Play Dead (2009) IMDB rating: 5.20 Plot: Ronnie Reno (Klein) is a former TV action hero in dire need of a comeback. On his way back from a failed audition he winds up snowbound in a remote Nevada town run by scary meth dealers, including Merle (Busey), and their henchman (Durst). When he finds the body of a dead FBI agent there, life imitates Reno’s art as he is forced to reunite with his former co-stars, including Devon (Beach), to save himself and the terrorized townsfolk.

Actors: Klein Chris,Durst Fred,Busey Jake,Beach Michael,Francis Paul,Hensel Timothy Ryan,Arnold Tim,Riehle Richard,Koetting James,Spraggins Justin,Bitterman Shem,Cicchini Robert,Delray Dean,Action,Comedy,Adventure,Comedy,

Did the Grateful Dead use setlists?
Did they usually write up their setlists before going onstage, or did they just go out and decide what tunes to play as they went?

I’ve been listening to a few shows from ‘77 and the setlists are similar and some of the transitions/segues seem planned, but there also long gaps between songs where it almost seems like they’re deciding, "well, what should we play next?" Obviously every show/setlist was unique with the Dead, so it just made me interested if they wrote out their sets or if they were totally spontaneous. thanks!

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yes
Eric Vincent | Feb 03, 2010

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Early on, not at all.Later, they had songs they wanted to play and loosely had some direction. Phil Lesh, the basist for the Dead said they really ddint have setlists. He said they had certain "posts" or signals to go one place or another. If you listen loud enough, you will notice that it’s usually Phil who brings them back from a jam with some kind of lick or another. It is that lick that guides them to the next song. But you could go see them ten nights in a row and not see the same "list" of songs twice. Or not in the same order. Or not with the same jam. Again, they usually have several songs they want to play most nights, but it was never really written in stone. At least not in the truest sense of the word. It’s hard for any band to go on stage with no structure at all. But they came as close to that as anyone I’ve ever seen. I suggest you just sit back and enjoy what happens. Don’t try to figure them out. I’ve been seeing them in one form or another for over 40 years. And I still haven’t done it.
Toodeemo | Feb 03, 2010

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there’s not much i can add. i always found it interesting that there were times when half the band would go one way and the other guys would go another. kinda like they were playing 2 songs at the same time until they all went in one direction.

phil still brings them in and out of the jams to this day with his band. he puts on a pretty good show.

i think many times there wasn’t necessarily any of the dead leading the way as much as that’s where the music was going to go anyway on it’s own.
sugaree | Feb 03, 2010