Notes:
Jerry Garcia's last show.
Last non-medly, two-song encore: 11-03-91 [271] - fireworks display set to Jimi Hendrix's "Star Spangled Banner" after the show - The Band opened
Set List:
Set 1: Touch of Grey
Little Red Rooster
Lazy River Road
When I Paint My Masterpiece*
Childhood's End
Cumberland Blues
Promised Land
Set 2: Shakedown Street
Samson & Delilah
So Many Roads
Samba In The Rain
Corrina > Drums > Space > Unbroken Chain
Sugar Magnolia
Black Muddy River
Box Of Rain
Comments
A moment in time
My wife and I had very good floor seats for this show (thank you GDTS), center stage about 10 rows back in the middle section of floor seating right in front of Bobby. I remember how strange the mood was in the stadium, maybe because of the issues at Deer Creek, maybe because it was the last show of the tour, or maybe it was the odd assortment of people in our general vicinity. I also remember being really moved emotionally at many different times during the show. Having attended a fair number of shows, I had never really felt that engaged emotionally during a show, that was usually reserved for fond rememberances. Looking back now, I am very proud to have been in attendance at this show as it truly was the "last" of the Grateful Dead shows. It had it all, the bad, the good, and the triumphant ending that 30 years of being the Grateful Dead deserved. Thanks for the memories!
That So Many Roads Still
That So Many Roads Still moves me to this day. Every time I listen to it I get goose bumps. Also the Black Muddy River and Box of Rain encore that is easily top 5 Black Muddy Rivers and top ten Box of Rains.
In Phils book he writes that the band stayed behind and watched the spectacular fireworks after the show was over which they had never done before. I agree with the writer above that the show was odd feeling. As a matter of fact I felt that way at the last 4 shows. I think it was an underlying feeling from the problems earlier in the tour but there was something else that I could not put my finger until 30 days later.
TomBanjo
My on the final show
After witnessing the shows from this tour at The Palace in Auburn Hills (the best shows of the entire summer tour from hell IMHO), the Deer Creek debacle and the the night before, I felt utterly disappointed. Certainly the rest of the band members sounded great but my take on Jerry was he has already checked out for good (incidently I felt that Vince finally came into his own at the very end). It was literally like watching the shell of what used to be, struggling to keep it together for his last gasp. His guitar playing was dismal, forgot words to every song and genuinely looked ready to pack it in. Enter Phil.....
Phil literally saved the show. I think Mr Lesh knew that a serious trainwreck of a concert was under way and he stepped up to the plate. The only moments that seemed like there was a hint of Jerry's presence was Box Of Rain and Sugar Magnolia.
Many people rave about So Many Roads but to me it seemed like even with teleprompters, Jerry struggled with it and kept soloing because he was lost. I really wanted Shakedown>Samson to be special like so many from yester year but it just did'nt happen. As ironic and appropriote a closer as Black Muddy River was, Jerry was severly strained vocally and missed all the guitar ques not too mention Vince did'nt play any of the fills.
If it were'nt for this being the last show ever, I would have considered this and the previous night 2 of the worst concerts they ever played besides Phil taking charge of a sinking ship. Listening to the tapes, both SBD and AUDs years later, I still feel the same way about this concert.
Sorry to anybody who likes this show or has sentimental feelings because of the circumstances.
rip jer
i think whats been said about the show is true but something happened way back earlier in the year
a friend i traded with had alredy alerted me of the playing of jerry
on listening to these shows something had happened
jerry once said im not a great guitarist im loud(or similar) in 1995 jerry had dropped in the mix something that for me made the dead not the dead
maybe if hed called it a day in 1994 we would still be hearing him play now
but he would probably have done JGB 100% through 95 with the same result
Box of Rain
I cannot believe we are talking about the same Box of Rain. Black Muddy River was the perfect end to this tour, Jerry singing in a fatherly "It'll be alright" sort of way. Given everything that had happened on this tour, it was THE perfect finale. And then Phil opted to assault our ear drums w/ what I can only describe as, well...damn, I can't describe it. My friends and I were laughing our asses off at how atrocious this was. How do they blow the perfect end to an incredibly miserable tour by pummeling us w/ this abomination of an otherwise beautiful song?
I agree, that Phil had a powerful night on the bass and Jerry was trying to not be there. I read somewhere that as they were walking off the stage Garcia commented that he was sad to see the tour end. Hmmm.
But, Jerry was plagued by several maladies at the end, the least publicized of the lot was carpal tunnel syndrome, which, for obvious reasons, really hampered his playing. But, I think more than anything, he was just plain tired.
I am still happy to have been there
say what you want about this show but I will alway be happy
that I was able to attend
In Context
It was obvious the tour had taken an emotional and physical toll. I sat 12th row center 7/8 and 7th row center 7/9. Jerry
looked horribly drained from the strain. The Dead could have
canceled long before Chicago (watch Gimme Shelter). I was on my feet along with everyone else after VOJ on Sat. and
shed tears freely after BMR Sun. I got the package when
I bought Phil's book because I wanted the Box of Rain. I
still cry when I hear it but play it anyway.
The Last Show
Never forget the ending of So Many Roads when jerry did an extended vocal scat.........."Lord, I've been walking that road"
Let There be Songs To Fill The Air!
Jerry
Jer eased my soul that night. I miss him so.
Peace Sisters & Brothers!
Jerry's guitars?
Is it true that through coincidence and some technical difficulties that Jerry used all his past guitars (Wolf, Tiger, Bertha and Lightning Bolt) on this night? Can anyone confirm this?