Took a step back, and another step back
12/5/81 Indy
edit - oooh boy is this show a thing of beauty. there is a great sounding Miller sbd. highly recommend!!
Mr. Sun, Coig, Paul Winter
Since our band is well covered here, a short report on a recent concert held at of all places, the National Gallery of Art in Washing Tundy Cee. Mr. Sun band developed their interpretation of the Ellington Strayhorn interpretation of the Nutcracker last year, was able to catch it then at the Chandler in Randolph, when I heard they would perform it at a location I have been fortunate to visit since childhood, no question. Went down for the 1 pm and managed to jump the line and get a front row seat, one of only four. Saying this being very glad anonymous here so methods not revealed, did get a chance to chat with guitarist Grant Gordy after on his way to see Da Vinci's Ginevra de Benci. What a location for music there in the West Garden Court, always a pleasure at the holidays when the central area is decorated. Admission was free, it being tax payer dollars. Coig this weekend for Celtic Christmas back at Chandler, then Paul Winter Consort's Solstice next week. Mr. Sun has a few more gigs in Wisconsin and Minnesota before they finish their seasonal concert at Nashville. Some of the best acoustic jazz flavored bluegrass you will ever. Probably don't need to tie it in, but Grant played with David Grisman for a while.
12/27/80
Continuing on end of 1980
Indy 81, yes sir Mr BC definitely the best I’ve heard of the 6 or 7 I’ve listened to so far from that tour!
Mr Sun? Feel like I must of seem them at Rocky Grass BITD?
Nutcracker sounds interesting, definitely will have to check out.
Can you recommend some of their more jazzy stuff? i.e., is there an album if such…believe I’ve heard them described as jazz grass?
Of course that makes one think of Bela/Ftones or Dawg, but I’ve always really dug Strength In Numbers Telluride sessions!
Need more of this but it has to be more jazzy than Grassy…both my preference and TOO can’t abide any “hillbilly twangy crap” LOL
That’s ok Luv, I can’t stand that prepackaged Beat from hell shit you like lol
St. Louis Blues
I thought I'd go back to the St. Louis box, and play the shows in sequence-something I haven't done since it came out. The opening 1971 shows, from 12/9 and 12/10 are great. Maybe not routinely recognised as among the best shows of the era, there is still plenty to enjoy here. 12/9 features no extended jams as such, but they seem to me to be more in tune with the spirit of rock n' roll than they ever would be in any other year. Although they persisted in covering rock n' roll well into middle age, those later excursions often come across as light relief, before or after the more serious fare. Here every song is played with commitment. They sound as though they are having a good time.
Initially, 10/12 sounded less impressive to me. The same sort of thing as the previous night...again. Until the final cd where they stretch out into the future. An amazing rocking jam.
Starting on 10/17/72, the first cd passed me by a bit, but the opening Cumberland and Playin' in the Band on the second cd of this show are as good versions of these two songs as any I can immediately remember.
So there we go - a great box! And plenty to come.
12/31/80
Big show to start today, followed by 12/6/89 as we finish 1980 and move to finish the end of 89.
BTK (actually, the whole run), and Marye were there and I believe this might have been Mary’s first show?
If so, we’d love some stories : )
I had a tape of p/o this show way BITD but don’t remember it at all so it will be a treat to check out the whole show!
Being the holidaze and all I haven’t gotten the best listens in to this run, so haven’t noticed a lot of standouts, (that’s me not the shows) but overall I’d say they start out the run with good, solid consistent performances like much of this under appreciated year, and seem to build every night through the run.
From the Rockin Bama/Promised land, somewhat rare for time TLEO, and overall good first set (seconds a blur?), to hot Strangers, Sugarees, Half Steps, China Riders, couple hot Truckin’s, a nice Shakedown, sweet China Doll, Fun Casey Jones encore, hot FOTD on the 30, in fact all of the 30 seemed a step up, just a four show blur of consistent solid enjoyable GD!
No hometown slacking this run!
So now onto the big finale, including a nice capstone to the 1980 acoustic revival and one of the last of a mere few acoustic sets they’d play.
Onward!
EDIT: Hmmmmm and it’s a Bear recording…
Thanks DV, maybe someday I get my own blog LOL
Go VIKS! (Too nervous about Bills Lions after that LA fiasco)
Yup, it was my first show (12/31/80)
April '71
Yeseterday had a hankering to hear Dark Hollow and reached for Ladies and Gentleman. It sounded so good that I"m back with Disc 1 in the predawn, this time listening on the Senns. That early '71 Skull and Roses sound is bliss. Those early Bird Songs are such jewels. Now skipped to Disc 4 cause I want some of that Alligator jam for breakfast.
Oro - you're the hardest working man in show business!! Still waiting for a cryptic Almanac reference to you and a "DHB" - aka a "deadheadbrewer" - the hat trick of GD show listening. Ah, those heady early days of POTDWD when we had so much time (thank you Bolo24 and MaryE for that gift!) Nowadays I feel lucky to get a solid full show deep listen once or twice a week.
Definitely need to borrow the time machine for 12/31/80 . Don't think I've ever heard it, certainly not in its entirety straight through (reported.) I remember my first listen to Reckoning, it was very late night summer of '81, and it just blew us away. Still wasn't that tuned into the GD world and I had no idea. Just checked and the LP release date was April 1 - pretty funny! Closest I probably came to an acoustic set - with close being a relative multivariant concept - was probably that Rambler Room one-off on11/17/78. About 10 miles from the house but probably not back on Turkey Day break yet, and also that Uptown run was not on my radar at the time so yeah not quite that close. Anybody looking for a banger Fall '78 listen try Set II from the next night (Uptown 11/18) - it kicks ass and it needs to be released.
As for Indy 12/5/81 - when Dave finally releases it I'm pretty sure he's gonna say it was originally being considered for Dave's 20 ; ) I mean dropping a Big Railroad into the middle of that killer Set II pre-drumz?? Wat is happening?! That Space > Wheel is so very fine. Sweet sweet show.
in the car
11/11/71
such a shift in overall sound from the final show in August 71
GBtGD
12/8&9/89
The sixth was ok, good but nothing special…
Onto these beauties today. Heard them mentioned over the years but have never checked em…
BC, definitely spend the time with 12/31/80, “a really beeg shoe”
Glad I finally got to it.
You’ll Definitely dig the Bear tape on that sweet can set up you got going!
Yeah things were so different back then. Until they got the hotline and then GDTS it was like the Wild West in the wilderness. So many shows that might have been if we’d only known : (
Mail order was heaven sent as trying to get out of town tics before was next to impossible.
Edit: yeah BC POTDWD was just the ticket during those days of uncertainty.
Yes big thanks to Bolo and Marye, but GOGD really was the high point for me. I’ve “met” so many cool cats here, but something really clicked for me with GOGD. It’s like he was some kind of mysterious spirit that came and went with the pandemic. Things just ain’t been the same…
And that was my gateway drug for shows lol. It got us all listening to tons of shows and many we might not of heard otherwise, and eventually I realized I’m listening to all these shows, maybe I should try and hit em all? And that of course doesn’t work very well on a forum requiring different people to do a group thing. So I realized that that path is for my steps alone lol
So I love POTDWD, but can’t expect a group of more “normal” DH to try to keep up with my madness lol…
Fortunately I’ve got the time to keep on Truckin’ Onward!..through the fog lol
And fortunately we have this fun board to talk about em!
The interviewer gets interviewed lol
So Mary, did you know anything about the dead before or was it just something to do?
I bet growing up in the Bay Area everybody at least had heard of the GD, but perhaps not many “KNEW” the GD? Perhaps thought of negatively by the normal masses of John Q Publics? Interesting sociologically.
I had been steadily indoctrinated lol, so had been impatiently itching and waiting for about a year before I got my chance, seems maybe it was all complete unknown serendipity with you?
If so, I can’t imagine going in a blank slate, especially NYE!
Quite the baptism by fire eh!
Did ya dance, twirl, do the boogaloo, melt in the last row, or just stand agape with your jaw on the floor lol come on, inquiring minds want more! Lol ; )
LA Forum 12/89
Vguy was there. So was bluecrow : ) Enjoy!
Right now some more April '71 - Pittsburgh 4/12/71 DaP 51 Disc 3
11 11 71
Not a legendary show, but interesting in its own right
Apparently one long set
Worth at least a one time listen
"Pigs off the stage!"
"We just flew in about 10 minutes ago"
Other unique stage banter
Doc-umentary about this show? You did that day by day back in '21 (which was awesome)
American Beauty
The Mickey Hart remix released as a DVD-A ca 2001. I was straightening up the music collection and after that task was done this release said pick me. Many a year since I listened to this one!! For those unfamiliar with it, this is very much Mickey's vision and all sorts of alternate vocal and instrumental threads are brought forward and woven into it.
edit - not without frustration (I was tech challenged) but still a very cool listen. Was playing this through an external disc drive on my Mac. The disc can "in theory" be played 3 ways - Advanced Resolution Stereo, Adv. Res. 6 channel surround sound, DVD Video Compatible Dolby Digital, but I was unable to bring up any menu to choose one or another. Which of these it played I'm not sure. Everything present but the sound stage didn't seem balanced. Still all those crazy musical threads that Mickey brought in or brought up seemed to be there and I loved that. There also are interviews with Mickey and Bob - audio portion would play but the video was messed up. Oh well. Not sure if this mix is available for streaming (I don't subscribe to any streaming service right now) but if so highly recommend.
edit 2 - taking a look at that clunky interface again this morning and realized that this time when the disc first loaded it brought up a surround sound playback, but after clicking back through the main menu it brought up the Dolby playback and now its just stuck on Dolby with no apparent way to choose (sure thing boomer).
edit 3: looks like the DaP 52 comments page got taken down around noon. Curious.
Interrupting your regular discussion, re Dave's Picks 52 thread
Thanks MaryE
Glad it wasn't something we said!
Got out my copy of DiP 33 for a listen to 10/10/76 later today/tonight.
It totally
10-9,10-76 vinyl
Sounds grate!!!
Phil sounds awesome on vinyl.
It helps that I got new Klipsch speakers and 12-inch subwoofer a few months ago.
I had 10-9 set 2 on cassette, but never had set 1 or 10-10 on cassette. Was quite happy when both shows were announced as a DP.
Was glad I was able to score a vinyl copy when it came out.
Serendipity
Marye,
No need to fix the DaP52 page, just unlock the DaP53 page and the DaP54 announcement.
Zakir Hussain
Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away yesterday (12/15) - may he rest in peace and beauty. An amazing musician. There is a WNYC New Sounds studio performance with Zakir and Rahul Sharma from just two months ago on utoob and the wnyc site. Just watched their performance of Dhun Keharwa - simply gorgeous. Thanks to the SH poster who pointed to this.
As some of you undoubtedly know, the OSF Foundation released a volume of Bear's Sonic Journals entitled That Which Colors The Mind, with Ali Akbar Khan,, Indranil Bhattacharya, and Zakir Hussain (Family Dog on the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA, May 27, 1970.) Highly recommended.
By chance the only time I was lucky enough to see Zakir was his only guest appearance with the Grateful Dead - Alpine Valley 8/8/82 - where he and John Cippolina both played. For a long time I've wondered what the back story was of those 2 greats showing up for a show amidst the pastures and corn fields of America's Dairyland.
Up soon - some Diga Rythym Band - as the song says, Happiness is Drumming. All my Shakti releases are on LP so will probably rely on the interwebs for those, at least for now.
Anniversary show 12/15/86 Oakland
What a show! It was Garcia's first time back since his coma to play with the Dead.. Back from the Dead to play with the Dead, and of course what better song to open up with but Touch of Grey. When Garcia sang "I will survive" the place just exploded, like something from a movie. Then during Candy man when Garcia sang " hand my old guitar" the place went nuts. This show would make a nice release.. Very emotional for all.
Interesting fact
The Sun Ra Arkestra are still going - led by the 101 year old Marshall Allen. If you get a chance to see them I really recommend it - going off what they were like about 5-6 years ago. The first time I saw them must have been over 20 years ago, supporting the MC5. At the end of the MC5's set both bands came on and played together. And man, they were loud !
12/27&28/89
BC motivated me to finish the DHB Friday with 12/10/89 from the sweet LA run.
Fun show to finish a really enjoyable run!
So picked up today with these two from Oakland.
Not sure what to think about the 27?
Certainly good overall but sometimes weird anomalies or…?
Interesting Tom Thumbs, I’ll have to decipher Phil’s alt lyrics…
Dave has this on his “possibilities” list (that doesn’t exist ; )
It’s a good show, but compared to the plethora of excellent shows from this period it feels like it’d be a right street, wrong house deal?
The first seems to take a bit to really gel, another kinda creeper?
Second set doesn’t mess around and the Playing through Wheel sequence is superb. The Dew is ok but? Kinda funky, think JG was having some tech difficulties. The 28 starts out strong and and keeps rolling with a good solid but perhaps not RJ second? Need to see video to figure out what’s up with the long intro to Little Light?
Definitely need to rehit these and LA sometime, but just don’t have it now and trying to finish my year out…
MARYE: how many times we gotta tell ya not to hit the big red button! JK ; )
No worries!
Onward!
10/10/76
That was a FUN listen! Like hearing it new with big ears.
Must admit I'd like to experience the Klipsch subwoofer full body Phil - one thing the headphones can't deliver. That upgrade is probably down the way a bit. I think Phil's position in the mix shifted from left Set I to center Set II, and he was higher in the mix, but I wouldn't call it Phil heavy at least as experienced on cd. The segue out of a gorgeous Stella back into Playing was wildly beautiful.
In The Land Of Grey And Pink…
In The Land Of Grey And Pink - Caravan
A 10/10 album if ever there was one!
Ian - Caravan
Never heard of them and didn't have any.
Thanks to the magic of you tube, I was able to download 3 of their albums, including Grey & Pink.
I like what I've heard so far, thanks for the heads up.
Pointers to new stuff is one of the great things about the forum. (everyone knows Deadheads have great taste in music!)
12/30&31/89
31 I’ve heard, but will gladly rehash, 30 sounds real good so far…
And Four Winds…UZH!
Thanks for the grooves and magic!
Far out
Had an MRI this morning
Got to choose headphone music
GD was the option I went with
Sirius radio
Good Lovin' from 78 I think
Estimated Eyes from 9 2 83
Very surreal experience
I felt like Major Tom
Now awaiting the results...
In the car to and from appointment 11/15/71 Dark Star El Paso Dark Star Casey Jones
Caravan, DiP 33, Proudfoot
Cheers, Ian: I saw them listed among the all time top 'prog +/-' albums when I went down Kate's Gnirdolog (sp?) rabbit hole a couple of weeks back. Based on your and Dennis's reviews, this is now on my radar for a "self-care" Christmas gift.
Loading 10/10/76 for off hours later today ... I'm hoping DaP 53, when it arrives in 3-4 weeks, will have some of the same 'x-factor'. How about today for the 54 + bonus disc announcement?? As this has stretched out, I'm beginning to channel Waiting for GOGD (Godot) here!
Proudfoot: Sending kind thoughts for good results.
MRI / Marye's red button of power / Zakir / LA '94
I hope the MRI results come back as you could wish, Proudfoot.
I *wondered* what happened to the Dave's 52 thread. If not for Oro's comment I might have gone on thinking that I needed more coffee. Thanks Oro. Seconding Icecreamcnkd's comment - at this point we could just move to the DaP53 thread if that could be unlocked/if that's less work. All the same to me.
As to what I am listening to - well, it's about to be Zakir Hussain. It *was* going to be Grateful Dead from Los Angeles in December 1994. Mainly because it's been 30 years to the date. Well... that is, I saw the middle shows of the four nights - the 16th and the 18th - the 17th (today) was the off night. After the lackluster Shoreline run back in September I didn't know what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised. But for my friends and I those shows were also "one long party from front to end" and I don't trust my memory, so I thought I should give it a listen. I've not done so in all the intervening years. Hadn't decided on which night. But there's a part of me that knows I'm likely to be disappointed... to have a nagging feeling that I could be listening to December '73 instead of '94... heck, or December '78... even Long Beach December '88.
So Zakir it shall be. Interestingly, on the morning of his death, I put on a morning raga that had been unknown to me, and the piece went on for a great long while (15-20 mins?) before there was anything from the tabla. It made me listen more deeply and it made me think about percussion, and what the absence of it meant...
DaP 52
Finally getting around to hearing the Santa Fe show. Been busy scouring the neighborhood for our indoor cat who has apparently gone walkabout. That's Checkers on my icon today. Keep a good thought for us.
PF - Best wishes for you. I've only ever had one MRI but it was louder than Thor's hammer and they had crappy headphones that really didn't isolate the noise. Totally ruined whatever Bob Dylan I had picked to listen to. To make it worse it was in a trailer outdoors and I had to walk outside in that backless robe to get to it in the middle of winter. Things were high and tight! I've done dozens of CT scans though including two in the last four months and it's all good and hoping the same for you.
Cheers
Checkers go on home...
...your mama's (papa's?) callin' you now
Thinking good thoughts 1stshow. What a magnificent black-n-white cat. Please get home safely, Checkers.
Thanks Obeah
The wife really appreciated that! He's 10 days walkabout now but has been seen a couple of blocks away eating at a neighbor's house who puts food out for a stray. Was feral in his younger life and has gone back to that mindset I'm afraid. Got a trap from the shelter so we'll see how that goes. His tuxedo even has a tie (not bow but straight tie) and his chin looks like a BMW symbol with the foursquare black and white. Thanks again.
Cheers
Dave's Picks Volume 52 - Take 2
Thank you for the well-wishes, y'all
I'm very grateful for that
my sense is that all will be well
Paul Winter Consort Solstice Tour New England
Last night at the Lebanon (NH) Opera House. Music that you've heard as background on various media for decades, last night incorporating recordings of Wood Thrush, Wolves, Whales and a gorgeously sweet choir of African women washing clothes together. Icarus for encore. Cellist Eugene Friesen has been with Winter for 46 years, has a house in this area, so we get to see/hear him from time to time in other concerts. The Brazilian pianist and drummer in ensemble provided lots of texture and spice. Tremendous and lush vocals by Theresa Thomason. They will be joined in Maine by Noel Paul Stookey.