Dave's Picks Vol. 50: Palladium, New York City, NY 5/3/77
Reviewer: WolfmansBrother - favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite - February 11, 2008 - Online Review
Subject: setting me on fire
left the orchestra section during ship of fools and arrived in the loge for the basso profundo MNS - it's the best of the tour so far, i think, and the balcony is shakin' to its raging outro leading. i sit to take a short break, too.
yet another night of the first set seeming to spill over. first half of this second set is well-played, indeed, but the sugaree is the INSANE highlight, and keith and jerry are battling it out. one of the strongest estimateds of tour and i, for one, am happy for the FOTD break. the second half belongs to jerry - eyes is short but stellar and bridges to yet another rip-your-heart-out wharf rat, and NFA showcases some down in the weeds jamming. we're stomping and clapping and grinning our faces off, and then joint is jumping for sure as they close it down. another fine UJB encore sends me out the door, so very deeply in love with this band and its music. is there anything better than being a deadhead?
Is there anything better than being a Dead Head when one of your favorite shows is officially released in its entirety? We'll double down on your sentiments WolfmansBrother, with DAVE'S PICK VOLUME 50: PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY 5/3/77, and we'll bring the fire extinguisher to cool you off after you listen to Betty Cantor-Jackson's complete recording. Don't want the party to end? We'll stoke those embers with a few hot tracks from the first set of 5/4/77. Dave's Picks Subscribers score the monstrous second set from 5/4/77 featuring "Scarlet>Fire," "Terrapin," 'Playing In The Band," "Comes A Time," and more. Woowee!
Limited to 25,000 numbered copies, this release has been mastered to HDCD specs by Jeffrey Norman at Mockingbird Mastering.
Dead Experience at The Venetian
If you’re coming out, make this a stop. Lotsa cool stuff. Got to meet and talk to Big Steve. Great dude!
There's a 2 meter wide thermal exhaust port. Upper left....
....right below the main port. But you didn't hear that from me.
Enjoy you two. Good stuff.
Mike
Glad to see that you’re back. I’ve been absent myself for a little while here.
The Oilers have come to life thanks to McDavid. In the last two games, he’s made professional hockey players look foolish. What an unbelievable talent.
Thanks for the heads up on Gram Parsons. I’ve been listening to Return of the Grievous Angel recently. A Song for You covered by Whiskeytown one of my all-time favorites.
I grew up a Mets fan because of my grandfather. He was clearly past his prime, but I was elated when Willie Mays was traded to the Mets. I still remember Mays pleading with the umpire that Bud Harrelson was safe at home plate in the 1973 World Series. Pure talent and an even better person.
DS. I agree with Alvo. He perfected the character of Hawkeye Pierce that Alan Alda ultimately ruined. I loved him as Dave Jennings in Animal House. Confident and understated with the perfect delivery.
“Don’t write this down, but I find Milton probably as boring as you find Milton. Mrs. Milton found him boring too. He’s a bit long-winded, he doesn’t translate very well into our generation, and the jokes are terrible.”
Graham Parsons
Lot's of respect to Graham Parsons. A big influence on me and one of the ones where you wonder what could have been.
RIP to Donald Sutherland. "the closest distance between two points is a straight line" "in the opposite direction"
My parents took me to that movie (not sure why), it was my first R rated movie and I was certainly underage at the time. God love em.. they meant well, they just fell a little short and that specific decision explains all my shortcomings in life. (it was totally worth it)
So what does all this have to do with new box set announcement?
Did the Flying Burrito Brothers ever play with the Grateful Dead? Not sure but if they ever did that must be the next release.
Edit: Now that I think of it, they were on the Festival Express together, right? I'd be in for a few full show releases from that tour.
Grateful Dead & Flying Burrito Brothers Avalon Ballroom.
Jim, the Flying Burrito Brothers opened for the Grateful Dead on April 4,5, & 6, 1969 at the Avalon Ballroom.. Lets hope that's the next box set.
Re: BTK/Burrito
I'm all in.
Thanks man.. for just being yourself.
While we wait
I am checking out 8 4 89
Kinda meh
Not BAD, but...assembly line-ish
Not much X factor
But I try....
Schrodinger's Box
It occurs to me that, as long as we don't know what's in the box, the contents can be BOTH exactly what we want it to be and NOT what we want as the same time. It's all about quantum superpositions, so dig it. Or don't. It's all a dream we dreamed anyway.
I always felt kinda sorry for that cat, though. Just let her outta the box already.
Anticipation
When you don't know what the next box is there is a sense of anticipation for what it might be. When you do know, there is a sense of disappointment for what it isn't.
Or can be.
Grateful Dead & Flying Burrito Brothers Avalon Ballroom.
As Billy the Kiddd said, the Flying Burrito Brothers opened for the Grateful Dead on April 4, 5 & 6, 1969 at the Avalon Ballroom. The Burrito's sets from April 4 & 6 were released in 2007 as a 2CD set by Amoeba Records titled "Gram Parsons with The Flying Burrito Brothers - Archives Volume One - Live at the Avalon Ballroom 1969". One CD has the set from April 4, the other CD has the April 6 set. In the liner notes it details how the tapes were recorded by Owsley and were in the Grateful Dead Vault. Bear allowed them to be released as part of a deal with David Grisman as Bear wanted to release to Old and in the Way tapes. David L found the tapes in the vault and so they were finally released. It is still available from Amoeba at a lower price than from Amazon.
From this, one has to conclude that Bear also recorded the three Dead shows from that run and that they are most likely in the GD Vault rather than in Bear's stash of tapes, but who knows? David L knows for sure. I haven't heard the Dead shows but apparently they are excellent and they are from 1969! Nothing more needs to be said except "Release them".
Jack
Hey Jack! Nice to be back, I missed the chats. Like most, I got bogged down in “ I Got Dem Ol' Hey Now Blues Again Mama!” (a nod to the Festival Express), plus we had our home up for sale. For anyone that wants to test the strength of their relationship with their loved one, try selling your house. I recommend a pack of matches or “Mobster lightning” instead - way easier. Agreed with you 100% on my Leafs - disaster - and McDavid - remarkable.
Simonrob mentions the FBB release from the Avalon recorded by Owsley - it is remarkable sound, gets a fair bit of airplay here (big Gram/Burrito fan), and the Dead recordings from the same shows must be remarkable, and deserve to see daylight.
Avalon 69
Simon et al
There is a 3 cd set ‘Gathered from coincidence’ released in Europe by Stray Cat which describes itself as ‘The last night of the Avalon Ballroom April 6th 1969’. This has tracks by The Burritos, GOGD and Aum. It gives no information on the recordings but does say Not for sale in North America. Presumably the recordings must be accessible in an archive somewhere. The cd is still available from Amazon UK at least.
It would be good to have a cleaned up, official, version.
Colin - Avalon 69
The April 6 show was broadcast on FM radio which is presumably the source for the Stray Cat release that you mention.
Happy Solstice, 1969 Miles
Hope Stonehenge survived the orange corn starch. Strawberry moon tonight. Welcomed summer this morning with Miles' 1969, Complete In a Silent Way sessions, what a band. Rum and done, Mars Landing, 51 announces in the next week, may it be 6.24.70 with NRPS.
Strange pathways
The other night my beloved channel-surfed to Laugh-In on some obscure outpost in the electronic wasteland.
I looked up info about the show. I found a reference to a 1969 TV show called Turn-On that got canceled after one broadcast. Went to your toob and watched.
SOMEone involved with the production experienced acid.
Worth checking out for bizarreness alone.
Sphere
The venue is very nice. We got in shortly after doors at 6 and walked around. Many people around to answer questions and show you the way. Concessions were pricey, but most concert venues are. Bathroom access was easy from our 200 level seats.
As far as the visuals, a description does not do it justice. You have to see it for yourself. It’s easily the greatest man made visual experience I’ve ever had.
The band looks like they are having a lot of fun! Otiel is never without a smile. And there’s great interplay between Jeff and John.
You can look up the setlist from 6-20 to see what we got, and I wasn’t disappointed. The Greatest Story was the first since 2018. John’s solo on Sugaree to close the first set was phenomenal! China Rider second set opener really got the crowd going! The seat haptics during drums was a cool enhancement. The anomation of the skeleton with the top hat riding a motorcycle during US Blues was a show highlight for me.
It was cool to see John say, “WOW!” as he reacted to the crowd after the Lovelight encore.
Getting out was fine. Had to wait at the ride share for Uber for about 20 minutes, but not unexpected considering there’s about 20k leaving a concert.
If you can swing it, it’s worth the trip.
My daughter and I have floor tickets for tonight’s show.
PM me if you want a link to a GoogleDrive folder of the pics and videos I took last night.
Snake Oil King....
....Widespread Panics new album dropped today.
Just bought a ticket to the 9.21 show.
TWBS!
Yes it really would
Florida has surprised the hell outta me.
Sneaky good too, like you almost didn’t realize how good their D was, until it wasn’t in the last couple. And Bob, pshaw, same. McD’s been good overall in the playoffs, and can go electric etc at any time, but maybe just me, but I’m not totally drinking the koolaid…I’d take MacKinnon anyday, but of course I’m biased. Hey Conekid, think them Wings are gonna rock next year, for good or for Ill, lol.
Now if McD continues like of late, and…not gonna say it out loud lol, but “if” well, if he/they, that’d certainty shut me and any other fence sitters up!
What, not since 48 Leafs? (Speaking of, Howdy Mike and AJS, glad to see you boys back in the mix!)
Hey, some of it is you just get sick of the media puking out the same shit, year after year, just insert current new sensation, oh wait, that’s what the GOGD is for, among other things, it’s the soundtrack for sports ; )
Impatient intrepid traveler sez
What's the deal with Alpine 89? I just archived 7/18/89... nice, but not AMAZING.
Any of you attend? Was it truly on another plane?
I have wanted to "get" these shows for years. All I hear are some solid, pleasant shows
Duhfuq, y'all
1989 was my year....
....thirteen shows. The MIDI was introduced. I was all in.
Just gotta poke around.
Alpine 89
The Desolation Row caught my attention on the first listen. Tight, clean and how did Bobby remember all the words? I think 89 was still pre-teleprompter.
I'm with DVikes in admiration for Downhill From Here, one of the better concert videos I have seen. (full disclosure, fan of 89)
Seinfeld reference ahead
Mr Pitt and the 3D image
Me and Alpine 89
I'll try 7 19 and then 7 17
I heard/saw DHFH on VHS (I think) way back when. Again, nice but not transcendent.
Hmm.
Thank you Danehead
Wassup Dave?
Putting the finishing touches on the Greek box, I bet.
Alpine 89
I was at the first two nights, unfortunately had to leave so missed the last night rain fest. Probably helps if you were there?
The 17 is one of my all time favs and one of the best shows of the year, the other two I think are average in an above average year., and I like 7/4 better.
One could argue for 7/7 also, and though the playing isn’t quite as sharp, I love the set list set from 7/2. But 7/17 is most def RJ!
Speaking of 89 and boxes, those fall tour multis are just sitting there waiting…
Thoughts on 89
That was the year I fell into Grateful Dead orbit. I wasn't exactly a touchhead although I'm the right age. But my live music career was still very nascent, and all I'd seen was reggae music: Peter Tosh, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru/Michael Rose, Lee Perry, Reggae Sunsplash... whoever came to Hollywood, because I could get to shows there as a high school kid. But by the late 80s I had friends with cars so we could make plans to venture farther afield. I had a decent rock LP collection, and some of my friends had just been seen Floyd, Iron Maiden, etc. So as '89 began, we hatched a plan to go see the Feb '89 Fabulous Forum shows...
...except we never got there. I don't even remember how we bollocksed up that run, but I'm sure it was a question of money. We were too young to know the culture - to know that we could miracle our way in. And for kids from the Hollywood area/eastern SF Valley with unreliable cars, The Forum required some planning. I vaguely recall gasoline (or the lack thereof) being a factor.
But by Summer we had tapes of that night they did Monkey and the Engineer (the 12th?) and a set from the Kaiser run a few days earlier. Oh, and one of those tapes had some filler from April '89 at Irvine...we hadn't even realized the Dead were back in SoCal! Together these were formative experiences for me, the kind that teach you that life is happening all around you (more importantly, Grateful Dead shows were happening) and you need to show up. I guess today they call it FOMO...
Did the whole tour from…
Did the whole tour from foxboro to The greek Those Alpines shows best three of the tour. Would have been magnificent if only the weather on day 2 and three had been better.
Robert Hunter
Happy birthday remembrance.
"The storyteller makes no choice
Soon you will not hear his voice
His job is to shed light
And not to master."
50 Years Ago Today
I saw Mile High Sun Day #1 with The Allman Bros., Marshall Tucker, Steve Miller, Elvin Bishop, and Wet Willie.
Very hot, humid, tarps over the wet field.
Warm beer and only a couple of joints between us. Turned me off of Coors for life, lol.
Cheers
Oro
Cool reference there buddy! I thought it was, but records show the Lynyrd Skynyrd show I saw at a downtown Denver club called Ebbet's Field (only 4 years as a venue?) was 12-13-73. They played all of their first and second albums I think including a 27 minute Free Bird! Fifth row (the back row of bench seating off to the side) and Ronnie was swilling Jack Daniels from the bottle between songs and then putting the bottle back on the piano in a little puddle of bourbon, lol. Second Helping was released in April of 1974. Thanks for making me look that up. I've had those two backwards for a long time I think. Pretty damn good "first show".
Cheers
Happy Birthday
Robert Hunter. Like That lucky old Sun got nothin to do but roll around Heaven all day.