We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...The Ventures!
With summer kicking into high gear here in NYC, let's get some surf rock flowing for our Full Show Friday this week. This show was originally recorded in 1983 but wasn't released until 1989, the 30th anniversary of the band.
Pro shot, Pro Sound, with a ton of guest. Full set list below. Enjoy!
The Ventures 30th Anniversary
00:00 1 Wipe Out / Guest / MAX WEINBERG
03:45 2 Tequila / Guest / JEFF BAXTER
06:36 3 Apache / Guest / PETER FRAMPTON
09:28 4 Memphis / Guest / RICK DERRINNGER
12:50 5 Telstar / Guest / CHRIS SPEDDING
15:11 6 Out Of Limits / THE RAYBEATS
17:05 7 Perfidia / Guest / ROBBY KRIEGE
19:18 8 Slaughter 0n 10th Avenue
21:21 9 Sleep Walk / Guest / JEFF BAXTER
24:40 10 Bumble Bee Twist / Guest / ROBBY KRIEGER
27:03 11 Let's Go
29:17 12 Hawaii Five-o / Guest / MAX WEINBERG
31:49 13 Pipeline / Guest / PPETER FRAMPTON & CHRIS SPEDDNG
34:59 14 Walk Don't Run
The Ventures
Don Wilson / Guitar
Nokie Edwards / Guitar
Bob Bogle / Bass
Mel Taylor / Drums
Standard disclaimer: When reviewing any Grateful Dead release at this point, it needs to be noted that a lot of the truly great shows from the band have already been professionally released. (If you are new to the band, check out RtBE's Beginners Guide to The Grateful Dead Part's one and two.) With their vast back catalog on archive.org and all of their previous releases, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released shows.
That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Kenny Loggins!
Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on Kenny Logginswho will be playing Sunday April 30th.
On his final tour, Kenny Loggins will play this Sunday, April 30th at the Fairgrounds. It's gonna be alright...nobody worry about me...
Assembled from various VHS sources. Setlist below. Enjoy:
Back in 2018 we discussed Dave's Picks in length, it was the first time we were reviewing a release in this series and wanted to correctly place it in the context of the Dead's music/official releases. Now Dave's Picks has gone on longer than its predecessor Dick's Picks and choosing what to release is probably a difficult task.
Like that review back in 2018 the newest Dick's Picks release comes from 1983, not the most banner year for the band. There is also a reason that 9/2/83 Boise State University Pavilion, Idaho show was released as Dave's Picks #27 and 4/26/83 Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was held until Dave's Picks #39 years later; the Boise show is simply better.
That's not to say there aren't interesting moments, exciting playing and things worth checking out on #39 but overall the average listener is not missing much if you skip this release. For the completists and Dead Heads they already know that the cassette tapes of the early to mid 80's make for some different sounding shows. Dave Lemieux and his production team did the best job they could but at various times sounds shift and things get a bit warped.
The opening "Shakedown Street" (oddly the first one to appear on a Dave's Pick release) is a prime example as Phil Lesh's bass drops bombs about 3/4ths of the way through that shake speakers but his low end can get completely lost in the mix on other songs. The other noticeable oddity is the deterioration of Jerry Garcia's singing voice (also mentioned when reviewing #27) as some of his vocals are rough. However, his lead guitar playing can still be sharp and cutting, see his blazing solo work on "Mexicali Blues", his skittering take on "Let It Grow" and "Morning Dew" which also has plenty of those Lesh bombs throughout.
It is not just Jerry though, the normally strong Brent Mydland, whose 80's injection was much needed, seems tired vocally here, even when he gets to play the rare "Maybe You Know" a Spencer Davis Group inspiredtune filtered through an 80's time warp. On the better side of things is Bob Weir, vocally on point throughout the show from a pumped up "New Minglewood Blues" through a damn good combo of "Throwing Stones" > "Not Fade Away" Weir carries the tunes flowingly.
The best musical passage arrives in the form of the "Shakedown Street" jam, the grooving "Men Smart, Women Smarter" which finds Jerry and Brent trading freaky licks and a dynamite "Help on the Way" > "Slipknot!" > "Franklins Tower" trio whose transition through the middle passage and final movement is fraught with danger and warbling on the edge; thrilling stuff.
This release also has a hefty chunk of bonus material from the previous night at the Spectrum with the second half of that shows second set represented. After a better than normal "Space" segment where the drummers Billy Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart stay out to participate, the 4/25 show delivers a cool "Wheel" > "Playin' in the Band Reprise" combo along with some rocking upbeat numbers including a jacked up "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad" and the "Satisfaction" encore, but the whole offering is a bit rickety at times.
Also included are two songs from the 4/15/83 Rochester War Memorial show. "He's Gone" finds both Jerry and Brent in better voice while the rare "Little Star" is a psychedelic wandering with "Spoonful" teases, feeling like it could have been apart of the "Lost Sailor" > "Saint of Circumstance" saga.
Overall not a must hear offering from the band, and there are better official releases from this era of the, Dick's Picks #6, Dave's Picks #27, but it is always worth checking in on the Grateful Dead.
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...A Flock of Seagulls!
We are going back to the dark days known as the early eighties...here are A Flock of Seagulls from 1983.
RtBE loves listening to new music and prides itself on keeping tabs on up and coming artists but in 2019 we are also going to have a monthly spotlight on legendary artists who we really love. We are calling this series The Masters. It will focus on the best albums, live records, transcendent shows and other odd ways we appreciate the artists and their contribution to music, culture and our formation.
Live music is the best thing out there. Being caught in the moment is religion. Palpable vibes of healing and energy are transmitted and shit...gets...real. For this month's focus, the feeling is really all there is behind a few notes. For a "simple" art form the blues is endless complex and in the live setting this is immediately obvious in the hands of these Masters.
Even more than the studio recordings which we highlighted, these albums seem to evoke the spirit of the heartache, pain, and simmering soul under the guitar strings, horn blasts and drum fills. Recording in seedy clubs, at concert halls, prisons and esteemed festivals, our choices run the gamut of locations and playing styles, but one thing they all have in common is the passion of the live performance.
Your list will probably look different, feel free to share thoughts in the comments below, but now on to the records.
As always, these lists are designed to start conversations, not end them.
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughn!
Filmed for the In Session television show exactly 35 years ago (from yesterday), two blues legends go to town over the course of an hour and half. Stevie is giddy to be jamming with one of his idols and Albert seems to be having a hell of a time making his guitar sing along with SRV. It should be noted bass player Gus Thornton is laying down a hell of a solid groove throughout as well.
RtBE highlighted In Session (also from '83) a few months back and in doing so found this gem as well, perhaps we will do a monthly spotlight in the future...for now though, just put it on and let it roll...
Pro shot, Pro sound, enjoy:
Set list 1:17 - Albert King - Born under a bad sign 9:30 - SRV/Larry Davis - Texas flood 29:40 - T-Bone walker - Call it stormy Monday 39:50 - Albert King - Match Box Blues 47:30 - Tampa Red - Don't you lie to me 57:48 - SRV - Pride and Joy 1:03:45 - Ray Charles - I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
There is no shortage of Grateful Dead music out in the world today. There is the Internet Archive, there is the fantastic Relisten app and there is of course all of the official releases that seem to come out in all shapes and forms these days, Box Sets, Collections and the ongoing Dave's Picks series which started in 2012.
After the immensely successful Dicks Pick's series (named after tape vault archivist Dick Latvala and started in 1993) brought a full generation into the band's legacy with expert show selection and quality recordings the series ended when Latvala passed away. The archivists moved into the (underrated in RtBE's opinion) Road Trip Series which focused on show highlights as compared to full concerts.
Dave's Pick's went back to the that more popular formula, showcasing obscure shows from some far out locations and it took up until release #27 for them to get to the mid 80's one of the most maligned eras in Dead history. The band was about to hit a wall, Jerry was only a few years away from his diabetic coma and in general the players and crew were not happy in the mid-80's for various reasons; The Grateful Dead almost didn't make it out of the heart of the decade.
You need to dig deeper in the early 80's to find a good show (unlike say '72 or '77) and that is just what current tape archivist David Lemieux did. The board recording comes from a cassette tape captured by Dan Healey which was expertly mastered by Jeffrey Norman for this release. The sound is utterly amazing as those involved did everything they could to put the listener in Boise on this night with the best seat in the house.
Shockingly this is the only time the road warrior outfit ever played the state of Idaho and the band is a fun loving mood with Phil introducing the takeover. The concert has special vibe as the band selects "Wang Dang Doodle" as the opener marking only the second time they had tackled it onstage. The bluesy beginning drips into a powerful version of "Jack Straw" and Phil Lesh's bass in particular sounds thunderous in the mix throughout.
A pretty "They Love Each Other" and soulful "Brown Eyed Women", have Jerry forgetting a few words (reoccurring theme this evening) but using his six string expertly around the upbeat "Mama Tried" > "Big River" pairing which lets Brent Mydland and Bobby Weir tag team some twang.
It is the close of the first set where the band kicks this show into a second gear as the "Big Rail Road Blues", "Looks Like Rain" > "Deal" trio elevate the night. The energy of "Big Rail Road Blues" flows from both drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman, the whole band hops on board as conductor Garcia leads the fiery way; this is the best version of the song RtBE has ever come across.
While "Looks Like Rain" can become sappy and dull this version is anything but, really playing up the drama as Weir croons the tune before the band drops into possibly their longest version of "Deal" ever; just check out that guitar solo to end as Garcia picks up where he left off in"Big Rail Road Blues"; this "Deal" rivals 7/19/89 as the best in the groups history.
The second set starts with the segue trio "Help on the Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower" with Garcia forgetting most of the words to the opener but playing extra hard through the end including a very powerful "Slipknot!". The "Estimated Prophet" is par for the course rendition as is "Eyes of the World" (which features some audience tape in the middle) as the versions of both of these are fine but far from must hear. The end of Eyes however lends itself to some unique strumming and playing before "Drums" as Bobby and Brent start noodling around during "Jam". This sense of musical experimentation leads to a very listenable "Space" (don't skip this one) before a bouncing version of "Throwing Stones".
Garcia may not have had his singing/lyrical chops on this night, but he surprisingly pulls everything together to close out the show with an engaging "Black Peter" (not normally one of RtBE's favorites) and an upbeat "Sugar Magnolia". Jerry's most heartfelt vocals were saved for the encore on this night as "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" shows how dynamic Bob Dylan covers are when the Dead decide to tackle them.
We here at RtBE are huge Dead fans, (see this for more) so giving this a Star Rating is tough. Comparatively to all the excellent records released this year, this is solid, but nothing earth shattering. If you are new to the Dead, Dave's Picks #27 isn't the greatest place to start (go with the old standby Cornell '77) but for people who are fans already, looking for a quality show from an underrepresented era of the groups history, presented with pristine sound, where every player was pretty on-point, this is a damn good listen.
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Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below (Please note: this isn't the remastered sound you get on the official recording):
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Judas Priest!
Flash your metal horns and strap on your leather for Judas Priest. This show harkens back to 1983 when Priest was huge and playing a festival on May 23rd in San Bernadino California. Pro Shot and Pro Sound with a few songs missing for copyright reasons, full setlist is below, Enjoy!
Judas Priest - Live in San Bernadino, California, USA - May 29, 1983 - US Festival 1983 | 720p50 PAL | Intro with Electric Eye, and Screaming for Vengeance are missing, due to copyright. 00:00 - Riding on the Wind 03:31 - Heading Out to the Highway 07:45 - Metal Gods 12:04 - Breaking the Law 15:27 - Diamonds and Rust 19:05 - Victim of Changes 28:40 - Living After Midnight 33:08 - Oh Yeah! (Audience Call) 33:59 - The Green Manalishi 38:21 - You've Got Another Thing Coming 46:10 - Hell Bent for Leather
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Joe Cocker.
Cocker had a very brief high point in his rock and white soul career. It is hard to argue that he blew onto the scene amazingly with his self titled album and Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Those two disks are amazing, credit should be given to Leon Russell for being a keen musical allies for those disks, but after that very little came from the Cocker world (besides a killer Belushi impression).
He was still a solid performer though and this show from 1983 is proof of that so sit back relax and enjoy:
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Minor Threat!
Here come one of the best hardcore punk bands of all time, Washington DC's own Minor Threat back in their heyday and hometown during the spring of 83. These young'ins were and still are the bees fucking knees. If you like hardcore punk then I am sure you already own their Complete Discography, if you are interested in this type of music that album (and today's show) is a perfect place to start checking it out.
There is an intro with some rough quality all around, but you can skip ahead to the six minute mark to get the show started. Semi pro shot and sound for the time and scene, but totally worth watching on this fall Friday, Enjoy:
setlist:
-Stand Up
-Seeing Red
-Little Friend
-Good Guys (don't wear white)
-Screaming at a Wall
-Betray
-In My Eyes
-Out of Step
-It Follows
-Think Again
-Small Man, Big Mouth
-I Don't Wanna Hear It
-Sob Story
-Filler
-Straight Edge
-No Reason
-Stepping Stone
Bonus Track:
Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's.
These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so
enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every
which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still
playing)...This week...The Temptations!
We are getting on with some singers and funky stuff this Friday as we dip into the Temptations from 1983. There is a bit of 70's disco in today's performance, but the cheese doesn't weigh things down, especially when you consider they are playing a Casino in Atlantic City and end the opening "Superstar" with a nod to Jesus Christ Superstar.
Pro shot and pro sound throughout. At 17:40 the players break out my favorite Temptation tune, "Cloud Nine" and they do it all sped up, cooking into "Psychedelic Shack". The classics of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "My Girl" still sound great. As do some of the lesser known tunes...and the crazy cover of "Eye of the Tiger". Never thought I would hear the Temp's cover Survivor...ahh the 80's.
Enjoy: Setlist: 1. Superstar 2. Masterpieces 3. Get Ready 4. the Way You Do the Things You Do 5. Ain't too Proud to Beg 6. Beauty is Only Skin Deep 7. I Wish It Would Rain 8. Cloud Nine 9. Psychedelic Shack 10. Runaway Child, Runaway Wild 11. Old Man River 12. Eye of the Tiger 13. My Girl 14. I Can't Get Next to You 15. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) 16. Papa Was a Rolling Stone 17. Love on My Mind Tonight 18. Surface Thrills 19. What a Way to Put It
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's.
These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so
enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every
which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still
playing)...This week...The Grateful Dead!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/zoooma
Just getting back from Jazzfest and as always we need to be held. Both mentally and physically, recovery mode is needed. Nothing soothes like the good old Grateful Dead. We have obviously talked about them a lot on the site so we won't say much more.
This show comes from the super Voodoonola whose collection of Dead shows is simply magical. This is from an odd year with the band 1983, but it is a killer show. Recently we just chatted with a friend about the magic of Brent, and he is in fine from from the opening "Bertha" until the rare (and universally panned) "Day Job" encore.
A juiced up night for the fellows, the energy is high. The sound is amazing (listen to "Greatest Story" with Jerry's Wah-Wah combing with Brent and Phil, Unreal), paired wonderfully with the concert vid. Excellent work all around.
Enjoy:
(UPDATE: Sorry looks like VoodooNola made this one private since I created this post. Here is a Streaming link to the full show over on Archive.org. Also we will embed the stream below and also add a few video clips from Music Vault of individual tunes from the show, sorry about that!)
So with the start of August my thoughts instantly turn towards upstate New York, and more specifically the historic town of Saratoga.
Having spent my high school years 15 minutes south of their I have very found memories and go back every year to spend a few weekends in August, the best time of the year in that neck of the woods.
Saratoga has the most glorious establishment that allows gambling on horses in these United States. You can keep your Churchill Downs, I will take the SPA. For those who have never been and only associate horse racing with dirty OTB's, picture spending a relaxing afternoon in a state park that just happens to have horses running by every half hour.
I will be returning for the 141st running of The Travers Stakes this year (I think that makes it 10 years in a row for The Travers, but I will have to double check that with friends...) on the 28th, but until then I thought I would combine my love of Saratoga, with The Grateful Dead's love of the same town.
SPAC is in and of itself a wonder. A natural amphitheater in a serene park, how many other venues today have full blown trees for you to lay under while listening to music? While recently the designs and ideas have been lacking (not enough bathrooms, HORRIFIC beer garden) the venue has an aura surrounding it, that cookie cutter establishments can't hold a candle to.
Bands feel it instantly and the Dead were no different, as they loved to play there as much as the fans loved to stroll the grounds before and after the night of music.
For this whole month I will be picking shows the band played in these naturalistic confines. Tonight we start with with the first, and perhaps the best, of the bands ventures into the spaceship on the park. This night made seeing The Dead in SPAC a must for any fan from then on out, June 6th 1983:
There are a few versions of this show on the archive (all AUD recordings) but I feel this one is the best. While others have more crowd noise, this seems to be the superior recording of the band, if it does have Brent a little high throughout and Jerry drops a bit low at points. Overall though it's very listenable and for the quality of what you get it is completely worth it.
I won't spend too much time on the first set. It has a couple of standout moments, the "Mexicali Blues>Big River" flashes with dexterity from the boys and "Birdsong" really gains steam at the end with Jerry a'blaze on the fretboard. There are some blown amps and Bobby botching lyrics in "Jack Straw" and "Hell In A Bucket", weird effects blare out during "Althea" but the set manages to end on a high note with a really pumping "Deal" finding Jerry howling and the Rhythm Devils moving and grooving, getting primed for the mega second set to come.
This second set is inspired, and must have been magic on this rainy June night with a few versions of tunes that again can fall into the category of All Time Greats. The drums continue where they left off with the duo of Hart and Kreutzmann playing like smoke engulfing a room, grabbing the MVP crown this night; leading tunes at times while constantly supporting.
A perfect example of this is on the set opener which finds the duo playing co-lead with Jerry's guitar on "Scarlett Begonias>Fire On the Mountain" instantly creating a version of this combo for the ages. Tonight's playing on this classic is exquisite! Their pulsing blob of sound during "Scarlett" in particular magically swirls in every direction, painting with reggae colors lightly, then electronic bursts or fret runs. Things remain crisp while the jam circles around and around building but never over powering; they make it sound so easy here. The tempo then slows (again with Mick and Bill in charge) before letting loose the "Fire On The Mountain". Dripping deliciously the band seems to be locked in perfectly, Jerry gets adventurous screeching off while the rest of the fellas keep it tight and wonderful. Back-up yelps from Brent makes you think they knew they were in the midst of something special and an effort for fans to talk about and compare to other great versions.
A long and winding "Playing in the Band" comes bounding out with bopping energy next as the band rides the wave of good feelings. Phil gets things marching behind Bobby and Brent's lyrical intro before the band veers down more abstract roads about 4 and half minutes in, then get downright foreboding at the 11 minute mark. The exploratory playing stays in the air, getting caught in the SPAC trees awhile before giving way to some cool riffing around 17 minutes that eases into the drummers solos and then melting tripping minds as a full band with "Space". They end the experiments the best way they know how via an enchanted "The Wheel>Playing In the Band Reprise" under thunder and lighting that just happened to be booming. I particularly love the ease with which this version of "The Wheel" oozes out, and it is one of my personal favorites.
An incredible set is about to get even better. When you ask DeadHeads about the group and SPAC, you usually get a one word answer "Dew". The "Morning Dew" that comes in next is what really puts this show on the map and in discussions of all-time best versions.
The opening cataclysmic riffs signal that the folk inspired end of the world tale will be launched into by the cosmic crew. Every note just rings with authority, and Phil Lesh who had been lower for most of the night decides to join Jerry in the forefront, dropping bass bombs at 1:55 and eschewing majestic phrasing at the 2:30 mark. The band starts out hot and builds ever higher in intensity, with Garcia practically yelling the chorus at the 4:25 mark. This is audio fireworks; explosions building on top of each other, brief moments of pause add to the intensity of the next climax which will arrive right after the next verse. Around 7:18 Garcia's lone guitar seems to represent the last man on earth that the song references before coalescing the frightened survivors together for one final galloping rush to the top of the mountain. Beautifully intoxicating, this is one for the ages.
The relatively new "Throwing Stones" tries to follow up that monster and simply can't. Jerry continues to play with a fuzzed out tone, that clashes with Weirs strums (This was not a good night for Bobby). "Not Fade Away" has Phil super loud in the mix with his fine runs getting the crowd excited as the band plays the staple with power before segueing into a speedy version of "Touch of Grey" to end the huge set on a positive note.
The band then starts a SPAC tradition with a rare double encore, this one is the loud party duo of "Don't Ease Me In> One More Saturday Night" weaving one more twist into an already epic night. While as a complete show I do find myself going back to the Lake Placid show as their best in 1983, the high points presented on this night, especially the Dew, are just astonishing. Those fans in attendance (and there was a lot of them as it looks like this show broke SPAC's attendance record) witnessed a night in the Grateful Dead's history that is still talked about, listened too, and cherished. Enjoy the show.
Well it was a tough soccer weekend for the US and England for that matter, as both were eliminated, and while there should be instant replay on questionable goals, neither team can complain too much about the outcome's as neither looked all that sharp. Well what is needed on this Monday is some soothing music, and a look to happy USA sporting events wouldn't hurt, so lets combine the two. We venture north today to the location of perhaps the USA's most iconic national sporting moment, Lake Placid:
This is the first time I am dipping into 1983, maybe the only, so I am doing so with a bang. While it wasn't a career year for the band I do think this is the best show the boys played during '83 and is certainly worth your time. Lean back as we present 10-17-1983, click that link or stream the full show right c'here:
Playing in a epic venue the boys took to the stage 3 years after the USA Men's Hockey team stunned the world with it's Miracle on Ice and beat the mighty Russians.
This recording is almost perfect with up front vocals clear playing and pumping low-end. Really a great job done by all who contributed to the sprucing up of the recording, there are no faults to be found. The Dead waste absolutely ZERO time in getting into some epic territory. The highlight of this whole show is the opening enchantment of "Sugaree". At almost 17 minutes it comes and sticks around awhile, and while other great versions of the song seem to lazily swirl along, this one finds Garcia inventive on the axe, squirreling in multiple notes and taking the song into uncharted waters. This is a version all fans and non fans alike should get down with.
Bobby is playing some piercing slide on "Little Red Rooster" screaming out from your speakers, before the second highlight of the night strolls out with fantastic live rendition of "Friend of the Devil". Easily one of the Grateful Dead's most iconic tunes, but also one of the rare examples of their studio work outshining their live performance, as rarely has a version come close to the American Beauty original recording. "FotD" usually is a bit underwhelming when the boys tackled it on stage, but during Brent's era with the band their are some standout versions, and this is one of them. With it's easy opening that sounds like a different tune, followed by the excellent vocals and Brent's twinkling, almost harpsichord solo before Jerry's ranging runs, it is a version worth absorbing.
The rare "My Brother Esau" which debuted earlier in the year shows up and Bobby makes it through while "Shadowboxing with the Apocalypse". "Birdsong" then flutters in on Brent's twinkling ivories, Garcia's wandering lines and some well timed popping from Phil. This version is a bit sped up but not too quick and does stick around a bit, really some excellent playing. A tight and quick "Hell in a Bucket" is paired with an aggressive "Deal" to close out an exceptionally great first set that has some real high spots, and 3 contenders for "best ever" conversations with the "Sugaree" "Friend of the Devil" and "Birdsong" all thanks to this guy:
The second set starts off with "Touch of Grey" which is a year and a month old, and would surprisingly rocket up the charts in just 5 short years...such a strange history with this tune which I will get into more during another post, but this is a fun version that strums along at a brisk pace and while Jerry's voice maybe a bit out of sorts, it is a fun ride. Next is an explosive "Samson and Delilah" which would have melted the ice that the American Boys played on 3 years earlier. Really cooking with fire from the Bay Area band here and then they go and do a mini bust out of "To Lay Me Down" which hadn't been played in over 2 years. While I do love this song and this version is pristine, I think it's placement is a bit off and would have worked better if the band waited until post "Drums>Space" slot for this ballad.
"Man Smart Woman Smarter" gets the energy ramped back up and Jerry again is blazing hot before the monster known as "Terrapin Station" rumbles out. "Terrapin" has always been a favorite of mine, while I know other fans are upset because versions are the same show to show, I think it is a grand and beautiful song that was played sparingly enough that it remained a special treat when busted out. Jerry here and there messes up some lyrics, but it is still a fine version, I particularly like Brent's tone and playing on this one.
This winner of a show contains my favorite way that the band commonly came out of "Space" with "The Wheel". The early strains can be picked up from any of the spacey voyages the band was on, and it acts in uniting the crowd and band as one exhilarating force.
Heads who were in attendance all commented on the human wheel that was circling around the venue when this was played, and it is a wonderful version, I love the riffs Garcia plays with starting around the 6 minute mark which bleed into "I Need A Miracle". Bobby leads the boys through a mega "Miracle" here firing hard and blues heavy, in fact it feels like they want to stay in the blues vein before abruptly switching towards their old Folky ways via "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad". Brent again shines this time on an organ, and the mood is livened before the set closing "Good Lovin'" which finds Bobby speaking his mind and the encore of "Revolution" as an ode to The Beatles:
Enjoy the best show of 1983, a truly Gold Medal worthy performance.
