Grateful Dead

9 26 91

Potent stuff

Truly worth a listen

Yes indeedy, I was surprised to hear Jerry leading the band towards Morning Dew towards the end of Dark Star only to be cut across by the rest of the band - led by Phil, I think - before Bob enters with El Paso. This sounded a bit more natural - but I was listening to just the music on this occasion. With 8/27/72 I was watching them play it in "Sunshine Daydream." When I am watching a film of a band play I am much less inclined to get carried away in spacier sections, as I find myself looking at what they are doing instead of just listening. "Oh..he's playing at the 12th fret" - "Oh she looks nice"....that kind of thing. When I am just listening I get catapulted into space.

This Dark Star is one wild and fascinating ride. It seemed wilder to me than 8/27 - going way out there. And that jazz type jam led by Keith towards the end is good.
I notice on the 8/24 Dark Star does go into Morning Dew. These shows would make a good release -although I am just listening to second set jams. Not a popular thought, but maybe they could release a comp of the jams - including both Dark Stars - without releasing the whole shows.

6/19/94

Strong for GD94

8/21/72: Very clearly Jerry starts Morning Dew, but others indicate other ideas
8/27/72: Jerry tries again for Morning Dew, but El Paso it is

As I think deep thoughts about this, if they HAD done MD on 8/27, we might not have gotten the glorious Sing Me Back Home

Whatevs, I suppose. It was one afternoon (and evening) _long ago_, after all

I have the house to myself this weekend, so if you hear GD playing from afar, that's me.

happy happy joy joy

Campus Stadium, UCSB

I notice they made the same transition a few days earlier, on the 21st at Berkeley. Maybe it worked really well then, and Bob Weir had decided in advance that they would do the same thing on 27th. It looks a bit pre-meditated. For me it's the only false note of the whole show - but for others it might be a stroke of genius.

I might check out that Berkeley show later on. Worse things to do on a Friday night.

Especially since you can hear Jerry flirting with the opening chords for Morning Dew just before Bobby takes the reigns and steers the ship towards the West Texas town of El Paso.

But hey.. if every Dark Star melted into a gorgeous Morning Dew, they wouldn't be so special. I'll take what we have and am a bit thankful it wasn't me making the calls. They clearly did a better job than I ever could.

Happy Labor Day to those in the US.. for those abroad there's no harm in giving thanks and taking a breather for all those who move the world and make it shake. From another angle this marks the end of summer, the days are getting shorter and fall is coming. Darkness falls and seasons change....

That's a great film of a Dead show - for me the best one out there. "China Cat-Rider" is the highlight of the film - although I have read that some find it a bit sexist.... with the camera lingering on naked women instead of the band. It doesn't come across that way to me - but then I ain't a woman.
"Playing", "Bird Song" and "Dark Star" are also among the best versions ever, I would say. I still don't like the way Dark Star goes into El Paso, though.

Springfield, MA
DiP 25 second show.
Can't just leave it hanging.
And it has a Werewolves.
Cheers
A little more laid back 1st set than 5-10.