Jam Breakdown - 11/30/73 Playing in the Band
Happy Dick’s Picks 14 day! This release from the Boston Music Hall run at the end of 1973 showcases the Dead at their best (in my opinion)! Bookended by Morning Dew and featuring a bevy of incredible jams, these two shows are a must-listen for Deadheads!
I decided to listen to and break down the Playin’ from 11/30 – this 23-minute journey will be my first in-depth look at a Grateful Dead jam and I couldn’t be more excited!
All timestamps below are per the Dick’s Picks track and may not be consistent with Relisten.
0:14 – Each band member adds their own piece to the opening riff – nobody is stepping on each other’s toes, and it leads to a gorgeous opening. The sound mixing on this release is also superb and allows for separation of each member’s part while listening.
0:30 – Phil and Billy are getting bouncy with the rhythm
1:05 – more great piano fills from Keith
1:55 – Donna’s absence due to pregnancy is felt
2:52 – Band hits the minor chord to begin the jam, Keith immediately introduces a descending melody
3:20 – Jerry weaving melodic lines with heavy wah
3:40 – Jerry seams to almost hit on the Playin’ melody again but goes back off into space
4:10 – Billy pushing tempo as Phil and Keith connect on similar riffs
4:42 – Bobby’s rhythm guitar fits so perfectly into the jam it’s almost hard to distinguish at times
5:01 – Seems like the jam is about to make a shift to a bouncier cowboy mood but stays dark instead
5:34 – Billy in the early 70s, man. What a drummer.
5:48 – Bobby and Keith playing off each other perfectly
6:11 – Jerry brings up intensity while the rest of the band coalesces behind him
6:20 – Jam quiets as Jerry leads it back down to a more contemplative mode briefly
7:10 – Jerry’s solo is somewhere between melodic and harsh, wah still being used to great effect
7:25 – Jerry fades out briefly and Keith steps into the void, playing some great runs
7:45 – Jam gets a bit bluesy
7:58 – Staccato piano lines are picked up by Phil briefly
8:05 – Billy briefly switches to a half-time beat, giving the jam a distinctly different feel for a few seconds while drawing Phil in on some deep quarter notes
8:28 – Keith seems to be trying to take the jam major
8:41 – Wah now off, Jerry plays sixteenth note runs everywhere
9:00 – Band locks onto arpeggio-ish riff started by Keith
9:17 – Distinctly different feel than the Playin’ jam now
9:40 – Billy simultaneously sounds like he’s soloing and keeping perfect time
9:50 – Band connects on hammering one note
10:02 – Jerry almost leads back to Playin’, wah returns
10:18 – Billy stops playing drums and lightly brushes cymbals as Jerry weaves
10:35 – Bobby and Phil start a dissonant riff
10:48 – Band all seem to be moving in a dissonant direction except Jerry, creating a cool vibe
11:20 – Phil moving up and down the bass gives the jam a sweet flighty effect
11:38 – Jerry dances around the Playin’ riff yet again
12:00 – Billy and Keith connect and get a bit funky with some vamping
12:15 – Jerry really leaning on the wah as the band hits another “peak”
12:26 – Keith and Bobby really hammering the chords
12:40 – Keith, Jerry, Bobby, and Phil all join up on a descending lick
12:57 – Jerry back on fast runs of notes
13:06 – Phil gets a bit klezmer
13:20 – Billy MF Kreutzmann
13:31 – Really fast note bursts from Jerry infused with wah filter sweep
13:45 – Keith, Bobby, and Phil interplay is great as they back up Jerry’s soloing
14:01 – Jam quiets and Keith steps out front a bit
14:20 – Jerry very quietly trilling
14:30 – Phil moving the jam around with rising notes
14:45 – Playin’-ish again
14:55 – Jerry starts repeating lick that Billy and Phil play off of
15:12 – Bobby playing off Jerry lick from 20 seconds earlier
15:33 – Phil and Bobby are dialed in
15:45 – Keith locks in with them
16:06 – Jerry mellows jam again, Billy sparsely hitting cymbals
16:21 – Bobby seems to be trying to lead back into Playin’ and Jerry almost does AGAIN
17:10 – Phil and Keith link up again
17:25 – Jerry gets melodic, and the rest of the band follows
17:40 – Cool staccato lick from Phil
18:00 – Jerry almost Playin’-s again
18:16 – Keith starts a riff and Bobby immediately picks up on it
18:27 – Billy taps snare and vibe completely shifts
18:45 – Everyone is arpeggiating in a way
19:06 – We seem to be circling an idea and waiting for someone to initiate it
19:29 – Almost a Here Comes Sunshine riff from Jerry
19:42 – Phil teases Playin’ riff
19:56 – Jerry finally brings back the main riff of the song
20:15 – Instead of latching on immediately, band gives him some space
20:20 – Band back into song
20:55 – Donna’s absent is felt but Keith makes up for it with some sweet fills
21:45 – Jerry and Bobby reach heights on the outro vamp
22:30 – Phil and Keith simultaneously do a descending run
22:57 – and the crowd goes wild!
The interesting thing to me that I found while listening to this is how together the Dead were while still seeming like they were playing their own thing. The little moments where two or three of them would link up for brief moments of interplay are prime examples of what make their improvisation so incredible.
If you haven’t, give the full Dick’s Picks 14 release a listen, especially the Dark Star jam > Eyes of the World!