Writer and Photographer Alan Crandall submitted the following post previously published at Timescall.com:
I have been to shows of just about every incarnation of jam band Phil Lesh and Bob Weir have brought to Red Rocks and one thing I have learned over the years is every show can be everything for everybody. While some people are having the time of their lives others may be less than enthused. I do think that you have to be in the right mood and ready to have a good time to have the kind of concert experience I had, we had, at this year’s Red Rocks Furthur shows. The 2011 Furthur concerts at Red Rocks were the best ever!
My friends and I had been excited about these shows since they were announced. We collaborated on getting tickets, making arrangements, getting in concert mode and for us, these shows were set to be a vacation from the day to day grind. The weather for the Sept.
30th, Oct. 1st and 2nd shows was fantastic. Each night had had and exuberant crowd singing along with long road tested material.
Friday night started out right with a nice “Aiko Aiko” that had everyone immediately dancing. The second set opened with guest artist Chris Robinson setting in on “You Ain’t goin’ Nowhere,” a rousing “Hard to Handle,” and Two Souls In Communion.
Friday, September 30
Set List:
Aiko Aiko
Greatest Story Ever Told >
Cold Rain & Snow
Me And My Uncle
Ramble On Rose
Loser
Money For Gasoline
Box of Rain
Second set:
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere *
Hard To Handle *
Two Souls In Communion *
Cryptical Envelopement >
The Other One >
Cryptical Envelopement >
The Wheel >
Supplication Jam
Death Don’t Have No Mercy
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
~encore
Donor Rap
Attics Of My Life
Saturday evening was my favorite of the three concerts. I knew when the band opened with “One More Saturday Night” that it was going to be a good evening. Set two was especially was delicious with Furthur going straight into a jam and then moving into Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse”, the rest of the set was a list of my favorite songs; St. Stephen, Dark Star, The Eleven, Caution, Mountain Song, Playing in the Band, Morning Dew, just to name a few. The encore was Uncle John’s Band that fans now seem to associate with former Dark Star Orchestra guitarist, John Kadlecik. Saturday’s show was amazing to me but when leaving I ran into a friend at the bottom of the long stairs out and when asked how she liked the show and she said “not so much.” Her and her friends were at the top of the venue and we were 7th row so maybe that had something to do with it…
Saturday Oct. 1
Set List:
One More Saturday Night
Sitting on Top of the World
Mexicali Blues
Peaceful Valley >
Stagger Lee
Next Time You See Me
Gimme Some Lovin’
Around & Around
Second set:
Jam >
Eclipse >
Mountains of the Moon
St. Stephen >
Dark Star >
The Eleven >
Caution >
Mountain Song >
Playing in the Band >
Dark Star >
Morning Dew >
Playing in the Band (reprise)
~encore
Donor Rap
Uncle John’s Band
Sunday’s show started off earlier, it was still daylight when the band took the stage and opened with a crowd favorite Samson and Delilah.
It may be that it was my birthday, it may be that I was at Red Rocks watching one of my favorite bands it may be that I was surrounded by friends, whatever it was, for me the three 2011 Furthur shows at Red Rocks were the best ever.
Sunday Oct. 2
Set One
Samson and Delilah
Reuben and Cherise >
I Need A Miracle >
Something
Looks Like Rain
Tennessee Jed
Bird Song >
Turn On Your Lovelight
Second Set:
Truckin’ >
Smokestack Lightning >
New Potato Caboose >
Born Cross Eyed >
Wharf Rat >
Unbroken Chain
Shakedown Street >
Standing On The Moon
Help On The Way >
Slipknot! >
Franklin’s Tower
~encore
Donor Rap
Brokedown Palace
