Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Non-PF/Dead Show Reviews Archive 2004: Railroad earth - 12/10/04 - harper's ferry, boston

just a spectacular show last night, in my opinion. its a real trend for me to walk out of rre shows saying "that's the best i've ever seen," and always at the time i mean it whole-heartedly. the music consistently gets you high enough i guess that you lose your memory, and any thoughts about the future as well - it really beckons you to be wholly present. a very special experience, which is why i keep going back! most every show is the best one, because most all the time they get you *there*, you know, like, its an enlarging feeling, you are just there with the music and everyone else jumping up and down. kind of like the feeling i'll never forget having at the other ones at the hartford civic center a couple years ago, peaking on mushrooms and hearing the oceanic roar of the crowd swelling like waves all around me in a sea of energy. and i was a part of it. just incredible, really.

anyway, the show was great. i would definitely say get the tape if one comes out, if only for the second set 'just so you know', which was the show's highlight for me. the jam flowed perfectly out of the end of the tune, and todd didn't let up for a second - they sustained the intensity all the way through the end going right into ronquillo. madness!

here's the setlist (i ganked it from earthboard. i was just way too into it to write anything down last night):

Set 1: Storms, Peace on Earth, Magic Foot, Luxury Liner, Seven-Story
Mountain, Chains, Bluegrass Breakdown

Set 2: In the Basement, Brown County Breakdown, Carrying Coal to
Newcastle, Just So You Know, El Cumbanchero>St. Anne's Reel, Wayfaring
Stranger, Any Road, Ragtime Annie Lee, Long Way To Go

Enc: Cuckoo's Medley, Mourning Flies


storms opener was appropriate, as the weather outside was cold and rainy, and the roof was dripping directly over the stage - they had put towels on the ground behind tim to catch the leaks. so a perfect opener, and then the lift-off really began. magic foot when directly into luxury liner, and i love hearing these guys starting to do more transitions. they are more than capable of doing it, and one of the things that i admire most as a fan (esp. having had so much dead go through my head over the years) is when the band is willing to take some risks. whether you succeed or not, at least you tried! that's something i try to live by, anyway, and i think it translates well into music.

so a rousing first couple of songs into a wonderful seven story mountain - i love this tune, but its meditative quality always makes me wonder how it will fit in the middle of such high-octane sets as rre does. of course it always works. good space jam at the end into waterfall, i like it when they take their time and develop it like it ought to be.

the list above doesn't mention COLD WATER which they played sometime late in the first set, i think. that was just excellent excellent placement when it came, because everybody in the crowd was singing along and rocking out. i guess that could have been some of the folks on this board who know the music and were coming out for the show.

nice chains, a very pretty song, and then todd announces that they're going to to two sets, which i did not expect at all. wicked excitement ensued. they finished up the first set with some pickin', and took a quick break.

basement to open, which was fine, into a couple of dance numbers to get the blood moving again. then the jsyk, which i didn't recognize at first (my gf was like, "didn't they already do this?", because their intro sounded a lot like magic foot). a great fun song, and into the jam that made my night. todd was wholly responsible for the height they reached in that number, and i've got to say that if you're a fan of todd's guitar (which i am big time), this show would be that much more of a must have. he really took some nice solo's all throughout the night. whereas tim i thought was way out front on thursday night, friday was more of a group show-off, with todd leading the way.

ronquillo was hot, and then a groovy wayfaring stranger, which i hadn't seen before. andy holding his banjo and his flute at the same time was just a great reminder of his extraordinary versatility. then into any road, which they played in the same spot of the show as on thursday night, and again they did it well. ragtime annie lee for some old-time bluegrass feel, and tim took the pace up ala little rabbit, but man, i was just exhausted by that point.

long way to go to finish up, then cuckoo's and mourning flies encore.

great great show period. and then you consider that they didn't play most of their big songs (head, mess, black bear, mighty river, warhead, etc), which i hope they were saving for tonight. we'll see. i've gathered a big crowd for this evening, hopefully we'll all fit inside.

have a great time tonight everybody, wherever you are!!

Am leaving for the E Htfd show now. Yes, I had a "bird in the house" today - well it was in the garage - a blue jay - and yes he was "dyin' to get ouuuwwowwt!"

beautiful review baker! you're making me drool for more RRE. maybe next week??

It was a great time....couldn't ask for a better birthday show...Thanks RRE

and thanks for that wonderful review!

BTW The Opening band was called ASTROGRASS. They are well worth checkin' out. Those boys can pick!
www.astrograssmusic.com

I had a blast at that show!

Nice hanging with Kate, Althea, Jmoore, Bobby, Bobbys girl, Andrew, Dave, Pedro, Phil and Bonnie and the other Kate too.

Thansk for pointing the correct name out of the opening act there Bobby.

>>>>Thansk for pointing the correct name out of the opening act there Bobby.


LOL...I still kinda like Astroglide....that would be a great late night band name!

Hey...you see Pedro at DSO?

nah didnt see him at DSO, great show though!

Astroglide opening for Hole! LOL

Beatiful review there, Baker!

I had a great (low key) time, trying to battle this bad cold or whatever. The music was as beautiful as always.

Half the show standing and staring at Tim Carbone playing the fiddle, and the other half with my eyes closed, listening to the music.

Decided not to make it to the CT show to get some recovery time- and I KNOW I'm gonna regret it!

Excellent!

Anybody missing an umbrella?

great review.

DIG that setlist.

glad you enjoyed...

RRE at Harper's Ferry was a blast.. Good to see them again. check them out... just a few pictures that I took.. enjoy

Thanks Jmoore! I think we should meet someday, don't you?

Aw......

Nice Shots!

Thank you