Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Furthur w. Phil Lesh & Bob Weir - Best Buy Theater 3/10/2011

Carrying out a legacy of countless adventure, the band Furthur, the latest carnation of the Grateful Dead, has just completed their 2011 spring tour only to immediately announce a full summer tour.  What began 46 years ago when the Grateful Dead started touring and developing unique sounds, songs and a concert experience, Furthur has lost none of that spirit and energy as Furthur, featuring Phil Lesh & Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, continue to deliver heartfelt and energetic performances some of which have gone on longer than 5 hours of solid music.



Along Furthur's spring tour the band made two visits to New York City with the first being a 5 night run at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square on 1515 Broadway & West 44th St.  More of a nightclub than a theater with a capacity of just 2100, the Best Buy Theater (formally the Nokia Theater) has a dance floor with seating in the rear and all tickets were general admission.  All 5 shows sold out in the blink of an eye and a line for entry started early in the afternoon each day so those who really wanted to be up front could assure to get very close to the stage.




Despite a heavy rain on the opening night at the Best Buy Theater, fans braved a long line to get into the venue.  After the opening night, the delay for entry was fixed and for the other 4 nights at the Best Buy Theater, folks entered with little time in line.  Furthur started around 7p.m. each night yet often performed past midnight.

Full of anticipation, the band opened the show with a brief upbeat jam into Sittin On Top of the World.

Half the audience seemed to sing along to Cosmic Charlie and then Furthur, which was performing a song from The Beatle's album Abbey Road each night, performed Octopus's Garden during the first set. 

Second set treated fans to a full Terrapin Station and a Unbroken Chain.


 Phil Lesh, after encouraging everyone in attendance to become an organ donor, which he does at every performance, the band encored with a widely covered Gloria.  And with that, the band and fans went out into New York City for what was to be a 6 day adventure with 5 nights of music—more to come!






Setlist for Furthur at the Best Buy Theater on March 10, 2011
Jam >
Sittin' on Top of the World
High on a Mountain >
Cumberland Blues
Cosmic Charlie
Octopus's Garden
Lost Sailor >
Saint of Circumstance
Casey Jones
Playin' in the Band
Colors of the Rain
Let It Grow
Slipknot
We Love You
Unbroken Chain >
Wharf Rat >
The Other One >
Lady With a Fan >
At a Siding >
Terrapin Flyer

Streaming audio of this show is up at Achive.org: Furthur on 3/10/2011 at Best Buy Theater







More Furthur photos from this show at Performance Impressions' concert photography archives:  Furthur Tour Photos 3/10/2011

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