I went to see the Dead last night, the last off their 5 night stand at Red Rocks to kick off their tour. I should note they were the Grateful Dead, and are now just The Dead. This is because of a couple of key (you guessed it) deaths. I was going to say it has been about 10 years since I have seen the Dead, but it has been about 10 years since anyone has seen the Dead, so that would be moot. They played last year with a slightly different incarnation. However, after experiencing the ear bleeding that came from hearing a Phil Lesh and Friends show... I had written the boys off (more about Phil's singing coming up). The band features everyone from the lineup of the 80's & 90's barring Brent Mydland and of course Jerry Garcia. They were not available last week for the tour as they are dead. In their place is the amazing Warren Haynes for vocals and Jimmy Herring on guitar. Knowing that I would also get to see the amazing Warren Haynes again is what pushed me over the top deciding to go. What factored against me going (and why I only went to one show) is the tickets were over $60 a day, bro.

I wish I could even begin to describe what a Grateful Dead parking lot experience is like... but if you haven't been to one it would be pointless. Here is a little info though, every drug on the market anywhere in the world is available at a dead show parking lot. That, and you'll need to be able to deliver the word 'bro' with alarming casualness and frequency.

It has been raining in Denver every single day for the last week, and raining on the poor cold, cold souls at Red Rocks all week as well. Lemme tell you, that 'cool Colorado rain' Jerry sang about is a punishing one at 6,000 feet in the foothills of the Rockies.

Robert Hunter opened up. He wrote most of the words Jerry sang (not uncommon, think Bernie Taupin). He set was frankly boring, but that may have been more us being impatient to see the boys again. The band came out and did a lackluster first few songs. However, right about Birdsong they really kicked into high gear. Filling in for Jerry on vocals for this was bassist Phil Lesh, who is the worst mono-tone singer ever. Ever. Please Phil, stick to your amazing bass work and never sing again, ever. Anyhow, as I said, the band had really hit their stride and kicked ass for the next hour. The setlist will be here very soon.