Furthur 4/18/2012

 I have been  blessed to get tickets for numerous recent Furthur shows in the City, Phil's birthday at the Best Buy last year, the last show at Radio City Music Hall and this performance the last night of a  eight show run at the Beacon. I had a seat in 101 in the orchestra so sight lines and sound would be excellent and I was with a zoner  buddy who is  fun to be with. The  vibe in the  place was festive and you  could not notice any exhaustion on most folks part, as there was magic in the air, as that  pre-show hustle and  bustle that is a hallmark of a show in New York
The band launches into " Here Comes Sunshine" and it is very clear the band want to  jam tonight. The vocals are  crisp and  John and Phil are dialed in, as with the version that  opened up the  last show in Albany, the  bands has places to go kids so  you better jump on the  bus. They develop a sweet melodic  jam that high lights Jeff and Joe's contributions. and then they jump right into a fun and well received "1/2 Step". This version has the Beacon faithful singing along, in decent key I might add, and similar to the version they played in Wallingford, they do a  nice jam in it.

The sing along continues with a spot on "Dire Wolf" with crisp harmonies from Sunshine and Jeff. It was clear  that Levon Helm was weighing on the minds of many including the band and they next began a  wonderful tribute to the man with a  poetic and emotional version of " He's Gone". Bob had  been low key in the mix so far  this night and he did a understated reading that was very appropriate for an ailing friend. Once again the  band extended the song with a  rich  jam that showcased Phil and Jeff contributions. They teased at a couple things  during this jam "Dark Star" and even "I Know You Rider" to this ears. My tour buddy agreed.

This would  end up with a raucous version of " Easy Wind" sung by John. It was great and featured some of  his loudest playing of the night. I had to  laugh and think that this was for the  Secret Service and their recent escapades in Columbia.
"I been chipping them rocks from dawn till doom
While my rider hide my bottle in the other room
Doctor say better stop balling that jack
If I live five years I'm gonna bust my back, yes I will ."
 Then they sprang on the biggest surprise of the night on us, " Viola Lee Blues" as they had  played it just on Saturday night. This  version is  really when things got off the track with the song having taken some twists and turns since I  last heard it. They started the song as usual but during the first jam, led by Jeff, they went into this  traditional  jazz jam that was really good. It is always a treat to hear  Phil play his  bass with a more traditional jazz influence,  like he did  during the version of "Fever" at RCMH with Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, and  Larry Campbell.

The second  jam is where things  got out of control as the ferocity of the jam switched up in tempo and they did a massive  "Cumberland Blues" tease. I honestly thought they were gonna do it, but it was just one of the sickest teases I have seen this band  do and they went back to the chorus. OMG! The place went nuts it was like Stony Brook  1970 Halloween all over again.
Staying with the 1970  theme they went deep for a version of" Black Peter" that clearly was for Levon and it was beautiful. They  built it up nice but it was not  too over the top and Bob  did it justice.
They ended the set with a high spirited version of " Cosmic Charlie" with Phil pointing to us during the " Go on home your Mama is calling  you" verse and this set was done. Maybe one of the longest and strongest first sets of this run as well.

Set II had to be the cat's meow and the band  did not disappoint opening up with a crushing  uptempo version of " Shakedown". The band was on fire and Joe Russo was dancing on air. This  reading was more like a  1981-82 version and there was no " shake it shake down chorus." They went old school for the Beacon faithful. The crowd was loving it and Phil was dominant in it. He played some of his loudest notes of the show during this and they jammed out of this not stopping and we  got to  come up for some air for a solid " Dear Mr. Fantasy" which you know had to be for Levon as well.
"Dear Mister Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar
Make it snappy"

Cassidy was Bob entrance in to the second set and he more than stepped up to the plate. Like the  version they played  at RCMH this  version is stellar and was a refreshing choice. This version just  goes places and  was one of the best I have seen this  band  play.Once again John, Jeff, and Joe are  right on it. You will thoroughly enjoy going along for the ride embellishing all the insights that this song  provides and again the band  jams out of this song, are  you noticing a trend here? The band's transition tonight are  outstanding, as we all know this band has had it challenges with transitions in the past. They clearly  hint where they are  going and led  by  Phil we arrive at " Dark Star". I am sure this is the only time both of these songs have been paired and it worked like a charm.
This version of " Dark Star" is short but is focused and  features some  deep  grooving quickly as  John's solos are quite  good.

They trade off the first  verses and then  hint very quickly where the  "bus" is heading next as Phil leaves no doubts that we are  continuing with our deep psychedelic motif and arrive at the "Other One" This version is  not the in your face but is full of twists and turns and begs you to notice the nuances this band can  do together when they are dial in. Before  even getting to the second verse they race back into " Dark Star" to sing the  second verse and then it right back into the " Other One" to sing the second verse of this classic. The  band really does a  amazing  job of reaching a powerful  peak before Bobby steps back up to the  microphone.

They continue to jam and  Phil is signaling and they pounce into " Help on the Way". They are totally into it and the band is  playing as one as they slither into a huge " Slipknot!". They are  going deep when  we  get one more opportunity for this band to steal our  faces right off our heads and perfectly rockets into  the " Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion" during the "SlipKnot!" jam. The  crowd roars in approval and even  begins singing the first  verse before the band does, I know you westies will find most displeasure in that faux pas but hey that is what we do back east.

The  band once again raises the  roof on the old restored Beacon and then storm back into "Slipknot!" with utter perfection.It was a thing of  beauty although I would  loved a  huge ballad before we arrived at "Franklin's Tower" which  Phil delivered with  passion and zeal. The band rocked it out and it was a  huge send off to all and sadly Levon, who would pass on the next  day. The other note worthy point is that this second set was one non-stop composition and that in its self is very cool.

When Phil arrived back for  his  donor rap, he received an extra  long ecstatic applause from the New York  faithful and they turned up the  house lights behind Phil so  he could all see us and  smile.

The band sent us on our way with a  heartfelt version of  Brokedown Palace that was the best one I have seen this band do. The band  offered warm embraces to each other as this run concluded and we all streamed out the doors into a warm spring night with wide grins.
Happy Trails.
"Gonna leave this brokedown palace
On my hands and my knees, I will roll, roll, roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time, in my time, I will roll, roll, roll"

You can stream the show here on the Archive