Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,086 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

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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June 29, 2020 - 7:09am

#6671

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Otis

31, bring it!
Glad we got that Chocolate spot all warmed up for ya!
June 29, 2020 - 6:12am

#6672

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Oroborous, DeadVikes, etc.

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
June 28, 2020 - 9:31pm

#6673

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Otis/Oroborous

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?
June 28, 2020 - 9:27pm

#6674

Vguy72

Joined:
June 29, 2007

6.28.85 Hershey Park....

....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.
June 28, 2020 - 7:19pm

#6675

wilfredtjones

Joined:
June 4, 2007

Hershey

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! :-)
June 28, 2020 - 5:16pm

#6676

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

6/28/85

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!
June 28, 2020 - 4:14pm

#6677

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

@ Bob T and Pick for Monday

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
June 28, 2020 - 11:41am

#6678

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Voodoo senile, slight return. 6/27/85, and why 85 Dead is like

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....
June 28, 2020 - 11:14am

#6679

bob t

Joined:
November 21, 2007

only time played anniversary show 6/28/76 Chicago Auditorium

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
June 27, 2020 - 4:07pm

#6680

The Good Ole G…

Joined:
December 29, 2015

Good Times Great Oldies

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!

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

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.

Alpine '88 cont.

I streamed rest of 6/20 - really really enjoyed it. Big fat old Terrapin > Drumz > Other One at the heart of it. The Other One probably bent a few brains, including mine, back then.

Yes Oro, it was miserably hot and I didn't manage heat well back then (that came when I moved out to the southwest.) Buckeye more of the same. I think Maine was a huge relief for the band and any heads that did the full tour. 7/2 probably show of the tour except for the things that made 6/23 special.

6/23 needs to be understood in context of 6/22 and all that heat. "A gift lost will be recovered." I wrote up my recollections and Gans posted it as part of a gdHour years ago. I'll see if I can find it. Blackbird>Brokedown was a truly remarkable musical gift to cap that night and that run. Totally off the cuff move. It was a thank you from the band and a blessing. Not so much bragging rights but just the feeling of how lucky we were to be there.

Alpine '89 was what it was musically because of Alpine '88.

A gift lost will soon be recovered.

Hey Bluecrow, I think maybe this the Grateful Dead Hour show you were featured in? Nice! Thanks!

dead dot net/features/grateful-dead-hour-no-555

A gift lost will soon be recovered

Words to take to heart.

Thank you for tracking that down Jeff! A few years before I became Bluecrow here.

Who knows where the time goes.

1988

Hey Bluecrow, in fours years of going to see the Dead at Alpine 86-89, I never made it into the Pavilion. We were always in the lawn, which was still a great unbelievable time. Yes. OB, the scene definitely changed after In the Dark, and the fact we could stay on the grounds the whole time. Love Wisconsin. As other spots across the country it was huge party scene.

Yes, the heat was something else. And the shows were so much fun. A true experience. Where did you stay Bluecrow?

Where can we find your write up from Gans BC?

I think there are some newer transfers of these shows from Miller via Pearson.

I will have to check these out at some point.

Oh and enjoyed the 3/30/88 OB, recording was good, always enjoy a Hey Pocky Way, West LA Fadeaway, Big Railroad Blues, Nice second set, from the Shakedown opener to the BMR. Great show. Thanks.

Nice story Bluecrow

I’ll have to check if I have the newest versions of those shows, if not I’ll get them.

My only time to Alpine was my second show, 7-17-89. Was on the lawn. Very cool place. Camped at Bong.

Tinley Park the next year wasn’t as cool. And instead of clogging up a two-lane road in a small town the Deadheads brought I-80 to a complete stop the first day (don’t know about the following days because we came in the back way those days). The small parking lots of Tinley Park filled up early and since the venue was close to the highway people double parked on each side of the highway and walked to the venue. I know someone who did it and he said his car was still there after the show, didn’t get towed. We were on an overpass looking down at the mayhem on the highway. We got to the venue and a cop told us to pull onto the side of the road and park there.
We camped at Kankakee State Park and drove up I-55, then came in the back way. And came early so we could get in the lot before it filled up.

Made it to all 9 Soldier Field shows, on the floor for 7, with rows 13 and 25 the closest, both Jerry side.
I liked Soldier Field because it could absorb the masses, that parking lot was huge, with a big Shakedown Street.
Was back in 2015 for all 3 FTW shows and that place had really changed. The parking lot was gone and a space ship had landed on top of the coliseum.

Been working my way through a lot of torrent files lately:
GD 1982-03-14 139382.sbd.miller.chastain.waddell (playing now)
GD 1976-07-18 pre-FM.remaster.miller (cool Let It Grow)
GD 1982-03-13 set 2 112858.sbd.digitalrbb.miller
GD 1972-03-22 136682.sbd.sirmick
GD 1972-03-21 136670.sbd.sirmick
GD 1982-04-17 set 2 141100.sbd.dalton.miller.clugston
GD 1972-07-22 updated.betty.pcm.composite.dalton.miller.clugston (rough in spots, I can see why only a portion of the show was released)
GD 1976-07-12 150658.cm.cass.miller
GD 1973-02-22 Fries remaster of 111169
GD 1973-02-09 Fries remaster of 150166 (distortion on Casey Jones)

I’ll get Alpine 88 onto my music player soon.

Alpine '88 etc

DV - JeffSmith's post below will get you to my old scribblings, take a closer look.

I camped both '87 and '88. Minimal gear. Lawn tickets '80, '82, '85. Had mail order pavilion tickets '87 but seats for first 2 nights were worthless, way down low and literally on the outside, no sight line, poor sound, so we were up on the lawn, which was just perfectly fine. Never knew anybody who drew any of the true front of stage seats. Seats I had last night '88 were best by far, aisle slightly to outside of Jerry side 5 or 6 rows up.

There are relatively new ultramix uploads for Alpine '88. Healy was definitely f*cking with the sound every night at Alpine, panning the board feed from side to side, wasn't just 6/23. sbds still conspicuously missing for Met, Buckeye, and Pittsburgh from what I see on relisten. Like I said, really enjoyed going back to 6/20 for what was essentially the first time in all these years.

Alpine 88

Listened to:
6-19 UM.151602
Not terrible, not spectacular. Jerry forgot the words to Knockin’, Brent stepped in.
I liked Drums/Space. Good sounding UM.

6-23 UM.142398
Good sounding UM too. Source says UM->DAT.
Got distracted during Dew and had to restart. I can see minds blown then. Blackbird was a nice fit.

I also have:
6-20 UM.151614

6-22 set 2 119780.sbd.miller.
Will need to go get the whole show.

100 degrees is rough. Maybe Jerry was getting close to heat stroke.

3 More Alpine Valley Shows

In Taper's this week.
1985, 1988, 1989.
Deadeasy says one is listed with the wrong date.
Only off by a couple days.
Hope they are ones you guys got to see.
Cheers

12/30/78

Don’t think we’ve hit this one?
I know I’ve never heard it anyway…

Nice write up BC! And thanks to “Mr Helpful” JS!
It totally makes sense that the 23rd would seem like dessert after five days of brutal conditions and some unfortunate stumbles etc. Definitely a solid show with several highlights, but that Believe it or Not was the cream friche for this Randy! Man it’s a shame they didn’t do this song more/longer!
Glad we checked this out, need to hit more 88!

more ramblings

Its funny that Dave served up Alpine selections from 3 different years in Tapers Section. Hmmm. I need to check out 6/19/88 again - I listened to some of it not too terribly long ago, last couple of years maybe. First Foolish Heart - a song I treasure now but wasn't synched up with it at first. C-Kid and Oro glad you guys got in a listen to 6/23. Yeah - Believe it or Not was a powerful song - wonder why Jerry didn't run with it. 6/23 has some super powerful memories for me - a show that has its own place in my brain compared to other memorable shows I attended. More like a dream than "real life". I have this crystalline memory of the kids hopping on stage during Dew - i was hyperfocused and it was crazy cool.

My youngest brother out of the blue texted me on Saturday night with a photo of musicians on stage and the news that he and a couple of long time DH friends (2 brothers) were at a Phil and Friends show at the Salt Shed in Chicago. "Damn, you lucky dogs!" Salt Shed is a new venue, converted Morton Salt Factory - my brother really liked it. Very cool Morton Salt themed poster for the show. Warren Haynes was the TBA special guest. I just found out over at Steve Hoffman that Warren played the Pretzel guitar that Jerry gifted to Sam Cutler after Europe '72. I'm like what? Texted my brother and he goes I didn't know it had a name but I thought it looked like a pretzel!! he played it like 80% of the time, switched it out for She Said and a couple+ other songs. Just now my brother sent me a sweet photo he took of Warren playing Pretzel - wish to heck I could postituphere.

My brother was with me for Alpine in '82, '85, and '87 (he was all of 12 years old in '82 I think.) I've known one of the 2 friends/brothers since the Alpine days also. The younger one was part of the crew who saved my a** from heat stroke Day 2 in 1988. And it was their tickets that had my brother and I with them 16 row center for 7/9/95. Ran into the younger one again with others from that crowd 1st show of the Dead with Joan Osbourne at Red Rocks 2005 and I ended up hanging with them and did we have a gas.

Was just listening to 2015 bonus disc that came with Dave's 14 ('72 Academy of Music run). I think that's Phil in the beginning saying - "Pluck your magic twanger Jerry!" Not sure if it got discussed here ages ago but that's from a 1950s tv show called Andy's Gang. There was a character, Froggy the Gremlin, and Andy would call him out of his hidiing place with that phrase and Froggy would pop out and go "hiya hiya hiya kids" (or something like that.) Watched a little just now on the utubes. Weird stuff like most any early kids show. My apologies if I'm rehashing old news. Anyhow fun bonus disc - band and crowd sound fired up for some magic twanger music on 3/27!

12/30/78 - listened to this late last year and came very close to suggesting it as a POTD and then again just recently when DV said he had '78 on the brain. Same league as the next night, though unfortunately a few tape issues with circulating sources. Very enjoyable.

ONWARD

On a roll

6/23/88, 12/30/78, and today 9/24/76 for the first time thanks to a kind soul who hangs here!
Good sheet Mon!

Andy’s Gang, ha, checked it…too funny. Makes sense as I’ve heard “hiya, hiya, hiya kids” before, usually by Phil, most notably at 4/7/85, just before they blew our heads off with Why Don’t We Do It In the Road, always an appropriate Easter Sunday opener; )

78 and 88

Nice work OB.
Listened to most of 12/30/78, recording was a little rough. Nice integration of Stagger Lee, Miracle and a short but good Shakedown. St. Stephen was a little slow going. Would love to hear a polished up version of this one.
Good stuff Bluecrow, a lot of fond memories about the old days.
Wish I could make it down to Wrigley this summer to see Dead and Co, but just can't swing it. I have a couple buddies that are going to one night, maybe two, floor seats with Hotel, $2000. Not cheap to see this band.

Friends applaud, the comedy is over…..

Hey rockers!!

Pick Of The Day: Hilton Hotel, San Francisco March 15 1969 (Black & White Ball/San Francisco Symphony Benefit)

The Dead step up to support culture!! Start greasy, get all jammy, finish greasy. What else does one expect from early 1969? And, for me, in a way, historic---the first live version of Hard To Handle, which started akin to a pedal steel country western rave-up and ended as a crunchy psychedelic monster mini-jam tune. It’s always been one of my favorite Dead covers, and I’ve always wondered how and why the band added it to the repertoire……….

Miller’s remaster is very decent and certainly worth a listen……

Tones sound, and roar and storm about me until I have set them down in notes…….

Rock on,

Doc
I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me……

The Black and White Ball

One of those Only In SF deals...

3/24/91

Okay, how does 3/24/91 at the Knickerbocker Arena sound to you all?

There is a relatively new Pearson Healy Miller out there.

3/24

Pulling it down now.. Streaming Phil tonight but will add this to my waterproof device for tomorrow.

Thanks DVikes.

Nice Whiskey in the Jar tonight.. congrats Phil. Viola Lee>GDTR E Whiskey in the Jar. What a way to end a show and a great nod to to the Scots (or wherever St. Pat was born). Wack Fall the Daddy-O.
(hey, I resemble that remark)

It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver……..

Hey rockers!!!

Picks Of The Day:
Winterland Arena March 18 1967
Fox Theater, St Louis March 18 1971

If a man could have half of his wishes, he would double his troubles…….

A daily double, spaced four years apart, from primal to crunchy rock & roll…..

March 18, 1967: A wonderful, well recorded audio document of the early Grateful Dead. And everything you would expect from this era---great grease, cool covers, and early originals—including The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) and Cream Puff War. Jump in the way back and go way back, it’s worth checking out!!!

March 18, 1971: Four years later finds the Dead still rockin’ hard and still greasy. The covers and original material, now as then, still very fine. AND the only Caution of 1971! What a pleasant surprise when it was included in the 30 Trips box set. Please revisit…………..

It doubles your perception, to write from the point of view of someone you're not………

Rock on!

Doc
I thoroughly enjoy doubles, everyone knows that......

Phil and the Capitol

Seems like most of the Capitol shows are up on the archive. Downloading 3/17 right now,,,, I too am a huge Viola fan.

Digging

and fully dug:

DaP 7 4/22/78 virginal listen: mind blown!
3/15/69 Fine 69 and good era recording
3/24/91: should of gone to these shows, but no easy ways and means at the time, so nice to enjoy now. Think we did the 25th a ways back. We’ll have to hit the first night some time.
3/17/67: boo yah, sweet primal, both playing and recording! See PTB, primal can kick ass. Round out the best four or five shows from each year 67-70 and give us a primal box! PS, we don’t care if their not complete.

10/18/88

Since we were digging 88 recently and this is another show I coulda shoulda woulda as we went to the Fla shows, but stayed to golf and lounge on Naples beach instead of going to Nola. My friends that went said it was a hell Eva party with Bobbie cruising the streets with the Bangels etc. So since I didn’t go…

3/24/91

The Dead at the Knickerbocker. Yes. I enjoyed this show as well. Recording is really good and I have to wonder who has all these Pearson Healy recordings as I believe Don Pearson is no longer with us.
Anyway, maybe not as much pop as May and June of 91, but still enjoyable.

Help Slip Franklins into a Wang Dang Doodle! Great start. Jack a Roe, Desolation Row. What a first set. Second set is good as well. China Rider, He's Gone is great into a funky drums.
Definitely will have to check out 3/23 soon OB. Yes, money held me back from many shows as well back in the day and now trying to see Dead and Co seems like a different world money wise.

Listened to Dave's#4 over the weekend from 9/24/76, it has been a while. What a great show ! Fired up 9/28/76 today from Dicks #20, another great show with some good variety. Sort of an underated release. If you don't have it, you should get it.

We are due for some more 76, hopefully soon.

RE

I like that “good but not quite the pop” as summer, or I’d add the fall.
Still hoping someday we’ll get a fall 91 box.

Yep, cool set list and recording!

I’ve had Dicks 20 since it came out. I didn’t get them all, but several of my older friends said Rochester 76 was their favorite show ever at, so figured I had to get its sandwich buns at least. Same with Ra cha cha 77! As soon as they announced it I knew I had to get it because of the stories I’d heard!
Haven’t spun 20 in awhile. Perhaps a twofer this week?
Definitely going to sneak DaP 4 in again ; )

Ooops

I'm an idiot.. St. Patrick was Irish, not Scottish. I must have had Scottish whiskey on the brain, whack fall the daddy-0. Whiskey in the Jar is Irish also. Not sure what I was thinking......

Nice Phil run at the Cap. I think I enjoyed the first two nights better, but a spirited effort all around. Enjoyed the new edition, Katie Jacoby. A child violin prodigy that discovered Rock and Roll and here you have it. Plays a mean electric fiddle and James Casey on Dear Prudence was worth the ticket price alone the rest is cream on the top.

Back to your regularly scheduled songs and discussion.

Calumny is only the noise of madmen………..

Greetings, rockers!!

Pick of The Day: Capitol Theater, Port Chester March 20 1970 (late show)

I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be…….

Even the almighty knows that recordings of this show have circulated since the dawn of time. It’s a very nice and little discussed example of the early 1970 electric/acoustic/electric format.

Sadly, a big chunk of the first electric set is missing, but Hard To Handle is there and yes it’s there alright! Although there are a couple of edits, the six song acoustic set that follows is sweet. Which brings us to the second electric set, which while short is crazy good, heavy on the grease and a crunchy Viola Lee Blues.

Hopefully there will be a “new & improved” copy some day, but for now it’ll do nicely……

I have nothing to ask but that you would remove to the other side, that you may not, by intercepting the sunshine, take from me what you cannot give……

Rock on!

Doc
Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards…..

JiminMD

Tapers 6-27-84 at Merriweather Post Pavillion in MD.
You get to see that one?
Cheers
Edit: That's a great Morning Dew!

9/24/76

Gave that another proper spin.
First disc still seems a bit sleepy to me, which isn’t unusual.
Boy but by the PITB things are looking up!
That whole sequence, Might As Well, and of course the awesomeness of the Help/Slip>>Drums>>Slip/Franks!
But that ain’t all, the sweetness continues through the last three of the sequence. Proper!
Loving finally getting to know this one!

DeadVikes

I don’t know who has the Pearson Healy tapes but Charlie Miller seems to have access to them.

And it’s Oberon Day today too!

Yes, we need more ‘91 released.
I watched the 6-17-91 Blu-ray about a week ago. Good stuff, we need more video too.

Listened to Jim’s first show this weekend
GD 1982-04-19 89313.sbd.tobin
My dog didn’t like Raven Space very much, he left the room.

Oberon

No Oberon or spring here yet in Minnesota. Enjoy it Conekid. Hopefully we get both here by May.

No pick…

Howsa bout that Dicks 20 DV was onto?
I don’t have that marked down, and haven’t heard in awhile,
so WTH! Twofer Tuesday.

I'm In

Was just eyeing that one as you guys were discussing DaP 4.
DiP 20 has always been a favorite. A two for one for sure.

Hey Bluecrow, what the heck is that GO album? I cannot even categorize it. Some of it is trippy to a level where I would be afraid to hear it dosed! Such a unique group too. Stomu's percussion and piano seems to tie it together. Has a Pink Floyd feel to it. I'll bet I haven't heard it since I bought it god knows when. A bit repetitive on a dark spacey theme almost like a concept album. Then Winwood throws in his Winner/Loser and it's all good again. Wish Al Di Meola had a bigger part. He shines on Man of Leo on side 4. The recording is very average considering it is live (Paris, 1976). Not well defined at all. Certainly interesting and attention getting and fun. Sorry to cross post from the Traffic on DaP 45 here.
Cheers

Dicks #20 OB, Firstshow

Both are fantastic. Finished Capital Center yesterday. These two shows and the William and Mary deliver. Last Cosmic Charlie. Glad they brought it back in 76, sorry it didn't last. What a release from 2001.

I love when I que up a release or show I haven't listened to in a while and I think damn, this is so good. Doesn't happen all the time, but love it when it does.

Howdy do

1st show. You guys have me all intrigued by this Go album (s)?
“I’d be afraid to hear it dosed”, sounds like a must have to me lol
Had me thinking bout the great Dexter Gordon album, but this is a supergroup I guess.
Shozbit, more things to buy lol.
Onward

Edit: right!
Time for some Orange Tango!

Oro, On GO

I wouldn't give GO a super high rating. It has a great spacey feel from the fabulous synthesizer work (not an easy thing to master and so abused back then) which is used throughout and Al Di Meola goes very distortion, delay cool and of course some fiercely quick riffs which take the thing to a fusion level. Then there's the female background singer(s?) which are somewhere between Jerry's Jackie LaBranch and the lady on Dark Side OTM. It's that first side that goes way out there, then some cohesive songs, then back to the space jam, Then a Winwood tune, then Winwood sings Stomu's songs, then the best piece which comprises most of side four, Man of Leo, with Al Di Meola getting some focused time. I'd give it a 7/10 and something I will go to again in a more "focused" mood since I did it first thing in the morning. Overall a little darker than what I usually go to. Which gets me back to the Floyd reference. I like lots of Floyd, especially early psychedelic, but in general they are a bit depressing. But sometimes we need to be reminded of what's wrong out there and we can't blame the messenger, LOL. Hope that helps, but you would really have to check it out on the Tube to see if it's something worth investing in. Rare enough I doubt it is even in print, maybe on CD? Good hunting!
Cheers

Tanks Bra!

Definitely helps

I googled Steve winwood go

Because I had never heard of it.
There’s a Wikipedia page and you can buy it from Uncle Bezos, CD or vinyl.

Edit:
That’s the studio album Go I saw.
After rechecking, the 6-12-76 show is also available on CD from 3rd-party sellers at Uncle B’s house.

Cool Kid!

Apparently I have the Live in Paris LP.
It really feels like a concept album, different sequence of songs live.
Not as rare as I thought and appreciated more widely too.
Thanks and cheers

Never heard, but bought

Just bought the two cd's off amazo, Go and Go Live.

If they suck, it's you's people fault. If their great,,,,can I find great music or what!

GO Dennis!

I hope you read my review(s) beforehand.
Where is BC? I'm not taking the heat alone here.
The pressure! Give us a review when you get them Dennis.
Inquiring minds, like Oro, want to know.
Cheers

Firing up DiP 20 Syracuse 9-28-76 now. Only got through Landover 9-25 yesterday. Holding the review until I've got both done. But dang, forgot that disc 4 is one > solid > jam > ? Orange Tango indeed!

GO

had a long post last night that got shut down because of perceived lynx (there weren't any - booo). below is abbreviated

1st Show - I have the GO studio on vinyl, bought it as a cut out ca. 45 years ago probably same time as Heavy Traffic and undoubtedly because Winwood was on it. I had been confused by your references to a 2 lp release until ConeKid solved the mystery. Turntable is mothballed so streamed it (2x/3x) through the Sennheisers after my post last week (and again last night). first listen in a few years. Really enjoyed it, particularly the spacier passages. Then streamed previous album by Yamashta (no Winwood), Raindog, and dug that also. Where my head was at. I'll get to the live album soon.

Want to highlight again an obscure Wayne Shorter album, Moto Grosso Feio, 2 tracks in particular, title track and Iska. very cool and out there. Turned onto that by aquarium drunkard. Cool discussion there, as always.

Also Dave might be listening in (surprise). After my recent comments re summer '88 and fact that most of Buckeye wasn't circulating in soundboard (just a chunk of Set 1 i think), he has Set II predrumz on Tapers Section this week. Has Set I from next show Pittsburgh on Jam of the Week. Listened to the Buckeye segment last night. Victim (3rd time)>Blow Away (2nd time)>Foolish Heart (3rd time)>Terrapin>Drumz. Of much greater interest to me now (I was sorta/kinda fried from Alpine). Def would like to hear rest of the show. What Dave served up is a straight board, not an ultramatrix. Also none of the panning back and forth across stage that is so prominent on the board portion of the Alpine '88 run ultramatrixes. Buckeye was 1st show for several younger folk that I knew at the time. They had a gas.

10/17/83

Hit 3/20/70 for a lil snack, now I need to hear some 80s to regain my energy as I’m pooped after digging first round of Sierra cement. Plenty of moisture today brother vguy and you other desert rats.

3/20/70 was ok. Not much of a HTH jam. Weird, no weir acoustic numbers? Cool acoustic set though, lil Jer fest going on with an always welcome Katie Mae! Electric set alright, but not mind blowing. Pig has some extra spunk in LL: “ put your hand in her pocket, take out her Id and make sure she’s 18” etc.
Viola always cool, but so so version? Not the best 70 we’ve heard, but not bad for a 53 year old boot.

10/17/83: another coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Always wondered what this one was about?
EDIT: yep, wish things woulda worked out and I made it to this one, sigh.
So what do you do after 2 Stephen comebacks and a Revolution.
Just the usual GOGD! Nice Sugaree to open a solid first set. Status quo fall 83 second but with the return of Lay Me Down, and the second Revolution for an encore. Really enjoyed this show, mostly good recording though I think levels during peaks might occasionally have been a tad hot. Perhaps not the tape level, but some instruments being fed to the tape? Fall 83, another sorta under the radar excellent tour. Guess that’s why there’s been four shows officially released from it so far. Check it out!

Buckeye 88: I’ve had a tape that I combined the first set with the 3 new songs. I think I did that because I didn’t think (at the time) the second was worth another tape? I’ll have to hear the whole show again…

Yeah Dennis! I NEED to know! tap, tap, tap (sound of foot tapping) lol
Look forward to more GO reviews. Need to acquire some more new music, but only so many spots on the team, so might wait and see. Mostly wondering if I should get the studio or live album?

Ok, this Sugaree from 10/17 is jumping. Get coffeed up, cop some 83 energy…then probably time to shovel again ; )

DiP 20

Had lots of time yesterday afternoon and this morning with steady drizzle coming down here. Gloomy the last month or more and no big accumulations but over our average moisture already for this time of year. San Juan basin snow pack at 150% of normal. Best in the state?
The Cap. Center, Landover beats War Mem. Syracuse hands down in my book. Expected more out of 9-28-76 with that set list and continuous 2nd set. Just didn't have the energy that 9-25-76 has. I noticed that in 2001 only two years into Dave L. taking over from Dick there were no liner notes yet from Dave. But that letter from a Deadhead from 1976 was prescient. The idea came from Relix where he read the Dead were "toying with the idea" of the eventual Dick's/Dave's series' which didn't come about until 1993(?). Man, can you imagine how many more we would have had? (edit: wouldn't have worked until CDs came out around 1984, wouldn't have put them on tapes and vinyl would have been economically unviable?) Anywho the start of 9-25 is so up-tempo with Keith well up in the mix and twinkling marvelously. The Travis Bean has such a vocal quality to it on this Cassidy. Not so great on Loser where it didn't have that chippy sound that song is known for. Keith and Jerry so pretty on Peggy-O. Nice long set lists still then. Nice stretched versions of Let It Grow and Sugaree for a solid set closer. 2nd set is just exactly perfect and whoever coined the disco dead slur just isn't reading it right. It's more like Dancin' Dead with Jerry dancing up and down the frets on Dancin' like a wild man. I mean they're a dance band, right? I know I would have been boogying to that! Audience has minds blown when Cosmic Charlie appears and there is so much newly reworked material in this era. Stand alone Scarlet is TIGHT! The drummers seem to be driving the bus by then coming on strong. And where Fire would usually come in it could have gone anywhere. That's the game isn't it? Guessing where they're going in real time? Do they even know? The St. Stephen samwich has Jerry saying "Yes it does" to one man gathers what another man spills. Smooth vocal harmonies and a Phil moment stomping with the drummers coming back into the St. Steve reprise. And a tight Sugar Mag finish. This has the '77 deliberateness but great energy too. So imagine my surprise when I found 9-28-76 a little slower and predictably mellow. Not that there's anything wrong with a great show with those characteristics but I was ready for a mind blower after reading the set list. The true tango was a real surprise though and overall a fantastic two show release. A fair number of repeats only three days apart but it didn't influence my opinion like the tempo comparison did. Glad we are still getting those two show releases every once in a while. Thanks Dave L.! And thanks to the POTD posse for suggesting these. Onward and upward. Got the jones for JGB - Don't Let Go from 5-21-76 now.
Cheers
It's not on us, Dennis will buy anything. Bless his heart!

11/20/78

Not sure if we did this one, if so, I forgot to mark it down. (and please excuse).
Perhaps I tried/started at work but wasn’t able?
Anywho, looks interesting and I think I might have heard locals at the time who went speak highly off it?
Unfortunately I was still too young, at least according to those who supplied food and shelter ahem—to be going “all the way” to Cleveland lol.

EDIT: POTD MUST LISTEN!
If nothing else, you MUST hear this IIHTWTG!
Really, the whole second set as it’s very unusual, but the Playing sandwich is like a whole separate show, and the meat (Shakedown>World to Give) is simply delicious and should be enjoyed!
World to Give, another of those weird awesome but much too brief Jer tunes, and this one is phuching awesome!

Overall, the show is sorta all over the place. Especially the recording.
1/2 Step>Franks opener is always nice, but this is average and suffers from weird technical anomalies. Next few perhaps underwhelming? It’s all good, just doesn’t seem to have the usual 78 spark. PEGGY O is always welcome but prefer Goldilocks version: not too slow, or not too fast. This one perhaps a tad too slow? Decent Lightning/Supplication to round out the first. NOTE: Bob is present throughout and seems fine thus far.
Why dat? Weeeeeeeelllll, depending on who you ask this was either the worst show or one of the best lol.
Also much todo about Bob being sick, with some accounts claiming: he missed the set opening jams (he did); to he missed jam, came out to begin playing and left again until end of show…
Well, inspector Clue so says you can hear him throughout the whole show on tape, except the aforementioned Jam>Drums>Jam.
The jam sounds more like waiting around then the spectacular inprov mind melt that some describe? Though I bet it was interesting there in real time. Bob is back for the era typical slow Jack a Roe, but then things seem to really step up.
PITB seems more energetic and though not a pre hiatus beast, nice just the same, then…., then they slide into an awesome Shakedown to take it higher, but then! Jer bear breaks out the gold, it’s gold i tell ya! and JG wants to give it to you! The last of three World to Gives is just plain sweeeeetttt!
By the time they segway back into the PITB reprise you can feel the relief? definitely positive vibes, like phew, we made it!
The band, the crowd, even the sometimes inconsistent recording is on when it matters. Though the recording does slip into an extended section of aud, it almost helps this vibe! Plus, sometimes it’s nice to feel that in the midst happy communal energy often missing in boards. So big A&A to end it and the crowd loves it. No encore guessing due to time?
So I wouldn’t call it top shelf, but cool, unique interesting show, which don’t know bout you, but that’s why I come here to explore. Definitely not the worst show, in fact, as often the case, the adversity helps step things up and makes the show. When the going gets weird…indeed.

Ha, told myself only one show today but I’m already into the next night in good ole Crotchfester. 11/21/78
Sounds like typical crazy Rochester scene, kinda like the Spectrum lol. But they sure sound more like usual fall 78 so far (Big River…) recording too, not a Beatty, but so far so good.
If only I’d been just a wee bit older, this might of been my first?
That’s ok, I’ll take the first I did get lol.

Ok, onward, must be fired up after sleeping with the Elk! Literally, several slept within feet of us just outside our bedroom window last night! Cool sheet Mon!

11/20/78

Hey OB, I don't think we ever hit this one. I will check it out tomorrow. Thanks.

Nice review on Dicks 20 Firstshow. I liked both shows quit a bit, but yes, that second set of Capital Centre is hot!

Oooppss

Sorry 1st show, forgot twice, ha! Thank you, Yes very nice DP 20 review and I concur: all is very good, but perhaps the first shows playing trumps the second shows sexy set list? And is that not one of the best (for last) Charlie’s?
Great song, but being difficult sometimes it could be a bit Sloopy, but this one shines.
So awesome we have all these gems to contemplate, hopefully, for years to come!
Onward

Set The Wayback Machine Sherman

To 1985 - Dick Latvala starts work as the GD archivist.
It must have been an overwhelming task.
The new music format called compact disc is here.
He has his list started, likely from memory and his own tape collection.
What would we tell him is THE most important, or best, way to start the releases?
Assume it's all there in the vault and good enough to release, just to make it easier.
I'm ready back then as my wife just bought us our first CD player. Quite expensive and so are the CDs. $17.99 for a single when LPs are still under $10.00. I'm still a GD novitiate and have no clue having only attended seven shows ('78-'80).
Cheers
Oh, and is there a list (Dave L.?) of Dick's potentials that have not been released? Or is that now part of the Dave's list that Oro cites from time to time?
(Oro - I vote for the live GO since it's the one I know)

Edit: Only three of those If I Had The World To Give. First is the Aug. 30-31,1978 that I keep asking for. I'll check that out Oro. Was the Standing On The Moon of it's era.

Re: Overwhelming Task

Perhaps the hardest part was convincing Phil some of this stuff is too good to fret over sound imperfections.

I have to imagine giving Latvala reign of the vault was akin to giving a kid the key to the candy store. We have Dick to thank for most of what's out there that was not officially released (more important 30 years ago than today), but sometimes I wonder what things would be like if he wasn't as generous a head as he was. We would be enslaved, waiting for the next release. ...but imagine the elation of the great surprises that await....

Anyway.. super busy which puts me in lurking mode, I check in when I can. Sorry for that. My extra credit has been a bit of Dec 73. Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there.

Big rain event here now.. a hard rain's gonna fall.

Proceed Plan Dakota…………………

Hey hey hey rockers!!

Pick Of The Day: Winterland March 24 1971 (Benefit for the Sufi Choir Of San Francisco)

Code Seminole, check 3 check 3 check 1, Red Dog over……………

The yang to the yin of March 3. The band may have started the month off low, but they ended high. Yes they may have forgotten an organ, but this fine and underrated show is much crunchier and more expansive than what came three weeks previously.

The Skull Album Johnny B Goode, so early in the first set. Top notch grease, especially the crispy Hard To Handle. A big jam sequence in the first set highlighted by an excellent Other One. How and why did they end the set with such a hard rockin’ Beat It On Down The line? Solid NFA suite to close set two, followed by a nice Uncle John’s Band encore.

I know not everybody digs 1971 shows, but this one is worth a listen, and would make a nice official release some day……..

Is it weird in here, or is it just me?

Rock on!

Doc
Where's your will to be weird?

Lagging behind

3/18/71 is a good show - least the first cd moves nicely through it's changes, and the song list and jams to come look promising.

11/20/78

I wasn't able to find a good source for this show. What source did you listen to guys?

December 73. Another fine month Jim.

11/20/78

Miller 95660, it’s an SB, but it has flaws and several patches. I didn’t mess with the others…
11/21/78: went with Carpenter SB, recording overall better than 11/20, still has some patches.
11/21 is a hot show! Only hiccup I recall is Black Pete…hell did they ever play bad in Ra cha cha?
78 nuts will want to hear 11/21 and at least the Playin Sandwich from 11/20!

December 73. What a month!
Not sure about 1985 1st show. With no net, Deadbase etc, all we were focused on was trying to get to as many shows as practical, and hopefully later getting tapes of those shows. Never dreamed of the riches that have been mined since!
Years later when I did start to consider these things, besides shows we were at it was all about those magic last ten shows of 73, featuring just the guys.

3/24/71: I like 1971, but sorry, just did like 96% of 71 last year so not ready for rehash yet. I will say I really enjoyed this show though.
That JBG off of Skullfuck was the lightning bolt that changed me from interested, to whoa, I have got to see these guys!
It was April 78 and I was at my buddies. We listened to Skullfuck a lot sans not much else live Dead to listen to. Live Dead was still probably too weird for us to fully engage. Steal Your Money was cool, but it was all about S&R.
Being a Hendrix freak in HS, I was really into JBG, and I’d heard this version many times, but for whatever reason something happened that day and JBG just blew me away. I made him replay it over and over and from then on the scaled tipped and I started becoming more into the Dead then the other stuff.
The final straw was finally getting to see them in January. The rest as they say is history.