Grateful Dead

So by now everyone’s fully settled into the Rectum run, and speculation and expectations are running high. So far only the Death Don’t, as far as the Big ticket tour items, so what would it be tonight, and would we go home slightly disappointed with Hampton as the “ones” and missed opportunity in Philly?
Certainly not out the gate. Nice 1-2 Touch O-GSET, with the usual era M.O.: loose but spirited. Then a nice Candyman, the second of only two on the tour. Another of those loose canon Weir rockers, Picasso Moon, which still seams a work in progress, but rocking. A decent Little Light, probably my favorite Bret tune, perhaps a bit smoother than some of the previous? A spirited Jed, Memphis, Stagger Lee, and set closing Promised Land....or wait??, WTF? Que other big top tour item from this show, the first ever of only 2 California EarthQuakes!
Though unfortunately I don’t have many specific memories from these shows, I do have a Kodak moment in my thick skull of this. So JG doesn’t stop, the crowd goes from end of set roar to you could hear a pin drop as I don’t think anyone knew this old tune. So everyone was tuned into try and hear what it was etc. By the time it builds up to that first chorus, the place goes GD nutz! Since those horrible quakes had just happened out there, everyone was well aware of the dire situation, and in true, magnificent GD style, they fucking killed it! What a tribute, made me proud to be a Californian and I’ve only been there visiting like a month total over the years. I’m literally getting choked up remembering this top shelf, all time personnel GD moment, a small elite, but powerful league to be sure.
So now the energy in the building is bursting. Will we get the DS, the Attics, a Dew, at least a Bid Thee Goodnight to close the run?
The second of only two Hey Pocky Ways to start the second, into the only Scarlet Fire of the tour, and a good showing. followed by a Truckin’ that morphs into a wild Other One Jam, 89 weirdness style, which devolves even more into the primordial ooze of drums/space midi electronic psychedelic joy, eventually morphing into I will Take You Home, which would normally be a good change up and it’s usual spot, but with each passing song the dream is weakening...
And though we get solid Other One>Rat>Maggy, with a usually appropriate run closing Brokedown, second of only two on the tour, I have to admit, there was a small let down. LOL, makes me think of DHBrewers awesome DaP 36 post! Ah gee shucks, lol. We’re so spoiled! ; )
Never the less, a great time was had by all, and a super run of shows that I was so fortunate to be at. So yeah I’m biased, but I think these three should land somewhere, someday officially. And though I’ve dreamed of a fall 89 comprehensive tour box, probably something smaller, say 5-7 shows depending on how you slice it would be more appropriate? In that case, which of these shows would get the ax? Tough call, some help reduce repetitiveness over several shows, some have tour rarities, some historical moments. I’d think at least 2 should be included, with the third day being a future Dave’s? Perhaps just a Spectrum 3 show box? Meh, think it needs a bit more bling?
So so far my ruff draft fantasy box list would something look like this:

- 9/29/89 for obvious reasons, but depending on space?
(* 10/8&9/89: already out. 2 from Hampton)
-10-14-89 my choice of the 4 not released yet. Would be 2 from Jersey
- 10/15/89 Jersey runner up
(*10/16/89 already out)
- 10/18,19,20/89: I can’t pick? Say 2 for the box, one for Dave’s?
So say four or five so far with 2 Charlottes and a Miami to go. If both Charlottes and the Miami are worthy, that puts us at
1- 9/29
2- 1 Jersey
3/4- 2 Philly
5/6- 2 Charlotte?
7- 10/25 Miami ?
Including previously released material, this would give us 2 from each venue, with the single 9/29 show as a bonus disc for a total of 7 shows? Maybe too early to decide yet...so,

Ok, on to Charlotte. Besides an unusually positioned H/S/F on 10/22, and 2 more biggins on 10/23, I’m stoked because I’ve never heard these before! So, when the Gods allow.....Onward!

My 75th show picks up Rockin’ right where they left off the previous night, like a luge outta the gate, rattling around on the track, potentially out of control, through the first turns of Bucket, and a tad smoother into West LA, but eventually settle in and their here to play! After Bob? has to mess with shit, thearby taking the proverbial wind outta the sails, but eventually they come back with a good Victim, though it’s interesting to note this and Blow Away on this tour are more truncated versions. In the case of Blow Away that’s probably good as I think the extended rant versions could get stale if done all the time. Victim on the other hand would grow into a ridiculous auditory beast especially on the spring 90 tour and with the use of the surround speakers. Perhaps my personal fav is the one from Hamilton which unfortunately being a stereo recording does not let you experience the amazing weirdness we enjoyed on the floor that night!
Then, yes indeedy it does have a Cumberland! Followed by a spacey Cassidy>>Dough Knees.
But the biggest highlights of this show, and perhaps the run, come in the second set.
Only the Third Help-Slip-Franks since 9/12/85, and a fine showing they were. Next a status quo Estimated/Eyes, but I want to say I think I remember some nice midi weirdness in Estimated? Or maybe I’m mixing up my shows?
Onward through the weirdness zone, with gentle reintegration via The Wheel, which slides nicely into Mr Fantasy/Hey Jude Finale, only the second of two on the tour, which means wait for it....that’s right we’re getting a Death Don’t, the second of only two on the tour, and only the third since 4/26/70, and what a experience, get bumps just thinking bout it. Perhaps my fav of the three, but I need to line em up back to back...
Lovelight is a nice choice to finish/follow the big dog, and a always welcome Baby Blue encore, cept this time we might of been disappointed hoping for an Attics, but expecting at least a We Bid Thee Goodnight! Keep em wanting more eh!
This one definitely needs to come out in some form.

Phewwww, it’s crazy how fast you can fall behind, but dagnammit I started this tour and I’m gonna finish.
So anniversary schedule is out the window but that’s ok cause I’ve been marinating in these shows to try recapture some of that old school familiarity like back in the day when you’d only get a few tapes now and then so you’d play nothing but until you knew em inside out...so several plays on the pad only at work, but had some nice proper listens at home this weekend. Overall there a little chameleon like, much like most of this tour. One day something doesn’t sit right, but the next time time you listen your going, ohhhh. Most 89, but not quite spring 90 tight, including the midi, but then outta nowhere some weird hiccup, or ruff spot. Bob especially seems to have some “moments” on this tour, mostly small and/or subtle, he’s playing great and he's dialing in the raunch nicely (think it started going too far later in the 90s?) but somethings just a tad off now and again? Perhaps this is why he uses tapes and gives cudos to summer tour versus fall more often?
But it’s the kind of thing you wouldn’t really notice unless your doing the whole tour like this...and it’s kinda nit picking.

So, 10/18. Opens with the only Shakedown of the tour, and though HENDRIXFREAK and I won’t be goofing around about GOAT anytime soon, its still a nice opener and a nice treat on this tour. Like much of this time span, it starts kinda relaxed, low key, and on its on time, but once the cobwebs come off it’s decent. Other highlights include a Peggy O just for Jimmy, a spacey Birdsong into a decent Music Never. Perhaps a short but sweet first set and a good first night of multi night run show. Back with an upbeat China/Rider Jers rippin. Nice Ship of Fools followed by a 89 style Women Are, and a Terrapin that spaces out into the awesome weirdness zone, formerly know simply as drums/space, with more of the psychedelic majesty, even if it is electronically induced versus chemical!
But they come Rockin’ outta there with the 1-2 punch of Gimme Sum>>Watchtower, with JG keeping it real with a sweet Black Pete, with Bob bringing it home with rocking A&A/Good Lovin’, with an upbeat US Blues Encore to suggest more to come manana.
Nice run opener with any signs of 10/16 hangover gone like an afternoon hair o the dog! Nice show, definitely some kind of release worthy?

GOGD: as always thanks for the crack detective work. Quite a scene...I’ve heard Phil be Phil and heckle folks, but that was out right venom. “There is nothing like a GD concert” hee-hee. Can’t believe I’ve never heard about this one?

JIM: yes agree, according to the charts were over due for both Dave’s and a box for 1972, and were overdue for a 78 Dave’s, but obviously that’s changed. Still wonder about a early 78 box cause ya know those ABCD Beatty’s are getting released someway sometime, and he has been rooting in there. Guessing too close on the heals of the summer 78 box, but after the knuckle balls he’s chucked this year anything is possible, which is great!
Boy wouldn’t that be great if there was more quality stuff from fall 80, hell any 80 would be sweet, another black hole of underrepresentation! I’ve always felt like it doesn’t add up that ALL the tapes, especially quality multi-tracks could totally disappear? Sumthin don’t smell right? So hope your right! I know Deadvikes wouldn’t be the only one happy about that! Honestly, I think I’d rather have a cherry picked mid sized box than a comprehensive boxilla of all the shows. I know that’s sort of blasphemy, but practically speaking it might make sense...hopefully there’s somethin...

Crazy stuff at the Met Center. Maybe that is why they didn't come back to that venue until the late 1980s.

1980 you say Jim?? I am in of course. Hard to know what they will do next year and of course when it will be released. If it is a fall release, it will be something like 18 months between box set releases. Too long for this guy. One thing is for sure, they keep us guessing.

Like Oroborous said, we have those great years that are lost in space! So true. 80,81 and I will add 79 to that list as well. I think there is some great shows in that year.

Yes and I would love the 74 Winterland Box Conekid, that would be a break the website release.

The piece of film that I have is the very beginning of OMSN. What I thought looked like a crew member doing a repair on stage is actually a camera man.

It’s been a while since I’ve watched the movie. Makes me really want the entire run to be released in a Box with audio and video.

Thanks Oro.. this seems to indicate the series is more balanced than a lot of people seem to acknowledge.

As for box, call me crazy, but I am speculating 72 or 80. My logic on 1980 is pure speculation. If they had some hidden reels (and there's a part of me that thinks they must), the certainly would not tell us. Perhaps when they were seeing what if anything was releasable.. while rummaging around the found a couple shows to be released as spin-offs giving us 10/8 and 10/9. Which gives them time to go through the good stuff and plan out a box set a couple years later. 1972, do we need a reason? Thinking the Fox Theatre St. Louis or the rest of the BCT's (if they have them). 69 will always be a wild card. Ark Ark.

10/23/73 - Fight -
So there's some good comments on Archive.org in regards to this, but the following eyewitness review seems to shed the most light:

Reviewer: duckpond74 - favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - November 30, 2010
Subject: a little history here . . .
What really sucked was that this show was advertised as "The Grateful Dead Performing 3 Sets". Casey Jones was the first song of Set 3. The fight was ugly - several security dudes beating on one guy who was dancing in the aisle right in front of the stage, even Bill K. jumped off the stage to help break things up and security started pounding on Bill, that's what Phil is so upset about. The melee ended soon after. By then, Jerry and Phil were both sitting on the stage floor - everyone seeming quite upset by this sudden change of weird energy and bad vibe. The band had several discussions - you could see that they were at serious odds about whether they should continue with the plan and do a third set. After all, the first two sets were well played, creative and joyful. When they finally tried to play Saturday Night, you could tell their hearts and minds were no longer into continuing this night. Too bad for all of us. Those security punks must have left their 'Minnesota Nice' at the door or when they donned their uniforms.

So Billy K jumped down into the melee, following in the footsteps of Marty Balin circa 1969. It sounds like Billy faired a little better and it was Security Guards instead of Pool Cue wielding Hell's Angels.

Fascinating. It makes you wonder what could have been during Set 3. I was under the assumption it was an encore, but shit.. that coulda been a Dark Star or something amazing.

Wang Dang Soundcheck started circulating online in mid 2008 when Charlie Miller posted his Transfer of SBD > Master Reel > Dat. Outside of an Official Release, it doesn't get any better than that.

Speaking of Official Releases (nice segue huh? I like transitions)... Man this 5/26/72 is sooooo goood.
Set 1 is essentially a Full Show.
And then... you get some of the greatest music they ever played.
Pigpen's organ fills during Europe '72 are the cherry on top, he's got the tastiest licks imho.
I've always liked his sense of when to lay back and when to add color.
Really enjoying this Truckin' boy howdy, I see what those folks in Turlock were excited about.
Good Stuff!

Woah, don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like that at a dead show before. At first I though someone must of chucked a bottle or something. Can’t believe I’ve never read about this before?
WANG DANG: weird, not listed in either a Deadbase 10 or 50? Neither is OMSM? Sounds like a job for inspector Good Old....I’m wondering since they obviously don’t really know it if it was an off the cuff reaction to the fighting, I mean it is the perfect song for it lol.
Great show though, just your typical fall 73, yawn, NOT! Hadn’t heard this one before. Probably cause no DS? Do Love those Trucking/Nobody sequences though. Man what a great tour! Still haven’t gotten to 10/19, just haven’t had time for real sit down in the big boy chair, and that show requires nothing less!
Been enjoying the picks this week although only on iPad at job site. Tis why I’ve had to delay my fall 89 excursion...did listen to the three Philly shows a bunch on the pad, but didn’t get time for them on the big system until last night. After 10/23/73, and most of 10/18/89 on the pad at work, did 10/18&19/89 last night under proper conditions and yeah, still think Philly was a great run. More on that later. Have to make the best of probably the last nice day this year as it’s supposed to snow and drop from high sixties today to lows near zero by Monday, Booooo!
One thing I don’t like here, going from extremes with no acclimation time, it’s a horrible shock to the system!
So out to the garage it is. Perfect for 5/26/72 and then perhaps 10/20/89, with proper replay upstairs tonight.
More to come...
Onward!

The waiting.....