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    marye
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    New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!

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  • uncle_tripel
    Joined:
    a day on the green...

    ...with some unbelievable dry sunny weather
    (82 degrees in these parts) in the mid-atlantic for late october,
    I'm putting on my boogin' shoes for
    oakland coliseum
    june 8th 1974

    can hardly wait to get started...

    PEACE for ALL!
    uncle_tripel

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    The sound

    Of thick air...

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    The sound

    Of thick air...

  • uncle_tripel
    Joined:
    always...

    ...avoided the NR on recording
    and found very early the highs just got too muted for my ear,

    returning to some more 1978 this week:
    june 4th 1978
    at Campus Stadium, UCSB in Santa Barbara, Ca

    some more friends of the devils? lol...
    ...= the "on stage" harley davidson acceleration into--->NFA

    make LOVE, not war!

    PEACE!
    uncle_tripel

    PS: new avatar = mickey & jerry on 7/4/86 @ Rich Stadium

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    Noise Reduction and...

    I used Dolby for a brief blink of an eye when I first started copying tapes. Being young and naive, I thought who wants tape noise to come through on the recording, duh.. no brainer, I flipped the Dolby switch on my Nak and hit record. I just want to hear the music, no hiss.

    Very quickly reality set in. Was it Dolby A or Dolby B? Was the source tape recording using Dolby, if so, if you hit Dolby wouldn't it further compress the recording and further alter the sound, you can't play back using Dolby Squared, right? And what do you do in the car, in the boom box (yes.. we were just a few years out of 8 tracks when I started getting tapes). And who really flips or unflips the Dolby switch anyway based on how you think the recording was made. After all, were all these tapes properly notated every step of the way.

    So I quickly gave up on noise reduction, I had a good enough tape deck that I shouldn't be so worried about tape noise. I quit Dolby and never looked back (and never worried about pressing the Dolby button again).

    Just spit balling here, but my prejudices sometimes come to the surface when I hear a Dicks or Daves or Road Trips that sounds a bit muffled and I wonder if the particular Reel or Cassette or Betamax or whatever might have had a Dolby snafu baked in. To be clear, I have no proof this has ever occurred, I just wonder sometimes.

    I should emphasize Jeffrey Norman / David Glasser, etc. have gotten better at their jobs. So if there is any compression or noise reduction used anywhere along the way, they better at making this music sound as good as it possibly can, regardless of the sordid history of the source tapes. Thank you GD, Mockingbird Studios, the good folks and Plangent Processing and all the others that get this music to my front porch. Oh, and thank you tapers too!

  • Oroborous
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    Ooops, forgot

    I can’t say for sure off hand about everyone who recorded Dead and NR, but Betty was known for not using it, and if things are done right, no need.
    Nothing comes for free, so every time you do something, it will effect other things, sometimes negatively…a cost benefit trade off…perhaps just like BITD with high gen cassettes? To Dolby or not to Dolby, that is the question lol
    I always have tried not to do any permanent adjustments/fixes, preferring to try and fix some other way, eq etc, but nothing permanent that you can’t fix yer fix!

    Imho NR etc becomes more of a band aid for when things weren’t able to be right, or to help mask issues beyond repair, i.e., the ravages of time.
    Don’t think I’ve ever used any on a master recording?

    Onto rest of GDM soundtrack this afternoon…

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    Thx Oro

    So 15 ips or 30 ips would have been impractical for shows I imagine. Expense, changing reels too often, and as these were for listening by the band not studio use, etc. But what about them using noise reduction? I'm guessing no Dolby.
    As an aside, I seldom have my Dolby on when listening to cassettes even though most were recorded with it. Even factory tapes with Dolby seem less muffled without it and I'm not listening at thunderous levels (most of the time) where hiss is an issue.
    Skylabs, a top notch mid-western audio repairer, no longer works on certain categories of equipment: Consoles, quad receivers, linear tracking turntables, automatic turntables, and reel to reels. Just not worth it from a cost perspective for what those machines sell for vs. repair costs. There are still plenty of specialists who will and R-to-Rs are available restored at very reasonable prices but good luck finding pre-recorded tapes (old or new). Nobody makes them anymore. I was never tempted but my cassette guy sells tons of R-to-Rs for like $200-$300 fully restored, but they are more run of the mill Sony and not high end. And they sell fast!
    Thanks again and cheers bro

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    First half of GDM soundtrack

    Ist show. The more surface area (wider the tape), and/or the faster the recording speed, the higher the resolution. And yes R2R can most certainly sound best. (Like anything though, if done well)
    The problem is a good one is very expensive, they’re as hard to keep maintained etc as a TT, and good linage quality tapes are rare and expensive, oh, and more a pain to “flip” than even a record…but they can sound amazing!

    Remember, many CDs AND most vinyl are sourced from (hopefully) master R2R tapes! A purist with the gear and ears might argue that direct to (vinyl) disc recording is the ultimate…but good luck lol
    One of the main reasons digital still gets such a bad rap is twofold
    1- the conversion used originally, and lack of attention to disparity’s between different DACs in the chain. Conversion has come a loonnggg way baby! AND…
    2- a significant number of the CDs first produced to meet the huge demand were not sourced from the master tapes, and lineage and source quality were often a joke! Caveat emptor: not all CDs are created alike!…or Blu-ray’s, or DVDs, or Vinyl etc Like drugs boys and girls, know your sources!

  • 1stshow70878
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    4-11-78

    5th show in the box.
    OK, now were getting there.
    Great 1st set.
    2nd set list looks good too.
    Moving right along...
    Cheers

    Random ?s for the tapers and the knowledgeable. Were these original tapes running at 7.5 ips on reel to reels and were they done with any Dolby or whatever? And do you audience tapers use any noise reduction? Been talking to an analog guy who says with reel to reel running fast you get superior saturation and the best analog sound of all, which to his ear beats CDs and even vinyl, and Dolby is unnecessary for good reel to reel recordings.

  • uncle_tripel
    Joined:
    "Don't...

    climb on the fence, you idiot"

    august 6th 1974

    now that's much better, the sound is less polished or over-dubbed...or whatever...

    support your local library,
    my better half's employer also

    Peace for All!
    uncle_tripel

    PS - Hey Bobby, party like it's 1984, Happy B-day!

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New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!
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In reply to by 1stshow70878

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Cold dead hands indeed :-)

I buy this stuff and tell my wife, "but look they go up in value" "It's for our son someday"

In reality it doesn't matter what happens to the price,,, I'm not selling.

It wouldn't be a collection if you sold stuff. I've been collecting albums since I was 7. I still have all my "kids" albums.

Someday they will go to my son (unless my wife sells them all 5 minutes after I'm dead), what he will do with them, who knows.

Can there EVER be enough music? Of course not!

Music may not be life, but it's the reason for living. If the only thing we can take to the next stop in life is our memories, mine will be filled with music!

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That was a darn fine show...
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Currently listening to ‘Variations on a theme’ by Om. Long time since I played it. Drums, Bass and Vocals only. It goes deep.

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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Gave the 18th a full sit down last night, which I hadn’t done in awhile.
Holy crap what a good show! My recollection was that the first night (has always been!) HOT. But that the next two nights were good, but maybe not RJ?
Maybe just set and setting, but boy I really dug the 18th last night, almost got up outta my seat a few times like Dave says lol
So once I’m awake enough lol, going to try for the 19th next…
I know PF and others don’t fully embrace these, and as I say, over the years I’ve not always felt the full eeeleck tricity, but it sure clicked last night.
I think there’s occasionally a looseness during this time that occasionally might lead certain types to head scratch. Like their not full on or something? I think it’s just their having fun, and are in such a good place that their relaxed and loose and just letting it flow? Who knows?

I unfortunately don’t recall so much from being there except that it was good, and the new, steep hill to accommodate more people, but not the crazy oversold monsoon mob and our awesome DIY slip and slide down the hill lol.
And I’ve now seen the video so many times I can’t recall much specifically.

But to me, the thing that makes this time so special is Garcia! He’s not only playing well, he’s really enjoying himself. You can literally see it!
I didn’t watch any of it last night (supposedly the 18th was a MUATM?) but I could just see him in my minds eye after watching DH the previous night.
All the vids from this time show how much fun he was having and it showed in his playing! (wish they’d give us more vids, legacy tech and all…)

ISTSHOW: lol, synesthesia at prime proper upscale jazz show!
I bet THAT was interesting, yer a warrior!
The setting reminds me of a late eighties Metheny show, muggy, hot, with too much humidity, and excessive stealth bullet usage smack dab in the middle of upscale crowd etc…”dude, yer gonna get us kicked out or worse”, me= “it’s melting, so I HAVE to do it all” I should write a book lol

Great story 1stshow, and I bet that was an awesome show!

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Follow up:
And I was designated driver, lol. I guess I was the Capt. trips because it was well known I could keep it together no matter what. Tim's (CA Deadhead who got me on the bus in the dorm at Colo. State in 1975) '66 Mercedes 200 batwing no less. He trusted me on ski trips with that too. Likely my favorite car to drive of all time. I remember laughing hysterically with the people still in the car while the others were getting some food. We couldn't imagine why they would want to eat food. We don't need no stinking burgers! A good time was had by all. Appreciate the props bro.
Cheers

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Hey rockers!!

Right now? Properly sequenced 10/24/70. You know why..............

Music and silence combine strongly because music is done with silence, and silence is full of music......

Rock on!!!

Doc
Music is an outburst of the soul.......

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In reply to by 1stshow70878

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stinkin burgers” lol, yep, totally transported me right there lol.
Remember my “first”, folks older, experienced folks I was with took us to late night burrito place, used Togo late night all the time, like clockwork. That night, food? Couldn’t fathom it or why you’d want to? And the florescent lights and GIANT fish tanks almost freaked me out lol. Of course eventually I learned that food could be good too lol
Man, just looked up, what a ride!
Might as well travel the elegant way!

Those were the daze my friend, we thought they’d never end…

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Good catch on that detail, Bluecrow - you are quite right about the location of the Pigasus nomination. Not sure how I got that confused with the Int'l Amp, but I'm sure it's from going down wiki rabbit holes and losing track.

I've finally got a copy of 7/25/74, all ready for listening while I do some work tomorrow. At last! I'm excited. I had disc III of 5/14/74 still in my car's CD player when I picked up my brother yesterday. We got to our destination but we were 10 minutes early and he said, "ok, park, but don't turn this off... this is SO good." (It was the NFA->GDTRFB closer) If you do manage to track down the mystery taper for this one, I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I will eagerly be listening as you relay more details. Cheers.

Wellll?
Short version: doesn’t hang with the big boys.
First sets good, and Box O, then as is often the case, FH is strained and ole JG has perhaps lost his edge? Flubs a bit of LLR which is not a top shelf version anyway, then Terrapin (I’m mind missing?)
TOO is ok but nothing special, wheel gets flubbed, but then, aaahhh, lol, like I told my Other one, “watch, he can stumble half the night, but if he nails this Dew, all will be forgotten, and the poor shlub who was miserable in the rain all night…40 years later, he’ll only remember that Dew”, and so sure as your born ….lol. Man I miss Jer!
So not a bad show, by the high standards of this tour, perhaps below the bar, certainly not RJ. Seemed like another last show of the tour, where like athletes, they just ran outta gas a bit.
Be interesting to see how this run shakes out?
Ok, mañana onto Cal X.
Onward!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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If Alpine 89 gets the treatment and I listen to it again, I might see the full light of that run.

5 7 89 I avoided that show for a long time because my first listen back in the day had me thinking "meh". Then a few weeks ago I listened again and it was blissful.

I haven't given up on Alpine 89...I just need to hear it again at the right time.

Currently listening to 12 29 77

Ja, gerne

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In reply to by jonathan918@GD

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That was a great show! Nice Weather Report Suite.

Took a break from the GOGD yesterday, and spun a few Steely Dan albums.

Currently giving 50 another run until 51 arrives in the mail.

Peace

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In reply to by TN John

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Yeah, it’s crazy how much what we’re thinking/doing etc can effect the show we’re listening to…

I’ve been back and forth with parts of this for years, but this time I did em in order etc and think I’ve got a good handle now lol.
Onto Cal X today…

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Playing now.
I always thought it was the weaker of the 3, but I could be biased since 7-17 was my second show and I got it on VHS when Downhill From Here came out and played it extensively. Eventually got the DVD, and am now waiting for all 3 nights to come out on Blu-ray.
Note: still a terrible decision to replace the end of 17th set 1 with end of 19th set 1. Unless there’s a legit reason like the video doesn’t exist.

I got 7-19 set 2 on VHS at the end of the 90’s. It was a few generations and grainy, but I played that a lot too.

7-18 sounds pretty good tonight though.

So, in conclusion, yes Dave, I’m (im)patiently waiting for all 3 nights to be released on Blu-ray.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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This one's been a regular part of my wake and bake routine for a long time.

51 should arrive by lunch time.

Peace

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Right now? After flaming finance man via pm, I'm catching up with April 4, 1971. Yes, my way back machine done got broke and I'm stuck in April 1971...........

Rock on,

Doc
If we weren't all crazy, we'd just go insane.....

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In reply to by Oroborous

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I’ve heard these, once, think some on u toob?
But not in order etc.

4&5 yesterday.
4 is awesome!
5 first time I didn’t feel it? Much better this time, fun show!
6 rollin as we speaker. Great triple opener! So far sounds like a good one…

17 later…

Edit: out of last 7 summer 89 shows I’ve heard, (7/15-8/6) I’d say 7/19 was the dog in the pile. Not terrible, but not great. But the other five, boo yah!

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Well I've wandered off the beaten track from Aprils 1971 and 1978

But I really do enjoy Summer '82 and today's the anniversary of 7/31/82 - included in 30 Trips. I missed that box set, but I picked this one up back when people were parting out 30 trips shows on eBay for $30-$35. I think I've only spun it once or twice, so it felt right to dust if off.

Afterwards I intend to get down 'n dusty with 8/1/82 Oklahoma City. I had a spectacular low-gen copy of this one thanks to a tape tree I was part of circa '90 or '91. I haven't heard it in decades but I remember it being a good one.

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I've been listening to a ton of 1985 shows lately, so I'm taking a break with 7-19-89 as some commenters here recently said they were digging. I'm up to Mama Tried right now and definitely a very strong start, especially the Sugaree...

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In reply to by The Fool

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Hmmm, sorta lost with all the fresh hoopla today!
Aaaa, let’s see, did the 17 yesterday. Definitely good but maybe they’ve peaked at Alpine and Cal X? Let’s find out, forward, never straight!
On 18 now. More good but maybe not RJ summer 89 dead?
Lots of distractions today so…? Definitely good, guess just how good? ; )

EDIT: upon Futhur review…taint nothin wrong wif dis one!
Maybe slightly relaxed, in a good way, but mos def another fine 89!
Maybe a bit of a creeper? Steady as she goes capin, JG slowly builds things up with some fine renditions!
Ok, try and get 8/19/89 in before TOO arrives, hopefully with 51!
Onward!

Summer 82, nice! while yer down there ; ), check out the hot second set from Kansas and St Louie show, and…?
Good sheet Mon!
If my memory is correct, that KC Women Are was my first tape introduction…

Edit: 8/19/89: another good ? It’s another of the Cali laid back shows…meaning, the playing is really good, but there’s a looseness or, relaxed atmosphere?
I’ve always had a hard time describing..if you say laid back people think it’s too mellow etc. but these shows are not, their good, but, maybe don’t burn quite as bright as some of the previous outings of the summer? Ha, how’s that for an answer lol. Ok, onto Shoreline…mañana

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...don't murder me; 1978 april 16th huntington wv,
and...all I said was come on in

Peace for All,
uncle_tripel

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Fine thinking, Oro, I am indeed amenable to some distractions. And speaking of 8/3 Kansas City, I had the first set back in the day but I don't think I've ever heard set II. The setlist "interests me strangely" (in the immortal phrasing of Bertie Wooster) - it looks like one good ride from start to end. And 8/4 - oh, last GD show at Kiel, eh? I've never heard a note of it.

Funny thing about this little summer trip is that I've yet to play Dave's Vol 51! I got it out this morning and checked out the tour rider, read the liner notes again... but yet it still sits unripped and unplayed. What a nice problem to have, though. It's great to be a deadhead.

OBEAH 82: I had/have what was a very nice tape BITD by our limited standards of KC first set, actually, I think I only had first sets of both shows but boy did they get played a ton! Years later on my quest I hit the whole shows and fully enjoyed them! Hopefully you will too!

Onto 9/29 and later 9/30/89 today.
Hopefully hit 10/1 mañana AM, then give 51 the full treatment in the afternoon!

I think I’ve heard and/or seen these, but not in succession/order etc and don’t recall too much. So WTHN! We’ll just keep rollin on through. Hell, since I’m ahead of my “schedule” this year, maybe I’ll continue on with fall 89?
But, “really beeeg shoo” today, and so far the 29 is mas fine!

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:)))

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Pieced back together in order.

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...or Inside Down; 1978 april 6th tampa fl,
and...passenger, don't you hear me?

Peace for All,
uncle_tripel

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In reply to by uncle_tripel

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William And Mary
Giving this one a run, then I'll stay away from '78 until the box arrives.

Hey Cone Kid
I pieced that 10/24/70 show back together yesterday too. That Attics is so good!

Peace

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In reply to by Oroborous

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From the old box. Listening to "Dancing In The Street" I discovered a space I didn't know existed.

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In reply to by daverock

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Last night…
Try again today…

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Just got it and other recent releases loaded onto my music player in ALAC format.
Will play them all this weekend.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Boston Music Hall

Peace

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In reply to by TN John

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Boston Music Hall

First one's so good, had to keep on truckin'.

Peace

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In reply to by TN John

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Madison Square Garden

Peace

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In reply to by TN John

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Heading for a DHB!

Good work son!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Reno, NV

Thanks Oro!

Peace

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Nice flow when reassembled in order.

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The Red Rocks show I almost saw and heard some of from the parking lot, lol. I think this was when I was managing a pizza delivery place and could not get the day off, then it slowed down and I got my asst. mgr. in training to cover for me and raced down to Morrison from Ft. Collins to catch what I could. Ended up doing a big favor for a fighting couple who would not take the same car home. I gave her and another girl a ride home. Big favor as they eventually married. Kindness or missed opportunity, I'm not sure which, lol.
Cheers
I see why BC likes this 1st set! My original tape from the 90s of this had bad sound quality so the Normanized version is a huge improvement.
Both this show and 7-8 had some major equipment issues and lots of delays which are gone now in the box release. But they made it right and it was the most amazing show I ever attended. Those Red Rocks have superb acoustics!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Decent show, good energy, like the set list, but the distortion is terrible!
I’m with some others here: think 4/12is a much better played and sounding show, but I like 4/13 better? Weird?

Nice story 1stshow!
Those ones we missed it by this much…still drive me crazy!
Hell, probably more so now!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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set 2

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Hampton Coliseum

Peace

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In reply to by proudfoot

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.
Whoooaa, I didn’t see your post TN until AFTER I posted!
Great minds, lol

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Its been a while

I had a cassette of 10/9 set two early on

I must experience it again

"I need more time, Captain!!"

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Hampton Coliseum

You can't have one without the other.

We'll stick with that great minds thing Oro. Lol!

Peace

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...figure out...so it's SET 2 at the Fox Theater on 1978-04-11...
if it's the end or beginning,
terrapin

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

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Saw Jerry and the band at the Fox in Atlanta in April, 80. What a fantastic venue for a Dead show. The sun set, the band came on, the planetarium there is so cool. We left the atmosphere about third or 4th song, went out into deep space and came back, reentered the ozone and touched down right as the sun was about to rise. What a show and cemented my seat on the bus. Anyone else seen a dead show at the Fox?

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In reply to by PT Barnum

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Wembley Empire Pool

Peace

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In reply to by PT Barnum

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Rollin…cus ya cant have peanut butter without no jelly!
Holy crap, forgot how strong this show is! Phew…

Fox: still kicking myself PT for not at least going in and checking it out the 2 times we stayed across the street at the funky old Georgian Terrace for work.
Wonder if good ole Homeless Joe is still providing excellent concierge service on the corner? Lol
Yep, those Shriners didn’t mess around. I have seen some shows in cool theatre’s, but doubt they match the mighty Fox!

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In reply to by Oroborous

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10/11/89

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In reply to by Oroborous

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What a phenomenal show