begonias
• Crazy Fingers
• Playin’ in the Band
• Drums > Space
• I Will Take You Home
• Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad
• Throwin’ Stones
• Not Fade Away

Encore:

• We Bid You Goodnight

Grateful Dead: 4/2/1990

This was the second of a three-night set of shows at the Omni in Atlanta. My friends and I got to the show early (well, as early as possible considering the long night of music the night before), parked the car in the lot, and proceeded to hang out, enjoying the people watching.

At one point, another vehicle pulled into a space near us with obvious trepidation. We watched as the driver slowly and carefully maneuvered the car into the spot, then backed out, and pulled back in again. And backed out, and pulled back in again. And backed out… After several attempts, the dude pulled completely out, then moved on to a new spot a little further down the row. And pulled in, and backed out, repeating the same back and forth as in the first spot. We decided to make a game of it, trying to anticipate his next move. This resulted in a fit of laughter that lasted until the driver finally gave up and drove off and out of view. When it was time to go into the show, I couldn’t help wondering if the guy ever found a comfortable parking space.

This evening, our seats were in the upper left, also known as the Phil Zone because of the proximity to bassist Phil Lesh. IT was actually was one of my favorite areas to sit at a Dead show, since it provided a good view of the band as they were interacting. Anyway, during intermission, my friend Tim began to exhibit some strange behavior, which caused Armando and myself some slight degree of concern.

Tim: “Is this fun?”

Armando: “Well, yeah. We’re seeing the Dead and having a good time. It’s fun.”

Me: nodding in agreement.

Tim: “I just realized. I’m the creator!”

Me: “Oh yeah. I understand. That’s cool.”

Tim: “No! You don’t understand. It’s like… I’m the Creator!”

At this point, I figured it best to disengage. Thankfully, not long afterwards, the lights went off and the band came out for the second set. I snuck an occasional furtive glance at my friend, who was sweating and struggling, but eventually he seemed to shift into a better space. Before long, he was dancing and back to his old self. Tragedy narrowly averted.

As far as the show goes, it was a solid show, with a bit of a surprise. They played “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” which they did not seem to play much, and was the only time I had seen the band perform that song. I distinctly recall Jerry delivering a powerful vocal performance, reaching deep and expressing some strong emotion. I wondered if someone close to the band had recently passed away, especially since they also played “He’s Gone.” I never found an answer to the question, but I definitely had the sense that the song selection conveyed someone’s death.

Here is the full setlist from the show. Rock on!

Set 1:

• Feel Like a Stranger
• Mississippi Half-Step
• The Weight
• Queen Jane Approximately
• Easy to Love You
• Brown Eyed Women
• Let it Grow

Set 2:

• Foolish Heart
• Looks Like Rain
• He’s Gone
• The Last Time
• Drums > Space
• The Other One
• Death Don’t Have No Mercy
• Around and Around
• Good Lovin’

Encore:

• Black Muddy River

Allman Brothers Band with the Jeff Healy Band: 8/30/1992

I’ve seen the Allmans many times over the years, but this may be the best show I saw them perform. In 1992, the band had a really solid lineup:

• Gregg Allman
• Dickey Betts
• Warren Haynes
• Butch Trucks
• Jaimoe Johanson
• Allen Woody
• Johnny Neel

I had gone up to New York to visit friends, and before heading up there from Florida, my friend Susan asked if I liked the Allman Brothers. “Ummm… YEAH!” So her and her boyfriend got tickets for all of us to go see them at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. I was pretty psyched, but I got even more excited when I found out that Jeff Healy was the opener. As a guitarist, I was much impressed by Healy’s guitar work. He was visually impaired, so he would sit in a chair and lay his guitar across his lap, and wail like a goddamn banshee. Sadly, he died on March 2, 2008 at the age of 41.

Anyway, we battled the insane traffic and made it to the show. It was jam packed with people. The concert was being held in an “amphitheater” outside the football stadium, and it was a zoo. But the Jeff Healy Band came out and stoked the crowd. (Wish I was able to find the setlist.)

Next, the Allmans took the stage. Sadly, Warren Haynes was absent for the first several songs (he was stuck in traffic). But the band rocked on and eventually Warren joined them on stage.

About halfway through the set, Jeff Healy came out and joined the Allmans for a few songs, which was incredible. Healy’s slide work really meshed well with the Allmans.

I was really grateful I did not have to deal with the traffic afterwards. I was pretty rocked out, so I crashed in the back seat and woke up when we got back out to Long Island.

Here is the Allman Brothers’ setlist.

Setlist:

• Don’t Want You No More
• It’s Not My Cross To Bear
• Statesboro Blues
• Blue Sky

(Note: First 4 songs without Warren)

• Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’
• Nobody Knows
• End Of The Line
• Seven Turns
• Midnight Rider
• Ramblin’ Man
• Melissa
• Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad
• Hoochie Coochie Man (w/Jeff Healy)
• Southbound (w/Jeff Healy)
• Get On With Your Life
• Jessica
• Revival
• Whipping Post

AC/DC: 3/18/2001

After I heard that the great Malcolm Young passed away at the age of 64, I figured I needed to shuffle through the pile of stubs and locate an AC/DC stub (I’ve seen them several times). As fate would have it, I came upon the stub from the last time I saw the band, which was in 2001 on the Stiff Upper Lip tour.

I went to this show with my friend Jim, who was a die-hard AC/DC fan. We went to the National Car Rental Center which was in the Fort Lauderdale area. It was your typical arena.

Honestly, I was expecting a mediocre show, some old dudes wheezing through a set, trying to recapture their earlier energy—but I was pleasantly surprised. The band exploded on stage and ripped right into “You Shook Me” and just kept tearing it up for the entire show. I kept worrying that Angus was going to hurt himself as he flung himself around the stage, but he was like the rock and roll Energizer Bunny… he just kept going and going and going…

The band played all the standard hits, and broke out some unusual tunes which I really got into, particularly “Shot Down in Flames” and “Get it Hot.” Even my die-hard buddy was impressed when they played those.

I can still picture Malcolm at this show, hair hanging over his face, steadfast and pounding out the relentless rhythm amid the rock and roll chaos. Rock on, Malcolm, and thanks for all the kick-ass music.

Here is the setlist from the show.

• You Shook Me All Night Long
• Stiff Upper Lip
• Shot Down in Flames
• Thunderstruck
• Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be
• Hard as a Rock
• Shoot to Thrill
• Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution
• Sin City
• Bad Boy Boogie
• Hells Bells
• Get It Hot
• The Jack
• Back in Black
• Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
• Highway to Hell
• Whole Lotta Rosie
• Let There Be Rock
• T.N.T.
• For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

Tom Petty: 7/25/1987

When I heard that the great Tom Petty passed away today (10/2/2017), while we were all still reeling from the massacre at the concert in Las Vegas the night before, all I could do was shuffle through some old stubs until I found one from Petty. I saw him a couple times, and he was great each time. This particular show was a triple bill, with Tom Petty, the Georgia Satellites, and the Del Fuegos. I have fuzzy memories of this show, but I recall distinctly how much I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I could not find a setlist online. After 30 years, the details are gone, but I know I was happy with the set.

Tom was a great musician and songwriter. He will be sorely missed. I am certain he has briskly ascended to Rock and Roll Heaven.

RIP Tom!

Greg Lake: 4/25/2012

“If you were stranded on a desert island with just one album to listen to, what would it be?” If you are my age, I’m sure you’ve answered this question many times. My response was pretty standard: Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson Lake and Palmer. Throughout the years, I have owned this on vinyl (twice), on cassette, on 8-track, and on CD. It is an album I never tire of listening to.

I dug out this stub because Greg Lake passed away a couple days ago. He died the same year that his bandmate Keith Emerson also died. 2016 has been a terrible year for musicians.

I went to this concert with my friend Bill, a former bandmate of mine and a writer for various music publications. He had acquired a pair of complimentary tickets, which included a pass to meet Greg after the performance. I have to say, I was pretty excited to meet someone who has inspired me musically for most of my life.

We drove to Raleigh, got some food, then went to the venue. The manager there was very accommodating and invited us in early, gave us more food and beverages, and made us feel like VIP’s. The venue was intimate and we had great seats. Finally, the lights went out and Greg Lake took the stage.

This was his “storyteller” tour, so it was just him on the stage, playing bass and guitar along with recorded tracks, and of course singing. He also spent a good deal of time between songs telling personal stories about bands, recordings, and life as a musician. I felt like I got to know him on a deeper level and gained a more rich understanding of him as an artist. He played a broad selection of music from his early days in King Crimson through ELP and solo material. For me, it was an amazing experience, but it got better.

After the performance, we went to the VIP guest room and waited for Greg to arrive. After a bit, he showed up and people queued up to meet him and ask him questions. I of course had to bring a copy of Brain Salad Surgery, which he graciously signed for me. I felt a little intimidated meeting him, but he was pretty relaxed. I asked him what new bands he listened to. He said none, really. I felt a twinge of sadness for him. There are some great musicians out there now, and I thought he might find enjoyment and inspiration from listening to them. To quote his song: “C’est la vie” (which he played).

Greg Lake will be sorely missed, but he has gone on to join the great gig in the sky. Godspeed.

The Band with Roger McGuinn: 3/2/1986

This may be my most tragic ticket stub, as you will see.

I was very excited for this concert. Every year during the spring, Hialeah Race Track in Miami would host Spring Fest, a two-day event with great music. March 2 was the second day of the 1986 festival and featured The Band with Roger McGuinn from The Byrds as the opening act. I was psyched to see both of them.

McGuinn performed an acoustic solo show, which was heavy on Byrds material. Not surprising, we got “Chestnut Mare,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Eight Miles High,” and “Ballad of Easy Rider.” In fact, when he finished, I could not think of a single song I wanted to hear that he didn’t play. His voice was great and the crowd enjoyed it. Now I was ready for The Band.

The Band at this time featured all the original members except for Robbie Robertson. For those of you who need a refresher, this included Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson. What I had heard was that Robertson did not want to rejoin because he felt that The Last Waltz was the appropriate end for The Band (great film of this show by Martin Scorsese, by the way).

Anyway, I thought they sounded amazing! Some of the high points for me were Danko singing “Stage Fright” (possibly my favorite song by The Band) and Richard Manuel singing “The Shape I’m In.” But like McGuinn, they played everything I could have wanted to hear, from “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” to “The Weight.” I walked out of the concert feeling totally inspired and elated.

That feeling did not last too long.

Two days later, Richard Manuel committed suicide in a motel room in Winter Park, Florida. I couldn’t believe it! I had just seen him two days earlier and he was great. I was torn between feeling grateful that I got to see him perform and feeling devastated about the tremendous loss to music.

From that day forth, whenever I hear “The Shape I’m In,” I think of Manuel singing his heart out on stage, and I say to myself: “No, I really did not know the shape you were in.”

Emerson, Lake & Powell: 10/5/1986

Keith Emerson was my favorite keyboardist of all time, and sadly, he died yesterday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. So, I figured it was appropriate to write about one of the times I saw him perform.

I was never fortunate enough to see Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but this show was pretty close. For the tour, Cozy Powell replaced Carl Palmer on drums. Powell is no slouch on the drum kit, and he was probably the best person to fill in.

The concert was nothing short of spectacular. The set included a nice mix of pieces spanning ELP’s career. Some of the high points were “Pirates,” “Pictures at an Exhibition,” and “Fanfare for the Common Man.” But the pinnacle of the show for me was the encore, which included “Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression Part 2.”

“Karn Evil 9” is from the Brain Salad Surgery album, which is one of my all-time favorite album. Throughout the years, I’ve owned multiple vinyl copies, CD, cassette, and have even owned it on 8-track. It is just a phenomenal album. So how can I convey what it was like to see Keith Emerson perform this?

The band rocked through “Karn Evil 9,” and then Emerson went into a wild solo on the keyboards. He was like a madman! He was soloing, and then turned around and continued playing backwards, not missing a beat. He then extracted a pair of daggers from his belt and stabbed them into the keys, holding and sustaining notes while playing over the sustained notes. Then he hoisted the keyboard onto his back and began running around the stage playing the keys backwards and over his shoulder. I was floored! I had never seen anything like it, and I have never seen anything like it since. It was almost beyond belief.

Keith Emerson will be sorely missed. He was a virtuoso musician who pushed the boundaries of rock music. Here is a video of him performing. Be inspired!