Jerry Garcia - After Midnight: Kean College 2/28/80 (Dig)
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Free Music Notes for After Midnight: Kean College 2/28/80 (Dig)
Free Music Review: Some good JGB
Hit: 5 Stars
While this certainly doesn't come close to touching the Dead's best stuff, it is pretty impressive. Jerry Garcia further proves himself worthy of a spot in the top five American guitarists. Just listen to his solo on the After Midnight reprise. It'll knock you against the wall, something Garcia isn't known for. I mean he really rocks on that track. His backing band are no slouches either. In fact, they deserve more than to be called his backing band. The rhythm section of John kahn and Johnny de Francesaca is perfect for Jerry's smooth and sometimes uncharacteristic riffs. Also, Ozzie Ahlers is an innovative keyboardist to say the least. His solos with the buzzy special effect are great. Needless to say, this lineup had amazing chemistry.
The set list for this is pretty good, although I would have liked a couple more Dead tracks. The JGB develope an endless groove filled with some good originals, a couple Dead songs, and a lot of covers, the best of which probably being Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" or the medley of J.J. Cale's "After Midnight" and the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby." Or maybe it is the emotional reading of Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate." There are just so many great covers. Dead lyricist Robert Hunter comes in for two tracks on the third disc, "Tiger Rose" and "Promontory Rider." The latter is one of my favorite songs in the set, it's a catchy number. You'll find yourself singing that where ever you go. My other favorite is "That's What Love Will Make You Do." The blues standard recieves a groovy ten minute workout with Ahlers and Kahn really shining.
Overall, this set is great for any fans of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, or just good music. And to the Jerry Garcia skeptics (I used to be one) listen to his solo on the After Midnight reprise, it will change your views. Buy this album, or have someone burn it for you, or steal it. Just get it.
Free Music Review: Garcia and band give it the old college try....
Hit: 5 Stars
Simply one of the finest releases to come out of the Garcia archives since his passing. Let's face it Jerry was a brilliant, fluid, mesmerizing guitarist on his good nights, and on the nights where he wasn't his best he could be down right awful. Fortunately for us this was one of those brilliant nights, from the opening chords of Sugaree to an incredible Eleanor Rigby and back thru Tore Up Over You to the closing Midnight Moonlight, Jerry and the tight 4 piece band pulled out all the stops in a show that must have gone well into the morning hours judging by the starting time of 10:30 for opening act Rachel Sweet, probably the reason for the title, "After Midnight"!! As longtime lyricist Robert Hunter alludes to in the liner notes (he is also featured on 2 cuts) this is a pared down Jerry Garcia Band, with Jerry, Ozzie Ahlers on keys, John Kahn providing the bass, and Johnny De Foncesca on drums, allowing an incredible tightness and a very solid sound to this 1980 concert. The sound quality is tremendous, and as Hunter further notes, Jerry even remembered all the words, no small task some nights for Captain Trips! I have all the Jerry Garcia Band commercial live releases and this one is the clear winner (so far), not to say the others aren't good, but this one absolutely smokes, no nonsense, no frills, just Jerry and band playing well into the night, where everything just clicked, and you can hear the crowd enjoying every note, glad to be part of one incredibly magical musical evening! The Jerry Garcia Band goes to college, and comes out with an A+! Get this one, you won't be sorry.Free Music Review: As good as it gets
Hit: 5 Stars
Yahoo! After 30-odd Dick's Picks and Vault releases we finally get some Jerry. And it's a doozy. Easily the best live Jerry since 1991's Jerry Garcia Band Live. The recording quality is more than acceptable (remember this was 1980, but all the analog hiss and noise has been digitally removed to great effect) and the performance is energetic and fluid. It's great to hear Jerry singing and playing with so much strength, emotion and clarity. There are lots of long, extended jams (the After Midnight-Eleanor Rigby-After Midnight thing alone is worth the price of admission) as well as more compact tunes.
John Kahn is his usual stolid self and does a couple of solos including his usual on Simple Twist of Fate. The rest of the band, drummer Johnny de Francesaca and keyboardist Ozzie Ahlers are capable sidemen (although the weird insectoid tonal effect that Ahlers uses for lead on a couple of tunes bugs me), albeit not the usual suspects of earlier and later years.
The song selection is great, there is over 2 and a half hours of music, and I defy anyone who likes the music of Garcia to listen to this and not break out in a huge grin. Jerry is great on this gig. I hope they release more like this. Lots more.
Free Music Review: Almost as Good as Dead
Hit: 5 Stars
Garcia gave to the Dead, and the band's members gave back so much to him in their choice of material, delivery and a style of jamming that has rarely been equaled. Thank God they put up with him.
This album is SO good, in its dynamic range, in its choice of material, in the performances and Garcia's state-of-mind -- and in the extraordinary value you get for such a beautiful package, it is quite frankly, better than half the Dick's Picks releases I own and as good as the Dead's best live recorded performances.
In general, Jerry's band had less status than the Dead, but musically they could equal their musical ancestors. I recognize this may really anger some listeners, but all I can say is-- just listen and then: you tell me.
Garcia was a strange man. He had so many failings, but musically was so imaginative and generous. He knew how to make people happy, and in this release that's exactly what he and his gifted engineers achieve.
One of the best vintage rock releases of 2004 -- bar none.
Rhino is also getting better, not merey recycling old releases but generating impressive material that has never been presented before.
You'll love it.
Free Music Review: insta classic
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm by no means a deadhead, i saw them 3 or 4 times in the 80's. Dont get me wrong. I really love the dead. but this disc sometimes makes me think the dead limited jerry. By the third listen i left this world and was in jerry's world.
I usally am leery to buy material that sat for 24 years. Thinking there must be a reason it went unreleased. We are lucky this was released.
My sound system is pretty good and can easily expose poorly recorded material. This sounds really great. The recording is worthy of the material.
Some highlights:
Simple twist of fate, 17 minutes that go by in the blink of an eye.
Promontory Rider: Robert Hunter on Vocal, I never heard this song before, it is top shelf stuff.
Mission in the Rain: I'm pretty much obsessed with this song today.
All 3 disc: Dont let price of a 3 disc set stop you. There is no filler here. just cream.