The Deadpod

Here is the second set of the band's performance at the 'In Concert Against AIDS' event that took place on May 27, 1989 at Oakland California.  Clarence Clemmons sits in on the first four songs of set 2 and the closing Lovelight, and I think to particularly nice effect on the 'Fire On the Mountain' and 'Lovelight'. There are two very nice Brent tunes here - a good version of 'Blow Away' and a swee...

Hey Now! Summer is here and the time is right... :) Anyway I think this is a fun show for this Memorial Day weekend - not a great show, but a fun show.. this is from May 27, 1989 - 'In Concert Against AIDS'. The band appeared with several other groups (most notably perhaps John Fogerty who Bobby and Jerry shared the stage with), and this set features Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band on much o...

This week we continue with the second set of the band's performance from The Ohio State University on September 30, 1976. This features an unusual setlist starting with an unexpected and rather powerful 'Lazy Lightning', and then, after some lyrical stumbles, goes into a heated 'Supplication'. 'It Must Have Been the Roses' starts out somewhat slowly but builds to a very nice finish. An excellent '...

I'm going to shuffle the deck a little bit and bring you a real treat, a show from the fall of 1976. This comes to us from September 30, 1976 at Mershon Auditorium at The Ohio State University. This special request from a friend of the Deadpod features a fantastic first set. The opening 'Music Never Stopped' is quite unique - and features some wonderful playing by Garcia in the cresendo leading in...

This week's Deadpod brings us the second set of the band's fine performance at Cal Expo on May 4, 1991. They continue what has been a solid show, opening with the perhaps odd choice of 'Victim or the Crime'. That darkness has to give however as they then move onto a wonderful 'Crazy Fingers' and 'Playin In the Band'. It sounds for a bit at the end of the latter that they will move into Drums, but...

This week on the Deadpod we feature a Kentucky Derby Day performance by the band back in 1991. This was at Cal Expo, in Sacramento California on May 4, 1991.  The band starts out hard and tight with a roaring 'Hell In a Bucket'. They are without Hornsby here, and in some ways sound tighter and more together (although I'm well aware that opinions differ on how Vince sounds here). The 'Sugaree' that...

This week the Deadpod goes back to the Spring of 1969 for a set the Dead played in Chicago at a place either called 'The Electric Theater' or the 'Kinetic Playground' depending on where you look :)  While this is a short set, the story goes that the Velvet Underground was on the same bill, and played before the Dead. Apparently they played a very long set and the Dead were left with only enough ti...

We have a very fine second set this week from the Grateful Dead's performance at the Hartford Civic Center on April 18, 1982. While the show is known for the famous 'Earthquake Space' that Phil creates following drums, the interplay throughout is wonderful from all the members of the band and this fine recording captures that fun and joy completely. I would draw your attention in particular to the...

This week we have the first set of a legendary show from April 18, 1982 in Hartford CT. Those of you familiar with either the history of the Grateful Dead or of San Francisco know that April 18, 1906 was the date of the great San Francisco Earthquake, and this show is famous for its legendary 'Earthquake Space'. Since I prefer presenting complete shows, and since this first set is quite good on it...

This week we are fortunate enough to hear the second set of the band's fine performance from March 20, 1977 at the Winterland in San Francisco. A Sunday show, this set starts out appropriately enough with a great 'Samson and Delilah'. A beautiful 'Row Jimmy' follows with very soulful Garcia vocals. The heart of this set comes with the St. Stephen>Other One> Stella Blue combo. Following the excelle...

Spring has sprung a bit earlier than usual here in the north, and it's a perfect time to break out the sweet, silky sounds of the Grateful Dead from 1977.. Here's a beauty from March 20, 1977 at the Winterland in San Francisco.  As usual its marked by the extremely smooth and intricate ensemble playing that characterize the year. The band is clearly paying attention to and responding to each other...

This week's Deadpod features an outstanding second set (only) from March 13, 1982 in Reno Nevada.  While I wish there existed a soundboard of the first set to match this exquisite recording I decided there was no reason not to let you enjoy this great set because it didn't exist.  This set starts out with a powerful reading of 'Feel Like a Stranger' into 'Franklin's Tower'. Jerry is all over both...

A rare but lovely third set is up on this week's Deadpod.. from Winterland in San Francisco, the first show the band played in 1974 on February 22, 1974.  'Hello baby I'm gone goodbye'... as the band opens this set with a beautiful 'Mississippi Half-Step'... love Garcia's silkly guitar on this one.. Bobby revs it up with a smokin' 'Promised Land', nice work by Keith on the piano here. They switch...

Here's a fine set of music for your Friday courtesy of the Grateful Dead back on February 22, 1974.We continue from last week with the second of three sets that the band favored us with to begin their quintessential 1974 tour. A fine recording here captures the nuances of Keith on Piano and of course the rest of the band's interplay which is especially notable on the wild 'Truckin' and the jams th...

  The Dead opened up 1974 with this week's show from Winterland on February 22, 1974. They picked up where they left off in 1973 with a long smoker of a show - we'll hear set 1 this week and set 2 next week. Notable moments include a 22 beat start to 'Beat It On Down The Line', some great Keith throughout, a lovely 'It Must Have Been The Roses', the elusive 'Loose Lucy' and to top everything off,...

This week we do a little carryover from Fat Tuesday with this Mardi Gras set from February 7, 1989 at the Kaiser in Oakland California.  The set starts with the sounds of the Mardi Gras parade, backed of course by Mickey and Billy on drums. The band starts with a rather unique introduction to Iko, Iko, but its certainly a good choice for the date. The 'Victim' that follows starts as a total train...

Seeing as how Fat Tuesday is coming right up... I decided to feature a Dead show that took place on Fat Tuesday back in 1989.. This one from Oakland on 2/7/1989.  This is a fairly newly released UltraMatrix recording, and I think it sounds great. The first set which we present this week, features two very new (at the time) numbers - the first performance of 'Just a Little Light' and the second, of...

Hey Now! It was such a cold and snowy day I almost didn't get this one ready but never fear.. we have a great set this week featuring some wonderful Pigpen and early, high-energy Grateful Dead.  As promised we have the remainder of the show from January 24, 1971 at the Seattle Center in Seattle Washington.  It starts with Bobby saying they were 'running short on time' and then they proceed to play...

I guess I just can't get enough of that good stuff.. .. :) but at any rate this week I've decided to bring you a rather rare treat. Back in 1971, the band finished a short, 3 show swing in the Northwest with this blistering performance in a small venue in Seattle on a Sunday night. This took place on January 24, 1971. This one is sparkin' from beginning to end, but I've split it up so we will hear...

 It's a new year but I've decided to go *way* back for some primal Dead on this week's Deadpod.  This comes to us from January 17th, 1968 at the Carousel Ballroom in San Francisco. What a treasure of early/classic tunes we have here! Now I'll admit, the sound is sometimes muddy and the vocals are at times less than clear.. however give the age and provinance of this recording I thought it very wor...

This week we wind up our 'holiday' series of Deadpods with the fabulous third set from the band's New Year's Eve performance in Oakland on December 31st, 1982. This third set features guest  appearances with Etta James and the Tower of Power horns. The band clearly has a blast here, and despite it being the third set play with a great deal of passion and energy.. Phil opens with that familiar bass...

 Hello Friends!  Hope this week's Deadpod provides a bit of a respite from the storms swirling around our heads... this week we get to hear the second set from the band's New Year Eve performance on December 31, 1982.  NYE is of course the one time of the year when everyone knew what was going to open the second set - and while you'll hear some decidedly 'un-grateful dead' like sound effects at th...

 Happy New Year!  From a request from a longtime frirend of the Deadpod - I've decided to celebrate the end of 2020 with this fun and raucous show from NYE 1982. I'll present this one over the next couple weeks and hope can feel and enjoy the fun that the band and everyone in attendance had on this special night 39 years ago.  The first set which we'll hear this week is a bit short, but still well...

 Merry Christmas!  I hope that this edition of the Deadpod finds you safe and warm with those you love. I hope the music brings a smile and a memory of happier times and places.. It is my reward to think that it makes someone a little happier..    this week the second set form the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis Missouri on December 12, 1971.  This one starts with a fabulous Pigpen 'Good Lovin', followe...

 For your Christmas week enjoyment.. a stunner from very late Fall, 1971..  Pig and Keith were both in fine form on this night at the Fabulous Fox.. This first set is a fine, uptempo collection highlighted, I think with the two Pig tunes, 'Mr. Charlie' and 'Next Time You See Me', as well as a great 'Loser' and 'Jack Straw'. Jerry kind of misses some of the lyrics on 'Tennesee Jed' but makes up for...