tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post4278601880562851833..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: October 17, 1970: Music Hall, Cleveland OHLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-17597044899589501072020-10-12T17:40:50.749-07:002020-10-12T17:40:50.749-07:00IWTIWTGregornothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16338271722280262501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-45791523205668268622019-08-21T01:08:31.802-07:002019-08-21T01:08:31.802-07:00I added a lengthy announcement for the show in the...I added a lengthy announcement for the show in the previous week's Observer, a good example of the kind of proselytizing among students that built the Dead's reputation. <br />This features some of the mythology around the Dead, as passed down on campus - the Dead had gone round the country with the Pranksters "in the late fifties," had been "the first underground rock group to record an LP" back in 1965, and gave free shows "that lasted more than a day" when they felt like it. Apparently their free show in Athens had already become semi-legendary, with tales of mysterious people coming on stage and playing with them. The Dead have their origins in the Beat Generation but are still "pushing ahead of the mainstream," and whatever happens at the show, "it will be an unforgettable experience." Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-29213157985504331332019-08-05T21:36:53.056-07:002019-08-05T21:36:53.056-07:00The Observer was the student newspaper of Case Wes...The Observer was the student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. This review is similar in many ways to the other review I found, from a Penn State paper - both reviews emphasize how tight and masterful the band is. They also mention the 'hits' in the setlist without directly naming the Other One or Dark Star ("purely improvisational material").<br /><br />This review exaggerates the Dead's age - they hadn't been "together for ten years," nor did their first album come out in 1965! The reviewer was familiar with their albums, though, and was surprised that the slowed-down Cold Rain and Snow was "virtually recognizable." He somewhat astutely points out that the older songs in their repertoire now "sound country-like" and more like their American Beauty material.<br />When he writes that they've long been known for "that hard, driving rock sound," it's no exaggeration - a 1966 Newsweek piece had singled out "their hard, hoarse, screeching sound," as do other early pieces on the band; though soon enough the Dead would no longer be known as a 'hard rock' band. <br />It's funny that he mentions Pigpen "sang when he wasn't drinking" - the other review also pointed out that Pigpen spent the show "sitting at the organ sipping beer." <br /><br />The article's title has kind of a double meaning; initially you might think the "excess lighting" refers to the management turning the lights on the Dead, but the caption makes clear that it's actually the "smoking in the audience." This was emphasized by the other review, which began with a loving description of the electric haze, clouds of smoke, and joints being passed around. (The fire marshal showed up and gave a warning about smoking, but was ignored by the audience.)<br />The other review didn't mention the abrupt ending, which isn't evident on the tape (except that the Dead seem to rush through NFA and Lovelight). One dead.net reviewer writes, "The officials wanted the show to be over and the Dead wouldn’t stop playing. Up came the house lights, they still wouldn’t stop. Then a couple of cops, the fire marshal and a couple of suits stood on stage in a line, most with their arms crossed staring. The Dead kept playing for another ten, fifteen minutes. I believe if they hadn’t been forced to stop they would have gone on for hours."Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com