Grateful Dead

Set 1-Promised: 2 very good, short solos; nice opener -Sugaree: despite the lack of solos, this is a pretty compelling version and one of the better ones of the tour -Mr. Charlie: extended solo, very good version -BT Wind: nice touches from Keith, Jerry hits some great notes in the “drowning in you” outro -Tenn Jed: couple of short solos, a little lyric goof, longer solo near the end really hits the spot -Next Time You See Me: good harp solo followed by Jerry and a return to the harp; solid version -Jack Straw: Jerry & Bob alternating verses! Jerry tearing it up behind Bobby during the “used to play for silver” verse; good solo at the end but Jerry is holding back, no big bang before “Jack Straw from Wichita” verse but during the verse Jerry adds some nice color -China Cat: Awesome solo! Jam starts off interestingly, Jerry in a low tone, then Bobby takes the lead, Jerry playing off him, great stuff; great version -Rider: smile on the very nice solo; excellent jam -MM Uncle: keep the tempo up; one great, fast run in the solo -Chinatown Shuffle: 2 good runs from Jerry then 1 from Keith in the solo -Big RR Blues: nice pace, VG 1st solo, all out excellent 2d solo -The Stranger: solo 2:25-4:00, beautiful, heartfelt; great delivery from Pig -Playing: jam 2:55-10:45, compelling space rock that stays within the song structure, softer & spacier in the middle, culminating in some nice fanning, then a return to the main theme and an explosion before Donna howls;12:30 total, one of the longer ones from the tour, excellent as usual -Sitting on Top: blistering 1 run 1st solo; 2d solo is just as fast-paced, 3 runs, very hot -Rockin’ Pneumonia: Jerry sings it (why did I think Pig sang this cover?); definitely a bit under-rehearsed but fun nevertheless -Mexicali: face pace continue, 2 nice 1-run solos -Good Lovin’: jam 2:10-9:50 gets quite interesting right away, from about 5:45-6:45 Jerry improvises something incredible, great jam; song ends pretty quickly after a return to the lyrics; definitely a highlight -Casey: very good solo; Pig adding something with organ 1st set highlights: China Cat > Rider, Stranger, Playing, Sitting on Top, Good Lovin’ Set 2 -Ramble: VG 1 run solo; good energy, solid version -Dark Star: about a minute of tuning (as part of the last track) presages it; relaxed intro, in a very good way, instruments separate but together, various fruitful tangents, deep space and before you know it you are in a black hole, a little drum & bass solo, then Jerry comes back in and starts clawing a way out, doesn’t take long before they are in more receptive territory, great little jam peaking around 16:30 mark, return to main theme at 17:09; 1st verse at 17:43; quiet, Phil strumming, pretty Bobby notes, spacey Jerry, getting darker, chaotic jam near the end then a calm, pretty, jazzy jam -Morning Dew: short but perfect intro; excellent solo 5:25 – 6:32; outro 8:20, starts off softly and beautifully after the “guess it doesn’t matter anyway,” picks up, faster, every note meaningful, fanning, great version -He’s Gone: good solo 4:02- 4:43, slow & pretty outro -Sugar Mag: very good 1 run short solo; close to excellent jam then Sunshine DD -Comes a Time: slow pace fits the song here; solo 2:47 – 3:38, deliberately played notes from Jerry, very good -GDTRB: head-bopping intro, excellent, love Jerry’s last note; 1st solo 2 runs that will put a smile on even the most jaded Deadhead’s face; excellent 2d solo as well; Bid You Goodnight instrumental finish caps off an excellent version -NFA: 2d half of the solo is excellent -Hey Bo Diddley: Jerry squealing the vocals; more head-bopping; solo-Jerry bending notes, cool, clearly enjoying himself, sounds like a combination of GDTRFB & NFA, excellent -NFA: nice finish to the set -UJB: something soothing to send us home; very good solo; band does sound a little worn out (can’t blame ‘em!); one final push for the jam, faster, harder, beautiful “how does the song go” upon return to the finishing vocals 2d Set highlights: Dark Star > Dew, GDTRFB > NFA > Diddley > NFA Overall: A darn good show, with some highlights (you can just look at the 2d set setlist and figure out what they will be), and of course a little bit of music where the band is recovering. Great show, 9.5/10

Probably the most earth shattering gig I ever went to. We all sat on the floor, the hall was high, and after some time, (jeez the gigs were long, but you got so into the groove) there appeared a load of silver quid deals of black from the cealing just to help us get there even quicker. Everyone lit up, no smoking ban back in those days, and peace and love and goodtimes lasted a long time, long after I finally caught my train back home from Liverpool st at 4.30a.m. It took me some time to work out which gig I went to, but remember Uncle Johns Band as the encore, so that must have been the one.I also got a yellow dead t shirt, with velvet dead logo in read, and still wore it 10 years later until some straight woman threw it out without my knowledge. Devistated!

Sweet! This was my seventeenth birthday and I wouldn't have been anywhere else in the world! Still can hardly believe I had the fortune to be there, what a way to celebrate my 17th! I can't remember where I was on most of my birthdays throughout my life, but this one is as clear as day:-)