Smith’s Picks Volume 5
This installment of Smith’s Picks brings us to a favorite
stop for me on Furthurs summer 2012 tour, Coney Island in Brooklyn NY. The
stomping grounds and home to drummer Joe Russo this minor league baseball park
is full of good energy and vibes from a rather lit crowd on a Friday the 13th
show. This mid tour show was full of gems on a hot and sticky July night.
Highlights of this set for me include Greatest Story Ever Told, a once a tour
song that I consider myself lucky to have caught. Bobby is animated and excited
for this tune and the band nails it! Sunshine and Jeff add some serious vocal
power to this rocker but the true highlight of this shortened 1st
set had to be the bodacious Jack Straw. The end jam starts out with Chimenti
banging the crap out of the Grand Piano before handing the reigns over to John
K to tear this jam apart on his new guitar his been playing this tour. John
gets some radical overtones in his solo as his magical solo screams through his
rig and into the crowd. You know Johns on when you can hear his rig over the
PA! Phil brings the band together for the signature Furthur hits and Phil bombs
right before Bobby yanks us back into reality for the closing verses. A comical
confusion after the song as Bobby gets cut off by Phil as he goes to announce set
break has them both laughing about it after riding high for a monster first
set, even if it was only 7 songs instead of the typical 8 or 9.
What was said to be a “really quick” break was more like an
hour as the July heat had everyone hot and sweaty. As the crowd cooled down the
band sure did not. Coming out of the gate with a smoking Scarlet>Fire this
set was unreal. Bobby teased us hard by accidentally going into Lost Sailor
before realizing it wasn't in the set and even gave himself a chuckle. The
Weather Report Suite was beautiful and got super spacey post rise and fall jam
to lead us into Dark Star. This magical set is amazing and phenomenal playing
by the whole band. Encoring with Ripple this show was a real delight and was
one I was gladly in attendance for. Smith’s Picks Volume 5 is July 13th,
2012 at MCU Park in Coney Island, NY, enjoy!