Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 59: 9/26/91 Boston, MA

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks 59 9/26/91 Boston, MA

** out of *****

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 them, 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, including the ongoing Dave's Picks, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.

That said, the Grateful Dead organization still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 58: 12/18/73 Tampa, FL

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks 58: 12/18/73 Tampa, FL 

***and1/2 out of *****

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 them, 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, including the ongoing Dave's Picks, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.

That said, the Grateful Dead organization still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Enjoy The 4th of July with The Grateful Dead

The United States celebrates it's Independence, and while the country has deep rooted issues and problems we are dealing (and not dealing) with, it is still the best country mankind has founded in our sordid history. So enjoy the outdoors, hanging safely with friends, and living life. What better soundtrack for that is there than The Grateful Dead?!?!

We took the opportunity a few years back to talk about the Best American Band question on July 4th. Now (in a tradition started years ago) we are just giving you our answer in concert form, the Grateful Dead's July 4th 1989 concert. What a doozy! It is the perfect time to bust it back out and get Truckin' Up To Buffalo.

Album Review: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders - GarciaLive Volume 22: September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share

Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders

GarciaLive Volume 22: September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share

*** out of *****

The newest release from the GarciaLive series is from September 25th, 1971 at the small Lion's Share club in San Anselmo, California. Both the early and late shows (minus the last tune of the night) are presented, showcasing an era when Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders were very connected musically. 

Album Review: BERTHA: Grateful Drag - Slayin’ in the Band Vol. 1

BERTHA: Grateful Drag

Slayin’ in the Band Vol. 1

*** out of *****

The Nashville based, Drag Queen Grateful Dead cover band, BERTHA: Grateful Drag have been playing their glamour filled live shows for a few years now on the jamband circuit. Their first live album, Slayin’ in the Band Vol. 1 is designed just like a show as tracks were taken from various recent concerts from all over the USA. As an added bonus, a portion of proceeds will benefit Trans Aid Nashville. 

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 57 Uptown Theatre, Chicago 2/1/78

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks 57 - 2/1/78 Uptown Theatre, Chicago

**** out of *****

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 them, 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, including the ongoing Dave's Picks releases, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.

That said, the Grateful Dead organization still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Full Show Friday: Dead and Company - Playing In the Sand 2/15/18

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...Dead and Company!

Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artists, years, venues, tv shows, festivals or some combo of it all. 

This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Bob Weir who passed away last month.

Full Show Friday: Bob Weir And Wolf Bros 2020 NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

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...Bob Weir and The Wolf Brothers!

Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artists, years, venues, tv shows, festivals or some combo of it all. 

This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Bob Weir who passed away last month.

Full Show Friday: Grateful Dead -September 3, 1988 - Capital Centre - Landover, MD

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...Grateful Dead!

Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artists, years, venues, tv shows, festivals or some combo of it all. 

This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Bob Weir who passed away last month.

Full Show Friday: Bob Weir and RatDog 2007-06-17 Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

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...Bob Weir and Ratdog!

Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artists, years, venues, tv shows, festivals or some combo of it all. 

This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Bob Weir who passed away last month.

RIP Bob Weir

The legendary Grateful Dead member Bob Weir passed away over the weekend, he was 78. 

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks #56 Rainbow Theater London 3/20-21/81

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks #56 Rainbow Theater London 3/20-21/81

***and1/2 out of *****

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 concerts.

That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Archival Releases

Each year the music industry dips into the past to deliver box sets, live albums, re-masters and outtake collections to sell to the music loving masses (present company included). This look back will round up some of RtBE's favorite archival releases from the past year. 

Usually these releases can fall into the money grab category, not really adding much outside of revenue for the label and (hopefully) the artist. Every now and then though some spectacular collections are unearthed and are worth any price. 

RtBE includes live albums in this category, since they were recorded in the recent or distant past and thus fall into archival release status. 

With the increase in vinyl, and enhanced Record Store Days to help smaller sellers, there are more and more archival releases each year. RtBE are sure to miss a lot of them, but the quality and abundance is exciting. Post your favorites, or any we may have missed, in the comments. 

These were our favorite archival releases of 2025, click the link in the title for full reviews.

Album Review: Luther Dickinson ft. Datrian Johnson - Dead Blues Vol. 1

Luther Dickinson ft. Datrian Johnson

Dead Blues Volume 1

*** out of *****

Luther Dickinson's stint with Phil Lesh and Friends put him in close contact with Grahame Lesh. Grahame and Luther played shows as Dead Blues which dug into the traditional blues and folk songs that were the foundation of the Grateful Dead's career. Dickinson himself said he never considered recording these songs, until he met vocalist Datrian Johnson. 

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Pick #55 Le Zénith, Paris, France • 10/28/90

Grateful Dead

Dave's Pick #55 Le Zénith, Paris, France 10/28/90

**and1/2 out of *****

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 concerts.

That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Live Review: Joe Russo's Almost Dead - Pier 17 NYC, 9/12/25

Joe Russo's Almost Dead

Pier 17 NYC 9/12/25

On an absolutely perfect late summer Friday night, the Brooklyn based Joe Russo's Almost Dead crossed the East River to play the first of two sold out shows at Pier 17. The pristine venue is the best outdoor concert space in NYC as it delivers stunning views and excellent sound. 

Full Show Friday: Jerry Garcia Band - September 1 1990 Shoreline Amphitheatre, California

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...Jerry Garcia Band!

RtBE gave him his props earlier, but now it is time for a full Jerry Garcia Band concert for this weeks Full Show Friday. 

This one is from September 1 1990, Shoreline Amphitheatre, California, upgraded video and sound. Full set list below. Enjoy!

set 1 00:00 - How Sweet It Is 07:45 - Stop That Train 15:30 - Dear Prudence 27:40 - I Shall Be Released 36:25 - Run For The Roses 42:14 - My Sisters And Brothers 46:20 - Deal 

set 2 56:08 - I Second That Emotion 1:04:10 - Think 1:11:33 - And It Stoned Me 1:18:30 - Waiting For A Miracle 1:24:40 - Don't Let Go 1:40:35 - That Lucky Old Sun 1:52:30 - Tangled Up In Blue

Jerry Garcia, guitar/vocals

John Kahn, bass

Melvin Seals, keys

David Kemper, drums

Jacklyn LaBranch, vocals

Gloria Jones, vocals

Remembering Jerry Garcia

On this day way back in 1942 Jerome Garcia was born and as we have done in the past we wanted to take a second to remember Jerry in the best possible way, by listening to his music.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brentdpayne

To kick things off how about an interview with Branford Marsalis (Go Mets!) Scott Poulson-Bryant, Anthony Decurtis and others on what it was like to play with Jerry and the Grateful Dead.

In past years we have focused on full shows from The Grateful Dead (who we featured in our Master series as well), but here are a few Jerry Garcia Band songs.

Enjoy them on this great day...oh and also, Happy Birthday Meg!

Enjoy The 4th of July with The Grateful Dead

The United States celebrates it's Independence today, and while the country has deep rooted issues and problems we are dealing (and not dealing) with, it is still the best country mankind has founded in our sordid history. So enjoy the outdoors, hanging safely with friends, and living life. What better soundtrack for that is there than The Grateful Dead?!?!

We took the opportunity a few years back to talk about the Best American Band question on July 4th. Now (in a tradition started years ago) we are just giving you our answer in concert form, the Grateful Dead's July 4th 1989 concert. What a doozy! It is the perfect time to bust it back out and get Truckin' Up To Buffalo.

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 54 Baltimore, MD 3/26/73

Grateful Dead 

Dave's Picks 54 Baltimore Civic Center 

Baltimore, MD 3/26/73

****and1/2 out of *****

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 concerts.

That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...