John Prine acknowledged vocal problems early into his set at the Paramount Theatre on Friday and was still able to sing through for a full set.

In the past, I’ve made little secret of my conflicted feelings about Furthur, the latest of many incarnations of former members of the Grateful Dead.

Furthur kicked off a four-night Colorado on Thursday with a sold out show at the Ogden Theatre. The jam band made up of surviving Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh plays Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the 1stBank Center.

Sixteen years proved worth the wait.

In the band’s first Colorado New Year’s show since 1996, hometown boys, String Cheese Incident, played their best show of the year, firing on all cylinders at the 1stBank Center over the course of three brilliant sets.

Among fans of jam bands, a commonly held axiom for those who like Widespread Panic is, “Never miss a Sunday show.” For those who like String Cheese Incident, one that might be adapted is, “Never miss the second show of a three-night run.”

On Sunday night at 1stBank Center, hometown boys, String Cheese Incident, brought the goods in force over the course of three delectable hours.

“Home for New Year’s,” said String Cheese Incident bassist Keith Moseley at the 1stBank Center early Saturday night. Calling it the “Hometown Throwdown,” it is the first time the band has played a Denver-area New Year’s run, and the first time the band has played New Year’s in Colorado since 1996, when they played in Telluride.

“Something wasn’t right,” Bob Weir said Thursday night after he muffed the lyrics during his opening song, a jaunty “The Music Never Stopped.” The cagey, veteran performer quickly recovered, and finished the song with no further mishaps. Of course, the adoring crowd ate it up, and screamed for more, not caring for perfection, which has never been what the Grateful Dead and its many offshoots have been about.

“I’m really glad I’m not acid right now,” my friend said during moe.’s dark and frenetic jamming of the song “Ricky Marten” on Saturday night at the Ogden. Indeed, for those who prefer their jam music in the style that another friend of mine described as “happy happy, joy joy,” moe.’s fierce, guitar-driven music might come as a shock.

The Smashing Pumpkins at the 1stBank Center on Tuesday, 10/16/12. Photos and review of the concert in Broomfield, Colorado.

Alanis Morissette at the Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, 10/10/12. Photos and review of the concert in Denver, Colorado.