MAIN LINE BREWERY - 2 SHOWS (Sat. & Sun)
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Holy cow! Every time Suggesting Rhythm plays Main Line it's magical and Saturday was no exception. The start time was pushed just a little to allow for the overwhelming line at the gate to die down some. Shortly after 7pm though the sextet hit the stage and started their tuning.
Everyone knows I love a Chuck Berry opener and Suggesting hit us with a double shot. They started with "Let it Rock" a traditional JGB cover and followed it up with "Promise Land" which was performed more by the Grateful Dead. The band was definitely feeling the love and emotion as they went into "Brown Eyed Women" and the smiles were unstoppable. We went back to the Chateau Marmont for a stellar "West LA Fadeaway" that really hit the dance floor moving.
"Help on the Way" came next. A song written music first and lyrics last in 1975 originally appearing on the "Blues for Allah" album. Apparently the instrumental "Slipknot" appeared earlier on June 20, 1974, sandwiched between 'Eyes of the World' and 'China Doll'. Once the two songs were married though they stayed a couple.
Mirroring the 2nd set opening sequence of Stevestock 2, 'Slipknot' led into 'Dancing in the Streets' before making that final turn into "Franklin's Tower" to close an upbeat, banging 1st set.
Coming back for Set 2 the band wasn't easing in. They jumped right into their namesake ballad "Terrapin Station'. A little extra energy was added I think from not only Venus showing at the time but Jupiter and Saturn could be seen over stage right as well drawing the whole stellar concert together in unison. The jams were transcending as always and Dave gave it just the right punch of emotion.
Steve got the lead vocal duty next for the organ tinkling 'Hey Pocky Way' derived from the 1974 'Hey Pocky A-Way' by the Meters. The Meters were not a metric version of the yardbirds but rather an awesome American funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans that included George Porter Jr. and Art Neville. This led to the 'Drums\Space' segment.
Jeff, experimenting more with his electric noise machine made me think we were gonna get a guest artist spot like the winter Beacon shows. Adding to that feeling, the string players' re-entry to the stage was also reminiscent of those shows. When the tones and sounds coalesced together they formed the Ace favorite 'Looks Like Rain'.
That was the last time to rest however, as a speedy 'US Blues', spacey 'Foolish Heart' and, weekend favorite, 'One More Saturday Night' rounded out a blazing jam heavy set that was so hot it literally melted one Drudge's strings on the last note. Coming off stage to abundant cheers Adam grabbed his backup white PRS and the guys went back one more time for the 'Sugar Magnolia' encore.
Like every mainline show it was all good but my highlights are: the 'Let it Rock' opening was amazing and may rival the version they let loose to open their 2nd night of Stevestock 3 and generally the setlist for Set 1 is almost perfect for my taste.
Set two's highlights were, again, the opening number of 'Terrapin Station' and spacey jamming!
Sunday, September 26 2021….
We couldn't have had a nicer fall Sunday to boogie down too and Suggesting Rhythm was back at Main Line for round two. The line was still long to get in at 4:20pm when the band took the stage.
Red Redling from New Potato Caboose sat in for Steve who wasn't able to make this show.
'Bertha' led out of the gate to get the pulse rate up, trailed by 'Mama Tried'. Following that was 'Big Railroad Blues' written by Noah Lewis and only performed but never recorded by the Cannon's Jug Stompers until the Grateful Dead recorded it in '71.
Red was having fun and fitting in nicely by now and the band was playing loose and free. They settled back easily into 'Althea' and then the Calypso heavy dance number 'Iko Iko'
'They Love Each Other' kept the train theme rolling on as the couples in attendance took advantage of dancing to one of the few Dead "love" songs. This song was first performed in the famous Feb 9, 1973 Maples Pavilion show that had 7 debuted 7 hits including the first 'Eye's of the World' and 'China Doll'.
The Dylan classic 'Tangled up in Blue' closed out the 1st set with some amazing jamming and soulful lyric delivery.
After a teary speech from our Mayor and Adam’s birthday celebrations, the guys were back for Set 2.
Some tuning and noodling led to 'Alabama Getaway' from the Go To Heaven Album. A song that I have long thought about the meaning of. Robert Hunter refers to Billy Bojangles as Majordomo early in the lyrics and then again refers to Majordomo and the 23rd psalm when asking for a reserved table.
Psalm 23:4-5 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil...Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies"
I don't feel like Hunter hid his meaning in this song as much as he did others he wrote.
'I Need a Miracle' came next, keeping the tempo high. A super smooth transition from the miracle jam found is in the beginning of blazing China\Rider combo. There was a drawn out S sound from Dave at one point and I think he was repeating the sun shining lyric but he and the boys vamped a little and eventually they got the headlights pointed north bound and brought it home.
A fiery 'Deep Elem Blues' next led into an always enthusiastic Drum and Space session.
Oakley delivered a passionate cover of Bob Dylan's 'Señor' before the band closed out the day with a smoking hot 'Deal' and my favorite Encore song 'Ripple'.
Another hard call in the first set but the 'Mama Tried' and 'Big Railroad Blues' were highlights for me. The second set was the 'Miracle' and 'Deal'
The Next show is October 9th and it's gonna be one to remember!
