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    marye
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    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.

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  • Forensicdoceleven
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    I'm going to dance in all the galaxies……

    Hey rockers!!!

    Pick Of The Day: Boston Tea Party, December 31, 1969

    A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was Boston in 1969. No, NOT the Ark, the Tea Party!!! Actually, the same space……..different time…….

    The Tea Party actually existed before the Ark opened in January 1969. The April Ark Dead shows get all the love and respect---maybe deservedly so. But the Ark closed by the summer of 1969, and the Tea Party took over the site, which was across the street from Fenway Park. After going through several transitions, the site was demolished, making way for a House Of Blues.

    The December 1969 Tea Party shows have a “Rodney Dangerfield feel”. They seem to get no respect and are rarely talked about. However, that being said, they are very very interesting shows, varied and well played, with plenty of oddball tunes and other tunes that were slowly working their way out of the repertoire.

    The Dead often handed out “auditory treats” on New Year’s, and this is a good example, starting out high with an opening China/Rider and featuring Mason’s Children, Alligator, Caution, Big Boy Pete, a stand-alone Not Fade Away, Seasons, The Race Is On, Silver Threads, Slewfoot, and a closing Dancin’ In The Streets. Happy freaking New Year’s!!!!

    Very good recordings of all three shows are out there and worthy of your consideration….

    Hey, how about an Ark AND Tea Party box??!!

    I always think of space-time as being the real substance of space, and the galaxies and the stars just like the foam on the ocean……

    Rock on!

    Doc
    I am a being of Heaven and Earth, of thunder and lightning, of rain and wind, of the galaxies…..

  • JimInMD
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    Re: Orob/Phil 12/28

    Just got to this tonight but holy crap and very well stated..

    the second night was the charm. That Dear Prudence was worth the price of admission alone, simply incredible. Wow. and the Morning Dew and UJB to cap things off. It had a couple bumps, but man that was a great show and parts of the second set were superb.

    I think you can stream this through January 1st. Well worth it.

  • daverock
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    Same song - different style

    Jim - very true . The last two shows I played -12/12/69 and 10/17/72 both feature China Cat/Rider, Cumberland Blues, Casey Jones, Uncle Johns and Black Peter. Two of my favourite years, and interesting to hear how different they could sound playing the same songs.

  • JimInMD
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    Personnel Changes

    Yes.. absolutely. I guess this gets lumped into eras.

    I have my favorites.. but the fact that for most of their 30 years they kept evolving, changing things up and experimenting is perhaps understated. They cannot be accused of being one hit wonders.

  • Oroborous
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    12/28/22

    Maybe just me but I dug the second night much more than the previous. Sweet Scarlet/King Solomon’s, one of my favorite tunes! All around good set list and they seemed more settled in. Dug Jason Crosby on keys as I’d never heard him before. Love Holly but it was a cool change up.

    Sorry Dennis, another foot of snow and errands so just getting to the mine.

  • Dennis
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    oroborous

    check messages

    dennis

  • daverock
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    Change in sound change in life

    Change of personnel was also a factor in the change of the bands sound. Mickey joining in late 67 meant that the sound of 1968 started a few months early. And so on and so forth as people emerged, disappeared..and in Mickey's case came back again. I can't honestly remember now what they sound like, but I would think Keith's last few shows in early 1979 were more like 1978 shows than what are normally thought of as 1979 shows when Brent came on board.

    It is a convenient device, though, splitting lives up into years. But it can be a bit artificial. People get born and die at different junctures - we meet and part at random times.

  • Forensicdoceleven
    Joined:
    The great task in life is to find reality……

    Mornin’, rockers!!!

    Pick Of The Day: Hallandale, Florida December 29, 1968

    Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable…….

    High art? Low art? Grateful Dead art!!!

    The Dead played numerous festivals in the late 60s, this being one of the earliest big East coast ones. Due to the constraints of time and circumstance, the Dead’s “festival sets” from this era sometimes have a shortened, condensed feel. The “all wheat, no chafe” approach, which usually worked well and was well received…………

    Here, the band starts out greasy, then shifts into a big jam sequence that carries through to the end of the set. Things are truly focally shortened, but there’s some decent jamming to be had. Very good recordings of this set circulate, and while there are some edits and drop-outs, it is still worthy of your consideration…………..

    There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other……

    Rock on!!!

    Doc
    Few people have the imagination for reality…….

  • JimInMD
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    Years and How They Sound

    It's convenient to divide the GD by year for a couple of related reasons. They often took January and February off to write and record. While they were busy doing this, the alchemists and wizards were often testing out new equipment which was all rolled out and broken in on the Spring Tour each year.

    So it's convenient to break things out by year, but that's not what drove change, it was the new toys and new music. Wolf. Late '77 was the return of the Wolf, and it sounded magnificent.

    That's my take. We say years mainly because they retooled the first couple months most years, that is until the 80's and as they played larger arenas and demons settled in.. they practiced and recorded less and instrument changes were less frequent / less dramatic.

    Man I really liked the Wolf.

    Oh, and OB - Streaming last nights show as I write this, that is until I fall asleep (won't be long). Cumberland out of the gate was great.. I think the they could use a lead guitar with more thunder. They have two wide body clean guitars at work, they need to add a little Hendrix or wolf and turn it up. Twangy and clean tones, they need something that will part the red sea so they can get on with it. That's my take. Still enjoyable. Time will tell.

  • daverock
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    77-78

    It often seems to me that 1977 shows from September onwards sound more like 1978 shows than they do 1977shows from earlier in the year. A bit more rocking - more rough and ready and less smooth. Jerry switched guitars in September 1977 to the Wolf, and that one seems to me to have a more overdriven sound than the guitar he used in 1976 and the first half of 1977. And this was the guitar he played on through 1978 too, I think.

    Maybe it's a bit arbitrary, splitting the bands music up into years. I would have thought they carried on regardless of what month or year it was. Thinking of it personally, I can't imagine I will feel any different, or do anything differently next week, just because we will be in a different year to the one we are in this week.

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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.

If we are going to do 11/8/69, I am going to have to carve out the requisite amount of time like we did Saturday.. no distractions, no cell phones, no texts, no questions, no one tapping me on my shoulder.. and not the dreaded words, "one more thing" .. and of course get in the proper frame of mind beforehand.

Honestly.. these two shows, add in 2/14/68, 2/13&14/70, sprinkle in FW 69 for good measure and I have taken a liking to 1/2/70 + Bonus disc and an honorable mention for what I think of when I want to get in the transportation business.

Boy does listening to these shows take a lot out of you.. perhaps that's why they wrote AB & WMD.. to slow things down just before we careened off that cliff and into mental oblivion.

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GMLSG sounds as smooth as butter,,,

re, Well... I just hit play but, I paused it. Jim, when is a good time for you I'll wait??

The planets seem perfectly aligned this Thursday. That seems enough time to plan.

That will give us some time to switch things up too.. play around the calendar, pick shows from different periods too.

Does that give us enough time to plan?

That's a pretty nifty number ya got there!

I am all for Dick's 16, but if we need to pause on it to soak up Jai-Alai, I get that too. Let's keep this thing going! I am all for GD from any era!

Today was a good day for 74 Dead around here. Shortly after my early morning Dave's 34 was delivered (at 6:30 am!) I got another package from Real Gone containing Dick's 31, which I looked into after all of the discussion around these parts.

I hope I don't over do the 74 stuff - wait, I don't think that will ever happen.

Peace

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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....and the sound is already impeccable. And to quote Bobby "Its the real thing".
Just like Billy Sunday in a shotgun ragtime band. This pick came at the right time.

We can pause while the WOS gently peels the plaster from our ceilings.

Whatever works.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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Okay on the pause for the Picks. I will keep my own going tomorrow as my #34 is still in CA.. Okay, no whining here, that gets old.

Oh yah I might have chased a couple women around..., the waiting is the hardest part.

Week eight of this crap, be well people.

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No problem all good. Those who have received the 34 happy listening!

"New ones coming as the old ones go"

Alright, sounds like the Pick of The Day is in hold pattern as we wait for & listen to the Pick of The Dave.

#34 to be exact - 6/23/74 & 6/22/74 Bonus Disc

Roger that.

I'll proceed accordingly...

Sherman set the Wayback machine to June 1974, we're going to listen to the Wall of Sound.

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I love the overlap of old ( psychedelic ) & new ( country/workingmans ) . It’s the palindrome 69 major phase shifting. The sound of small venues compared to larger halls or outdoor concerts all have different ambience . Same goes for instruments ( Jerry’s guitars) . Gibson SG in 1969-70. A whole slew of different axes in 1971. Wall of Sound 1974, with Doug Irwin Wolf Guitar.
Suggesting different eras of GD has been educational, even heard / seen fresh, and in 2020. Who would have known fifty years ago.

RE: STRIDER 88

Interesting observation and I believe you've tapped into something.

Hypothesis:
Does inspiration then lead to a love of learning?

I would venture to guess.. Yes!

Prediction:
Being inspired by Grateful Dead music, if I listen to the Grateful Dead from many eras over and over and over, through the course of many days and years, I'll want to learn more and will be loving it!

Test Prediction:
Continue listening to lots and lots of Grateful Dead from many different eras and discuss with friends.. ad infinitum

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Perfect timing. I got an amp and speakers on the way. Had to take advantage of the 30% offer. I got the speak's for half price and ac line filter for free. I'll be putting off listening to 34 till I get set up.

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In reply to by fourwindsblow

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Carson, CA 5.5.90. 30th anniversary.My final Brent shows.
https://archive.org/details/gd1990-05-05.141262.sbd.miller.flac2496/05S…
Rumors were rampant these shows that Timothy Leary was backstage dosing everyone. The band does sound "fat and juicy", so I can see where it could be true. Phil was turned WAY up.
I remember hanging out with some hare krishnas after the show eating free rice.

Strider...I think Jerry started playing a strat at some gigs in 1969, and on through 1970, as well as the mighty SG. This always seemed to me to be a signifier of the bands gradual shift to a more country based sound. As you indicate, they could still turn on the psychedelic power in 1969 and 1970 - but the times they were a changing .

Whew.. saved from an 11/8/69 induced nervous breakdown.

Edit: Saved for now. It's always the bats that start these things. Well, a melty PITB, then the bats. Look out for Dark Star>The Other One>Dark Star's too. A sure sign that society is in collapse.

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Bats have got themselves a bad reputation lately. Hunter knew it long ago.

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DaveRock , I can only go on photographs before 1970. I believe you’re correct, Jerry would use a strat for some late 69-70 songs. Of the ten times I saw them in 1970 I only remember the Gibson SG. 1971 was all over the map. Starting with seeing the SG my last time same night as Mickeys last show 2/18/71. The next few nights was the peanut Alembic experimental . By April Jerry was playing a Les Paul and then the peanut some nights. First time I saw Jerry play a Fender Stratocaster was at the Felt Forum 12/4/71. Then 2-3 strats through 72/ 73. The Wolf was a real game changer.
This is a fresh way of listening the good ole Grateful Dead.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Strider...I am only going off photographs of course-I have nothing like the first hand experiences you are talking about. It must have been amazing to see them in 1970-1971-truly a mythical time. The photos I remember of him with a strat in 1969-70 are mainly in the Taping Compendium. Jerry is holding a sunburst strat in the picture accompanying the Feb 70 shows.
Its always interested me which guitars he played at shows-and Bob too, to a lesser extent. I watched the Festival Express dvd a few weeks ago, and Jerry is jamming with...a band who's name escapes me...but he is playing a tele. I don't think he played one of those very often.

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In reply to by daverock

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Good call Daverock, I need to watch that this weekend

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Thanks for joining in on this one Vguy and Jim. Loved the cover last night Vguy. Recording is Multi Track excellence as all these shows are. Have not listened to this show in maybe three years. Of the three Omni shows, I usually pull 4/3/1990, maybe because of that glorious Shakedown opener.
Anyway, Vguy, agree with you on this show. Great first set, with a great Althea, to Lay me Down, Music Never Stopped. Even the Victim is good. China Rider, what did that guy say last night about Ship of Fools??
Great Truckin, Stella, Sugar Magnolia and one of favorite encores, It's All Over Now Baby Blue. Great show.

Check it out if you have not listened in a while.

Be well all!

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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....Victim -> Lay Me Down -> MNS is solid. Raucous Sugar Mags. And who doesn't like a Baby Blue? I know this guy does!

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*

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I'm half way through 4/1/90. Althea was playing on our boombox at a motel room at an airport at the giants show in '89 with my friends. Like anyone would care.

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He called us fools talking about potholders and other normal things. Strange.

I didn't make it through the whole show.. but made it beyond the Victim/Lay Me Down. Let it be known I LOVE To Lay Me Down, but the Victim was so much better ( a song I don't normally adhere to).

Anyway.. just had to comment. Not coherent enough to add much more than that.

Who's fucking idea was it to watch Festival Express anyway.. a great yet terrible idea all at the same time. Thank god nobody drives cars anymore. My liver and my lungs both suddenly hurt both at once.

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Man, it was HOT down there!

Anyway, just catching up. I did dabble with disc 2 of Dick's 16 the other night... that is some mind-altering stuff. It looks like yesterday was 4/1/90 - just started "Touch" now.

Today is Three from the Vault? Sounds good to me :)

Peace

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In reply to by Thats_Otis

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Sounds grate, and it’s not even Plangentized.

Smokestack Lightning! Grease it up.

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I’m there. And was there.

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I loved that Omni show! I didn't get either of the Spring 90 boxes, so this show was new to me (at least for a good, quality sit-down and listen.) I LOVED it! The band is so hot, Brent in particular was on fire, the Bobby tunes rocked, and there were so many high-quality Jerry ballads. I mean, a show that has a "Candyman" "To Lay Me Down" "Ship of Fools" "Stella Blue" AND "Baby Blue" - c'mon... all played very well too!

Just started on 2/19/71 - the first Billy-solo show. Was this chosen to celebrate Billy's b-day? Good choice! I haven't listened to this one in a while!

Peace

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I remember from 2/19/71 was, “where’s Mickey?”. Was disappointed at the beginning of the show. The level of musicianship had greatly evolved since 1967 or last time as five piece. They blew the roof off the Capitol Theater that night. Jerry played his Alembec experimental “peanut” guitar for the first time on 2/19 and continued to play it the next several nights.I went Thursday through Sunday nights. I vaguely remember Weir commenting on Sunday as it being slow. As I remember it was sold out all nights. Unlike November 1970 shows in Port Chester when I could buy tickets night of the shows at the box office. Fillmore East was harder to get Dead tickets and February 71 shows sold out in hours . I bought tickets by getting in line at 5 am on a December (1970) Saturday morning. “What’s become of the baby that cold December morn”. Blair Jackson was in that same ticket line. 70/71 was quite the phase shift. Keep em guessing.

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In reply to by Strider 808808

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Strider...do you remember much about the ESP experiments at these shows?

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In reply to by daverock

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Nice pick Conekid!.
Always thought it was odd this came out in 2007 and with no real explanation why it took so long to get it out.

Great recording with A+ sound quality. Really good Truckin, Dark Hollow, China Rider. Really liked the Greatest Story, early Bird Song. Did somebody say, Easy Wind? This was great and I wish this got more play as well as New Speedway Boogie.
Great finish!

Strider, you were there, really cool.

Good to see you here Oroborous, I thought a Spring 1990 pick might peek your interest.

Otis, as a huge Brent fan, you should consider the Spring 1990 box sets. Highly recommend.

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I think this is the thread where Jim mention Victim -> Lay Me Down (1990-04-01). I'm a huge fan of Victim, this is a great one. I think this is the depths that, Just a Little LIght, Blow Away, Foolish Heart (if Jerry could remember words when he came out of jam :-) ) could have reached. Picasso Moon probably didn't have much too go! :-) But I really like a good Corinna.

Great Victim though, thanks for pointing it out.

Is there a better "Just a Little Light", than Dozin' at the Knick? Come on? Is there? Just took it off , best.

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Only that it was a random image , not all the time. I do remember Bob and Betty being set up on a side balcony booth. Saturday night was the major rave up night. NRPS finishing their set w Honkey Tonk Woman and the crowd going bonkers, balcony shaking. Weir, Pigpen and Pigs girl friend Veronica watched the end of the NRPS set from back stage right, Bobby shaking his head as if to say”tonight’s the night”. Highlights from 2/19 for me are Smokestack Lightning. Jerry’s use of the Alembec experimental peanut guitar looked amazing after he used his Gibson SG the night before. The peanut guitar was very small in its size but belted out a sweet big sound that was especially evident during Johnny B Goode, that had most of the audience up dancing. A few people at my high school would go one night only , but I was completely consumed.
Too bad there are not many (any)more 1970 tapes. Anything from either 1970 or 1971 is no less than spectacular .