The Deadpod

I think this is a really nice second set from the great Fall of 1980 tour.. it contains some of my favorite songs and I think that Jerry and the band do them all justice. In particular the opening 'Feel Like A Stranger' however the following 'To Lay Me Down' is just too short and too sweet... The Let It Grow is back to full throtle Dead, and flows into a short but sweet Terrapin Station..  While t...

I've been wanting to play something from this time period for some time, and while I previously presented part of a show from a couple nights later, this recording captures quite well the bands' energy and talents during the tour from the late Fall of 1980. We'll listen to the first set this week, which features a really fine 'Little Red Rooster' as well as a superb version of 'Looks Like Rain'. T...

Happy Holidays! On this Winter Solstice I bring you this the 2012 Holiday edition of the Deadpod. As is our tradition this week's Deadpod features acoustic Grateful Dead for your enjoyment. I decided to make this year's Holiday Deadpod both very classic and a bit different...  First the classic - how about the very first acoustic set from the famous Fall of 1980 shows at the Warfield in San Franci...

This week another fabulous version of Playing In the Band from 1972... this one is a real monster - Phil and Jerry trade some really intense leads and while this is not the only reason to listen to this set (recently re-mastered by Charlie Miller) its probably the highlight.. I think its certainly worthy of a listen and hope you do as well!  Grateful Dead - November 18, 1972 Hofheinz Pavilion - Ho...

This week it's set 2 of 12/5/71 .. sure this one is not as crispy as many boards from this era, but this is such a fine, energetic performance that in my opinion it makes up for all the flaws in the recording.. Listen to the wonderful transitions from Dark Star into Me & My Uncle back into Dark Star and then into Sittin' On Top of the World... these are truly exquisite. This is a fine example...

This week's Deadpod features a great show that I've meant to play for some time - the Grateful Dead's performance on December 5th, 1971 at the Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. This comes to us from a pre-fm soundboard, but the sound is a bit iffy at times and sounds a bit 'condensed'.. nevertheless the performance is really alive and Jerry is zinging with energy. The set...

This week's Deadpod features a wonderful show from 1969 - this one from December 19th, 1969 at the Fillmore in San Francisco CA. This show starts off with a rare acoustic 'set' of sorts with just Jerry and Bob, due, we hear, to Phil being late to arrive. His tardiness gives a nice treat -  the first four songs are a great treat to hear, Once everyone is back in the fold, the band moves effortlessl...

This week we will finish the Dead's 9/29/89 concert at Shoreline Ampitheater. As you can see below this is a fine second set. As a Terrapin fan, I would've been pretty darn happy with everything up through drums, and content when Bob broke out the Miracle that I'd gotten a full measure of the price of admission.. however that's when they broke out 'Death Don't Have No Mercy...' this was the first...

This week's show was the result of a request made over on the Deadpod's facebook page for a great version of Brent doing 'We Can Run'.. While this may not be the very best version of that song its plenty good.. and it is a part of a pretty good show from a great Fall tour. Highlights for me on this first set include the off-tempo Franklin's Tower, and a great Bird Song and Promised Land.. Set 2 fo...

This week we get to listen to the second set from a nice performance from the fall of 1972 - 10/28/72 Cleveland Ohio.. The Dark Star is clearly the crown jewel of this performance and I encourage you to read the description of that piece given by Robert Goetz in the  Grateful Dead Tapers Compendium.  It is far from the only thing worthwhile in the set to be sure. While some of the sound is not pri...

I know that I may have featured too many shows this year from 1972 (is that possible?) but being that its the 40th anniversary of these shows I'm naturally led to take a look at them and often I'm drawn by their quality. 1972 was a wonderful year.. this week I decided to feature this show from the weekend before Halloween due principle to the fact that I really really want to play the Dark Star fr...

This is a fine second set from the Fall of 1976 - enjoy this one along with the fine Fall weather.. I especially recommend that you savor the wonderful Slipknot..  as well as the Franklin's Tower that follows.. this is really an under appreciated gem.  The Dancin'->Drums->Wheel->Ship is not only unusual but very nicely done,  especially the Ship of Fool.. this one makes a truly wierd but...

Fall of 1976 was an excellent period for the band and this week's show is a nod to the upcoming release of 'Dave's Picks' 4' as well as a great representation of this tour, as  we travel to Indianapolis for a show that took place on October 1st, 1976.  We will hear the first set this week, and while it does take a song or two for the band to really rev up, I think by the time Deal arrives we know...

This week's Deadpod allows us to enjoy the second set of the band's wonderful performance from Sept. 18th, 1987 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. If you caught the first set last week you know the band was firing on all cylinders here and they come out with a smokin' hot Shakedown Street, followed by a nice Man Smart, Woman Smarter, then an excellent Terrapin Station.. not a...

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the show I selected to play this week, and it clearly is one of the better later-day Dead shows. This comes to us from September 18th, 1987 at Madison Square Garden New York. It starts out with Weir refering to their appearance on Letterman the night before and then kicks into a great Hell In a Bucket... The Sugaree that follows is no slouch.. This first set...

This week's Deadpod features the 2nd set from the performance that took place on September 11th, 1990 at the Spectrum in Philladelphia PA. This was the first performance of "He's Gone" since Brent had passed, and I really feel that the emotion for both band and audience alike comes through on the music. The 'Spoonful' that follows surely was a deliberate pick and is also fairly heavy with emotion....

There's of course quite a lot of interest in the Grateful Dead's 1990 catalog right now with the release of the Spring 90 box set. As I reflected  upon that year, and on this month, I was led to choose this show for the next Deadpod. I've always loved this performance. It took place when I was still saddened by the loss of Brent Mydland and fearful for what would happen to the band, and it reaffir...

This week we have the opportunity to experience the 2nd and 3rd sets from the legendary Field Trip which took place on August 27th, 1972 in Veneta Oregon. While I inadvertently omitted the opening Playin' In the Band from last week's Deadpod - it starts us off this week as we strap in and prepare for flight! And what a ride this one is.. this is a show you should simply experience for yourself - m...

This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of what some call the greatest single Grateful Dead show ever. While I might not go that far, it certainly was a remarkable occasion and one well worth reliving. While the band is firing on all cylinders as was often the case during this remarkable year, its clear that there is something special in the water this day. The 'Field Trip' as its been known is a...

This week, the heart of set 2 from the classic Red Rocks show performed on July 8th, 1978. There's no filler here, folks, just prime cut Dead. You might notice that sometimes they're not quite sure where the muse is going to take them, but once it does they follow at full throttle.  The Wharf Rat is one of my all time favorites.  The Werewolves of London is clearly the best they played. Grateful D...

Here's a really fabulous show from the summer of 1978.. from a listener request, one of two *great* shows at Red Rocks that ended Summer tour that year, I picked this one mainly because the tape is of such fine quality. The boys are very energetic, you can just hear in their voices how much fun they are having. Another thing to notice is how up in the mix Bobby is here - you can really hear his di...

Here we are again - another year rolls by - I'm thankful we have so much of Jerry's music and spirit to move us. I decided to play this one for you this week - I was turned on to this version by a good friend of the Deadpod  - its been called the last great Grateful Dead show. That's hyperbole I'm sure but I played it for the Stella Blue... its not the Stella Blue I listened to this week when I sa...

Set two of a fine show from the Summer of 1990 is up to entertain you this week - personally I'm a fan of the Standing on the Moon->He's Gone->JAM.. good stuff I recall everyone on their feet and shaking it for the Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad.. Hope you enjoy the show! 7/6/90 - Grateful Dead Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY  Set Two China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Man Smart, Woman Smar...

This week I decided to play a show that I have some fond memories of - July 6th, 1990 at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville KY. I have vivid memories of the trip to this show (following the blistering 4th of July show in Kansas) as well as walking through this group of fundamentalists on my way to the venue (they were all carrying brooms and Bibles to sweep out Satan I guess).. the weather was HOT and...

Our post-July4th Deadpod features the second set from the band's performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs NY during the Summer tour of 1985. This second set starts out with an interesting Stranger->Eyes->GDTRFB combo.. which is very tasty.. personally I enjoy the Black Peter (not everyone's cup of tea) and the Lovelight.. the JBG encore is far from the best, but Jerry...