• 8,081 replies
    marye
    Joined:
    Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • dmcvt
    Joined:
    Billy Idol: Worm Wedding

    Hey little sister, who’s your only worm…

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Ha..

    There has to be a VHS of that wedding party somewhere, I want to see it.

    If it does surface, Oro, this could seriously jeopardize your career in politics.

    Truth be known, nobody strives to become a worm farmer. Most just marry into it.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    City Island

    Looks like a cool venue.
    Didn’t get the best listen of 84, but Felt like it was a creeper and really liked the space with that 100’ tall bullfrog of Jers, from then out was good. I agree Jim, like 83 better. Always been a favorite since it was one of the best sounding tapes I ever had. Buddy found new awesome tape source, but then just as suddenly lost it, as my buddy knocked up his boss at the worm farms daughter and after the (white wedding) ,no more soup for him as they were ultra religious lol. Still kicking myself for not getting the sources number!
    Best it gets better, they hired us to play at the wedding reception.
    So clueless freaks we were, we bring all our McIntosh amps, JBL speakers, racks of gear etc (basically same stage gear as the boys at the time) to this little fire hall. Of course we dressed up; I had my best pocket tee shirt, Levi corduroys and desert boots on lol.
    So late, and high like usual, we set up and prep and the shrooms are kicking in and we finally get on stage and tune up and 1,2, 3, and turn around and step to the mic and HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU, (figured good wedding opener) and as I finally start to realize the reality of the situation were in as I stare at the mostly old, conservative, suit wearing crowd, now glaring back at us lol, well, it was definitely an interesting evening to say the least lol.
    Just glad I didn’t get the fear onstage!
    But it gets better. Somehow, music for the trad dances etc was never contemplated by anyone, hey we were hippie musicians not wedding planners lol. So during set break we panicked and somehow somebody got a tape deck that we integrated into the PA and the drummer found an Eagles tape in his car.
    So we think, Peaceful Easy feelings a nice song, that’ll work for the new couple to dance to. (Can’t remember what the father daughter dance was).
    So eventually things had mellowed a bit as the civilians loosened up a little and we figured out where we actually were and tried to adjust accordingly lol, and so the dances are going well and then eventually the new couple starts swaying to the mellow vibes of Peaceful Easy Felling as the crowd all smiles looks on, and then…ooops, the line “I want to sleep with you in the desert tonight”…Doahhh Right back in the dog house with the old conservative church crowd once again staring daggers at us, like “yeah ya stupid freaks, that’s what got us here in the first place”!

    For sure one of the weirdest gigs ever, and the last we ever saw of old Druggels again, poor bastard: no more fun, no more Dead especially or rock and roll at all, prolly still working at the worm farm!
    How we used to race around and be in all these crazy situations while tripping amazes me all these years later? Guess practice makes perfect lol.

    5/31/69, good sheet, really enjoyed that one, will have to check out the upgrade.
    But first I’m onto Toga!
    Onward!

  • Dennis
    Joined:
    Jim City Island 84

    Was there,,,, mostly I remember the bridge you had to walk across. My records show we thought Black Peter was the hit of the day. Playing Eyes right now,,, not a bad recording,,,, but a FAST Eyes.

  • Forensicdoceleven
    Joined:
    Crazy man crazy...............

    Morning, rockers!!

    For anybody interested in such things, a "new & improved" copy of May 31, 1969 just hit general circulation, courtesy of the kind folks at the GEMS network. Definitely worth a listen and thank you very much!!!

    Some people never go crazy, what truly horrible lives they must live.....

    Rock on!

    Doc
    Out of my mind, back in five minutes............

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Re: City Island, Harrisburg 84

    Not a very memorable show, I liked the 83 show there a little better. Chill venue though.. we had a good time. I think between the bunch of us we could not put the setlist together after the show. Perhaps this shows our state of mind...

    Merriweather was a few days away and they were much better shows which unfortunately let this one slip from memory into the ravages of time.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Finally

    1984: I’ve made up to Summer tour, which starting on I’m on today, starting with my 40th anniversary of my first time seeing the boys in a foreign country lol.
    Really, in those pre 911 days, for us locals it was more like going to the next county, or state. 6/21/84, complete with THE Band opening, Wavy Gravy, and Kesey was a blast and definitely a good show, but not RJ.
    So my buddy Tree drove us in his lil Bug and we both dropped at the exact international point on the bridge
    (hey if they gave us one of the occasional quick search’s we had nothing in our possession, with plenty of good black hash etc at the show, and we’d be back on the road before things started getting weird)
    so a few hours later, by the time we got there things were definitely getting interesting! I always mix this one up with 87 as our mo etc was very similar.
    But for those who don’t know, the venue was within Canadas Wonderland amusement park. So having to enter in the middle of FAMILIES!!!, ya know, normal people and children! And, all while being in the middle of what seemed like we were in the middle of the real life Flintstones as everything seemed like some kind of Disney land plastic stone prehistoric village lol. I distinctly recall LMAO after getting in and over the fear, thinking, I’m in a Flintstones episode lol. Hey, the fear was real man ; )
    I’m Onto 6/23 as I type, betting Jim was there? Started out kinda ruff but creeping into it, it’s picking up nicely.
    Won’t rehash all of 84 as I’ve previously posted, except just to say similar better overall than expected, with plenty of good ones in April, and the Rocks, especially 6/13, perhaps one of the years best?
    Ok, going native again, sorry for the intrusion, hopefully somebody gets something outta it lol.
    ONWARD! And back to your regularly scheduled POTD!

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    And

    So half way through the year, which I’ve been focusing on shows I haven’t heard from,
    Primary: 84 and 94, and
    Secondary: 69, 79, and 89

    So 69 I’m up to November (all the SBs, not many AUDs), 79 I’ve hit all but 1 or 2?, and 89 I’ve only December left, but I need to revisit August in sequence.
    Summer 94 has been a very pleasant surprise! I’m finding the dreaded later years aren’t so bad removed from set and setting situations etc of seeing shows then, as well as being able to finally get better aquatinted with the newer material, which doesn’t bother me near as much, though that chorus on Long Way Home will probably always be annoying lol. Also, three decades has allowed me to catch up with the “industrial” sound lol.
    Though I wouldn’t say anything really was RJ, the consistency etc was much better than I expected. I should mention, I’ve done summer tour complete and just a few miscellaneous, including finally hitting the very fine Boxilla show on 10/1. From what I’ve heard so far I think Dave went to the right house for this one, though the Palace shows, some of Deer Creek, say first or second night of Shoreline, really every stop had at least one show, with most at least decent/good. Only recall third night of Shoreline was sub par with Jer having some vocal flubs. Perhaps the best I heard was from 6/17/94 even though it was an Aud. Think Bluecrow suggested this back aways?
    Awesome rave spaces throughout!
    So if your not a feared and have an open mind, I think there’s some enjoyable shows. They make a great palate cleanse, especially when/if gettin burned out on certain songs etc! And, though the occasional mellowness would of turned me off BITD, now in my sixties, gulp, I find these a nice alternative similar in that sense to 76.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Try again

    Private Spacley checking in from the wild lands of weird!
    Baltimore 73, fo sure, yet another awesome 73 sequence, and a second set Candyman too! Always dig HCS!
    One could most def argue for a spring box, but I still think the first six shows of the year are the hidden jewel…summer, meh, has big hype shows, but imho the music isn’t as good as the rest of the year, good but…and the fall/winter, sigh…Top Shelf where mama hides the cookies! Or RJ

    I’ve hit 6/5/80 also on my quest, or fools errand? Lol. I definitely dug it, but perhaps a half step behind the previous from the land of Vikings and Deadvikes !

    But, I’m here more to cannonball into the middle of your nice enjoyable flow to report from the wild weird west and Wonderland too.
    Apologies for my side show Bob shit show side trips, but hey, maybe there’s some freak out there who’ll get something outta my frontier adventures?

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Summers here and

    Fudge, just got Hey Nowed on a long post…Murphy’s law?

user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

....for one one the best shows I've heard them play. 9.7 goonie birds out of 10 and Don't Ease Me In hasn't even ended yet. Pure gold. Off today and the wife went to work. This one begs to be turned to eleven.
"Relax people. We have you all night long."

excellent anniversary pick! acoustic 1970 is such a special sound. so intimate, at times almost like you're seated cross legged in front of them in a small room with your close friends. once again, it's been awhile since I've listened to this set, more recently those in that awesome Road Trips 5/15/70 release. we really need another of these acoustic / electric shows from 1970 released. too bad that most of the fall run appears to not have been taped.

user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months

In reply to by bluecrow

Permalink

....Jerry making that pedal steel sing. Outstanding!
If Henry doesn't get your foot tapping, better check yourself for a pulse.

....gotta take a break. Shower up. Because I know that the upcoming St. Stephen->The Other One->Cosmic Charlie is going to blow my mind and will have me picking my face up off the floor. Again.

....hitting that record button at the start of St. Stephen. Wonder why? "Guys! Wait a minute! I was hanging with the crowd! You usually take a longer break! Dammit! (Pushes the button). Ahhhh. All is good."
I got all clean, just to get dirty again. Let's gooooo!
The 6.9.76 RT release also has a cut start to St. Stephen. Hmmmm.....

DP 5 12/26/79✔️ Ahh, finally got back to this one. Been meaning to play this one. It was played all the time back in the day since there weren’t many official releases yet, or at least I didn’t have many. When DaP 31 came out I dove into as much fall 79 as I had, but somehow didn’t get to this one. So now, finally we get back to this gem. Typical for 79 but great first set, with an UJB to open the second sliding nicely into a hot Estimated. But the highlight to me is the 2 jams. The first is more traditional with them skirting around the edges of a Caution jam, with wiffs of DS and Eyes, but then Phil clearly try’s to start He’s Gone, but Jerry’s not ready until a few minutes later Phil starts again and this time they go with it, SWEET! Then after a nice He’s Gone, TOO, and drums, they slide into almost space like segment that gets delightfully weird. One of my favorite things from this tour is all the far out jams and weirdness that regularly popped up in the second sets. The rest is standard fare except a nice but perhaps a tad allegro Brokedown. Of course the big surprise is the Shakedown UJB reprise for the encore. It’s not surprising ole Dick put his name on this one, what a great 79 show!
4/29/72: ✔️so then I did this one to somewhat follow the European trail. I even had Sierra Nevada 2019 Ocktoberfest, Sierra Nevada Skiesta “Bavarian Style” and my last bottle of EKU 28. All leftovers I’ve been saving for too long for a tasting that’s not going to happen anytime soon. So not proper authentic German beer, but in the spirit of the event celebrating the fine show and DS from the sister city of my hometown, Hamburg.
10/26/89: after this one came up the other day I figured I’d give it a spin. Since it was getting late and the buzz was making me sleepy, I FF here and there and by the end of DS was falling asleep in the big boy chair, so decided, hang it up and see what tomorrow brings....was totally enjoying the show, but not sure I’d rank it above 10/9 or 10/16? I’ll have to slip back to this one after 5/2/70....

....is strong with this Spanish lady with a rose. Total cacophony, into a lulling bliss, then back into masterful ladder climbing. Its an auditory roller coaster. Pretty much perfection. Makes me feel high, without being high.
The 12:20 mark....for fucks sake. Rainbow colors blended.

my favorite year is '72, like the deep space mind melt of the Berkley show. but a fire-breathing cryptical - other one - cryptical is another beast altogether, and i love them too! phil thunder intro right now! holy shit!

user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months

In reply to by bluecrow

Permalink

....its a full fledged Pigpen grease party. Incredible.
Life pro tip. If you have a grease fire, water or fire extinguishers don't suppress it. Gotta cut off the oxygen.
The 5:35 mark of Good Lovin'. Kicking into the extra gear. Reminds me of wild horses. Can only tame them so far until they race off.

....also marked.
Ducked out of the CD into the archive for the Cold Rain & Snow that was cut from the release. Earning my badge.

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by Vguy72

Permalink

“The goal is to find shows that can stand up under repeated listenings and still give you the goods.” - Dick Latvala

Harpur College – anyone with any common sense knows Harpur College is a show that should have come out centuries ago. It was ten years of trying to get that one up the flagpole. Healy would say, ‘That Latvala, he can’t tell the difference between stereo and mono!’ And that’s why he would reject Harpur College, cause the electric sets are in mono. So fucking what? Does anyone say that ain’t a great example of a show? I’ll tell you, it wasn’t like I snapped my fingers to have it occur, it was like embarrassing myself forever to get it out.”

Thanks Dick,
I hope you know how right you were.. LATVALA!

Anybody want Electric Wine? = Dick's Picks Volume 8

user picture

Member for

9 years

In reply to by The Good Ole G…

Permalink

Here’s the first paragraph of the DaP34 announcement:

"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

Sounds like you’re all having a good time with Harpur.

I have some more yard work to do, but then it’s Harpur, beer, grilling. Looks like I got a good evening coming.

user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

My 2nd Dead concert was 5/15/70 early show. That was also first time seeing NRPS. Then Workngmans Dead released late May. May 3rd was free Jefferson Airplane concert at Central Park bandshell. Super intense , only one of two times seeing JA. Kent State happened in early May .Saw CSNY at the the Fillmore East at the end of May 1970. Neil Young had already written Ohio. What a month , fifty years ago!
Now to the electric sets.

user picture

Member for

13 years 11 months
Permalink

Great Other One descriptions Vguy & thanks for those Latvala & Lawson-Garcia quotes Good Ole.
I listened to Good Lovin' and Man's World on my Saturday outdoor stroll to the Grocer. Even the Man's World shines on this show. Every note was golden that night. It was great to escape my quarantine and be outside in the sun with bugs and dogs and the Grateful Dead. This show has always felt very Springlike anyways.

user picture

Member for

10 years 2 months
Permalink

I first got this show-5/2/70-about 1987 on a very rough sounding tape. I only had a primitive ghetto blaster to play it on, but I loved it and played it to death.
So on to Dicks Picks, which sadly missed the New Riders set-which was on the tape I had, and seemed to be an essential part of the whole show. Its my favourite in the series. Then I got the vinyl last year, which has no New Riders but includes a somewhat ropey Cold Rain and Snow. But it is an incredible show in any format. The acoustic set is beautifully recorded-they could be here in my living room.

I always think of the electric set as being the last hurrah for primal Dead. The versions of Other One, Dancing in the Street, Good Lovin' and Viola Lee Blues are incendiary. It seems to me as though they take a bit of a breather with the shorter songs in the set, before diving off the high board again with these all powerful jams. I can't think of another Dead show that is like this, either. Unique and brilliant.

.....Billy The Kid said earlier "if there was one show I could time machine back to, it would be this one." I paraphrased, but you get the gist. Top 10.
Good luck to tomorrow's pick.

user picture

Member for

14 years 11 months
Permalink

Listened to the whole night together for the first time. Even though I've listened to DP8 tons of times, I really absorbed it + NRPS this time around. I may have to wander up into the mountains for a week or so to process what I just heard.

I know we're a biased lot here on this site, but, really, who else is in the conversation for Musician of the 20th Century besides Garcia? Mastery of varied instruments and genres, improvisational skills, longevity, number of people played in front of....you get the picture. Yet try to find him listed on those inane "best of" polls that pop up from time to time. Sheesh.

Maybe our deadhead brains are just wired differently than the rest of humanity. If that's indeed the case...thank you, God!!

....either you get IT or you don't. Screw the "lists". I'm hard wired. Jerome John Garcia is/was the most pleasing guitar player, at least to my ears.
Miss you.

user picture

Member for

13 years 11 months
Permalink

Right on bolo. No other musician comes close to Garcia in my world. We are lucky....

user picture

Member for

8 years

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

Permalink

What a great pick, Strider. You people hear these guitars?

Haven't listened to this one a while, so great, the acoustic set! I know you Rider is so smooth and relaxed.

I have no clue when my Dave's 34 is coming. Tracking still just says lable created, not yet shipped. I guess it is my turn to experience the shipping blues.

Be well folks!

I, too, listened to the whole thing in one sitting. I managed to carve out just enough time and mother nature took care of the rest.. a relatively easy close by river was running just right, temps in the mid sixties (hey, that rolls right off your tongue).. I combined the listen with an outdoor adventure, social distance style.

Dropped off my bike at the bottom and proceeded to the top with my boat. A 12 mile wilderness canyon, a ten mile bike ride to the truck allowed me to be completely alone for the entire day with it. Most excellent. There and back again.. four and a half hours of mind blown fun, nobody could call me, text me, email me, tap me on the shoulder, ask me a question.. no one could disrupt a single note. Heaven. Plus I completely burned off the cabin fever that's been building up these last couple months. Man, if I ever get the chance to do what I did today again, it will be a life well lived. Holy shit what a piece of music. A psychedelic masterpiece, the entire thing. Oh, and to drive the point home, I did reach deep into my bag of tricks to make sure my mind was properly malleable for the journey.

No point for me to get into a song by song study, everyone else did a great job covering the details.

Great choice, great day. It really was not that different than what I described this morning.. not that different at all.

Edit: Out of shape and sore I am.. What a drag it is getting old...

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by Vguy72

Permalink

I love Paris in the springtime

Good times were had at Harpur College for sure!

Did anybody else get something cool in the mail yesterday?

user picture

Member for

13 years 5 months
Permalink

5/2/70 might have left a smoking crater of our minds...

5/3/72, Paris - that should set it right.

GOGD - Still no mail here in B'more :(

Happy Sunday, friends.

Peace

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by Thats_Otis

Permalink

The music comes on and keeps coming!

It's in the music

It's in the water

More Dead

May 5, 1970 - Colonial News SUNY Binghampton by Richard Walinsky

OTIS: It's coming!
I'ma holding off and waiting for you all, for now... :)

Sunday listening = Olympia Theatre 5/3/72.. don't mind if I do!

user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

Looks like everyone had a great show yesterday. I am on Dire Wolf right now sounds nice!

5/372 sounds like another fine pick. Thanks!

ps. I am wondering if anyone has any interest in doing a Sunday Night At The Movies with VFTV 4 7/26/87 Anaheim.

user picture

Member for

13 years 4 months

In reply to by Thats_Otis

Permalink

I'm in a bit of a mind fog myself.. not from alcohol. ..and my body hurts.

Right there with you Otis/4Winds. I will get up some energy to make a good day of it soon. I am thinking 5/3/72 sans the stem I chewed on yesterday.

Yesterday was a glorious day in Western MD. I owe it all you guys pumping up the good vibes.. and Bolo for keeping it all unreal.

Thanks all.

P.S. View IV is a monster.. The Jack Straw opener is epic and it just grows from there.

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by JimInMD

Permalink

Extra props for being one with nature yesterday JIMINMD!

This here 5/3/72 Tennessee Jed is the first one I ever heard...

No can do VFTV 4 tonight.. But that sounds fun!

user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

Also The Playin'> D/S> Uncle Johns is mighty fine too. Miracle> Bertha> Sugar Mag, But the 7/26 has some unique Jerry just saying.

If this is not doable can I have tomorrows pick? Thanks!

user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months

In reply to by fourwindsblow

Permalink

....but the arrival date got bumped to Monday instead of Wednesday, so there's that!
5.3.72 on deck. A 3h 40min monster! Going to have break this one up.

VGUY72 - 40 plus minutes of that close to 4 hours is a big bad Other One Monster that weaves in and out of Set 2.. and it's sounding pretty hot too.

And Monday is better than Wednesday fo sure!

FOURWINDSBLOW - The 5/2/70 Monster Other One suite is some of the greatest Dead ever IMO (and many others from the sounds of things).. and it never gets old, every time it's sick!

What's everyone thinking in regards to listening to Dave's Picks Vol 34?
They seem to be trickling in at diff times all over the country as we speak.

Just curious.. that Monster keeps looking at me...

Yes, for sure!

Love the Taper's Compendiums, out-of-date but still great!

Along with the liner notes article reprint it really paints a cool scene.

Damn, I'd love to hear the beginning of that St. Stephen, just hearing the crowd response to those opening notes..

alas, it's all a dream we dreamed, One afternoon long ago

user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

This is a show i really like that I had not listened to in a while.

It's a really great show, the best!

11/8/1969 Dick's Picks, Volume Sixteen

Heard it was one of Dick's all time Favorites, posthumously released as a tribute to him.

I'm on a Latvala trip, Dick sure knew how to Pick!

Latvala!

user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

Dick was the best!

I thought I'd make up for the '87 suggestion.

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by fourwindsblow

Permalink

FWB: Dude ‘87 pick is still in the mix!

Love ‘87 & haven’t heard that in awhile..

But.. it’s no 11/8/69
JIMINMD that was all FWB’s pick, I just picked up on it ;)

But yeah that’ll put you right back on the bus!!

user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months

In reply to by The Good Ole G…

Permalink

....is indeed a good show. Comes highly recommended by yours truly! 👍🌹💀
Then again, I was at 7.26.87. First world problems!
Back to Paris. Love the fade out from Sugar Mags into NFA. Good stuff right there.

user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

Jerry was the father I never had and I like to see him when I saw him. Sometimes.

Never could compete with 11/8/69 I know.

ps, Just so ya know I'm a sixties head (Freak!).

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by fourwindsblow

Permalink

Dick Latvala's response to Jim Wise after receiving the "fixed" version of 11/8/69 master.

Initially planned to be released in honor of it's 30th Anniversary.

The amount of work put in to this recording in order for us to hear it at it's best possible sound quality, is impressive to say the least.

Another fine moment in Grateful Dead history, both the show and the story of how we are now able to listen to it.

Big Thanks to Jim Wise & Dick Latvala!!

user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I’m up for that

user picture

Member for

8 years 10 months

In reply to by Strider 808808

Permalink

RE: STRIDER 88

Would love to hear your 2nd Dead concert 5/15/70 early show story some time..

That had to be amazing.

Jesse Jarnow speculated in a blog post that this show was "possibly" the night that Jerry was tripping so hard that he began to think that assassins / mobsters were after him, and that the only way he'd survive is if he played for his life.

Of course there's no way to know for sure, but..

It sure sounds like he's playing for his life.