• 8,099 replies
    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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  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Spring 89

    Though I did not relisten to a few shows previously heard, I did rehash several, and some shows multiple times. I started at 2/5 and went in order, finishing with the excellent 5/27 show.

    Overall this is a very good, consistent period, though still not as fully gelled as the awesome summer and fall periods. I think this can be attributed to it being yet another transitional period. With the newer songs from the previous year still percolating , as well as several new tunes getting hashed out, (interesting during any era) combined with tech changes and evolving personal roles, it is an interesting period.
    One that I hadn’t previously really looked at, and now glad I finally did!

    I think generally, the earlier shows of the year are perhaps more consistent than is historically sometimes the case,( but historically similar) in perhaps being a teeny bit subdued, comparatively.
    Their all good, enjoyable shows, didn’t hear a dude in the bunch, but hey, they can’t all be top shelf. So I found a nice progression through the spring that really started to gel and peak during the spring tour proper. I hopefully, Iprovide a nice jumping off point for anyone interested in what ever tour I’m stumbling through.

    3/28/89: vguy suggested this on POTD awhile back and I liked it as much now as I did then. In fact, it’s in my top picks. A fine show but perhaps just a pace or two off the leaders?
    So much of this can be subjective, and though I try to critically listen to all the shows, over time etc, it’s really hard to pick a “best” etc.
    So I try to do the leg work for folks who may have a cursory interest about a tour, but not the time or sanity to waste going through the whole thing lol.
    So hopefully, I provide a nice jumping off point for anyone interested in what ever tour I’m stumbling through.

    I was at the Pittsburgh shows and we felt they continued the promising progression since the big 86 collapse, but though we liked the shows, I recall thinking good but…
    years later, with the DL release, I was grateful to get an attended show, but still had some dissonance, perhaps another right city street, but wrong house?
    This time around I was really scratching my pointy head at first, but long short, feel the first show kind lacks, except for the fun post drums sequence etc.
    The next night however, I felt was a tad above the tour status quo and in the running for a top pick? (But still think perhaps they missed the mark slightly, maybe it was about the tapes? But again, this can all be so subjective).
    More importantly, this show or perhaps end of first night can really be seen as point of demarcation from earlier, to the hieght of this period!

    4/5&6/89: I think 4/5 is most definitely a tour tops and recommended.
    4/6, Conekids first show I believe, is good, but another perhaps just below that top dog line? Another good tour status quo show on the sixth, but not quite the lightning of the fifth?

    4/8/89: though we were at this one also, and really enjoyed it, my memory was of a good but ?…And I had a tape of the first and a couple songs from the second, but hadn’t heard the whole show until a few years ago. It perked my interest but I didn’t get back to it until now, and wow, really glad I did! Have a story for this one but I’ll do that later…yeah it’s in my top picks and maybe not THE show but there’s just something about this show, the vibe? The flow, The set list (mostly), and like the whole tour Brent is strong, and because if it’s uniqueness I think this might be my favorite Blow Away of the tour? Vocal harmonies too which were generally really strong over this period!
    Well, you can check it out if you please.
    I highly recommend a listen and it’s on my top list.

    4/9/89: another great show. Fun stuff and more consistent tour status quo, but as throughout the tour you get the occasional vocal flub or miscue, especially with some of the new material. I found this show another, good, but just a step off the pace…

    4/11, 12, 13/89: more overall more of the same, in a good way, though the second night seemed a bit of a creeper and the first night (a fine previous DV pick) seemed the strongest of the three, and yet another close but….

    4/15/89: same here as several. Good but…not…quite…? I really liked this show and it’s on my second string list.

    4/16&17/89 were good, but perhaps on the tour downside or just past the peak section of this period? Very subtle and the kind of thing I think you can only really get if you do whole tours.

    IRVINE: more of the same but perhaps a bit looser and thus a bit less tight?
    Again, subtle feels and paying attention to misses etc. Perhaps just a touch of California laid back no worries sun fun, as they do sound like their having fun, actually that’s a prevalent vibe through: they were having fun again, getting new momentum etc.
    Perhaps a lab opportunity too as they continue to prominently roll out the new stuff for good or sometimes for ill, and definitely here for the Cali crowd.

    FROST: boy Frost shows sure seem to both inspire but with some of that laissez-faire Cali home vibe. And these are no different. They open with a good Jack and proceed with a fun set list, though Just a Little Light is still a work in progress. Solid second set which I had a tape of, with cool PITB and yet another cool drums into space, that was stepped up all tour and with the midi addition has become more “other” less trad drums, which I’ve always really dug!
    But finally hearing 5/7 I’d have to say I liked that one more, though there were some obvious whoopsies lol. Bird Song was sweet and has been throughout the tour.
    One of the spring highlights for me, but I’m sure not others lol is the midi space fest as they really go to town having a ball with the new toys! Really, the whole sequence from He’s Gone through Black Pete is some of the best stuff I heard so far this year!
    Another good show, on my second string list just because of the slop factor, comparatively speaking…

    Which brings us to show completely off my radar 5/27/89
    This was perhaps the biggest surprise of this trip.
    And unlike many of these larger multi group bene shows that sometimes get played safe etc, this one has great energy and illustrates how things have progressed nicely over the course of the year during this interesting transitional period, just before and leading up to what I and some consider one of the best stretches in their thirty year history: summer 89 through summer 90!

    So, top picks in no real order (whichever I listened to last was best ala Jim ; )
    4/8, 4/5, 4/3, 3/28 and 5/27, with second string 4/9, 4/11, 4/15 and 5/7…
    That may be a lot, but that’s because if how overall comparative this stretch is, thus not only one or two that really jump out.
    I think if you have any infinity for this era you’ll at least enjoy any of these picks, find them a good jumping off point, and hey, sometimes you might even get shown the light ; )

    Well, it was fun, but glad it’s over as to really dig in you have to keep at it and by the end I was doing like a weeks of two a days, and 3 DHBs at the end. Actually, more DHBs as I’m rehashing some of my top picks in playoff round lol. Hey, sorry, getting hockey fever lol.
    ONWARD!

    Prolly cleanse this WE with more 74, then perhaps a week of 69, maybe a bunch of April 69, then a little more May 79 and/or pickup 84 again…

  • daverock
    Joined:
    China-Rider

    If I was to give someone a very brief indication of why I liked The Dead, to someone who had never heard them, I would chose a version of China-Rider. For me, one from between 1972-1974. As the first one I heard was on the old "Europe 72" album, that would be a likely contender.

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Transitions

    Like that exact moment they drifted from China Cat into I Know You Rider

    Regardless of the year, words cannot describe.

    (did the really make it through HeyNow?)

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    Speaking of 89

    Been marching through spring 89 (everything I’ve not heard up to 5/27/89)
    Just a few shows left then I’ll report back…

  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Speaking of 89

    For those who torrent, summer 89 and fall 89 are at etree as single torrents.
    Summer 91 was there too.
    Was there last weekend and grabbed them in case they are upgraded from what I already have.

  • bluecrow
    Joined:
    Box o Rain

    Encore got tucked after Set 1 to save space if you were burning to disc, like you would sometimes see in the cassette days. That can fool ya. DaP 49 did it for the 2nd Frost show. The most recent Miller transfer of the Healy/Pierson Ultramatrix has it in correct order. Haven't quite got there yet. Just hit drums and need to break for another task.

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    The Other One

    Says thanks for the well wishes.
    She’s fine, perhaps hurt her pride most, just a little sore is all.
    Think Jim got beat up worse by the Hey Know Police! ; )
    Sounds like the bastards turned it up to 11.

    Box O Rain was the encore fyi…

    I’ll try more later, when I’m done shoveling for the fourth time in 3 days…

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    4-8-89

    (Miller SBD) 2nd set starts with Box of Rain?
    Angry Brent gets a 9 min. Blow Away.
    Solid show. I think I remember Bobby giving an interview saying 1989 was some of their best later stuff.
    Cheers

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    4/8/89

    I'm getting to this now.. I love one of the comments on setlists dot net

    I remember the rain, and the cops and far too much very strong acid.

    That got my attention.

    I am trying to participate more but even the simplist things wake up the heymeow police.

    One of five attempts are seeming to get these days, with one arm in a sling, it's like they have special a filter to screw with the disabled. This filter censorship thing is BS

    Add two more heynows to the list.. nothing seems to be getting through

  • icecrmcnkd
    Joined:
    Dennis

    Thanks.
    I got Hey Now’d sending you a PM.

    I can hold off for now and will try to acquire it in the future if it appears at etree.
    I can get to the shn flac site on an iPad (didn’t log in), but on a computer it’s blocked because it’s not secure according to various browsers.

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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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History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

- Mark Twain

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Good show, I don't think it comes up to level of the Feb/March Fillmore West shows, but enjoyable for sure. Funny, as I listen to this I enjoyed Garcia's guitar playing , just the guitar playing, from yesterday's show 10/24/79, just as much as I enjoy his guitar playing from this show, 4/21/69. Anyway, great pick.

How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?!?!

Well, I suppose I went just for the "pudding" yesterday, as I only listened to Set 2, but I did enjoy what I heard. I agree with those who point out that this is not the strongest show of the tour, but I just love this period, and I enjoyed the whole 2nd set. Flaming hot Fire, and even with the vocal flubs in Terrapin, the rest of the set flows nicely. Strong Wharf Rat too! I'm a fan of good sounding AUDs too, and this one certainly does sound pretty sweet.

4/21/69 - the first night of the Ark. I think I might cherry-pick this one with a few songs from set 1 (TOO Suite) and most of set 2 (I'll probably skip a good portion of Lovelight... currently ducking to avoid the tomatoes! :) I do LOVE Sitting On Top of the World!

Almost to hump day!

Peace

No tomatoes from me.

I appreciate Lovelight more as time passes, but it can get repetitive and....

Now the ones i have heard from march 68 and earlier bounce more instead of drag, which is a good thing

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I tend to love any dead that lasts long. Like pitb - lovelight - eyes - smokestack - alligator - and all that great stuff that you can listen to while partying or sex or both together. I know.... way too much info.

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Wait a second Carlo, sex and the Dead. Okay, that cracked me up.

Wait a second honey, listen to this transition into I Know you Rider!

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"Giddy-up." Like kramer would say.

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Carlo, LOL, reminds me of when George was trying to have it all: sex, pastrami, AND the Yankees all at the same time!

69 no doubt is fine. Sitting on Top always welcome. But another in the “have to be in the mood” LL camp, but that doesn’t mean ya gotta throw grease! ; ) Did Viola seem a little underwhelming, or was that just me?

Did Ready or Not afterwards. Really digging this 90s stuff, well, not so much the Vince tunes....

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Since we just did the first night at the Ark, I was thinking we can mix the ying and the yang with some 1/10/79 from Nassau Coliseum. Honestly, one of my favorite second sets ever, and that speaks volumes. Pre Drums is a powerhouse.

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In reply to by JoshByTheBay

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Okay Josh, looks like a Dr. Bob Wagner audience recording for this show. I will check it out this afternoon. Thanks for the pick.

Everybody hang loose.

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In reply to by The Good Ole G…

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Nice pick JOSHBYTHEBAY

That Set 2 is always fun to listen too and it really hit the spot yesterday!
Enjoyed that.

I was struck by a few things as I usually am when I listen to this show.
First off the amazing recording by Dr. Bob!
Recording technique & equipment had some major advancement between say '73-'79.
Jerry sings "Sweet Susie” in Loser, that makes it for me.
Love how that Head on tape figures out it's gonna be Dark Star and you can hear the stoke!
Space was still an odd occurrence.

The reviewer in Taper's Compendium was at these shows and he was saying that rumors before the show were that they'd played Dark Star & St. Stephen recently. But he didn't really believe them because rumors were so wild back then.

Reading that I was struck thinking about it. Having grown up essentially always listening and loving 12/31/78 and considering it an upper echelon GD show and legendary. It's crazy to think of a time when Ten days after that show no one knew the set list, what happened or the songs played!

Simpler times... Fun to think about.
Golden age for information now (and misinformation too).

You're still here?!?

Well alright then, the other thing I was struck by...
The reviewer states the hotter show played was the next night 1/11/79

I gotta test that theory today as nothing on this setlist sticks out to me and I really don't recall listening to it often.

See what this show does for my memory.
Good Sugaree to start.

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In reply to by DeadVikes

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Looking at 9/6/1980 for tommorow's pick. Some of you were at this show, I have never heard it, but the story behind the show seems interesting. Last show before the Warfield.

Yes, do I think 1980 is still lost in space, (per Oroborous), absolutely!

Is it time for more? Let's hope. Giving this one a go.

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Looks like DeadVikes has picked 9/6/80, which is a show I have never heard before either. Sounds like a pretty awesome day up in Maine! LOOOONNNG show, interesting setlist, let's do it!

I did a little fishing around the ol' Archive - there are a lot of copies of this one - and I picked two sources that sound pretty good. The first is a SBD/AUD Matrix, mastered by good man Charlie Miller:

https://archive.org/details/gd80-09-06.sbd_aud.miller.25560.sbeok.shnf/…

The second is a straight AUD (looks to be a Jim Wise recording). In the quick sound comparison I did (a few minutes of China Cat, Shakedown, and Mexicali,) I think it sounds a little brighter overall, more bass, better balance, etc., though there is a bit of tape warble (at least I heard it on Mexicali...):

https://archive.org/details/gd80-09-06.wise.unknown.322.sbeok.shnf/gd80…

On both copies the vocals, particularly Jerry's, sound pretty distant. If anyone knows of or finds a better source, please let me know!

Happy listening, HAPPY FRIDAY, and stay safe out there!

Peace

I'm in.. thanks dvikes.

I haven't listened to this show in forever and a day. I'm through the first set and still fumbling for the best version.

Anyway.. even though we just listened to a 79 this feels like a nice change of pace and hits the spot. I don't listen to a ton of 1980. I listened to the deadset centric shows to death decades ago and as much as I love the acoustic material, when I am in the mood, it's awesome but I must admit I like the electric edge.

Lately.. it's the Nov Dec run from 1980 that I find myself hitting the most.

Be kind folks.. it's Happy Friday where I sit. Been working a bit more than usual lately, planning on how to optimize my day. I should finish this show before my day is done, I might switch things up for Friday part 2.

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In reply to by JimInMD

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Otis and Jim,

I listen through Relisten via my Sonos. The version I am listening to is a SBD/Aud, which was the first choice on the list. The vocals sound really clear as well as the rest of the band.
This definitely is not a new polished copy, imagine if it was?
Future release?

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Great pick Dead Vikes. Well this certainly is a long show, and it starts out with great versions of Alabama/Greatest Story, the Dead are full of energy. Then they do a killer version of Sugaree. After a great 3 song start they play 7 songs that are very pedestrian and not much to write home about, Garcia's guitar playing sounds good on these songs but other than that, time to head to the beer garden and have a few beers. They get their energy back that they showed in the 1st 3 songs and end the 1st set with really great versions of China/Rider and Promised Land. Notes, not to fond of Brent's synthesizer playing on Alabama, Weirs slide playing on Little Red Rooster, not very enjoyable. Garcia's slide playing on Little Red Rooster is what always made the Dead's version cool, Weirs singing is ok, but pales in comparison to HowlinWolf.

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Okay, so the recording goes to the audience portion at China Cat and there is a drop off for sure. Hope it goes back.

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Fantastic choice. I love this show. I think it may be the best show from '80 that i've heard, but maybe because this aud is so good. Thanks Jim Wise!

Can't wait to listen to this show again. Lemieux, if you're follow this adventure we've been having over the last year so so, please put this show at the top of your list for release. 🤞

Edit: That Fox show from Atlanta (11-30-80) that was Dave's #8 was a very fine '80 show too.

Looking good Winthorpe!
Don’t think I’ve ever heard this one? Love me some 80 Dead. Saw excellent show on 9/2, and we have the under the radar DL shows in between....
1/10/79: this one I’ve heard for the obvious reasons plus it’s a cousin to my first show 10 days later. Really dug this one. Is that TMNS set closer a rager er what? Did 1/11/79 too, but that one didn’t resonate as much, though I was busy...
Gonna try and get to some more 90s released stuff this weekend.
Happy Friday!

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Killer 2nd set, I give it a 10 out of 10, excellent from.start to finish. Great choice Dead Vikes.

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I ended up listening to the soundboard for Set I and the Jim Wise for Set II. I wonder what happened to the rest of the board? In any case.. a nice palate cleanser and a hot show from a great year.

What's on tap today? Did we do 2/22/74 yet? I'm contemplating that one.. if we did that how about 2/23.

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was listening to this early Dec. - 1st set ends with Death Don't Have No Mercy
1st set only (Charlie Miller / Sir Mick hands on) - https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1970/01/16?source=103821 (tracking is off)
full show - https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1970/01/16?source=88884

and for tomorrow maybe head next door to Oregon State 1/17/70 - https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1970/01/17

be well everybody - it may seem a ways off but spring is coming

I both have not listened to this before and do not have it in my electronic world.. I had this show confused with the Download Series #2 show, which was apparently just one set two days later, with a show in the middle (Oregon State University in Corvallis).

I am going with the Charlie Miller first set and the droncit?? version I cobbled together with the second set. The sound is nice.. if I have time I am going to do this one and the next two nights (Corvallis and the Digital Download Series 2 from the same venue).

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Great show! Thanks to vguy for the write ups, if I’d a been a little older that’s the kind of place I’d of gone the extra to get there. Always loved the outta the way venues. Bet the vibe was pretty chill. Oxford was fun, but I’m guessing way bigger/crazier then Lewiston.

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...."plays a golden string fiddle to a double E waterfall over my back. Move it!!" Fuck yeah Jerry! Him getting all excited and shit makes me get all excited and shit.

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Brutal, Cumberland cuts out.

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Brutal, Cumberland cuts out.

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Great pick, it would definitely be on my bbq and beer drinking list.

Move it!! (ha - hadn't caught that)

Both 1/16 and 1/17 kick heavy. Listened through the two again today. Sweet mix of Live Dead era and Working Man's. Sound quality overall is very good to excellent - a few drop outs but still totally satisfying. First time around that Death Don't came as a total and emotional surprise as I hadn't really scoped the set list. Not expecting 'cause its '70 - my aging deadbase shows its a second to last before the long hiatus. Among fine detail that caught my ear in the larger 1/16 excellence was some of that early Mickey percussion. Just now the 1/17 Dark Star > Stephen > Eleven was all systems go go go.
The Download Series is the one major gap in my "officially released" collection. Wasn't in the position to take advantage of at the time. Didn't even know about 1/18 being part of that. Need to revisit that series.
I think the Hawaii shows from following week were up here not too long ago but its been awhile since personally dived in so will head there soon. Looking forward to Fox Theatre - 2/6/70 (DaP 6) - one of my favorites. The whole 50th for Working Mans and American Beauty really got me going on this era.
Edit - didn't mention the cut to 1/16 Cumberland cause I didn't want that "small" negative to define it . . . . : )

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Adding 1/17 only makes it better. These seem to be releasable shows, they might have to address the cuts somehow. Someone's singing is overly loud and off key in Cumberland too.., I think Bobby's. Perhaps his voice broke the tape like the shriek voice broke glass in that old Memorex commercial.

Good choice I had not heard these before. Nice Dark Star too.

Jim, you mentioned 2/22/74, yesterday. Let me know when you want to hit this one up? It is a three set monster.

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I'm ready.. any time.

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Good call on this one Jim, I have it going.

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....twist my arm.
Lmao. Jerry blowing the US Blues lyrics right out of the gate. Gotta love it. It's part of the charm.
"We're all confused. What's to lose."
👍

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I forgot how good the PITB was from this show. I was in a great situation to listen today.. and about a third of the way into this song I felt it was ho, hum.. Another three minutes and I realized how wrong I was and good this Playing is..

Is this the first flirtations with Slipknot!? I forget if they played with the theme in '73 or not.

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....Cal Expo 8.5.89.
https://relisten.net/grateful-dead/1989/08/05
-
One More Saturday Night
Cold Rain & Snow
We Can Run
Stagger Lee
Memphis blues
Row jimmy
Let It Grow
-
Hey Pocky Way ->
Playin' In The Band ->
I Know Your Rider ->
Terrapin Station ->
Drums ->
Space ->
Standing On The Moon ->
Throwing Stones ->
Not Fade Away
-
US Blues
---------------
Features a OMSN and CR&S one two punch opener and a stand alone Rider.
I was lucky enough to be present and accounted for at this run.