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    clayv
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    "Welcome to the 10th year of the Dave's Picks series! We're amazed and humbled that this community of Dave's Picks fans keeps growing, and we just wanted to let you know how much we sincerely appreciate your support of and interest in the series. We started in 2012 with 12,000 of each release, and now we've more doubled that, with 25,000 in 2021. Wow! We keep working as hard as we possibly can to bring you the best, most exciting Grateful Dead shows in the vault. Our 2020 releases included music from 1977, 1974, 1984, and the latest, biggest release yet in the series, the two complete Hartford shows from 1987. Looking ahead, we've selected two exceptional, A+ Dead shows for Vol. 37 (more on that in the video below) and 38, as well as the Bonus Disc that will come with Vol. 38. Big year ahead! As we head into the 10th year of the series, there's no end in sight. We love what we do, and have loads of plans and ideas for the next few years. Onward to more great music!"

    David Lemieux
    October 2020

    Times may be trying but the music has never and will never stop! Keep the momentum going by doing the Dead all year long with a Dave's Picks 2021 subscription. We're taking the production run up one final time - to 25,000 - for each of the four Dave's Picks 2021 releases. We'll also be doing things a wee bit differently this year - subscribers will be the first to receive their Dave's Picks. A la carte sales will go up on street date (no more pre-orders) and if you don't subscribe - we highly encourage you to - you'll want to be ready and waiting because these releases sell out within hours. Hours - no hyperbole.

    In addition to the four releases in 2021, totaling 12 CDs, you’ll also get the subscription exclusive bonus disc, which has proven to be one of the most highly sought-after collectables we release, and free domestic shipping. Subscriber bonus discs will not be released outside of this offer. Early bird subscribers can nab a sub at $99.98 (regular pricing will be $115.92).

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  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    Need-a-new-release syndrome...

    If I recall correctly, the apogee of this syndrome occurred perhaps 5 years ago when the discussion veered toward whether to let the mashed potatoes touch the pork chops as one chowed down on dinner.

    Blew my mind. Yet, I'm still undecided on that point....

    Next up: the DaP 38 reveal, sometime in December, which starts Tuesday. I'm all ears. And looking forward to that flamethrower discussion... if we have weeks to go to word on DaP 38, I'm all flamethrower all the time.

    Whatever that means.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Guitars Hand Grenades and Grateful Dead

    It's all about the aim, Oroborous.. When used properly and with good aim, hand grenades will cause no harm to the vermin that annoy you and will usually convince them to relocate to a different part of the county. The same can be said about deft usage of a high quality, accurate flamethrower (which gets considerably harder when the mice make it indoors..) perhaps a topic for another day perhaps.

    I knew you techies would have more to say on tone and style over the years. Interesting discussion, many thanks.

    A little more on the modifications made on the Nash Strat over the years.. the first guitar Jerry began to heavily modify.

    https://www.guitarworld.com/news/jerry-garcias-alligator-fender-strat-i….

    When vermin control takes center stage.. yes, we need a new release.. (or at least word of what the new release is going to be)

  • hendrixfreak
    Joined:
    I think I inadvertently dropped a grenade...

    Okay, a couple comments. Yes, Oroborous, the flip side of getting different sounds with different guitars is the way a player can sound like him or herself on different axes. True and good point.

    Um, Keef has 500 effin' guitars?! Okay, that's just ONE TOO MANY.... 499? Okay. But 500?? That's just over the top! (Confession: I have three useful acoustics; my fav is a Martin D-35. I have five electrics and have been playing the '64 Gretsch 6120 hollowbody a lot lately, and the aforementioned SG in open D.)

    Lastly, LedDed, I too -- if forced -- would pick Jer's Nash Strat on the Euro tour as my favorite sound, but you're right, one can't separate the Strat from the peak music and improvisation.

    I do own an American SG and an American Strat and love playing both (if crudely). I'd say, the Fender needs more power to achieve its signature tone, while the SG kinda needs to be restrained. The SG was more expensive and I feel the components are of higher quality. To me, the SG stays in tune better. I can tune from standard to, say, open D, on the SG for some fingerpicking and the SG holds the tuning more accurately than the Strat.

    Of course, Jer's choice of instrument -- as someone pointed out -- also must be evaluated/enjoyed in relation to the instrument choices of the rest of the band, particularly Bobby. And yes, I liked Bob's ES335 tone best in the Euro setting. Gawd, what a tour! Maybe time for another full show from that insane run. I still marvel that me and two pals took 2 1/2 years to work through that 22-show box. Some of those four-disc shows required sleep-overs, though I do recall a few moderately perilous drives home after a 3 1/2 hour Euro show.

    Good stuff. What's next? Oh yeah, DaP 38 (big '73 show) and that 2021 fall '72 box! (I need to get out and socialize, obviously....).

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Guitars

    I wonder if Jerry changed guitars at all during individual sets? He doesn't seem to have done, although as I write this, I do have a distant memory of him changing to a strat for Space in one of the late period dvds - maybe in the View From the Vaults series.

    I agree that Bob's guitar playing sounded much stronger when he was playing the Gibsons. Watching that Egypt show, one of the factors I am not so keen on is his sound. It looks as though he is playing an Ibanez. The sound is quite cheap and tinny. And if that wasnt bad enough, he also plays lot of slide on it.

    Imagine what Jerry could have done with a guitar like the one pictured to the left of this message. Big River etc could have really shone.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    UJB playing to the times

    LD, I agree with much of your post Sir, but feel I must respectfully disagree and provide rebuttal about the slanderous over generalization about JGs diminishing skills, sloppiness, and laziness in the eighties.
    I will fully agree that his personal issues and overindulgences could negatively impact his proficiency at times.
    But I believe he, like most that play that much for that long, continued to grow in versatility, ability, and knowledge.
    Yes the overall arrangements and cohesiveness of songs was affected due to lack of band rehearsal, they’ve all admitted to that, and yes this could be attributed to him, and yes he unarguably had occasions of terribleness, but even during his worst times he always had a guitar with him...name a era and his M.O. was always a tv, a guitar, a pack of smokes, and yes sometimes other more destructive things. But he always kept playing! His supposed only complaint about E72 was they didn’t play enough. He always played as much as possible, and when you did get the real deal I argue he was continually evolving.
    As far as gizmos and distortions;
    1) he always loved that sort of thing, there just was way less reliable stuff back then, and
    2) they always played to the times!
    Whether consciously or not, from sixties psychedelic, to early 70s “country” rock, disco, to yes, harder rock, they always tastefully reflected the times without selling out or over doing what was en Vogue. So I think his use of such was for these reasons rather than being “lazy and sloppy“.
    Personally, I argue they OVERALL became a more professional, including lights and sound, band. There were times in the seventies when they'd tune before almost every song, for longer then the song, and still be outta tune. That didn't happen much later on. They’d tune less often and in less time.
    Certainly everyone has preferences and is entitled to their opinions, I’ve just never liked generalizations, either pro or negative. No offense, for the sake of conversation just contesting that point.
    Peace!

  • LedDed
    Joined:
    Close Encounters

    Remember, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

    Chiming in on Jer's ever changing stable of axes, the best playing I ever hear out of him is on Europe 72. The whole tour, with Bickershaw Festival being to me the all-time high water mark for both he and the band. That cream colored Strat originally gifted him by Graham Nash is my all time favourite Jerry sound. But it goes hand in hand with his playing; he was then at the very height of his powers.

    Gibsons, to me, sound fuller and thicker than Fenders due to their humbucking pickups (sometimes P90's) which tend to be less trebly. The stock single coil bridge pickup on a Stratocaster will slice your head clean off. It's a nearly useless sound... got to at least get into one of the clucky positions between bridge and mid, or neck for a little more warmth. Unless of course you're playing surf guitar or country twang.

    Gibsons also generally prefer heavier strings, .010's at least due to their shorter scale length, whereas your typical Strat-style is usually set up for .009's. This is the gauge of the thinnest, high E-string for the uninitiated. The heavier strings also stay in tune better, along with the hardtail or stop-tailpiece/bridge on a Gibson. Fenders tend to be harder to keep in tune particularly if one uses the original tremolo bar mechanism (just listen to Hendrix live). Unless your name is Jeff Beck or David Gilmour, and you are a tone magician of the highest order.

    There are exceptions... Stevie Ray Vaughan played with very heavy strings on his Strats, got a fat tone and generally stayed in tune. Stretching your strings is also one of the most important things in keeping an axe in tune throughout the rigors of a live set.

    Jerry began putting a lot more gizmos into his signal path as time went on and his skills diminished, as well. He began to hide his sloppiness and lazy playing behind a wall of distortion and effects throughout the later 1980s and especially into the 1990s. Hell, Brent even began taking solos that used to be the exclusive territory of one Jerome John Garcia.

    I still love all the music, and I enjoy Jerry in his later years, but nothing tops the man on fire around E72 era for both tone and technique. I also like Bob backing him on on the ES335 before he went all trebly and transparent, a sound that he maintains to this day.

    \m/

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Guitars and Cadillacs and hippie music...

    Sorry Dwight lol.
    HF your both correct and not...
    What you said is true, but I’d argue that an instrument pared with the right player can plug into any rig and do there thing! Conversely, much of the sound/tone that we dissect is due to the technology. Like can you imagine what JG would of sounded like on Live Dead plugging that SG into his 1990 rig? And to those that hate the midi etc, do you really think they wouldn’t have used the technology in 1969 if it was available? So it’s a complicated interesting thing.
    I do like the biting sound of the SG in JGs hands, but it’s often too thin sounding to me via others use. That was another of his great qualities; getting awesome tone and finding ways to make what ever axe he was using sound better than the same one used by others.
    My only problem with the Gibson’s etc, was they were out of tune too much. Just like some folks can’t take his vocals after “x” (critics can fill in their date) It’s hard for me to listen to out of tune guitars and vocals. Now I’m not talking the occasional instance, but when I notice enough instances during a particular show that it colors my recollections it. Unfortunately, this is why I dont dig 70-71 as much as most. Great set lists, ultimate creative period, amazing versatility (acoustic, pedal steel, and electric all in one night...foe git about it!) but sorry to be a bummer but a lot of that era is outta a tune! The vocals are more noticeable on 2 trac only, as multitrack allows later manipulation and blending; just listen to the awesome new Capital theater releases! I wonder if they’ve used a touch of auto tune to clean em up too?

    Eventually, the advent of the electric tuner would help, but if instruments don’t stay in tune while your playing.....
    This was one of the big reasons Bob and Phil started using Modulus Graphite instruments; The carbon fiber wasn’t as susceptible to extreme temperature shifts etc so they stayed in better tune.
    So it’s a the ole yin yang again; you love the era but have trouble with the tuning etc, or you love the more professionalism, sound, and effects, (and yes I think they got way more professional as years went by) but you don’t dig the R&R Cocaine train energy etc....that’s our boys, never perfect, but always great! Lol
    Speaking of the Bean, I believe it’s more the equipment that your referring too as the purpose of the Bean with its metal neck was to facilitate huge sustain (density of wood does so too, but not as much as metal!) Reverb wouldn’t be a characteristic of an instrument but a product of a reverb unit or setting on the Fender Twin Reverb and ultimately the room. Both kinds would be affected somewhat by recording techniques.
    My understanding of the main reason he used the Beans was to supposedly have more reliability on the road. Not being fully customized you’d be able to carry replacement parts could be easily swapped out on the road, where as the Irwin would have to go to the shop. I don’t dig the Bean as much as I used to, but again, if you plugged it into later years it probably would not have the same issues...
    All that being said, I like the Tiger best! I loved the Wolf, but the Strat has really grown on me over the years, again more because of the hands it was in than it being a Fender. Totally dig the Gibson’s for the more hard rock 60s psychedelic sound, and with the extra distortion you don’t notice when outta tune as much, but as I say it’s hit or miss for me later on, but that’s just me...
    Didn’t dig his later years sound as much but that’s more a product of the tech involved than the instruments.
    I thought contrary to the company line that when they stopped using actual speakers on stage and ran direct even with the speaker simulators it didn’t sound right. I understand totally why they did it, and it did help to address those concerns, but I think it lost some of the naturalism and that perfect R&R blend of clean and dirty etc, but agin, that’s just me....I thought they started getting too convoluted near the end and sounded too plastic? or clean and not enough like a R&R band. I know this is why Doc and others love 71 so much. That hard slightly dirty, not so techie R&R sound that became too clean for some. The sound of a bar band pushing the timeless simple set up of a good tube amp slightly overdriven! Like the sound that sucked me in: Johnny B Goode from Skullfuck! Tasty !
    But my favorite everything GD wise will always be 89-90 because of the versatility to be able to get the whole sonic spectrum, but again, that’s just me...(Interestingly, JGs core infrastructure, unlike Phil and more so Bob, didn’t change that much after he started using the Twin/MC 2300/ JBL E120 set up, just the effects etc changed)
    Ultimately, the truest form of greatness is the ability to plug into anything, and immediately be recognizable because of the signature uniqueness, tone and style!
    JG of course, Hendrix, Page (usually), Clapton (usaully), Santana, Miles, hell even the edge and Slash. You can tell the great ones instantly!
    Lol, ok, sorry, too much coffee and nothing to do here too!

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Advice and Vermin

    Uncle Sammy is both humorous and right on about vacuuming being best, but I’m curious if you have a special device? I’ve only tried my household vac with the smallest attachment, which helps, but doesn't really do the job. That’s where I find using the air to blow out the hard to get stuff in conjunction with vacuuming is best, but I need to investigate some sort of small precision vacuum?

    CONEKID: wonder what kind of range it has? I need something like that for prairie dogs, moles and field mice, not to be mistaken with Mayor Field!
    I was looking into water guns but was disappointed by the inherent idiosyncrasies of most, and that the one that would of worked is no longer available except on the black market for too much...
    I don’t want to kill em for various reasons, but I’ve read that if you make them not welcome they will retreat a bit which is all I’m looking for: “damn kids, get off my lawn!”
    I need something quick; as the enemy is lightning fast!, versatile, most importantly accurate with enough range and power to get the job done but not so much I’m killing them? Currently I try and hose em but their so damn quick and smart that I don’t often get a good shot...“Remember, to kill the gofer you have to be the gofer!”

  • daverock
    Joined:
    Gibson SG

    That is my favourite Jerry Garcia tone-the one recorded on Live Dead. It seemed quite a popular choice on the West Coast in the late 60s-incredible tones on the same instrument by Barry Melton, and especially John Cippolina..
    The other ingredient in defining sound is the player, of course.
    One of the interesting things about watching a post 1989 Stones show is how often Keith Richards changes guitar within one set. He typically plays various telecasters-some in open G with only 5 strings, to Gibson 335s, to Les Paul Juniors to strats. I think he's got about 500 at home.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Ok

    The SG is in, I had to sleep on this one.

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"Welcome to the 10th year of the Dave's Picks series! We're amazed and humbled that this community of Dave's Picks fans keeps growing, and we just wanted to let you know how much we sincerely appreciate your support of and interest in the series. We started in 2012 with 12,000 of each release, and now we've more doubled that, with 25,000 in 2021. Wow! We keep working as hard as we possibly can to bring you the best, most exciting Grateful Dead shows in the vault. Our 2020 releases included music from 1977, 1974, 1984, and the latest, biggest release yet in the series, the two complete Hartford shows from 1987. Looking ahead, we've selected two exceptional, A+ Dead shows for Vol. 37 (more on that in the video below) and 38, as well as the Bonus Disc that will come with Vol. 38. Big year ahead! As we head into the 10th year of the series, there's no end in sight. We love what we do, and have loads of plans and ideas for the next few years. Onward to more great music!"

David Lemieux
October 2020

Times may be trying but the music has never and will never stop! Keep the momentum going by doing the Dead all year long with a Dave's Picks 2021 subscription. We're taking the production run up one final time - to 25,000 - for each of the four Dave's Picks 2021 releases. We'll also be doing things a wee bit differently this year - subscribers will be the first to receive their Dave's Picks. A la carte sales will go up on street date (no more pre-orders) and if you don't subscribe - we highly encourage you to - you'll want to be ready and waiting because these releases sell out within hours. Hours - no hyperbole.

In addition to the four releases in 2021, totaling 12 CDs, you’ll also get the subscription exclusive bonus disc, which has proven to be one of the most highly sought-after collectables we release, and free domestic shipping. Subscriber bonus discs will not be released outside of this offer. Early bird subscribers can nab a sub at $99.98 (regular pricing will be $115.92).

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8 years 11 months

In reply to by hendrixfreak

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@HENDRIXFREAK

Pretty sure those El Monte Reels are in the Vault.

Bob Minkin took a photo of 1970 reels in the Vault and it's in his book. Some reels with those dates are in the picture.

Big hole between 7/16/70 and 12/12/70, then there's one reel of 12/23 and all 3 of the El Monte shows in the picture. Also DL has played some bits and pieces on the Taper's Section and I believe he mentioned they are there as well in an old interview.

Hope that helps keep the hope ;)

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In reply to by Cousins Of The…

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Thanks for the tip about the above Everly's album - there are a few tracks from 1968 by them on the Truckers cd I bought - good stuff.
That Bakersfield box you mentioned looks exceptional. And, pleasingly, much less expensive from Bear Family than Amazon.

For NYE, 1972 is the one for me. Although its been a while since I have had a look at 1978-so maybe I'll pop that one in come the time.

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What a loss. One of a kind flat picker. He played with Jerry, of course. He also had an amazing voice back in the day. I had the pleasure of seeing him play many times. The world now seems like a darker place, yet again.

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Daverock, my brother has the Bakersfield Box and he says it's a knockout. RIP. Tony Rice

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Spending time just chillin' and listening to 12/26/79 Dick's Picks 5.

Happy Holidays and stay safe.

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In reply to by hartwerger

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RIP is right.

Tony Rice was an amazing picker.. He will be missed. I have quite a few albums of his and his various bands, plus many albums he played on.. and I have listened to his stuff a lot over the years. Always impressive and tasteful. He was simply masterful.

Proudfood.. well done.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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One of the finest guitarists in the history of music, he completely transformed bluegrass from guitars as rhythm instruments to bluegrass guitarists needing to be able to play solos as well as the fiddle, banjo, and mandolin players. And to play as well as those guys, you have to be damn good. And his amazingly wonderful voice, before he was robbed of it... I got to meet him a couple of times and once got to carry his guitar (Clarence White's guitar that he gifted to Tony) from his car to the backstage area where he was about to go warm up before playing. Not much of an interaction either time, but it was pretty cool to me. Luckily we have albums and videos to listen to for generations to come.

...Ditto, I’ve been enjoying Dicks Picks again since yesterday afternoon! This pick is one of my favorites I. The Dicks Picks Series & I’m a huge fan of 1979! I hold 1979 with high Honors in the dead’s playing as a “Unit”, absolutely beautiful performances were played in 1979 and I’m always grateful and waiting patiently for the next 1979 release, I’d love a 79’ Boxset to add to my collection that would be ‘primo’ in my book!
Have a grateful day my friend. 🙏❤️💀🌹

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Photos of El Monte tape boxes is positive, if not definitive. But the thought of that three-nighter nestled in the Vault, awaiting possible release, is sweet indeed. Unfortunately, the dearth of '70 complete shows means they'll get doled out agonizingly slowly over years to come. But who really knows? Not me...

Damn, Alvarhanso carried Tony Rice's freakin' guitar for him. I recall a show with Tony Rice and, I think, Peter Rowan, at Denver Botanic Gardens. I noted that, unlike others, Tony brought his guitar on stage in a special case and put it away before walking off. Amazing player, RIP, and the raucous Leslie West, both gone in one week?

Brace yourselves, as time rolls relentlessly on and, as Dylan sang, "You think you've lost it all, there's always more to lose..." Summon courage for the days ahead.

What a great show-I'd forgotten how good it is. The whole show is great, but that must be one of the best Alabama's in set 1, - and if this isn't the best Uncle Johns Band ever played, I'd like to know why not.

I thought I'd better go straight to 12/28/79 while I was in the mood, to see how that measures up-and it measures up very well indeed-great first set. This is a Road Trips release, and I notice there is a bonus cd with highlights from12/30/79 included. I must have played it in the past, but I have no memory of having done so.

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In reply to by alvarhanso

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Nice story Alvarhanso. I got to see him a few times with the David Grisman Quintet, these shows were unforgettable, his playing was on a different level altogether; what a loss.

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In reply to by daverock

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I started listening to that yesterday, too. Set 1 is lotsa fun.

Reeeeeally looking forward to the next two discs

:)))

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I became an instant Tony Rice fan when I first heard him on the first DGQ album and his early solo effort sometimes called Rattlesnake, back around 1977. Was already aware of Clarence White by then, and Tony immediately hit my list along with Clarence and Doc Watson as the guys who took bluegrass and acoustic guitar to another level. Also made me think that you can listen to a lot of people shred on an electric guitar, but when you get them on an acoustic, you really learn if they know how to balance tone, timing, and intonation to go a few levels beyond, as I once read Tony describe the elements of guitar playing that mattered most to him.

Got to see him live several times, including once in the 80s in a small church venue down in Menlo Park, San Mateo, or somewhere else on the SF peninsula that I don't quite remember where. Even then he was selling his CDs at the show, apologizing for doing so in a church. He never sold out his integrity and never went all Nashville, which I suspect kept him from earning the name recognition and fortune of some of his other bandmates along the way. A story I read about him as of a few years ago was tough to take, as his medical conditions/hand dexterity issues kept him from playing guitar or getting the expensive adequate treatment he needed, as I recall.

I still have all the old original Rounder and other label LPs of his that I bought as they came out, plus a mix of LPs and CDs from later years until I had most of his output. Plus, he appears on so many records of other great artists where he's just in for a few tunes to liven it up. I could usually pick those tunes out from his rich Martin tone on the rhythm from the beginning, until they let him blast off on a solo on these guest appearances.

He always seemed to surround himself with the some of the top people at other instruments in almost any setting he played in. I'm sure they sought him out too. When you get accolades from so many, including a range from Ricky Skaggs to Allison Krause to Bryan Sutton to Sierra Hull and so many others, you've done something right.

For me though, the highlight was the first time I saw him with pretty much the original David Grisman Quintet in 1977 or 78, can't remember exactly, but it ripped every bit as much as that landmark album did and may have had a few tunes off the upcoming Hot Dawg by then too, but it's so long ago that details fade. The feeling around seeing them that first time never has, though. Still among my top 5 live shows that I've seen.

Thanks for decades of showing us that there's a deep well of authenticity that's always bubbling in the halls of music, Tony, for those who are willing to look for it.

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SpaceBro, LG, DaveR, ProudFt - Yes. From EP to NFA, there’s 68 mins of energy and passion. It's throughout but these hit me. New to the party but can easily hear what you're talking about. Thanks for the nudge!

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In reply to by jp1119

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Welcome ! I would also like to recommend 12/28/79 as well, if you can get hold of a copy-it was in the Road Trips series. It opens with a great 16 minute Sugaree, and all the first set is superb. The highlight, for me, is the Playing in The Band in the second, though, and again, Brent adds a flavour that had never been added before. Drums and space are highlights of both nights, as well.

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In reply to by jp1119

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Speaking of 1979, I’m also very grateful for ‘Dave’s Picks #31, 1979 - 12/3/79 which I.believe is another excellent performance captured on tape for eternity and beyound that too! Compared to Dicks Picks #5 , # 5 still remains a higher. Pedegree of playing & enjoyment for my taste / likings!
I’m still surprised that not much love is expressed here on these community message boards! For some reason I remember treading alot of disappointment among the fans opinions when Dave’s #31 was first released.
I’m still listening to Dave’s #31 at least once a month or more to relive the dead’s brilliant & beautiful musical passages sprinkled on top of some Jerry Garcia ice cream ! Liven 1979! Alright Alr Alright! “Nothen left to do but Smile Smile Smile!” C🙏❤️💀🌹
Take care everyone, peace be with you all!

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In reply to by jp1119

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Speaking of 1979, I’m also very grateful for ‘Dave’s Picks #31, 1979 - 12/3/79 which I.believe is another excellent performance captured on tape for eternity and beyound that too! Compared to Dicks Picks #5 , # 5 still remains a higher. Pedegree of playing & enjoyment for my taste / likings!
I’m still surprised that not much love is expressed here on these community message boards! For some reason I remember treading alot of disappointment among the fans opinions when Dave’s #31 was first released.
I’m still listening to Dave’s #31 at least once a month or more to relive the dead’s brilliant & beautiful musical passages sprinkled on top of some Jerry Garcia ice cream ! Liven 1979! Alright Alr Alright! “Nothen left to do but Smile Smile Smile!” C🙏❤️💀🌹
Take care everyone, peace be with you all!

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I saw a lot of cool shows on Dec 28th throughout the years, between the Oakland Auditorium and the San Francisco Civic, I had a lot of high fun times on that date.

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I wholeheartedly concur about this date from 79-84. I don't know what was going on but all of these shows are just so well done it makes you want to ask that question - what was going on? These are great shows, all of them and I recommend them to all.
Billy, got any cool stories about those shows you saw, I never made it out west to see the boys and I thought maybe you could enlighten us as to what was going on on the 28th of December way back then.
Anybody get any cool dead stuff for Christmas? I received something I haven't seen for years, a double sided mobile from a record store owner friend from 1979-80 of Terrapin Station. It has the front cover on one side and on the other side the back of the lp, the one eyed skull, very cool, now, how to hang it so it doesn't get worn out, it is too cool to just put away and not be seen.

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5 years
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We just got really high at all those shows, both the S.F Civic & the Oakland Auditorium had great bars inside. At the Oakland Auditorium we walked downtown to George Atkinson's parents liquor store ( George Atkinson great safety who played for the Oakland Raiders, late 1960s early 1970s) to buy some booze before the show, we had already dosed. Pete Rozell the NFL commissioner had called George Atkinson "part of the criminal element in pro sports" because of his hard hitting rough style of play. When we got to the liquor store, it was full of pictures of George Atkinson, my late friend Cole asked George's parents if their son was truly part of the criminal element in pro sports, boy , the atmosphere got frosty in there fast. Anyways, those Decmber shows we partied hard, and got as high as we could.

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4 years 4 months

In reply to by billy the kid

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One afternoon long ago
Lysergic listening on a hillside
Terrapin Playin'
Oh yeah
One of the 10 highest experiences of my life

:)))

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17 years 5 months

In reply to by proudfoot

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....I have one dose. Saving it for NYE. The last time was last New Years Eve.
But the more I think about, seeing as how this year turned out, maybe I'll save it for another time.

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7 years 7 months
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My mind must be slipping because I was wondering why nobody was on this site since I was continuously going to the Dap 36 thread. Getting old sucks.

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8 years 1 month

In reply to by carlo13

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Hang in there Carlo, 2021 is right around the corner.

RT3. 1 from 12/28/79 is one of the best 79 releases to date and the bonus disc is hot.

I will say the 79 show from Chicago didn't live up to the 12/28 show. I have heard others mention a potential for some extras at the set break.

Stay well out there folks.

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10 years 3 months

In reply to by DeadVikes

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Deadvikes-yes, the bonus for that Road Trips release, 12/30/79 is also good. I have to say though, that although these, and 12/26/79 hit the spot for me, I am not too crazy about the other 1979 shows I have heard. Maybe I should listen to the 30 Trips one-10/27 again...but I have moved off centre, a bit and dropped in on the first cd of the October 1974 comp at the Winterland. Goodbye 1979, hello 1974.

Highly recommended book I am reading at the moment-"Hellfire" by Nick Tosches on Jerry Lee Lewis. It was written in 1982, so it's hardly hot off the presses - but it's an incredible book, even if ( shock, horror) you don't like Jerry Lee Lewis. He covered 5 or 6 songs, at least, that The Dead also covered.

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5 years
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Davrrock, you nailed that one , 12/30/79 was a great show , I was there. They had a volley ball game going before the show,Bill Graham's team againest some local heads. One guy got hit right in the face with the ball and was bleeding all over the place just like in Meet the Parents. My brother saw Jerry Lee Lewis at the Boarding House in S.F. back in the late 1970s, and he put on a fantastic show, he really rocked.

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15 years 3 months
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43 years ago today, I sat in line for few hours in front of Winterland; great times. Bill Graham fed us with KFC buckets and chatted with us a bit. Show was't bad either :-) I think I mentioned this before, I never heard a crowd roar as loud as when they the first notes of China Cat rang out, louder than the Dark Star breakout the next year.

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17 years 6 months
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That makes three of us at Winterland 43 years ago on this date. 12/30 was none too shabby either. My last times to Winterland.

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15 years 3 months

In reply to by billy the kid

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Not only we were at the same Dead shows, I also was at the Jerry Lee show at the Boarding House(77 or 78) your parents attended.
There are similarities between the Dead and JLL, as far as unpredictability. I caught Jerry Lee at Keystone Palo Alto in 1980, he clearly had no set list; he did two sets, played CC Rider in both sets, rockin' tempo for the 1st version then a slow grinding rendition for the later set. His banter with the audience was pretty hilarious too.

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15 years 3 months
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Dave Rock
Thanks for the heads up on these Bear Family cds. I ordered them via Bear Family on the evening of 26/12 and they have just been delivered. From Germany to my hands in a little under three days. Obviously, I haven’t played them yet but the track lists look very good. As with all compilations I already own many of the tracks but others I haven’t got or were on albums that I have given away over the years. Looking forward to listening.

Great stuff going on in all these threads. Thanks to all for sharing. Really enjoying the banter from cousins, strider, billy and everyone else plus all the good music feeds in directions from some of the other threads. Most of you I will never meet but I can see a commonality and in a way there is a kinship of sorts that I find comforting in a period when being face to face has become elusive.

I am way jealous of the shows some of you have seen. ...but at least we get to listen to them via mostly high quality, well preserved recordings. A big thanks to Bear for that reminding us to hit record. I guess I got to see my own share of good shows too..

Really enjoying the banter though. It seems we get these placid, free flowing periods in between releases that are probably my favorite times to read and contribute.

Happy New Year all.. an early tip of the glass and pass of the pipe for what I hope will be a better year. Lets put this 2020 shit show in the rear view mirror. Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, happy, fun and prosperous path forward.

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17 years 6 months
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Hell fire!

I'm reading Faulkner's The Hamlet right now. "Hell fire!" was apparently an everyday expression in the South in the late 19th century. Or at least in Faulkner's version of it. I've probably been on the wife's nerves of late becasue i've been going around the last week or so (in relative Covid-induced isolation) replying Hell fire! to most of what she says.

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8 years 2 months

In reply to by Slow Dog Noodle

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And when is the second box set for 2020 coming?? 🤠

Hey, we are 30 days out from #37!

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11 years 11 months

In reply to by DeadVikes

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and Bear Family...you need to find Jerry Lee Lewis "Live at The Star Club 1964" (Yes that Star Club) backed by the Nashville Teens of Tobacco Road fame...killer killer show (Pun intended)....and of course it's a Bear family release...

https://www.bear-family.com/lewis-jerry-lee-live-at-the-star-club-hambu…

Yes, I agree - Jerry Lee Live at the Star Club is a corker. Easily the best live one that I have heard by him.

Very appropriate, Slow Dog Noodle, that you should mention William Faulkner in the context of Hell Fire. One of my favourite American authors-and the tone of this biography by Nick Tosches seems to aim in the same direction as Faulkner.

I last saw Jerry Lee Lewis as recently as 2015 - still great. He seems to have a different head on his shoulders than the one he used to have. Looks like he's had a new one screwed on. Still compelling - he's one on his own alright. For support, he had both James Burton and Albert Lee, first Burton on his own, then a jam with the two of them. Jaw dropping.

Colin-the sound and sequencing on this first Truckers comp is immaculate. I have the one from 1970 as well, but I am saving that for a day or so - I wish I had bought The Bundle now.

I couldn't believe I had this album and didn't know it. Sounds like a copy right from the factory. I only listened to several songs, but it's amazing the energy he could build up in a two minute song! Kinda like the Ramones. You see the length of the songs and it throws you.

Also, I got email about the final days of Real Gone Music ultimate-things-got-to-go sale, they seem to have a fair amount of road trips available, vinyl of DP's (26 for 100 bucks?). Thought it worth mentioning.

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16 years 2 months
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my wife was going thru some boxes in the closet and low and behold, out she pulls some shrooms. I could not believe it, no caps, but a bunch of powder and some stems (some quite big). I don't remember putting those away and she says "I did that" what a gal. I don't think we will consume them this year, this year has pretty much been a bummer and would hate to end it with another bummer. Last time I did dried shrooms, it only took one and there are about a dozen or so stems and a nice pile of powder. Groovy man

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4 years 4 months

In reply to by DeadVikes

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Yes, about that box...

I say, 1968!!!!!!

Complete shows or niblets n bitlets...

GD68!!!

Think of all that material recorded for AOTS

There's gotta be usable music still available for release

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4 years 4 months

In reply to by proudfoot

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"Do you remember back in 1966"

An orgy of Grateful Dead 1966 done up right

I would buy that

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7 years 8 months
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I just bought the criterion complete Monterey pop fest blu-ray. I have never seen the complete version. It's a bit pricey at $50 but I am sure it is worth it. P.S.- I'm listening to fire up+ Merlin Saunders and friends

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10 years 3 months

In reply to by proudfoot

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So would I buy that.

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