"From Steel Pulse to Wu-Tang: A Festival of Musical Diversity"

Larry Mishkin discusses a review of various experiences and performances, starting with a cannabis event called "Miracle in Mundelein," which took place over the past weekend. The main focus of the review is a discussion of a Grateful Dead show from September 9, 1987, at the Providence Civic Center in Rhode Island. The show was notable for being the second night of a three-show run, marking the opening of the Grateful Dead's 1987 East Coast fall tour.

Key highlights include:

"Hey Pocky Way" Performance: This was the first time the Grateful Dead performed the song "Hey Pocky Way," which is originally by the Meters, a New Orleans funk band. The song became a fan favorite, primarily due to the influence of Brent Mydland, the band's keyboardist. However, the song fell out of rotation after Brent's death in 1990.

"Jack Straw" Performance: Another song featured was "Jack Straw," a Grateful Dead classic written by Bob Weir and Robert Hunter. It was originally performed in 1971 and became a staple in the band's setlists. The song was performed in the second spot of the setlist during the 1987 show, indicating the band's tendency to feature it early in their concerts.

Music News Segment: The transcript also includes a segment on music news, which starts with a brief history of the band Cheap Trick, particularly their song "I Want You to Want Me."

Review of the Miracle in Mundelein Festival: The review shifts to discussing the recent "Miracle in Mundelein" festival, where several acts performed:

Steel Pulse: A roots reggae band from Birmingham, England, who delivered a lively and energetic performance.
The Soul Rebels: A New Orleans brass band known for their energetic live shows and collaborations with major artists. Their set featured Raekwon and GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan, adding a strong hip-hop element to the performance.
Wiz Khalifa: The headliner of the event, Wiz Khalifa, is praised for his stage presence and connection with the audience. The review notes his strong advocacy for cannabis and how his music resonated well with the crowd.

Overall, the review captures the blend of nostalgia with the Grateful Dead's classic performances and the fresh, dynamic energy of the Miracle in Mundelein festival, highlighting both the music and the culture of cannabis.

https://www.cheaptrick.com/

Grateful Dead

September 9, 1987 (37 years ago)

Providence Civic Center

Providence, Rhode Island

Grateful Dead Live at Providence Civic Center on 1987-09-09 : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive

Second night of a three show run, the opening shows of 1987 East Cost fall tour.

INTRO: Hey Pocky Way

Track #1

:35 – 2:03

First time ever played

Hey Pocky Way was written by George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli, Art Neville & Joseph Modeliste, founding members of The Meters, an American funk band formed in 1965 in New Orleans by Modeliste (drums), Porter Jr. (bass), Nocentelli (guitar) and Neville (keyboards). The band performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977 and played an influential role as backing musicians for other artists, including Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint.

Song was released on Rejuvenation the band’s fifth studio album in 1974. In 2003, the album was ranked number 138 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time,[6] and 139 in a 2012 revised list.

Beginning with this show, the Dead began to feature Hey Pocky Way, usually as a show opener. Sung by Brent who really got into it with both his keyboard playing and strong singing, it became a fan favorite. But as a Brent influenced tune, it died when he did.

Played: 25 times

First: September 9, 1987 at Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI, USA

Last: July 22, 1990 at World Music Theatre, Tinley Park, IL, USA (Brent’s second to last show)

SHOW No. 1: Jack Straw

Track #2

4:00 – 5:50

"Jack Straw" written by Bob Weir and Robert Hunter. The track first appeared on the album Europe '72.

The song was first performed in concert on October 19, 1971, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at new keyboardist Keith Godchaux's first appearance with the band. In the song's earliest performances (c. 1971–72), Weir sang all of the vocals. By the time the 'Europe 72' version was recorded, (at the Olympia Theater in Paris on 5-03-72), Weir and Jerry Garcia were switching up the vocals - as they had on April 26th when 'Hundred Year Hall' was recorded. The song appeared in both the first and second sets until the band's short hiatus in 1974-1975. After re-forming, the song almost exclusively appeared in the first set. After Brent Mydland joined the band in 1979, the song almost exclusively opened the band's first set. The band also often extended the jam after the second verse after Mydland's joining, often extending the song to over six minutes. Dead and Company have also further extended the song, often adding an abstract opening jam prior to the song's first verse.[1]

Bob Weir stated in a 2004 interview that the song's lyrics were partly based on John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men.[2] The song's themes include riding the rails, the Great Depression, and hobo (homeless) camps of the era. Jack Straw is also—perhaps coincidentally—the name of the original plantation owner, who lived controversially with his gay lover, Peter Ochello, in Tennessee Williams's play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.[3]

Always a great song to hear in concert, the fans loved it and it was always an omen of good things to come in the show.

Played: 477 times

First: October 19, 1971 at Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Last: July 8, 1995 at Soldier Field in Chicago

MUSIC NEWS

Miracle In Mundelein – second year of the festival in Mundelein a suburb no...