The Deadpod

This week, the conclusion of their powerful set from 7/31/74. What a time to be a Deadhead! This show featured 3 powerful sets - this week we'll listen to the end of set 2, and all of set 3.. There's plenty of wonderful jamming and singing on these songs - I especially love the 'Ramble on Rose' and 'To Lay Me Down' - and be sure to listen to the 'Mind Left Body jam' after 'Truckin' - great stuff!!...

This week's Deadpod goes back to the fabulous summer of 1974 - I think its clear from listening to this show that the band is really putting out some fabulous music. Not only is the show distinguished by an opening Scarlet Begonias, but I think you'll agree that the China-Rider and the Eyes are distinguished by their intensity and beauty.. Grateful Dead Dillon Stadium Hartford, CT 7/31/74 - Wednes...

Somehow the fact that this is a partial show .. all that exists from a phenomenal performance - befits the significance of the date. I am honored to be able to keep bringing this music to you, my friends, and I hope as you listen to this set and reflect on Garcia that you feel the light of the love which is the Grateful Dead fill you. Grateful Dead Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley, CA 8/25/72 -...

Those of you who follow the Deadpod know that I often prefer to play lesser known performances rather than very well known ones. There's often lots of surprises there to be heard - but there's nothing wrong with bringing out the well-known and loved dates sometimes either. This week I'm playing one of the those - this one a live "free concert" from the "hiatus" of 1975 - Sept. 28th, 1975 from Gold...

Happy Birthday Jerry! I decided against the idea of doing a Jerry "tribute" - heck every Deadpod is a tribute to the virtuosity and spirit of Garcia - he should still be with us - he'd only be 66 today........... this week I'm playing set 2 of 9/2/79 - Enjoy the fabulous Weather Report Suite and Garcia's intense jam out of that.. I don't need to tell you to listen to the Stella Blue.. :) Grateful...

This week we're fortunate to have another of the 'From Egypt with Love' show recordings to share with you - this one is from 10/20/78 and has to rank as one of the best shows of that great year. This week we'll hear the first set - its really a rockin'/jammin' show and I know you'll enjoy 'They Love Each Other' and 'Tennessee Jed' among other treats: Grateful Dead Winterland Arena San Francisco, C...

Happy 4th of July!! Since this week's Deadpod falls on the 4th I decided to share a show that ranks up with some of the most memorable I ever attended - July 4th, 1990 at Sandstone Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, KS. Man was it ever *hot* - broiling - they had no ice at the venue.. I remember when certain substances kicked in and the sun was broiling us and we were giggling about that old frying p...

This week we get to listen to the second set of the Dead's performance on 10/20/78 at Winterland in San Francisco. I don't think there's really any throw-away tunes in this set - from the opening Half-Step->Franklins, to the exploratory(!) Dancin' In the Streets this is really classic, Good 'ol Grateful Dead. The double encore, Johnny B Goode and Shakedown Street, just puts the band's own exclamat...

This week I'm bringing you a show that really showcases, I think, what Brent Mydland brought to the band - in honor of the 18th anniversary of his last show with the Grateful Dead which occurred this week. This show, 9/2/79, is one of those Fall '79 shows where Brent really was out front and his playing was so spirited that I'm sure he inspired everyone else.. This week the first set, next week th...

This week we have one of those great shows from 1971 - for a long time the only soundboard in circulation of this show only contained three songs - but luckily for us this has now surfaced and we have the pleasure of listening to this entire show.. I'll play the second set next week, but there's plenty to chew on here - notice of course the very last 'Easy Wind', and a fabulous 'Me & Bobby McGee'....

This week we get to hear the rest of that fine 1st set - and the entire 2nd set - from the classic performance of 5/4/77 at the Palladium in NYC., NY. The first set ends with a fine and very well played Dancin' In the Streets, but the real meat of this show is the 2nd set, in my opinion. Here we have a monsterous 45 minute Terrapin->Playin'->Comes a Time->Playin that just will blow your socks off....

This week the conclusion of Bruce Hornsby's first show as a member of the band, 9/15/90 at Madison Square Garden. I think you'll especially enjoy the first half of this set which I find exceptionally well-played and tight throughout. You'll also want to listen to the only post-Brent 'Gimme Some Lovin' with Hornsby - very tasty stuff. The crowd really feeds the band on this one and its obvious thro...

Hello friends ! I've had a longstanding request to play a Bruce Hornsby show and while this *is* an atypical one, nevertheless its a good one.. his very first show with the Dead, 9/15/90 from Madison Square Garden in New York. We'll play the first set this week, and I think you'll agree its loaded with energy. Jerry really enjoyed playing with Bruce right from the start as is evident in this recor...

This week a newly released sbd from 1972! I can't resist playing this one, and I think you'll agree that its more than worth your attention this week.. This is from November 15th, 1972, Oklahoma City, OK. All we have is the second set - but its a beauty... Grateful Dead - November 15, 1972 Oklahoma City Music Hall - Oklahoma City, OK Promised Land, Ramble on Rose, Mexicali Blues, Brokedown Palace,...

Somehow the month of May slipped by without my having posted something from that unbelievable month in GD history. I'm going to make up for that this week and next with this fat show from the GD archives. This show is somewhat overlooked all in all, with all the attention paid to some of the more famous shows during this month - but its well worth a listen.. Grateful Dead The Palladium New York, N...

This week we have the pleasure of listening to the second set of 8/29/80 from the Spectrum in Philadelphia PA. This is a tight and rockin' second set, the boys start with an excellent greatest story into Althea. Then a wonderful version of Let It Grow goes into He's Gone.. I'm sure you'll notice Phil and Brent's contributions on this one.. after space and drums, the band goes into a marvelous Whar...

This week we have a great new soundboard of a show from a year that's often under appreciated - 1980. This comes to us from August 29th, 1980, when the boys played the Spectrum in Philladelphia. The first set, which we'll hear this week, starts off with a rockin' Alabama Getaway->Promised Land opener. The band proceeds to play a really high energy twelve song first set, nicely played and sounding...

This week we'll hear the second set of this beautiful audience recording of the Dead at the Frost, 10/10/86. This set starts off with a beautiful Playin, then Jerry really tears up Crazy Fingers. I'm also quite partial to the NFA->Black Peter. The fact that they do a double encore is an indication, I think, that they were happy with their performance as well.... Grateful Dead Frost Amphitheatre -...

This week we get to savor a truly outstanding audience recording of one of the best shows of the early 1980s - October 10th, 1982 at the Frost Ampitheater in Palo Alto CA. The band comes charging out right from the gate, with of all things, a mad "Minglewood Blues" that will blow you away. Brent really shines on the 'Far From Me' a little later in the first set, and the China-Rider is exquisite. A...

I've had a request for this show for almost a year and for one reason or another never got around to playing it.. but some recent requests for Pigpen and a stroke of good fortune caused me not to overlook it any longer.. This piece of primal Dead has some wonderful versions of some classic early songs; I particularly like the Pigpen numbers and 'Sittin On Top of the World'.. 'Doin' That Rag' is al...

This week we listen to the second set from September 21st, 1973 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. This set starts with the last version of a song that I happen to really like, "Let Me Sing Your Blues Away", but when you hear it you can understand why it got dropped.. the rest of the set is much better however, and the addition of Joe Ellis and Martin Fierro on trumpet and sax respectively is amazin...

This week a truly great show suggested by one of my wonderful listeners in honor of the passing of Martin Fierro - The Spectrum, September 21st, 1973. Although Martin doesn't play sax until the second set I couldn't bare to not play the entire show so we will get to his performance next week. This week, I hope you enjoy the wonderful and well-played first set, including such gems as "Here Comes Su...

Hello Friends! This week we'll listen to the conclusion of the Dead's show at Alpine Valley on August 8th, 1982. I think you'll really enjoy the wonderful Scarlet Begonias, the crazy drums with guest Zakir Hussein, as well as John Cipollina's guest guitar work on "The Other One", "Wharf Rat" and "Not Fade Away". Check out the crazy version of Satisfaction as well.. Whew! :) Just a note, my compute...

This week we get a nice recording of a wonderful early 80's show - this one comes to us from Alpine Valley, August the 8th, 1982. This week we'll hear the first set (and the opener of the 2nd), next week we'll finish up the show.. I really enjoyed the Alabama Getaway openers of this period and this is no exception. I also think you'll like the Little Red Rooster, Looks Like Rain and Peggy-O in thi...

This week we'll listen to the remainder of the Dead's performance at Cal Expo, August 6th, 1989. The rest of this second set is a pleasure to listen to - highlighted by a wonderful 'Other One'. I've also been told that its a sure sign that the band enjoyed themselves when they encore with 'Johnny B. Goode' :) Grateful Dead Cal Expo Amphitheatre Sacramento, CA 8/6/89 - Sunday Samson And Delilah [6:...