To celebrate what would have been the late Jerry Garcia's 70th birthday, Bob Weir and other former members of the Grateful Dead & friends gathered at Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California to have a big musical party and pay tribute to their former band member and friend. This event has been captured and released in high definition Blu-ray by the folks over at Eagle Rock, and it's not only a concert film but also a full documentary, with plenty or anecdotes and interview clips with Garcia's family members, musicians who have played with him in the Grateful Dead and other acts, as well as his friends from the music scene. They all share some great stories and insight about not only the musician, but the man, and you can really feel how much he is missed by those who were close to him. The performances here are really strong, as you get extended, upbeat romps through classics like "Shakedown Street", "Eyes of the World", "Terrapin Station", "Franklin's Tower", and of course "U.S. Blues". Weir, Phil Lesh, and many other musicians pass in and out on each song, but the quality never wanes musically or vocally, each track complex, but with plenty of groove. Garcia's memory floats over the entire show, as the guitar players all worked hard to get that 'Jerry feel' on each song, so look for plenty of melodic, liquid guitar solos throughout these tunes. A heart tugging "Ship of Fools" will bring a tear to any loyal Dead fan, and the spirited jams on "New Speedway Boogie" are straight out of the early '70s when the Grateful Dead were one of the most adventurous bands on the planet.
Superb video & audio quality make this a must own Blu-ray for any Deadhead, and Eagle Rock has included a nice booklet as well chock full of photos and commentary. We miss ya Jerry!
Track Listing
1) Cumberland Blues
2) Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad
3) Mission in the Rain
4) Shakedown Street
5) He's Gone
6) Eyes of the World
7) Terrapin Station
8) Days Between
9) Franklin's Tower
10) U.S. Blues
Bonus Performances
11) Dupree's Diamond Blues
12) Friend of the Devil
13) Tennessee Jed
14) Ship of Fools
15) Bird Song
16) New Speedway Boogie
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