So, the Grateful Dead closed their last show with..."Attics of my Life?"

Cafe Society
1

According the the NY TIMES, the play lists for the three final 50th anniversary shows in Chicago were carefully planned. Probably by Phil, 'cause it’s hard to imagine Bobby or Mickey or Bill thinking about anything for that long.

The first show focused on songs about music; the last on songs of farewell and remembrance. The middle one, I forget, possibly songs about balling large-breasted hippie chicks in the backs of VW vans in '68.

Good on 'em. But why end the 50 year run with “Attics of my Life?”

I would have been so pissed if I had been there. “Attics” is arguably the dullest, most plodding composition in the Garcia/Hunter songbook. I’ve been to several shows with an “Attic” encore, and always left with a sour taste in my mouth (possibly from the Upstate New York funk weed).

I need something upbeat to head home with…give me “Quinn the Eskimo” or “Don’t Ease Me In” or “U.S. Blues” or even the much-derided “Keep your Day Job” which they eventually dropped from the repetoire because so many Deadheads didn’t WANT to keep their day jobs and complained that it was harshing their mellow.

No, I never planned on attending. Attended my last show 20 years ago in 1995. Haven’t heard any of them play live since Jerry assumed room temperature.

Just sorry that they finished the long strange trip with that particular tune.

2

I like that tune but it’s a strange choice. They always blew the big ones. Maybe theyre just going with their karma. They opened one of those shows with “shakedown Street” for no reason I can see. The set list was very improbable to me, not being an expert, except for box of rain.
You’re supposed to end with a big balls out cover after doing your best songs.

3

I was at all five of the Fare Thee Well shows (two in Santa Clara and three in Chicago).

First of all, being there was so special. It was less about the quality of the music than it was for us to get together in such a large group for one last time. Many tears of joy were shed over that run.

Attics isn’t one of my favorite songs but it was appropriate for what they were doing. It was the final encore. Everyone, even the drummers came to the front of the stage. Only Bobby had an instrument, an acoustic guitar. (They had done the same set up for Ripple a couple of days earlier).

While they were singing, there was a video montage going on both sides of the stage. It was old pictures of the band in groups, then solo pictures of former members who had passed and then the current band. It was a beautiful moment.