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    clayv
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    "To my ears, the best Dead shows are those that not only fit the criteria that make them amongst the best of a year, but that are also completely unique for their era—shows that fit perfectly into their year of performance, but also fall somewhat outside of the norm for that year. Harpur College, Veneta, Cornell, Cape Cod, and Augusta are all shows that are objectively excellent, and if they are not the best from their respective years of performance, they are certainly unique. Miami 6/23/74 falls into that category: not only one of the very best shows from this outstanding year, but also one of the most interesting and unique. It’s certainly worthy of many, many deep listens." - David Lemieux

    ¡Ándale, ándale! ¡Arriba, arriba! We're back with a hot one from Miami, F-L-A. DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 34 features the complete show from the Jai Alai Fronton, 6/23/74, one with unparalleled sound quality due in equal parts to the Wall Of Sound and the beautiful sonic clarity of Kidd Candelario's tapes. The first set is chock full of dynamite takes on classics like "Ramble On Rose," "Mississippi Half-Step," and "Cumberland Blues." The second set delivers on the JAMS - one leading into a gorgeous "Ship Of Fools," one rare instrumental version of "Dark Star," and a "Spanish Jam," this is Miami after all! The show also offers up a "first" and an "only" - the former, a Seastones set featuring Phil and Ned Lagin and the latter, the sole Grateful Dead performance of Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock."

    Limited to 22,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOL.34: JAI ALAI FRONTON, MIAMI, FL 6/23/74 has been mastered from the 7.5 IPS reel-to-reel tapes to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman. ¡Agarrarlo mientras esta calientito! (Get it while it's hot!)

    *Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

    Subscribed to Dave's Picks? With this release, you'll also get a bonus disc with selections from Miami 6/22/74. Excellente!

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  • unkle sam
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    Oroborous asked the question

    "Did the Grateful Dead inadvertently kill Jerry? That's a good question and one that has been asked many times and discussed alot over the last 25 years. Wow, 25 years since Jerrbear left us. In my opinion, Jerry loved to party and play and be in the moment, the Grateful Dead fed that jones right up to the end. He loved us all so much, he played until he couldn't play anymore, and still kept trying. Did the Dead help in his demise? perhaps, but it was also all of it, the life, the drugs, the parties, the pressure....it's hard to say except that I still miss him dearly. Love you Jer
    I sometimes wonder to myself what the world would be like if Jerry was still alive, I believe he had a calming effect on the universe and when he left us, a lot of that kind, calm went with him.

    Thanks Daverock for the CD's, Tangerine Dream weekend coming up.

  • stoltzfus
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    Yo Dave

    6 21 84

    6 21 84

    6 21 84

  • Mr. Ones
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    Oro

    As AJS stated, there’s no need for an apology. It is literally impossible to hurt my feelings, especially in writing. I love disagreement, and I’m not afraid of opinions opposite of my own.
    I’ve re-read my post more than once, and I cannot see a “personal insult” to you or anyone else. One of the many points I was trying to convey was that there’s nothing wrong with disliking ANY artist, as was stated earlier, music and love of It is ENTIRELY subjective. I just don’t think we need to use adjectives that are detrimental. I can disagree with you about an artist, but that doesn’t make either one of us right or wrong. As Dan Fogelberg once said, “if even one person likes an artist, that legitimizes that artist“. I really did not want to stir the pot.
    So please, don’t apologize to me. Unless you steal something from me, it’s not necessary.
    And besides Oro, I enjoy 98% of your posts. Keep ‘em coming. Arguments are ok, respectful arguments are better. And besides, you don’t want to make me list another 30 or 100 artists I like!!

  • billy the kid
    Joined:
    My top 5 Grateful Dead years in order

    1) 1970, 2) 1969, 3) 1971, 4) 1972, 5) 1973

  • Angry Jack Straw
    Joined:
    Springsteen

    I honestly don’t think anyone was out of line expressing their opinions. No need whatsoever for anyone to apologize.

    For what it’s worth, I was never a fan. To steal a line I heard years ago; Springsteen is like my sex life. Lots of effort, but not much talent.

    It’s the Fourth of July , so everyone should just relax and have a beer. No such luck for me. I agreed to join my underage daughter in a three month sabbatical from drinking and dessert. Poor timing for me, especially considering that our air-conditioning went out today.

    Thanks for the Festival Express link. What a neat movie. My favorite part was when the camera panned the crowd and there was Garcia right up front watching another band perform. The other cool thing about the movie is the intensity on the band members’ faces. They were really into what they were doing.

    Glug, glug.

  • Lovemygirl
    Joined:
    Can’t wait to wrest how this release will go!....

    WORKINGMAN'S DEAD (50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION)

    ...*** FOR THE COMMITTED
    AND THE CURIOUS
    Gather round every Thursday as we tell the tales of Grateful Dead days of yore! The Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast, the first official podcast of the Grateful Dead, is devoted to exploring the music and mythology behind one of the most enduring, progressive, and influential bands in the history of recorded music. Here, we invite you to delve into the band’s enormous mythology in digestible chunks. Think you know it all? We'll probe corners of the band’s history you never knew existed. No topic will be off limits.
    Hosts Rich Mahan and Jesse Jarnow will take the lead, picking up special guests from the Dead universe along the way. Upcoming episodes will feature interviews with Dennis McNally, David Lemieux, David Nelson, Bill “Grateful Red” Walton and Trixie Garcia, amongst many others.
    To celebrate the 50th anniversary of WORKINGMAN'S DEAD, we're kicking things off with an eight-episode arch that examines each song on the album individually.
    May the long strange trip continue across the pod! 🙏❤️💀🌹

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Second

    Not sure if the negative rebuttals regarding the Boss are directed at me? But I feel I need to reply.
    First, I said more positive things about him than negative. I emphatically stated he’s a great songwriter, entertainer/performer, storyteller, and that my understanding was that Born in the USA was a anti jingo song.
    I also, like others, mentioned that his awesome talent is not so much as a musician, (meaning comparatively to say JG), but with these above mentioned awesome skills.
    What I did say was that I’m just not a big fan, especially of the band, and more specifically I’ve never liked their sound. Jerry once said he couldn’t get into the Doors because they sounded too brittle to HIM....does that mean he’s just using a pejorative generalization? NO, it just means he didn’t like the way they sounded so couldn’t really get past that!
    Same here folks! In fact if anyone is making generalizations it was not me. Some Rubes said some unsubstantiated down and dirty things about Bruce, but I actually tried to explain WHY I don’t like their sound, and thus have never been able to move past that, and therefore,.....here’s the funny part, the point I was ironically, really trying to express was how much his on Broadway solo performance on Netflix blew me away and changed my perspective!
    So to assume I’ve never listened (I’ve listened to Bruce for over forty years wether I wanted to or not on the radio or elsewhere, including living with the misses for 23 years as she’s a huge fan!), so to make such an assumption : that I’ve not listened and thus don’t know what I’m talking about, just because I have a difference of opinion, is actually doing exactly what your accusing me of!
    Also, I don’t think I was shitting on anything, and if I was, I apologize. I admit I could of been a tad less harsh, but if you know me that was some-what exaggerated for humorous affect, and yes, to hopefully elicit more discourse?
    So I’m totally bummed that my personal colorful critique of a 80s pop band caused such a reaction. And yes, I understand most of his best work was before then, and he continued to do so well after the 80s, but to me, sorry, when somebody mentions Bruce, that’s my first thought, that Born in the USA thin pop sound, with no improvisation or any of the things I find important in music. And so yes, as people often do so as to hopefully make a point without having to ramble on like this and micro explain, I used a general phrase, wedding band, to make a point, but I can certainly continue to pontificate why I don’t like their sound etc if you like, but hopefully I’ve made my point. Simply, my personal opinion of WHY I don’t like them, so what?
    Because as most here know, opinions are like A-holes, everyone’s got one, but some of ours work too much...
    Again, I apologize for the way I expressed my opinion, but not that I expressed one. I mean come on, that’s a lot of what we do here, we express our thoughts, and hope we get positive feedback, or respectful discourse, which to me can be just as fun, bantering differing ideas about, than everybody always agreeing about everything....
    So Mr Ones et el, I totally agree with everything you said up until you personally insulted me!
    Buts it’s ok, it’s all good, I can take criticism. I’ve been taking it my whole life. It’s part of being a fuck up LOL
    So peace be with you as LMG would say, and again, please except my apologies if I’ve offended anyone!

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    First

    Big Hello to JRF and thanks for that awesome TJ with Morello. One of those instances when it caught me off guard and just right.

    BILLY THE KID: ditto, thanks for the awesome postS. Can you see how happy Jerry was? I swear as magnificent as the Dead is I sometimes feel I’d rather watch JG with other folks in low profile situations, which is what I did for a while after your Sweetwater songs. Los Lobos, Santana, you name it he could step in and just fly. Think back to all the awesome projects he was working on in the later years that had little or nothing to do with the Dead and it’s really quite a list of really great stuff. As has been speculated before.....have to wonder what might of been if they would have just taken some time off and/or not toured so much. Did the Dead inadvertently kill Jerry?...

    6/21/84: I was there, and don’t recall much except we dropped right on the international border going over the peace bridge, and yeah, that was a blistering Scarlet/Fire, oh and the Band was good, and fun on the encores including I think my first Big Boss Man?

  • Cactus_Jack
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    Box Set Book S90TOO

    Hello, I recently got a Spring 1990 The Other One Box except it came without the 144 page book. I was wondering If anyone had an extra book they would be willing to sell me here. I see individual shows from this set posted on eBay from time to time so assume they may be out there. If you got an extra or know where to find one please PM me. Many thanks

  • stoltzfus
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    2 21 71 release with WD bonus disc

    Getting closer

    I shiver with antici........

    pation

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"To my ears, the best Dead shows are those that not only fit the criteria that make them amongst the best of a year, but that are also completely unique for their era—shows that fit perfectly into their year of performance, but also fall somewhat outside of the norm for that year. Harpur College, Veneta, Cornell, Cape Cod, and Augusta are all shows that are objectively excellent, and if they are not the best from their respective years of performance, they are certainly unique. Miami 6/23/74 falls into that category: not only one of the very best shows from this outstanding year, but also one of the most interesting and unique. It’s certainly worthy of many, many deep listens." - David Lemieux

¡Ándale, ándale! ¡Arriba, arriba! We're back with a hot one from Miami, F-L-A. DAVE’S PICKS VOLUME 34 features the complete show from the Jai Alai Fronton, 6/23/74, one with unparalleled sound quality due in equal parts to the Wall Of Sound and the beautiful sonic clarity of Kidd Candelario's tapes. The first set is chock full of dynamite takes on classics like "Ramble On Rose," "Mississippi Half-Step," and "Cumberland Blues." The second set delivers on the JAMS - one leading into a gorgeous "Ship Of Fools," one rare instrumental version of "Dark Star," and a "Spanish Jam," this is Miami after all! The show also offers up a "first" and an "only" - the former, a Seastones set featuring Phil and Ned Lagin and the latter, the sole Grateful Dead performance of Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock."

Limited to 22,000 numbered copies, DAVE’S PICKS VOL.34: JAI ALAI FRONTON, MIAMI, FL 6/23/74 has been mastered from the 7.5 IPS reel-to-reel tapes to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman. ¡Agarrarlo mientras esta calientito! (Get it while it's hot!)

*Limited to 2 per order. Very limited quantity available.

Subscribed to Dave's Picks? With this release, you'll also get a bonus disc with selections from Miami 6/22/74. Excellente!

....the infamous Wharf Rat show (for all the wrong reasons). I have listened to this one and it was instantly forgettable for sure. Jerrys levels were turned so far down, I believe even he knew something was amiss.

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And I should have added that even when the band didn't bring it on, we still had a good time with our friends and even on an off night, the boys always came through on a few tunes. Imagine playing 3 hrs+ of intense music and making no mistakes, particularly under commercial pressure on a tour with shows attended by 10s of 1000s. Man, I'd plop one in my diapers just coming out on stage...

I do clearly remember a Rocks show in mid-80s when I realized -- having watched Jer for 12 years in the GD and solo -- that he was out of synch somehow. At that time, I wondered if anyone else heard/saw/perceived what I did. I had no idea about his habit at that time, but looking back now realize I knew his music and approach on guitar and vocals well enough to know something was amiss.

But, yeah, to Jim's point, so I caught a sloppy first set. At least I wasn't up on a ladder painting houses that day. Or driving a forklift or a truck, all of which were among the crappy jobs I had before I turned pro at age 28.

I had an amazing run, 1972 to 1992 (no shows between 1987 and 1991). Of the final two, in June '92 in Albany (I was cultivating in the mtns of Vermont that summer), one was so-so, the second one pretty strong.

In fact, just to have been alive at a time when this band was still killing it is one of my greatest pleasures and inspirations.

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"¡Ándale, ándale! ¡Arriba, arriba!"???? That was what the Speedy Gonzalez cartoon character said, based (not very well) on Mexican peasant Spanish. It's a pretty harsh stereotype, and not even accurate given that Miami's Latin community is primarily Cuban, with very few Mexicans. Kind of embarrassed for you.

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In reply to by Vguy72

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Glad I saw every show I was fortunate to see...there were definetly some that weren’t as good as others, definetly plenty of average shows, but I don’t think I ever usually felt the whole show was bad.
Just like after say 91, increasingly, it became less and less likely to see a whole show that was good. By 92 there’d always be moments, but these would decrease with time.
I haven’t listened to most of these yet, and I’ve found that after a listen, usually it will improve a show memory rather than taint it. But I think most of my negative memories were at least somewhat situational, influenced by expecting what we’d been use to for so many years. So the changes, and the scene, and getting a little older, and going back to college at like 30, all influenced our perspective to perhaps be more critical? When I listen now after all these years, I wonder what I was so down about? Much of 87 is like that for me: thought meh for most of it then, but can dig much of it now...
Thus, eventually the brief moments of goodness were starting to not be worth the resources and sacrifices, so we’d only go if nearby or convenient etc. But again, I wouldn’t trade being at anyone of them, and miss it all more than anything!

80s: of course there was some shwill now and again, 86 seems to feel like there could be some ruff patches? But don’t recall ever feeling a whole show sucked. Used to think 3/13/81 was lame, but the recording has proved it was just me! Now I love that show.
91: saw 6, recall all were at least decent, most good, nothing mind blowing
92: saw 6, recall most were decent. Some had good moments or sections
93: only went to 6/13/93. Really need to listen to this one because my recollection was being pretty disappointed. Don’t mean like multiple train wrecks or anything, just phone it in, boring? We’ll have to listen...
94: 7/13/94 was probably the worst? That or the last 2 in 95...again, more “what the fuck is going on with these guys” and Jerry was obviously having issues. Recall it was a bit of a shit show too, definetly hot/muggy. Was stoked for Vermont, but didn’t live up to expectations. Will have to listen some time...
7/31/94 & 8/1/94 recall being decent, had fun, and 8/1 was surprisingly mostly good. Felt like maybe there was still hope...
95: 6/30 wasn’t too bad either. Fun second set, but I think the weather had a lot to do with that. I think it inspired the band as well as us. 7/8&9/95: what can I say, it was ruff. Remember thinking “glad we didn’t pay for this crap” (there as associates of The Band) and “something is really, really wrong with Jerry”. Like it was getting seriously alarming just to look at him, and well, I have listened to these and unfortunately they do seem to reinforce the feeling of dread, some impending doom that was in the air, especially after all the reports about the whole troubled tour. But I’m really glad we went because it was totally serendipitous that we were even there, and it was nice to be there at the end.

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Because it was the last one!! I still have two unused tickets to this show... My friend bought tickets but they arrived the next day, went to will call and they wrote us a pass to get in...

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In reply to by Oroborous

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DaveRock - I was also at all the Wembley shows including 11/1 which you went to. I remember it being a decent show but they were obviously tired after a long schlep through Europe and Jerry had a bad cold. Still glad I went. After the show I just wanted to get back to my home in Nottingham after having driven down each night for the concerts and also a little zonked from travelling to Paris to catch the shows there (both excellent by the way). My friend said something like ‘hang around for a bit Frank, we won’t see them again’ and he was right. They never made it back to England.

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In reply to by frankparry

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Frank - yes, I have heard that show 11/1/90, since and its much better than I remember it. I was at all three of the Wembley shows, too. It must have been great going to Paris to see them - it never occurred to me to do that.

One of the things that sticks in my mind was how many American there were at those Wembley shows. They must have travelled all over Europe with them, and they dominated the atmosphere of the shows, from what I remember. All very intriguing-the atmosphere outside Wembley as well. I saw them twice in 1981 in London, and the American presence was nowhere near as noticeable then.

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In reply to by frankparry

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I started going in '86, so I don't have peak 70s or 60s shows to judge against.

I do not remember too many 'meh' shows until '92. And upon listening to the tapes, I realized it was usually me. Some better than others.

Nothing jaw droppingly good after that. Though there were jaw dropping moments, even in '95 (Unbroken Chain).

I guess my poorest would be my first and last. 7/2/86 Akron Rubber Bowl with Dylan & Petty (Petty carried the day). Jerry was in a coma soon thereafter. And the last Deer Creek show in summer '95, Bob singing Desolation Row as Heads broke through the gate & tore down the fence. Next show cancelled. Never saw Jerry again.

Bronze medal to Charlotte '95, even with Hornsby there, you could really tell he was struggling. High Time seemed all too appropos.

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Wharf Rat

wooowww.

The audience sure seems to like it.

Poor Jerry. The other band members must have been horrified.

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In reply to by stoltzfus

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....there's an aud tape out there somewhere where you can hear people around the taper muttering comments and they seemed kinda scared when Jerry got totally lost. There are arguments out there that he was just restructuring the song ala Dylan. No. No he wasn't. The man was lost. Sad.
I would look for it, but i want to stay in a good mood

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This show was a blast, from start to finish. This year and 1982 were the two best years at the Frost, a great box set could be made out of those 4 shows! The Frost was a very cool place to see the Dead!

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Listening to it again now. I know I listened to it another time when it came up for discussion, but didn't remember what was so wrong with it. Four minutes in, it's coming back to me. This is sad. Why he sticks to a Throwing Stones kind of riff and that fast singing is just baffling. That he gets the words tells me he was at least able to read the words on the prompter, but it's like he's reading a chord chart and never heard the song, let alone played it 300 times. But as bad as it is, it's better than the zero shows I got to see.

It's terrible that it got to where it did for Jerry that summer that he had weeks left to live. But, he also made it long past many of his peers, and stayed in the same band and helped shape both the direction and history of, not just rock, but music, and across the globe. It's great reading something that isn't about the Dead, but happens to mention them in some way, usually with a touch of snideness. Like they can point out the innovations brought about by their pioneering live sound in the 1960s that they used to propel rock music to a louder, clearer representation of the most mind blowing and exploratory music in the rock idiom. And had these pioneering PAs long before they went down Owsley's rabbit hole toward The Wall. So an article on sound may credit them with the best sound based on high level engineering and the resultant companies such as JBL, Meyer Sound, and Alembic while also mentioning in a mocking way Owsley's other claim to fame and deride the Dead as a bunch of drugged out people noodling endlessly and unable to play a song, missing the fact that the term noodling was coined to belittle Mozart's piano playing and the Dead are responsible for some of the great songs in the rock canon. Today's resurgence of bands playing their songs, of John Mayer touring this music, JRAD a supergroup devoted to covering this music, Phil's A-List lineups for 20 years proves greater than the off nights like 6/18/95. (On the Lucy in the Sky encore now and can't help but wonder if that choice was a nod to Jerry's reason for spacing out on Wharf Rat?)

Long rant, but the point can be summed up thus: Jai Alai Fronton (hopefully) arrives in days, and that's literally the kind of show that got somebody like me who never got to see them become a guy who has two giant shelves on one bookcase, and a third on another holding my official releases. 6/18/95 will never be on a shelf, and that's okay.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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....your turn.

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Very cool post.

I had never listened to that Wharf Rat before tonight. So, so sad.

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....one listen was enough for me.
I was warned by reading the archive comments, but I had to hear for myself.

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Just received mine. I cant really remember a show being bad enough to remember 30 years or so later. I was always partying to much to remember. All I know is that those concerts were the best days of my life.

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First off I hope everyone is safe and healthy on these parts...strange times indeed...anyway at the beginning of the year i finally lost it with iTunes (yeah I know, who hasn't)...I asked for advice here and got pointed in the right direction on various portable Digital Music Players, ended up getting a mid level Sony player that plays Hi Res music files, FLAC, WAV, MP3, ACC etc....it's strictly a drag and drop...it only holds 16 GB's worth of music but it can handle 128 GB micro SD cards...I have 4 of those filled with various stuff...the only problem is my car stereo won't recognize the files through the USB connection but it does play through the AUX input, problem with that is you cant control the player as you drive...I broke down and bought some 24/96 bit downloads of some of my classic needs and have had a blast listening to them...my last five (through headphones)

Brothers & Sisters Super Deluxe Edition The Allman Brothers...4 disc set with discs 3 & 4 being a complete '73 Winterland show that is simply amazing

Live at Leeds Deluxe Edition The Who...incredible sound, Keith's drums just snap out at you...this download actually had the correct running order of the show unlike the CD release that had the first part and the end of the concert on Disc 1 so Tommy could run complete on Disc 2...

I had to go to my Dylan Trio ... Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde...

Although I won't be buying a whole lot more of these Hi Res downloads for now I will keep an eye out for more faves...what i reallly like about this player is there is no need to convert files, I can just drop them straight in...

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In reply to by Jason Wilder

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Daverock - I went to some of both the spring and fall 1981 Rainbow shows too. I was living just down the road in Highbury at the time so no travelling. Now you mention it, there did seem to be more Americans in 1990. I saw someone who looked like Dave Lemieux in the line outside one of the Wembley gigs. This might be me back-projecting because this is 30 years ago and he would have been very young and not like he looks now. I think he did go to the shows in London, though. Whoever it was was talking (in a North American accent) to someone in the line and was carrying a large back pack which for some reason or another I remember after all these years.

I thought the 1981 shows, as much as I enjoyed seeing them, were a little subdued. I hadn’t really been following the band at the time as can be shown by the fact that I was not aware that Keith and Donna had left! I loved the venue though as much as I disliked Wembley (the venue, not the music). Paris was a blast. I only went because I used to buy (and occasionally write an article for) an English fanzine called Spiral Light and a group of us hired a coach to go over.

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Sounded better than I expected. Sounded more like confusion that sets in after a fresh bong hit of Blue Dream than H.

Anyway, saw them at the Knick on the 22nd of June, 11 from the end, last Help Slip Franklin. I wasn't a hardcore Deadhead in those days, but it sounded good and the crowd had a good time. Nobody in the crowd I was with seemed aware of Jerry's health issues other than being overweight and hoping nothing like the 86 diabetes incident recurred.

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In reply to by frankparry

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Frank..yes, I remember it well. I subscribed from about 1986-1996. I have just been up in the attic to have a look at the few remaining copies I have left, and there only seem to be two up there. But lo and behold, in issue 35, there you are-credited in the section marked "Help On The Way". I was quite sorry to see you hadn't actually written article in it-or in the other one I have. I wondered what happened to all those people who wrote for that fanzine. I had one article published-but I no longer have it.

Going back to the 1981 and 1990 London shows-the 1981 shows did seem a lot more sedate, as I remember them. The atmosphere was no different from any of the other concerts I saw. A band on stage, people sitting or standing in their appointed or assumed place-a few people dancing about-everybody facing the stage.
In 1990, when I arrived-again on 1/11/90, people around me seemed to be cheering or shouting, even though nothing was happening on stage. When the band came on the crowd were very noisy-throughout both sets. Even during quiet songs-I can remember people around me shouting and cheering during Stella Blue. The atmosphere was more like that at a football game than at any other concert I had seen. It might be a gross misunderstanding...but the people around me seemed more interested in making their presence felt than they were in listening to the music. Maybe just a different way of enjoying a show.

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Sixtus - Agreed, I always felt lucky to be at a dead show. Like you had a chance to watch magic happen.

Daverock - the crowd. Lord knows this conversation has occurred here before, but, yeah, why the hell do you go to a concert and then talk the whole time. Especially during a quite passage. Jerry searching out the dark corners of Stella and some asshole gotta yell, "JERRY". Yeah I'm sure he needed that inspiration to carry on.

Finally just listened to that Wharf Rat folks have been whining over, come on, it's okay. :-)

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Morning, rockers!!!

Wasn't supposed to be at work today, but lol here I am....................

So, is today the anniversary of the greatest dead show ever played????

Rock on my friends!!

Doc
P.S. As I recall, 4/1/85 was also kind of a stinker, the Dead played their own April Fool's Day joke on us.........

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....got my notice, looks like this is starting to drop - a burst of sunshine among dark days!

And incidentally Dave is playing portions of this on Sirius right now as I type (it's a repeat play from yesterday but even so -Cumberland is sounding fantastic).

In other news, I installed a 9-hole very legit disc golf course at my house over the past weekend, baskets & all. It allows you to walk the entire property while also honing your disc-chucking chops. All holes are Par 3, except for the third hole, which his an uphill Par 5. This is a perfect social distancing sport. Who's around?

Hope All are Well
Sixtus

...and saw AJS's clarification that his intention was not to talk about your worst show.. I hadn't read the whole thing and replied to the most recent post.

But I was thinking before I went back to bring up the most fun had a show as a nice pivot. Not to be confused with Best Show seen, the Most Fun. An easy one for me.. 6/20/83, Merriweather Post Pavilion. The great flood.

Noah where art though.

There must have been special pixie dust in the brew that night. If you've ever seen Fantasia, think the moment in the film midway through the Sorcerer's Apprentice where Mickey Mouse discovers he has magical powers but doesn't understand he cannot fully control them and things get away from him, and fast. Great water reference in the film too. That's what things were like that night.

Far from the best show I have seen but far and away the most fun. That storm! The energy, then the storm got down right scary, it must have rained four or more inches during the show, it was a deluge.. and the band kept playing on. Very Phil Centric and Loud... There must have bene something in my tea that night because most of memories were more related to the mayhem then the music and we had to literally swim home as we had walked to the show and all the highways and roads were quite flooded by the time show had ended. So imagine swimming home from a dead show with the fungus just beginning to wear off scratching your head and trying to piece back together what had just happened.

More fun than a frog in a glass of milk.

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Got the tracking number this morning. I did the subscription.
I’m psyched for this release. The SBD/AUD matrix on archive.org is really great. I love the sonic clarity of soundboards and the atmosphere of audience.

Interesting note. When Zeppelin were touring in ‘72 Jimmy page set up three audience mikes . A track dedicated to each audience Mike. I love that setup. Soundboard clarity plus audience atmosphere.

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regarding your fave Bowie boot, Santa Monica Civic '72...Being a So Cal resident I went to many a show at The Civic...I actually had a ticket for this show along with another three of my buds...unfortunately we had gathered way earlier than usual at a friend's house for a little pre-gig partying.... I imbibed a in a little too much alcohol and as I wasn't very much of a drinker when it came time to leave my pals left me snoring on the couch...they claimed to to try to wake me but I always thought it a bit suspicious that they gave my ticket to the prettiest young lady at the party and took her...oh well...

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Most fun show?

Maybe Lewiston 9/6/80. Great day of music (not just the Dead, although they did play a fine show), outdoors in Maine, tons of fun.

SPAC 6/27/85 was also fun. Only show I went to solo. Rode out on the bike, beautiful day, sat on the lawn and just enjoyed the heck out of the music. Rode down to Hershey the next day, maybe a better show but not as much fun.............

Most intense shows, anybody???
6/26/74
9/27/76
5/7/77
10/12/84
10/20/84

Rock on!!!

Doc
Celebrate 4/28/71!

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In reply to by nappyrags

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Looks like it’s coming USPS the whole way. USPS hasn’t received it yet. Wonder if it’s coming from Gnarlywood or Franklin.

Nappy, you lightweight, you missed a good show. The remastered version from a few years ago sounds way better than the CD I got in the 90’s.

Disc golf tournie at Sixtus’?

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Got the Shipping Notice. Said it will arrive Friday May 1st. coming from California

Saw the Dead hundreds of times between 1968 and 1995. Best years and Shows are from 1968 to 1974...second best times were 1976 to 1978. Early 1980's were still good but never got the magic from 1974 and earlier shows late 80's and early 90's were good too. only a few shows from mid 80's and Mid 90's were "so so" because of Jerry's condition.

I like any years for releases of shows between 1965 and 1995 as long as the sound quality is good. Those shows from the Fillmore East that lasted until Sunrise will always be among my Favorites, Jersey City 73 Watkins Glen 73 Philly Civic center 74 ALL GOOD

Chuck

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In reply to by nappyrags

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Nappyrags...whoops. Not the best show to miss in 1972 ! Even at 15 I could sense that this was a game changer.

From what you say, Doc, I would go on to say that our experience of any show depended-and still depends on, for that matter-a number of factors. And the music played is only one of them. Who we are at the time and our own personal state and circumstances influences how we perceive anything at any given time. And as William Blake wrote " A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees." Same thing with Dead shows.

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For Jim & others,

Ain't dead yet. The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated, although I often do feel these days that I have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Stroke, pneumonia, hip bursitis, what's next, the Andromeda Strain???

Since we've been speaking of best & worst & such:
I recall that we didn't have a good time at Colt Park in 76. I think because we had some bad acid. Many speak highly of that show, musically speaking..............

But we did have a marvelously trippy time at Springfield in 78............

Off for my MRI. As the deadhead said, Garcia later..............

Rock it on out,

Doc

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In reply to by Jason Wilder

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Jason, do you have a brother named Todd? I think I went to school with him in PA. Thought he had an older brother named Jason.

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Hey, Dave. All right? Wow, yesterday came to me here in Brazil the vol 33. Today I ran to book vol 34 and it's over? What a pity.. I'm not in luck anyway. Too bad because I really wanted to hear this GD show.

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Another great show at the Frost, just as good as the day before, if not better. The whole show burns, two encores, U.S. Blues and She Belongs to Me. 1985 and 1982 more then release worthy as a 4 show box set. The Frost and the Orpheum. Theatre, my two favorite places to see the Dead.

I hadn't given up on you Doc.. but a life well still being lived didn't sound as good so I left the wording alone.

Rock on.. Now, I have to visit the what are you listening to now thread because I hear the show du jour is Big Rock Pow Wow.. Love that release.

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In reply to by tysonsupina

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Was this directed at me?

If so, nope. Only child (though I do have 5 step brothers/sisters). Grew up and an still in Ohio. Though I had some real good friends that went to school in Philly.

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We had big fun at a LOT of shows. Some ones that come to mind: Buckeye '88, St. Pete '88, Cincy '89, Alpine '89, Foxboro '89, Spectrum '89, Hartford '90, Copps '90, Louisville '90, Deer Creek/Tinley Park '90, Richfield '90 (my 21st), Buckeye '91, Buffalo '92, Deer Creek/Buckeye '92, Richfield '93 (even with the snow out), Deer Creek/RFK '93, RFK '94, Auburn Hills '94.

Big fun.

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Received mine as well.

Regarding the Blizzard '93 show, upon listening later was better than I remembered. I do remember the run of songs "Terrapin > Jam > Drums > Miracle > Stella Blue" being really well played. That Stella is one of my favorites I saw. Very powerful jam.

With the exception of the Deer Creek riot show in 95', the 50 some odd shows I attended were enjoyable experiences. Alpine 86' & 87' probably the most fun. Buckeye 88' was about as not "social distancing" friendly in today's terms as it got. Jam packed. A crazy fun time for a 106 degree day.

I would give anything to be back in the day of seeing Jerry play live. I Think we could all attest to that.

On a side thought, that Germany run from E72' are really nice.

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Glad to see you back.

You and I have a lot of overlap.

I agree completely about SPAC and Hershey. SPAC was way more fun. Perhaps it was the long drive through the night or maybe the torrential rain, but Hershey was not much fun.

4/1/85 was an average show for me. The previous night was the Day Tripper, so it might have been a let down. If I recall, that was the night it snowed during the show. We exited to over 6 inches of snowfall and had to drive 5 hours through the back roads of Maine to get back to school. Arrived at 6:30 in the morning and had a Signals and Systems exam at 8:00. Got a 41. The highest grade in the class. My proudest moment in college.

Every Maine show I attended was a ton of fun. I never missed one in all my years of touring. Such a great place.

Most fun shows, aside from 10/12/84, certainly did not coincide with a well played concert.

10/12/84 stands far apart from any concert that I ever attended. Everything about it. The drive up to Augusta was during peak foliage. Just spectacular scenery. 10/11/84 was an average show. We under-dosed mushrooms and slept in the car at near freezing temperatures. The wooded knoll was too crowded to sleep. Not fun by any means. We awoke to unbelievably warm sunshine. Found a government building in town with a locker room and hot showers. Refreshed, we headed back to the Civic Center. Everyone was in such a good mood. The show itself needs no explanation. A life changing experience for sure. I will never forget walking out of there and wondering what the hell just happened.

As an aside, I was up in Maine last summer doing the tour of the three LACs with my daughter. The whole place is now littered with strip malls. Kinda sad, but I will always have those memories.

Most fun shows:

All the Maine shows were great. Oxford was especially fun, but nothing more than average shows. By average, it was still far better than anything out there. Just not life altering. That only happens once. I posted a month or so ago about Milwaukee 89. Probably the most fun we ever had, because of the town itself, not the shows. Again, nothing more than average.

Ironically, 7/4/87 was once of the worst shows I ever saw, but also the most fun. There were 30 of us. We were well aware of the headache getting out of there, so came fully prepared with grills, food, beer, etc. Way more fun hanging out in the parking lot than the show itself.

Funny you mention 10/20/84. I was there too. The Angry Jack Straw to close the first set. Never saw anything like that again either.

Peace Doc and be well.

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