The Deadpod

This week's Deadpod features a show from a great run of shows that took place during the summer of 1984 from the wonderful Greek Theater in Berkeley California. We previously played the first show of this run and now we'll feature the last. This comes from 7/15/84, and while this first set is a bit short, and Jerry is a bit low in the mix, I love the recording and love how Brent shines here. This...

On this fine summer weekend we get to listen to the second set of the Dead's 4th of July appearance in Austin Texas back in 1981. The set opens hot, with a great 'Feel Like a Stranger' followed by a very nice 'Bird Song' - Jerry rips it up. A nice stretched out 'Playin' In the Band' leads into Drums  and Space, and a great 'Not Fade Away' takes us into the post Drums segment of the show. 'Wharf Ra...

While it is still a few days off, since this is the last Deadpod before the big 4th of July holiday I thought it appropriate to bring you a big 'ol party from that date in GD history. This one comes from Manor Downs in Austin Texas on July 4th, 1981.We'll hear the first set this week, which of course starts with 'Jack Straw'... leave it to Bobby to screw up the iconic lyrics :) It's an energetic s...

This week we are fortunate enough to be able to hear the second set of the band's outstanding performance on October 2nd, 1972 in Springfield MA. If you caught last week's Deadpod you know this is a fine recording and that the band is at the top of their game. While the set starts out a bit slowly I think it more than makes up for it by the time we get to GSET. The Half-Step into Stella Blue is a...

This one's a keeper... a birthday request from Steve, a friend of the Deadpod, this comes to us from October 2nd, 1972, from Springfield MA. This is a fine recording from one of the high water marks of the band's history. This 14 song first set consists of well-played versions of many of their standards as well as some wonderful jamming and interplay - especially on 'Bird Song', 'Black Throated Wi...

Here is the second set from the Grateful Dead's performance on Wednesday, May 17, 1978 at the Uptown Theater in Chicago Illinois. I love this recording, and the performance ain't half bad either ;) espcially the Dancin' In The Streets.. The Drums/Space is unusually long for this period but it is fun and contains some unexpected moments from Phil and Donna. Terrapin and Not Fade Away in particular...

Here's a pretty little set to send out the month of May in style.. This one comes to us form May 17th, 1978 at the Uptown theater in Chicago Illinois. This one starts with the first ever 'Mississipi-Half Step'>'Franklin's Tower' combo, and one that showcases some really nice licks from Mr. Garcia (and I should add some very nice work from Mr. Weir as well). The next two are Bobby's - 'Me and My Un...

This week's Memorial Day weekend Deadpod features the second set from the band's performance at Shoreline Amphitheater on May 12th, 1991. I'm a sucker for a Help>Slip>Frank opening and I quite enjoy this one. There are plenty of Phil bombs here and Bruce Hornsby's presence is heard here as well. Jerry is quite present throughout this set and is in relatively great voice.  For a post-Brent show I t...

I've been thinking it was time for a post-Brent show so I've decided on this one from Shoreline on May 12, 1991. This one has an interesting, well-played setlist, including the breakout of Dylan's "It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry". Bruce Hornsby is with the band and I always enjoyed his contributions. 'Deal' is a smokin' set closer here.. Excuse the short intro - trying to type wir...

There's alot to love in this week's Deadpod, and that's only appropriate for a Mother's Day weekend, I suppose. This massive second set clocks in at just under a couple hours, and it is filled with extraordinary jams, soulful vocals and wonderful ensemble execution. This comes to us from their performance in El Paso Texas, on November 23rd, 1973. This is a very fine recording of a show that I don'...

Here we are in the first weekend of May - and of course that means Saturday is Derby Day! In honor of the Run for the Roses I had to bring you a set with 'The Race Is On' - and boy what a set this is.. it comes from the boys' performance on November 23rd, 1973 in El Paso Texas! There are plenty of highlights here, including a dynamite 'Jack Straw', the 'mind left body jam' between 'China Cat' and...

Seemed to me that I shouldn't let April slip by without something from 1978 - the band had a very good month that year, so I decided to feature their efforts on April 21st at Rupp Arena in Lexington Kentucky.   Some think that this first set starts out a bit slow, personally I disagree. I love the 'Promised Land' opener. Unfortunately the 'Dire Wolf' that follows is is patched with a not-so-great...

    This week I have the pleasure of presenting the second set from the band's performance on April 23rd, 1983 at the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven Connecticut. A fine set, as most that start with a smoking Scarlet>Fire, this set features some wonderful Garcia licks, especially in Space, combined with some excellent effects from Mr. Hart. A fine recording I'm a fan of the Saint of Circumstanc...

This show, a special request to honor a brother who passed, comes to us from the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven Connecticut on April 23rd, 1983. I considered only playing set number two, as it exists in soundboard form, but this first set has such spirited playing that although it is an audience copy I quite enjoyed it - I hope you do as well.   The 'Alabama Getaway' jumps out of the box and show...

This week it's my pleasure to bring you the second set from the band's performance on March 31st, 1989 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro North Carolina. This fine recording starts with a roaring 'Hey Pocky Way' into 'Truckin'. That one goes very nicely into 'Terrapin' which has a fine little jam at the end to take us into Drums and Space. The wishful 'I Will Take You Home' makes me miss Bre...

I decided to close out March with a really fun and energetic show from the Spring of 1989. This comes to us from March 31st, 1989 at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro North Carolina. While there are no extended jams in this week's first set, the playing throughout is exceptionally energetic and quite fun to listen to. Some of the highlights for me are the fine version of 'Peggy O', the spirited 'M...

Let's welcome Spring with this wonderful second set from March 26th, 1973 at the Baltimore Civic Center. Since I'm a bit under the weather this week I'll just point out a few (obvious) highlights - the jam following Truckin' including the Weather Report Suite Prelude, the wonderful Eyes , and of course Morning Dew.    I hope you enjoy this one, and feel free to join the Deadpod group on Facebook a...

A massive Deadpod this week - warning - this one is just shy of 2 hours long! While I considered splitting it in the end I'd rather eat the extra cost and give you one of these fine shows from the Spring of 1973!   This one comes to us from the Baltimore Civic Center on March 26th, 1973.   There are too many songs here to cover them all - suffice it to say there are many highlights, some of my fav...

This week's Deadpod starts out with a sweet rendition of the Elizabeth Cotton classic 'Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie' - the only electric version the Dead ever played and the last time they would ever play it. This is just one of the pleasures of the second set from the first Rex Benefit that took place back on March 28th, 1984 at the Marin Veterans Auditorium in San Rafael, California. The set proper...

This week we have an intimate performance, and the very first Rex Benefit show which happened to be the first show performed in 1984. This comes from the Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael, CA on March 28th, 1984. Even at this time, this was one of the smallest venues the band would preform in, and since it was a Rex Benefit show, you get the feeling that they were trying to put on a...

This week's Deadpod features the second set of the Dead's performance on February 27th, 1977 at the University of Santa Barbara, CA. As this was the second show to display the fabulous material from 'Terrapin Station' the band was still at a great place for this gig. The 'Samson' features a smokin' Garcia solo, and the 'St. Stephen', while missing the traditional bridge, was still very enjoyable,...

With the recent release of the classic show from 2/26/77 on Dave's Picks #29, I was inspired to bring you this fine recording of the excellent show that took place the following evening, Febuary 27th, 1977. While this is an audience recording, and the vocals are not as upfront as many of us prefer, I think you'll still find that the playing shines through. The band is definitely still 'on' this ni...

This week we can forget our troubles with a fine second set from this early 1979 date in Kansas City. Scarlet starts a little slow, and Jerry's voice cracks a bit here and there, but he really starts soaring around the 3:30 mark. Around the 6:00 minute mark the calypso beat moves in, Donna's background vocals add just enough mystery not to be overpowering, and we float along waiting for the other...

This week we have an intimate performance, and the very first Rex Benefit show which happened to be the first show performed in 1984. This comes from the Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael, CA on March 28th, 1984. Even at this time, this was one of the smallest venues the band would preform in, and since it was a Rex Benefit show, you get the feeling that they were trying to put on a...

This week, something I try not to do too often, but yes, another show from 1979! And better yet, another audience source! Yes, this is a short first set, but despite the fact that it is one of Keith and Donna's last shows (they were to play only two more times with the Dead), the band sounds tight and the versions for the most part sparkle. Keith certainly doesn't contribute much here, but the res...