Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,097 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 - 7:45am

#6681

Thats_Otis

Joined:
May 12, 2011

Warming up the Chocolate Spot...

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

Rock on!

Peace
June 29, 2020 - 7:09am

#6682

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

#6683

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

#6684

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

#6685

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

#6686

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

#6687

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

#6688

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

#6689

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

#6690

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

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.

Skepticism is the first step on the road to philosophy

For Bluecrow---and any other interested parties:

I'm aware of the recently posted "2/5/1970". With all due respect to the person who uploaded it---and for which I'm grateful---I'm skeptical. The lineage is not well documented. It is an audience recording and I need to check it out further.

Also, the setlist does not match the known lists for circulating copies, were are very reliable.

The fact that both Mason's and Alligator were played narrows it down to the December 1969 to February 1970 period. This period is actually very well documented EXCEPT for the possible Honolulu show of 1-22-70 (maybe a good candidate?) and the Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston shows of February 20 to 22 1970. I suppose it's possible, but for now I withhold judgement.

I shall report back with any developments.

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders......

Rock on,

Doc
Give light and people will find the way......

1979

Aside from personal feelings about this year, 12/26/79 Brokedown Palace deserves some love in any universe.
Peace

TN John

Check your PM TN John.

Went looking for 2-5-70

It wasn’t at bt.etree or trader’s den.
I can’t get to LL because it was hacked months ago and no browser (Firefox, chrome, safari) will let me access it.

2/5/70 and 4/4/69

Thanks for reporting back gentlemen - I'm not a torrent person and was passing on some interesting news I saw with thought it will be more widely available. I had noticed the set list wasn't a match. love a good mystery.

tail end of KPFA GD Marathon is/was a sweet copy of Avalon 4/4/69 - maybe from the OSF tapes(?) you mentioned Doc. np The Eleven.

Hey now!

Hey rockers!!

Tried to post last night but the Hey Now Squad got me. Careful comparison reveals that recording to be the real deal. Not the greatest recording, but hey now it was 1970 technology.

So, with all due respect and apologies, rock on!

Doc
If you're going to do something tonight that you'll be sorry for tomorrow morning, sleep late......

Hey 1stshow

What’d you say about spring ; )
Shit, where’s the advil lol

It's My Fault!

I jinxed it. 15 inches here Oro! Drifts up to my knees. 2nd biggest overnight snow in the 11 years we've been on this side of town. In the top 10 for 29 years here in Montrose. March is our snowiest month. After I finish shoveling it's Dead all day!
Cheers

SNOW?

SORRY...detest/have no use for/dislike that stuff falling out of the sky...just MY old person's view on cold, shoveling, slipping, and piles of black on the roadside, but enjoyed it if you can.

currently sunshine 62 degrees cloudless skies

Ouch

Yep, couch is key today lol
We prolly only got 10” but since it rained so much first it had that Sierra cement base that just wrecks what’s left of the shoulders : (
But hey, it was starting to get droughty, so like that joyful little Garcia uptick at the end Keasey spoke off, I guess we’re happy for the moisture!
AND, now we get a dead in the bed hall pass lol…at least until it snows more ; )
EDIT: funny/not funny, yeah, TOO was out there less than two minutes when she twisted her ankle, messed up the opposite knee falling, and her thumb also. Funny only because now I can tease her and say “some folks will do anything to get out of shoveling ; )

Spinning some true spring

Spinning some true spring Garcia - Live 15 Garcia and Saunders at the Keystone Korner 5/21/1971.

haha - getting HN trying to write about your snow

we want that stuff here!! all we got was a lot of w i n d and d u s t!

Ouch

Take care of that lady Oro. So sorry to hear that. Anything like that at this age is tough. We don't bounce like Bumbles do, to quote Yukon Corneleus.
BC, we'll send it down the San Juan in a couple months. Have your raft ready, lol.
Cheers

Hey AH!

Turn off the GD HN filter, FFS

4/8/89

Some point next few days perhaps give this one a listen and let’s us know your mind!

Thanks 1sty

We are pretty beat up for our age, but luckily she’s a tough ole gal lol

Bc: sure you could use it on the ground too, but at least the snow I shoveled will melt into brush creek, flow the couple miles to the Eagle, and about 15 more to the Colorado, where it’ll provide for south western Lawns, cemeteries and golf courses lol
Cheers!

OB-4/8/89

Sorry to hear about the Mrs OB.

Hope that snow melts soon.

Will get 4/8/89 going this week.

OOPS...

...hoping it's just muscle aches and a bruise or two; be well!

ice cream 2/5/70

I have a copy in stock if you need or want.

4/8 & 4/9/89

a year earlier I would have been at both of these but life was moving to a new place and I was focused on that. haven't ever really checked them out. will do.

the 4/4/69 on the KPFA marathon was a fresh Charlie Miller remaster of an existing lineage that originated with Latvala. So not straight from a OSF master reel. up on archive as of today. sounds very sweet.

Oro - hope the missus is doing well. bumps and bruises get tougher and tougher to get past. and don't get me started on how water in the west gets used. so I'm thinking of happy trees and mushrooms in the high country come summer :)

onward!!

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.

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

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

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…

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.

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.

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…

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?)

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.

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…

Speaking of Transitions

Maybe not 74 China Rider good, but the one from 4/8/89 ain’t no slouch 😀

4-6-89

Yes, my first, and the best concert I had seen in my life up to that point. I was sold, where’s the bus, I’m getting on.

And the laid back atmosphere of Ann Arbor. The cops didn’t even come into the parking lot. I was amazed at what I saw going down on Shakedown Street.

So glad I went. My life changed for the better.

5-6-89

thnx for the reminder, it did get alot of airtime back in the mid-90's {it hits many of fav tunes + black muddy river}, THNX again, just pulled the DL>CD's out of the treasure chest, and it's gonna be tomorrow's LISTENING Party!
everyone enjoy your WEEKEND!
PEACE ALL!
uncle_tripel

I shine in tears like the sun in April......

Hey rockers!!!

April 6???? Go back twenty years earlier, then come and we'll have a friendly chat.........

There are three side effects of acid: enhanced long-term memory, decreased short-term memory, and I forget the third.............

Doc
Memory is the fourth dimension to any landscape.....

Ok smart ass ; )

Spring 69
It’s go time lol
What can you PLEASE recommend for us that we HAVE NOT heard yet?
You line em up and we’ll chow em down!

Here’s the shows from this period that haven’t been POTD, or released. (My POTD list may not be accurate)
4/12, 18, 20, 21-23, 25, 5/2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 4/13?

Here’s the POTD already
3/15, 29 4/4-6, 11, 15

Here’s what I have that’s been released
2/11, 2/22, 2/27-3/2, 4/17, 4/26&27

Ok, balls in your court big guy, what’s you got for us?

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.....

Hey rockers!!

I wrote a long response but got Hey Now'ed.

Start with April 13, 18, and the Ark shows. Skip May for now, but go backwards to early February. And check out Moraga in May, lol...........

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.....

Doc
The purpose of life is a life of purpose

Aye captain!

But I like to go in order to feel the transition.
So I’ll poke around in February a bit first, maybe hit the box and await Futhur orders when the flux capacitor in the com hubs monkey wrench is unwrenched!

Who hears music feels his solitude peopled at once.....

Make sure you check these out:

2/7: Pittsburg. Kinda fierce and kinda crazy good.
2/15 Philly. A very "large show" pretty much everything that could be expected at this time. MIller put out a pretty decent remaster last year.
2/21: First Dream Bowl. Short but solid.

And you haven't even touched January yet. Start with the 17th--some very good recordings of this out there, then take a stroll through the Avalon shows.

Enjoy the exploration!

Doc
We're on this planet for the briefest of moments in cosmic terms, and I want to spend that time thinking about what I consider the deepest questions.....

Cool 1969 shows

10/31/69, 6/27 & 28/69

Black Peter

It has been Black Peter time at my house this week OB. Trying to dig out of a terrible flu bug.

Hell of a post on spring 89. Recordings available are hit and miss and don't match the multi tracks from summer through fall 89. Still some great shows there and would love to see them put one out for official release. I believe the one and only release was from the download series #9 from the Igloo (18 years ago).

Hope we get some release news soon.

That’ll keep ya going for the show…

Come on it’s time to go

1/17 and 2/21 we’ve done, former good, latter excellent!

But amazingly I don’t think I’ve hit all of the January Avalon run, so that’s where I’ll start. Then 2/7 and 2/15, maybe I’ll rehit 2/11…anything else we haven’t done in March that’s worthy?
Would like to hit the Ark shows as I’m not sure I’ve heard all and think they should be done all at same time. I’d like to try to get up to RT 4.1 for this trip, then I’ll probably go back to 79 and/or 84? But I marked down 6/27&28 and 10/31/69 and will hit those later in the year when I need a 69 cleanse again lol

Ha, my only purpose in life now seems to be to battle poor health, and try to listen to every Dead show I reasonably can….well, at least I’m kicking ass at one of em ; )

DV: rut roah, seems there’s been some real bad flu this year.
Hope y’all feel better soon!
And big kudos to the Edina boys on the big state championship!

I mostly went with the Ultramatrixs to keep things consistent.
I found them mostly good, but no idea of what’s available overall?
Yep, we were at the Pittsburg shows (DL 9).
The first is sorta anaemic, but the second night (3rd) was good.
Still wonder if another right city, street, but wrong house?
As good as the third is, I still think others might be as good or better, especially 4/5! Really, there’s no dog in the bunch and several could be considered a top pick depending on who’s picking ; ) Hopefully interested folks can find a show or two here to dig!

Ok, January Avalon
ONWARD,

Stories

Pittsburgh 4/3 was the first time I had to call in “sick” from the hotel pay phone.
Trick was to find out how much the call cost (remember no cells so people still used pay phones, and have proper coinage before so call could go through and they’d not know it was LD , AND, no one was dumb enough to call from the room lol
“Hello, Louie, I’m afraid I’m not feeling so well…” while tripping freaks are laughing and yelling in the background lol. Yeah, I may be dumb but I’m not stupid ; )
And because I’d just started that new job and actually liked it, had to blow off the excellent Ann Arbor shows, had tix and a ride with BOO469 and everything, sigh…
4/8: went with a gal who was just a friend, but we probably should have been more, and not sure how after this show we weren’t lol. Between the song list and the X we probably were hugging the whole damn show lol
Yeah, wasn’t playing on tripping as I had to drive back that night (more on that later). But long short some guy came by in the lot and figured, hell we’ll just split a quarter 2.5 ways and be fine. I feel bad cause I kinda messed with the guy about if it was good etc. We’d just spent much of fall 88 going down that road a lot so felt pretty confident about our experience, but boy, oo-eee that was some good sheet. Id never before or since had X that strong, holy crap lol. And the poor gal with me had never done it!
So as you know, that comes on very fast comparatively, so we dropped right before going in and man before we were even out the lot shit hit us like a freight train. I remember she started getting the fear as we approached the one busy street we had to cross then up the steps and in, but she was having a hard time.
It was all gloomy and noises and I think steam coming outta the manholes lol, like instantly being plunged into a scary movie! But being a pro, I knew it’s get better after that first big rush and knew set and setting if we could just get inside all would be well with the world!
So after careful tender sharing of this key data, we finally got the nerve to go, once inside we were so high we just walked right in the back abd stayed there the whole night. Thank goodness the ushers didn’t kick us out lol.
But once inside, we immediately could feel the love and as I say, I think we swayed and hugged and danced the night away in a awesome blissful state.
Probably why I didn’t “know” this show better lol.
But the story doesn’t end there. Even after, another anomaly, we were still too damn high and there was no way I was going to make back to WNY from Cincinnati that way, so don’t recall who/how etc, but somehow we ended up across the river flopping in somebodies? hotel room on the floor with only just enough floor space for us to curl up and crackle a few hours before leaving.
Now the part all these years later that frosts my ass, is that we didn’t go to Louisville.
Not sure if she had to be back, but I had that relatively new job so I had to be back Monday after calling in previous week from Pittsburgh. But 4/9 was a Sunday, and back then my CC Cassady skills were epic, so if we’d have gone and not tripped etc, it would have been tough, but I’d done it before: (drive all night after a show and go to work next morning.)
Probably paranoid of crossing the mason-hippie line lol
But whatever, as it’s all so long ago, yeah, that’s one I wish I could redo.
Thank goodness for the archive though so we can relive all these wonderful shows, joyful ecstatic moments and some of the fear and danger too, now comfortably and safely from our homes! We are pretty fortunate in so many ways!

OB

Thanks man! Great run.

Love those 89 stories, keep them coming.

Still trying to dig out of this crap, it is not going away.

Get Well Soon DV

Had this year's back in the fall.
Took a week. Worst one in years.
Hit me almost 3 weeks after the flu shot when I thought I'd be fully immunized by then. I always blame it on kids going back to school making a germ factory, lol.
Cheers

1st Show/2024 Box

Thanks man.

So, we are getting close to mid March and we haven't had a box set announcement. Looks like we will not have a Spring Box. They might be setting us up for a fall release to coinside with that fall 74 run. We will see.

In the meantime, cuing up 11/5/77, Dicks #34.

DiP 34

I'm in. Snow day here but nothing like the front range. Got our biggie last week. I-70 closed and the Denver skiers asked the state patrol how can we get there from here and they simply said you can't. Always a better ski day after the storm anyway, lol.
Cheers

Edit: Fired up the Minglewood opener loud. Jerry's tone and first solo tells me this is going to be a good one. "Some things you just know." Dick's 28-36 is just a hot run. I'm drawn to those frequently.

I had a great add

but Rhino's Central Scrutinizer gave me a giant hey now foot up the ass

# WOS 50th Box Set designed like a mini Wall of Sound

Jim/Dicks

Love it Jim! I want it. My money is ready.

Yes, 1st show, totally agree 28-36 are great. Hard to believe at the time they didn't sell well so they decided to close up shop. Always makes me nervous when the Dave's don't sell out.

Listened to the whole release today and it is a good show with the Toronto filler. Always interesting to me how much more I like 11/6. Not that the other shows are bad they are not, just not as good as 11/6. Of course just my opinion. Too bad they didn't have any more shows after 11/6 until late December, they were smoking hot.

Hope you dig out of the snow out there in CO. Hard to believe I am playing golf in MN tomorrow afternoon.

Dave's 12 & 25

Interesting you should mention 11-6-77 DV. While listening to DiP 34 yesterday I had planned to go to the neighboring shows on DaP 12 & 25 soon.
That filler on DiP34 from 11-2 Seneca was jarring at first when it popped up with Might As Well since the sound is so different. So I played all that last to keep the continuity. Good stuff!
Oro, you dug out yet? Too many storms in a row for old bodies.
Cheers

'77 Abounds

I started the day with DaP 33 10/29/77.
Now, I switched to Phil's 50th birthday show.
Cap Centre 3/15/90
That Spring '90 tour was so much fun!
Peace

New Cans

Got a big bee day coming up fast and treated myself to new headphones - Sennheiser HD 650. Most of my close listening at home is on headphones. Still in the break-in period but boy-oh-boy they sound awesome to my old ears and both the build and fit are a noticeable step up from my old Senns. And they were seriously on sale. Right now on DaP 41 Baltimore 5/26/77. Beautiful day here after some solid cold rain (no snow at our elevation) over last couple days. We really needed that moisture. I know the mountain dwellers among us are snow fatigued but there sure will be some happy trees and mushrooms in the high country this season.

Onward!!