Furthur peppered the first set with fitting tributes to Jobs including the Beatles cover, “Here Comes the Sun”, Pink Floyd’s “Time” and Grateful Dead favorites “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” and the ever moving “Ripple” to close out the first set. “Sugar Magnolia” and “Cassidy” kicked off the night and Phil Lesh took the lead on his tune, “Peaceful Valley.”
Now that everyone was aware of the Jobs memorial set, it was not hard recognizing that Furthur put a lot of thought into their song selections for Apple’s fallen leader. Dear Mr. Fantasy, The Wheel, Uncle John’s Band, Mountain Song, I Know You Rider, The Other One>St. Stephen, So Many Roads>Supplecation Jam>Uncle John’s Band Reprise. As the unusually cool evening in LA felt the waves of music wash over it, a single small cloud stopped over the venue to listen in. I like to think it was Jerry and Steve Jobs sitting there watching in as the band played the music and the crowd tweeted away on their iPhones about it.
Encore was Attics of My Life. A great song but hardly the punch the crowd hoped for to close out the two stay stop in tinsel town. Furthur heads off to Monterey, CA to close out the Fall Tour.
Side Note: The last time I saw Furthur was a year ago in Santa Barbara, CA. A lack-luster offering at that time but since then it seems that John Kadlecik has grown well into his spot with this band. Joe Russo behind drums has also found a comfortable spot in the best seat in the house right between the bass and the guitar. Especially given that bass is Phil Lesh and that guitar is Bob Weir. Sounding better than ever as they continue to shrug off the blanket of the Grateful Dead and build on the band that is FURTHUR.
Video Credit: Grunzy Channel, Tibor Grunsfeld
