Grateful Dead

This is your up to the minute water report...

46 years ago today From The Mars Hotel was released
33 years ago today 10th row Phil Side at Alpine Valley on a sunny afternoon :)
5 years ago today Fare Thee Well started in Santa Clara CA

We now return to your regularly scheduled program.

Have a Grate Day!

GOGD has some momentum with SPAC 85.

Don't hang off the balcony... (which we later found out was VGuy and Keithfan) :D

Ran into a rainstorm, indeed!

but there are black clouds building on the horizon here. Looks like a thunderous day on the river is in store for me. Got my waterproof device loaded with 6/27/85, thanks to the gentle steering of the GOGD.

Deadheadbrewer: yeah, I’m with you, I can’t keep up with these rascals! Pant-pant 😉
Haven’t done Riverbend, Nassau or Dane. Prolly give Nassau a spin this WE. Dane I’ve tried to stay away from cause ya gotta believe their going to give us that one someday! Bastards better! and I’d prefer it on virginal ears!
hey, by the way, how you guys coming on that tunnel under the vault?
So I listen to Riverbend 6/24/85 sort regularly so no biggie there except in the sense of comparing shows. Except It’s cool to go in order to see the subtle changes and how things progress. Like 6/25/85, definitely have felt a ascending arc since the first night in Alpine. Funny thing is I don’t think I’ve heard the second set of this one before? Had a tape of the first all along, but I think it was a tad too crisp so didn’t get as much love as the shows around it. Plus I think maybe I harbored some subliminal resentment for the show because of our decision to skip it to go to Toga early like we did in 84, which was awesome. Obviously if it made us skip a show that close to home, but Doooaahhh. So not sure how it’s the shows fault. LOL, but I think somehow I’ve had some weird thing about this show that has kept me away? Sorry, ramblings of a deranged lunatic!
Anywho, finally gave this bad boy a spin yesterday, though had to do it in 2 sessions as life just keeps buttin’ in like a 3 year old when mom and dad are trying to get down! Man what a show. The only really noticeable hiccup I recall was JG at the start of Jimmy, and Bob missed a vocal, really a great set, better than I remember, though I always liked it, just the tape was lesser then the others...
Second set was hot too, though perhaps they lost just a little near the end? Or maybe that was me as it was late, and by that time on a Friday this ole cowboy is usually not feeling much pain! I recall a couple little blemishes, but so what, you name any show, anyone, and I can find stuff wrong. And sorry, but I’m kinda over hearing about how terrible JGs voice is. Yes, sometimes it’s ruff, but sometimes I think the gravelly age worn voice ADDs to the affect of the songs, which is perhaps what he did best. And frankly, I’ll take the gravel voice singing in tune over a lot of that 1970 stuff we’re between the guitars and the vocals something is ALWAYS out of tune. That’s torturous for a musician.
Now I’m not trying to diss anyone’s favorite Dead etc, just stating an opinion that people perhaps overdo it with the voice comments. My favorite is when people say “I can’t listen to anything after 77”....ok, we’ll that’s cool as it’s your choice and all, but I’d say really you just have made up your mind you don’t want to like anything after that, and you probably haven’t heard enough and with the right kind of ears. Seriously, I challenge anyone to pick a “perfect” “best of “ show and if I have time I will find the cracks!
But that’s missing the point which is ITS ALL GOOD! and every era has something positive that the others don’t have. It’s all ways been yin yang folks, there is no such thing as a perfect show, except in our minds eye, which is quite A ok.
Ok, rant over, I’m obviously biased about my beloved 85!
Which brings us back to TOOOOOOOGGGGAAAAA!! Yo Butch, back in your seat, there’s 50 thousand people waiting for you to get back in your seat! Madness, the whole scene there was just surreal fucking madness, but in a good way.
I’m actually going to try and call my old house/band mates at the time as we all went. 2 I think went to blossom, and Pittsburgh. That one too, like WTF basically could of stopped by on the ride home from Merriweather, idiots! Lol, actually, I’m not sure I could have done another show. I may have caused permanent damage at Hershey, and thank god for that day off that I can’t recall much about, and I did take it a tad easier after, but not much. We ate so many veggies on that run that nobody would believe it. But I know what I came with and what was left after so.....looking back, it’s all kinda scary, we’re lucky we never had any real casualties of any sort. Few close calls, but nothing major, phewwww.
So going to call the lads, and fire up Toga tonight as We have to do a Zoom wedding this afternoon. We were supposed to be out at the Promised land for said wedding and a actual vacation, first since Seattle in ?? 2012!
Think Homer Simpson “oohhhh, Ssstttooooopid Covid”
Speaking of living via the net, was that not a fine show on Shakedown last night! Didn’t have the fire like the night before, but a fine well played outing, thanks so much to Dave and Co. for giving us this nice diversion. It’s getting to b3 a regular weekly thing, and gasp, the Mrs has actually been joining me and digging it! .....as long as I give her a good foot massage (usually during drums). She really digs the trippy graphics and colors which is even funnier as she’s never partaken except booze back in da day, it’s like giving a kid castor oil just getting her to have a beer, lol. So yeah, this Friday thing has been like the “ONE” in our music! Right on! and please keep em coming!
Ok, gotta try and call the guys and reminisce before the wedding. Then.....drum rolls please..........TOOooooGa!

We were out on the lawn so actually there were many drops, I mean it was already raining hard, and right when he sang that line, biblical!, but it just added to the madness and was one of my favorite concert/rain moments ever! I believe that’s right when folks crashed security on those balcony ramp ways and turned it into a free for all? Yeah, that was the shit, such energy all around, but that rain just took it to another level. Luckily I had my electric buffalo Hyde on! .....it was a psychedelic neon yellow long rain coat with
BS CORP
WORK SAFELY (from pops work) printed on back, and a Dancin skeleton sticker underneath that I added. Still have it! I should take a pic and post...fond it moving last year.

Sounds like the ole SPAC '85 show will get some play today.

Always a fun revisit. Vguy & Keithfan that was you guys?! That's funny.

I guess I always thought this was an indoor show because of the balcony stuff and didn't know about the rain storm.

Tell us more.

And just for the record if I happen to say Jerry's voice is shot, what I mean to say is I love Jerry's voice, even though it's a little shot here. ;)

I agree, it always sounds great to me.

Enjoy party people!

If you are too busy to listen to whole show, listen to Happiness is Drumming from set II, if you have never heard or listened to listen you will be pleasantly surprised!!! There is a Charlie Miller soundboard on Internet Archive!!!! bob t

Bode Miller...

First, GOGD, I did not mean to single you out, over generalizations, which become stereotypes, which become truth etc, really bum me out. So it was more of a trigger to that, not you personally. I know you were just repeating this line.
Actually, as I’ve dug in deeper, there are probably a significant number of shows where he often doesn’t sound so good, but to over generalize that “his voice was shot”, as in never more, to me, imho, that completely devalues and discounts all the amazing, great sounding stuff he was still able to do. 87,88,89,90,91anyone? Micro view versus macro perhaps?

SECOND: I must humbly recant my tale of dancin in the rain. As we were diligently experiencing TOGA last night. Too things became apparent. First, perhaps JG was a tad “caffeinated” at the start of both sets. Listening close on a real system, (not the big boy, but the living room system which ain’t no slouch!), he seems a tad to fast and/or their not fully entrained. One could argue not fully so until Women Are?...so probably something to do with him totally skipping the Key Rain Storm, and Jailhouse versus, of Bertha, lol.
Thus, while I wasn’t deceitful, I was not accurate. Sure enough, when Holmes and Watson ripped a spleef and fired up Bertha from SPAC 6/24/84, and bingo, ding, ding, ding, ding! Right venue, wrong year! 😂 Ooops, my apologies to the dear reader...but hey, it’s a fun interesting new tid bit, and it did rain, I think, lol.
While doing this research I was listening just on the iPad and interestingly he doesn’t sound as bad? Also, I’ve been going with the HS matrixes, especially shows where I want to hear those crowd big moments. Generally they’ve been pretty good, but researching, I used a CM transfer and man, definitely a big difference. Perhaps number one being the speed/time of the Miller seemed better and more natural?
Subjective I know, just that it’s interesting how every variable can effect perceptions.
6/27/85: so this beast is still as much of a rocket sled ride as I’ve thought, but it’s perhaps a tad more unpolished then I would of said in the past. But that’s being picky, and you know I prefer danger dead to safe, so as at this moment, Hell in a bucket is scorching, I stick by this show for that, the cool set list, and the fact that eventually, say around Women Are on out, that part of the show stands with its lofty summer 85 neighbors. Probably have to give 6/24& perhaps 6/25? a slight advantage overall, but man I haven’t been to many shows that had the vibe, fun, and overall madness of this puppy.

So why is 85 Dead like Bode Miller? He often was criticized for his erratic style, or lack thereof, his nonconformity, often disregard for the rules, including parting then basically going 80 MPH down an insane pitch, that was usually hosed down to make it more icy, and thus faster! So just like this era of Dead, sometimes he’d DQ, sometimes he’d slack off, sometimes it was ugly, but when he brought it, that mofo brought it!! and when he was able to be one with the force, it was fucking breathtaking! Scary, but breathtaking. No matter what, if he was racing there was an energy, an excitement, that larger than life vibe......that, to me, is 85 Dead.
FINALLY: Ladies and Germs, May I present the Electric Buffalo Hyde! as christened by my degenerate cohort due to my resemblance of the great beast of the prairies back in the day, and this baby used to be so bright people would ask if there were batteries. But Alas, like youth itself it’s faded dramatically, and is old and bartered. It definitely gave it’s all to R&R. So many Dead shows, festivals, camping, parties, you name it! Also, it will be a part of an unfortunate situation at the next night, where I lost my shit in Hershey! So until then....

Nice rec for the TDIGDH 6/28/76 show! I'd never heard that one before, and it is pretty sweet. The "Happiness is Drumming" is certainly a highlight!

I have been out of the loop for a bit - trying to deal with some personal stuff on my end, and I just kind of lost track of things around these parts. I hope to be able to participate more going forward.

To that end, how about a pick for tomorrow, Monday 6/29? I am thinking Dave's 31 - 12/3/79 Uptown. I feel like this pick got a short shrift on the DaP page, but I remember being very happy with it, though I haven't given it a proper listen since it first came out. What do you all think?

One positive thing that I have accomplished since I've been away has been the set up of my first component stereo system. I don't know if it compares to all of your "big boy" systems, but it certainly feels BIG in my little row home! Looking forward to playing it LOUD tomorrow when the wife goes to work.

Peace

So after basically staying up for 2 days at SPAC, we finally pack it up and hit the road the next day. I believe it was a rainy, gloomy day most of the day. But that didn’t stop our idiot patrol from basically racIng at high speed through the fine but conservative state of Pennsytuckey, where they were one of the last to let go of the 55 mph laws, and back then there usually wasn’t much tolerance. So 2 cars of totally raging nutknicks, with probably enough cargo to keep us detained for decades, thought it’d be a good idea to race at speeds up to 90!, Idiots!.....yes, one car had a radar detector, but in those days smart cops would wait for some nut traveling high speed and click it on when they had ya dead nuts.
Luckily, all was well and it was one more “miracle” as we earnestly pursued our quest for “too much of everything is just enough”, aaaa, never considered back then maybe Bob was being sarcastic? Lol
So we roll on into Chocolate town late and all beat up. I’m guessing we grabbed some kind of drive through, but not sure and as we were hardcore vegetarian then, perhaps we thought we’d grab something there? It’s all such a blur, I do recall the lot we were in had no or little Shakedown action going on. That still wasn’t in full flight anyway, and don’t recall much there, so maybe we drank our supper? I know I scored some Carlsberg Elephant beer, and believe I may have finished it, though that is a tall order even under good conditions so perhaps not. I’m sure I put in dent in it at least! So, that and the last of one z of veggies, though the tricky part was it was mostly just powder and scraps and so no normal produce to properly gage etc, which would turn out to be a tactical error...
So it’s late, we’re tired, but tweaked, perhaps no dinner, and of course it’s horrible out. Dark, rainy, and cold is usually not how you want to do your Dead. Eventually we get in perfect time, slip right in front of the SB and try to make the best of the situation. Well I had a shirt, a black baseball jacket, and the electric Buffalo Hyde, but even still it was damp and cold at first. Eventually, when things started to take hold and we started boogieing, we began to warm up a bit.
Meanwhile, the set list is awesome, but the conditions, which necessitated all the stage and PA speakers being covered in plastic (there was no stage lid) thereby severely effecting the audio. It’s was such a weird show that way, loved the little “stadium” and the nice audiophile stereo set up, with surrounds, great set list, mostly good playing, yes JGs vocals are a little ruff in the first set, but you have to cut some slack as it was terrible, I mean depending on the wind/rain they were getting rained on playing electrical instruments! Weird indeed, but like so many times in adverse conditions our heroes seemed to rise to the challenge. Thus the playing was perhaps more relaxed, steady and together and not forced like the previous night. Really, besides JGs vocal issues in the first, its a top notch show!
The second set really starts to take it higher with stellar versions of Music Never Stopped, Terrapin, Miracle and one of the best Dews I’ve ever seen! I think I saw about 14 or 15 Dews and when I think about Dews I’ve seen, this one is the one I always think of first! Rocking Stones/NFA with a spirited Day Job. I liked Day Job, but by now it was getting a tad old, and was a disappointment for this show considering how high it was at that point. A She Belongs or Baby Blue would of been a perfect Cherry on top, but perhaps that’s being greedy?
Now since the weather was such a factor, we must discuss that and how it influenced this show. The second set starts out with their “signing in the rain” as Bob says, and it’s a good’n! Next they slowly slid into an unusual sounding Tom Thumbs which I had never heard yet, and wasn’t even sure at first what it was, but hey, it was Phil so that’s all I needed to know! Good but perhaps truncated Estimated, followed by an awesome Terrapin. So as the set started to progress, so did the weather until (I think?) around Estimated it really started to clear up and they started pulling the plastic tarps down. It was almost like you could immediately hear it get better after each one was removed. Eventually by about Terrapin, they tarps we’re gone, the moon and stars were out, and Healy started increasing the volume and tweaking the mix. I remember we were goading him to turn it up, and man eventually he sure did!
As the night wore on it began to warm up a bit too. But as you’ve heard this scenario, or been there yourself, many times I didn’t feel quite high enough so what the hell, one more time with the powder veggie crumbles just before drums......hee-hee....you know, “I’m not feeling it?” and then...Dooah!
So the problem with those baseball jackets is they don’t really breath and the electric Buffalo Hyde was thick plastic. We didn’t have all the nice technical outer gear we have now, or at least WE didn’t. I could barely afford the free plastic one from the old mans work.
Well a perfect storm mounted; little or no food, Elephants, veggies etc, no sleep, excess everything and underlying exhaustion, with me starting to overheat due to the above and dancing with that plastic shell on. Things were going unbelievable well, and partly influenced by the very recent passing of my Grandfather, during Dew, things peaked musically, the sound, the night, the stars, emotionally etc etc until I had one of the most powerful musical/emotional/psychedelic peak experiences of my life. Perhaps my all time GD moment, it was that powerful. But what goes up must come down and just like that the radiator blew and that last handful of shroom dust fully kicked in and somewhere in Throwing Stones, right during ashes, ashes all fall down, well.....I say i didn’t really fall down, it was more like an immediate realization that if I don’t sit down rapidly, I’m going down! LOL, so one way or another, depending on who you believe, I end up down in the soft, cool mud until near the end of the song, but I swear just as I tried to get up I knew it wasn’t going to happen, so right on que again I go back down. My friends to this day always bring up my perfectly coreographed “Dance moves” above all else that happened on this tour..35 years later and it’s still “ashes, ashes, Pedro falls down” !
That would of all been well and good except things were very strange and weren’t wearing off, and I was barely functioning. I never would of found the car etc If not for my homies. Honestly all I remember is them pulling into a Wendy’s or something, but I just sat in the car with my face literally stuck to the window and crackled! Zzzzttttt. I really thought I had finally fried some essential circuits and thought this time I really did it. At some point I snapped out enough to find some kids in another car staring at me with a look of concern if not fear. Luckily, the boys finished up and came out and got us outta there. Somewhere near the state line we finally grabbed a motel as we all had had more than enough rain and adversity. Plus the next day was off and the drive short. I remember they propped me up in bed and I just sat and crackled and worried. Eventually I slept and though I felt better the next day, I didn’t feel normal and don’t recall much except when we got to Merriweather and found a good spot just over the creek, right next to the path, in some trees, on the way to the big parking lots to the right of the venue. But now it was nice and I was feeling more normal so not so freaked out. I also remember going to a nearby sorta plaza with an upscale liquor store where I scored my first sixer of EKU 28 ever which was awesome!
So now we’ve moved beyond the insanity of TOGA, the adversity and majesty of Hershey, and ready for perhaps the best overall show of the tour on 6/30/85....

EDIT: Otis, congrats on the stereo. All that matters is if your happy with it. After all the specs and hyperbole etc, no matter how big, small, expensive etc, in the end, that’s all that counts!

You know it's on Dave's radar as he has played some of it on 30 Days in past years. Good show and one of my first tapes. Keep the stories coming! :-)

....another one of my first tapes. Bird Song-> Comes A Time -> Deal. A rare Garcia trifecta to end the first. Music Never Stopped-> Tom Thumbs to open the second. How do you guys keep bringing up my first loves? And why does this band keep following me?
Here's kind of a story. I tripped balls listening to this tape in 1989. That's all I got.

Good to see you back in the loop. Hope all is well. New system is always exciting.
I am willing to give Dave's 31 another try. Haven't listened to it since last year.

Took out Good old Dave's 25, the BINGHAMTON NY 77 show. Some of these shows keep getting better with each listen.
Oroborous, you are a wild man. What a ride!

Be well folks. I have heard rumblings in other pages about big announcements coming. Don't know about that but we do know Dave's 35 will be announced in July. Maybe they will give Oroborous an 85 pick?

Thanks, my man! I think it sounds pretty sweet - especially that Shrine 67 LP release, played LOUD!

Your Hershey story is great! Really wish I would have been around during those times! I would have partied right down in the mud with you!

Not the same, but my first Phish show was at Hershey in 96. We too found a spot directly in front of the soundboard, figuring that it had to sound good there. To this day, my friends and I refer to that area at shows as "The Chocolate Spot."

DeadVikes, everything's a-ok on this end. Thanks for the thoughts!

So, are we on for Dave's 31 today?

Peace

31, bring it!
Glad we got that Chocolate spot all warmed up for ya!

... sounds kinda dirty when you put it that way, Oro... :)

Rock on!

Peace

Dave's 31 it is!

Thanks Otis.

You really made my coffee break Grate! (of course, if I've done no work yet today, is it really a "break"?)

I haven't really listened to much June '85, other than the TTATS show (the 24th), but it sounds like I need to . . .

Has almost the consensus Best Of version of Shakedown. I think if they ever released a June '85 box, they would have to include 7/1 and 7/2 which are of similar caliber as the June stuff in my opinion. There is that hilariously botched Brokedown encore from 7/2 though...

Fall '85 has some really nice stuff as well. I'm thinking of 11/5 which has another nice Shakedown Street. Is there video of that show anywhere?

Great little show.

Merriweather was sort of like the outdoor Hampton on the North side of DC instead of the South. Attractive venue, usually welcoming to the crowd and all that went with it (until they weren't anymore), held about the same number of people (probably a little more if they packed the lawn, which they did) and had a lot of overlap in the crowd that attended. The band also had an easy in and easy out. Plus.. they were doing these multi-show stints for several years in a row just when momentum was beginning to build and the setting of both venues was sort of idealistic in this regard. Merriweather would let you camp in the lot, and when things got really crazy, people started setting up tents in the open field under the power lines just outside the reach of the parking lot (and for the most part outside the reach of where the cops really wanted to patrol). Once you were in, everything was there and you were fine for the weekend.

I think the shows at both venues had a similar vibe.. it was a safe place for the band and heads in the early to mid 80's and the shows reflect this. Lots of fun, and yes.. that is a great shakedown. I think 85 gets the most love because the tapes sound better than the earlier years. 83 and 84 were strong years for Merriweather.. but the tapes are just not strong and crisp and don't seem to reflect what it sounded like inside. Guess that's mostly true for the whole decade.

Still great time.. used to walk to those shows from my folks house, by 85 people were camping in the back yard.

Looks like Jerry was wearing his red t for this show.. What good times.
https://deadimages.com/store/photo/grateful-dead-june-30-1985-columbia-…

The good people here make it all work, and no slight meant to anyone.. BobT, Willfred, 80s, VGuy, everyone.. but hats off to Oroborous, Strider and Nicecat for 'mostly' remembering shit from so many years ago my brain has to do math to figure it out. I know I harmlessly forgot dozens in this post, hopefully they will forgive me.

I had a really good friend pass yesterday morning from Pancreatic Cancer. I kayaked with him less then 3 weeks ago two class IV+ V- local runs.. mid way through the next week he wasn't feeling well and checked himself into the ER and the diagnosis was terminal. You have to think.. if we weren't deep into covid, perhaps there would have been more preventive screenings, etc. A casualty of the times.. but I digress. So before I knew he had passed, his wife sent us this Caring Bridge link where people write into a journal that the family can read to the patient, etc.. and I think more or less just as he was passing I posted something that was meaningful to me and hopefully him.. ending with May The Four Winds Blow You Safely Home. So after writing I decided to revisit Jai Alai on my bike ride.. just as I climbed the hill out of the canyon and the endorphins begin to kick in from climbing a big ass hill on a bike, the Cumberland El Paso To Lay Me Down sequence came on.. and I had forgotten (sort of) about the how good the To Lay Me Down was. Right song, right time.. and so it ends.

Anyway.. I know I am saying something all of us have inside us.. but the music is almost as important in getting me through stuff as my own mind and instincts are, the music is sort of tapestry of life.. fabric.

Moment over, timely songs and memorable moments. It certainly has helped carry me through, perhaps all of us.

I'm sorry about the loss of your friend, music can certainly help at times like this.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Jim. The times are tough. Stay strong and be well!

Otis, wait till Otis sees use, he loves us. I am still waiting for someone to identify this line.

So, it is always good to revisit shows you haven't listened to in a while. I am big fan of the Brent era. The first set is good, I remember being excited for the rest of the show and than... The Scarlet Fire is good, but seems to lack energy. Same with the Terrapin. I think someone mentioned last year they thought maybe Jerry took a quaalude at the set break?? Who knows. Disc 3 seems to pick up the pace to the finish.

Interested in what you all think?

Other 79 releases have been rather hot like RT 3.1 and 1.1 and of course Dick's 5.

I think we will see some more Brent in Dave's 35.

Be well folks!

Sorry to hear about your loss. Thank heavens we have the music.

I tried to give this another listen but didn't get very far. For me, Bob's guitar is just too low. You can barely hear him even in the Supplication (ouch!). Is it really Grateful Dead music if Weir's guitar is missing? The jamming sounds almost like the JGB, since Jerry and Brent's organ are so dominant. It's a shame because I really fell in love with Dick's 5 recently and want to hear more fall 79. I listened to a few fall 79 shows on the archive and it seems a lot of them have the same problem (Weir's guitar too low). The audience tapes aren't much better, so I guess it is not a soundboard source issue.

other than that.... I must say from what little I've heard, it sounds like kind of a hot show. I mean, Jerry sounds inspired. Very frustrating!

Huge fan of the late fall tour of 1979.
That said it is the one of the worst shows
to respresent this period. It confirms my
theory that they throw a dog in the subscription
each year that would NEVER sell as a stand alone
release - all part of the 25 year plan. The shows from
Cleveland and Pittsburgh would make a nice box.
San Diego, Indianapolis, St Louis or Kansas City are
all superior.

....to quote Toy Story, "you got a friend in me."

I agree with you about 12/3/79. I think 2/17/79 and 4/22/79 are way better shows , from a performance standpoint and also a recording standpoint. I have great sounding recordings of both shows, so I'm sure Dave and Co. have much better sounding copies then me.

but never too in a hurry for the fellowship of the Dead!
JIMMD: wow, that’s probably surreal for you: one day your shredding together, couple weeks later Poof!
Crazy, come to your house, and it don’t take long....sorry for your loss, may the four winds blow indeed!
As hard as it is losing a grandparent and more so a parent, a friend can be a whole nother enchilada....
Sounds like your “moment” was nice and helped, it is amazing how this music seems to be what, when, and where we need it, when we need it the most. Spooky really......kinda like that Hershey Dew for me after my grandfather....
Hang in there brother and listen to the music play!

DEADVIKES: that’s easy, it’s from Animal House when there going to see Otis Day and the Knights at the African American establishment.

EDIT: fall 79, I’ll take 11/6/79 anyway and twice on Tuesday....

Sorry to hear about your friend....that’s heartbreaking...prayers for him, his family and friends.

So, it seems that this pick did NOT get better with age for a lot of people. I must say, I see what you are all saying. While I don't think it is a "dog," it certainly is a lower-tier release. I really liked the first disc, and I really like the "Truckin'" on disc 3, but otherwise, after listening to so many great shows lately, this one does pale. My bad, guys.

Also, I am sorry to hear about your loss, Jim. My thoughts for you and your friend's family.

Peace

You got it Oroborous! I love it when they walk into the club and yell out at Otis and he looks at them like who the hell are these guys. Would it be okay if we danced with your dates?

How does 3/27/88 sound? This was released as the Download Series #5. Hampton VA. I think some of you were there.

Otis, no worries man, it is good to listen to other releases.

Heart goes out to you Jim, music is medicine and To Lay Me Down is some good medicine.

Thanks for sharing and for your insights and stories about the Merriweather Post Pavillion.. right nextdoor.
Nice set up for today's pick?

12/3/79 does kind of feel like an odd pick, admittedly distracted, but it didn't really pull me in. Glad I checked it out again, so thanks for suggesting it OTIS and yeah, there's a bunch of other shows from '79 that smoke that show. Trying to think of one that hasn't been mentioned.. 8/5/79 is money, and the circulating copy has issues. Grabbed the audio from YouTube video circulating around and tracked it out after some sonic adjustments and really like that show. But would love a fresher copy hint, hint nudge nudge to the powers that be who decide these things.

I guess it's a good example of the difference of a cassette master vs a reel master and possibly why there's a big void in the 80s releases. That 1/4 inch tape doesn't hold the same amount of sonic goodness.

The 12/3/79 recording doesn't seem to be an especially great master, but hey.. I'll take it and can move on to the next show, and the next after that, etc.. ad infinitum.

Always like to know we've got the best version so I can sit back relax and listen cause it doesn't get any better.

I guess it's time to compare that release to a fresh SBD tape.
6/30/85 you say?
EDIT: Oops or 3/27/88.. took me awhile to type, whatever is clever...

Be Well All

Hi Caseyjanes, check your PM.

I once stood up in a art/film class in front of 150 students, they of normal age, me into my thirties, and proclaimed and explained why Animal House was the greatest movie of all time. The Proff laughed and though he didn’t necessarily second it, he did commend me highly for my demonstrating what the assignment, and really his whole philosophy about the class in general: to learn how to express not just weather you like a piece of art, but to hopefully be able explain why you like it...I did get a standing ovation from the kids by the way, lol.

TODAY, I think I’ll stream 3/27/88 since I’m at work, and I’m going to try to do up 6/30/85 tonight to continue my anniversary adventure. Hopefully tomorrow I can critique/reminisce, but either way you go, both top shows! Enjoy!

79: GOGD, glad your back! Although I do agree what your saying about the recordings etc, I’m in the camp like Charlie3 and others where if it’s a hot show I don’t care so much. SparK one up, relax and entrain with the band/music and your off to never never land!
If it’s a lesser show AND it has audio anomaly’s, well then yeah....I believe this show suffers a little from both. Overall its a decent show with definite moments, but unfortunately can’t compete with many of its cohorts from the fall. Imho opinion JG seems a little off sometimes too?
Out of all the Dave’s this one will probably get the least amount of play only because of the other awesome 79s we have already. Would love some more as there’s still more to choose from, Stanley anyone?

Ok, I gotta get down, to the miiiiiinnnnneeee.

Robert Cray played the bass player in Otis Day and the Nights, he was actually a guitar player who fronted his own band , The Robert Cray Blues Band . They opened for the Grateful Dead on 8/28/82 at Veneta, Oregon. I saw him play a few times at the San Francisco Blues Festival. He had a great harmonica player/ singer in his band named Curtis Salgado.

To hear about your friend..... Bob t

of course being a long time Bills sufferer, I wouldn’t mind if I never here that song again, unless the finally won! Lol

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

So are we staying on this summer 85 streak, is it 6/30 today??

Jim I think it's an ole double dip of the dead today, take your pick :
6/30/85 Anniversary and Summer Tour revisit continued
3/27/88 Download Series V5

Do one, do em both, do em all!

Think DeadVikes picked you out a To Lay Me Down from '88 ;)
And the Summer '85 is picking up and getting ready to peak out so we can all freak out

OB: You know it man! Honestly I like it all and find it endlessly fascinating and will listen no matter what.
Good, bad, really good, really bad.

Sheeeeeaaaat.

I just like getting all persnickety cause what else are we gonna do?

Hot Damn, I got some listening to do.

I just finished 3/27/88, but want to wait until tonight for 6/30/85 on a actual stereo...so the answer is yes, lol

GOGD: awesome! It’s nice to be able to “argue” for lack of better word about the Dead. Like some old tops sitting in a bar arguing about the Mets or something...in other words, glad I didn’t offend you. Sounds like your like me and like to (Respectfully) mix it up, lol.....like,man, that was a lotta likes!
,

I'm in..

OB: You know it mang. I'm all in for discussing this stuff.
I get to learn new things everyday and hear stuff I've never heard before.
Whether it's stories, music, opinions, likes, dislikes it's all good and that's what I'm here for.
So I dig it!
Especially in this here group of folks.
This has been and continues to be my bright spot during these dreary days.

JIMINMD: Twofer!!

All right peeps, I better get to work on this here listening party.

Just wrapped up a first listen, and I thought this was an overall fun show.

First set highlights - "Iko" opener, love it!, the peppy "Stagger Lee", and Bobby's interesting vocal take on "Thin Man" - he was really going for that Dylan thing, wasn't he? (And Jerry's playing on this is pure FIRE!)

Set Two - the noodling "Space>So What" was cool, and I really enjoyed the "Scarlet>Fire" and "GDTRFB." I also have really been enjoying these 80s "Drums>Space" more and more since re-visiting these shows the past few months.

I don't really know much about 88 - the Road Trips April Fools release, which I never got, is the only other 88 release I can think of, other than the Boxilla show. I have heard that 88 is a bit of a ho-hum year, but I thought they sounded pretty good this show. Thanks for the pick.

Merriweather 85,... this is a show that I AM familiar with, and one of my favorite 2nd sets. "Shakedown" is a top version. It was mentioned earlier here, but I have been saying for years how crazy it is that Dave's is now at 34 picks, and nary a "Shakedown" among them... shame. (Well, I've been saying it since at least Dave's 20 or so...)

Peace

Peace.

This is probably only the second or third time I have listened to this since that night. Such a tight jam.. polyrhythmic bliss.. don't discount the two drummers and Phil in this one, but Jerry is on fire too. The 85 recordings sound brighter than most from 81 through 84. The vocals in Cryptical are a bit strained, but it's still quite cool and I am so happy I got to see at least one. My memory isn't strong looking back to this period.. but I am pretty sure there were gooney birds and fungus floating around in my group that week, I think I grabbed the latter this night. ..unfortunately I was in charge.

I also remember a friend of mine's father taught world music at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC) and Mickey Hart stopped by to meet his dad that year.. or maybe he met him in 84 and they did it again in 85.. I think my buddy got to meet him?? It's a bit blurry.. Mitro was his name, a cool cat. Mickey sought out his dad when they were in town, must have been buddies of some sort. My buddy was at this show.. we were all at this show.

If it wasn't for the people taking baths in the outdoor fountains at the Columbia Mall, complete w/ bubbles I think.. we might have squeaked out another year or two there. There's nothing like bubbles and hippie nudity in the fountains of downtown suburbia in the morning. (Well.. there was the out of control all night partying and the tents that seemingly occupied every square inch of grass within earshot of the pavilion). ....used to be the heart of town...

6/27/84 was no slouch either nor was 6/20/83. Like I said above if it wasn't for VGuy and Oroborous hanging off the balcony and taking bubble baths in the fountains at the mall, we could have easily gotten a couple more years of Merriweather shows. (in truth the city council banned the GD later that summer.. it was part of the MADD movement that year, Mothers Against Dancing Deadheads).

Ah.. the summer of '85. Who was it that brought us on this fun filled trek anyway? "...feels so good, everybody's getting high" Phil and Brent sharing lead vocals, what could possibly go wrong?

I'm moving backwards (or is it forwards), 3/27/88 is next.

RIP Carl Reiner. In addition to music, comedy is perhaps the next best tonic for the mind and life in general. Life is too short not to laugh. a lot.

Anyone seen HendrixFreak?

* Iko Iko. Love the crowd yelling back "hey now"! I don't think I've heard that before.
* Ballad of a thin man. Always loved this one.
* Scarlet-Fire-Prophet. A percussive extravaganza. Both drummers working overtime here. This Scarlet-Fire is such a different beast than the 77 ones I've been steeped in. I dig it!

This was a nice pick!