Grateful Dead

Set 1-Alabama: Brent mostly on 1st solo; Brent takes 1st half of 2d solo, Jerry 2d half, Jerry really stretches it out, in length at least, good but nothing special in the playing; Jerry’s voice sounds better than it did in PA on 11/30 & 12/1; Jerry’s guitar a little low in the mix -GSET: Jerry gets going a bit in the solo at the end but not quite there yet; decent one-two punch of an opener; after the song Bob admits, “we probably won’t get that one right next time either” -Dire: good 2 run solo; short -MM Uncle: good 2 run solo -Big River: not much action in the 1st solo; Brent takes the 2d solo with 2 really nice runs; Jerry comes in late with an “I’m gonna sit right here” after everyone else is done singing -Cold Rain: standard 1st solo; VG 2d solo (Cold Rain is always a really good set opener, maybe it can jumpstart a lackluster set when played in the middle?); VG version -Easy To Love You: as always, Brent sounds great; nice mostly Brent solo; just sort of dies at the end (weird) -Althea: standard short 1st 2 solos; slow and precise 3d solo, I like it; well done -Lost Sailor: band is on, good short 1st solo, tough song to grade (I like this song but there isn’t much room for improvisation), long pause btwn tracks -St. of Circumstance: ok version Set 2 -Shakedown: very good, head-bobbing solo; jam-good beat, Brent adding some flourishes, Jerry never really gets out there though, definitely better Shakedown jams in 79 but overall a pretty good version of the song -Samson: very good solo before the reprise -Ship: extended solo, 3 runs, 1st good, 2d very good, 3d excellent -He’s Gone: beautiful 1st solo; very pretty outro; definitely a highlight -Other: very good 1st jam, outro jam is very cool, jazzy, mellow -Drums -Space: short but good -Black Peter: very good mellow 1st solo; good but short outro -Miracle: very SHORT version, Jerry is ready for Bertha apparently -Bertha: very good 1st solo; seems like a short version again (band trying to get outta there?) -Good Lovin’: good but standard solo -E: JBG: band still has some energy but nothing special here -E: Don’t Ease: a little blip transitioning to the 1st solo Overall: a pretty standard 1st set that takes a while to get going; it isn’t until Cold Rain that things seem to come together. The first half of the second set is very good, with Shakedown getting in the groove, Ship having an excellent run from Jerry, He’s Gone being the really highlight of the show, and a nice Other One. Post-space the band seems to be trying to get the show over (though it is still ok), then surprise us with a second encore to make up for it. Good show, 7/10.

Talked with all except Jerry during the break. As I was leaving the theater, there he was - ready to leave out the backstage door. He smiled, I stuck my hand out, he grabbed it and all I could say was "great show". He said "Thanks". It was awesome!! In all my shows, this was the only time I had a chance to see the show backstage.

Garcia and Weir at the end of He's Gone kept it going...kept him there...performed an amaazing extended accapella back/forth together with an audience in full attention and swingin to the groove that we didnt know what hit us.... when they finally finished, Weir went back to his his amps to play with the knobs and jerry just stood there, both his hands restin on the horn of his guitar, with the most beautiful smile and noddin his head...just lookin back at us and grinning for about a full minute. God, it was great.