by Toast on Tue May 20, 2008 12:01 am
Well David made us proud this weekend with a spirited show for Wavy Gravy’s Birthday and a stellar appearance with Phil & Friends at the Warfield performing the songs off Workingmans Dead & American Beauty. Nelson was asked to sing on High Time & Easy Wind, he also added to FOTD & Ripple. Although I wasn’t there some phans said he repeated history and played the lead on Box of Rain as he did in the 1970’s. GO David !!! Here is what they had to say….
I don’t recall what tunes specifically that David Nelson was in on but it felt like 90% of the show.
…but for me Nelson … kicks it into a whole ‘nother gear.
you guys are kidding right. that there was the closest thing to GRATEFUL DEAD MUSIC yet to grace a stage since Jerry left us……..
Dave Nelson was the expected guest and really delivered on the sound and execution of this album. High Time was the best since Jerry did it…as I anticipated Easy Wind.
Few notes;
- Jackie and Dave Nelson seemed to be locked in together musically; very touching.
David Nelson was great to see. Phil called him an old member of the Dead family. He played with Jerry in bluegrass bands in Palo Alto in the early 60’s, way before the Dead. He’s a link to another era, live on stage, in person. Consider him one of the lost member of the Grateful Dead. He was intertwined with the Dead at the time of these two albums, and his band New Riders toured with the Dead in that era. My buddy tells me that “Cumberland” was originally written for New Riders, but I can’t confirm that, so take that as a rumor until fully confirmed. Whatever, he sounded perfect for that song.
- Phil inserted the lost verse of Friend of the Devil, seemingly rewriting the history book.
**Well from what I know to be a True rumor - FOTD was written by Robert Hunter to be a New Riders tune **
Highlights for me were High Time… This was absolutely the classic Dead sound. Nelson was a perfect compliment for these sets and slotted himself seemlessly into just the right spot.
Some personal highlights:
Easy Wind, tight and forceful, Molo was leaning on the downbeat, giving it an extra muscle.
show was better last night than either of the 2 previous shows - David Nelson made a huge difference - that guy sure knows how to bend the strings on a guitar - fun to see him pull Larry and Jackie to a better music place
and he can sing
Brilliant move bringing David Nelson in for these tunes — great presence, great singing, great guitar — especially sweet to see him solo on Box, since it was he (not Jerry) who played the solo on the original album cut. I only got to see one High Time with Jerry, in 1990 — this version, sung by David, was actually much better played than that one.
Thank you David Nelson and Phil & Friends !!!!!
which just goes to show… David is Great - He brings us chocolate cake 
