The Deadpod

Happy Cinco de Mayo! As we roll into the first weekend in May, I wanted to bring out the customary tribute to the Kentucky Derby with a fine 'The Race Is On'. This show does that as well as pays homage to the new, fat,  'Here Comes Sunshine' release from Grateful Dead Productions ( Here Comes Sunshine from Dead.net ). This show does both, although it takes place in early spring of 1973, rather tha...

This week's Deadpod features a fine second set from the band's performance on April 15, 1988 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago Illinois.  The band is tight throughout on this night, starting from the opening Bucket, which goes into a very nice 'Crazy Fingers'. Garcia gives a lovely solo here, and it sets the mood for a reflective 'Looks Like Rain' which follows and on which Weir provides a lovely...

 We are going to stick with the late 80's this week as we feature a show from the Rosemont Horizon on April 15, 1988.  I believe this is the only Scarlet>Fire opener the boys ever played, which immediately makes the radar go up that we're in for a good show. I don't think this one disappoints. Weir slows things a bit with a 'Walkin' Blues' but Jerry follows with the always favorite 'Candyman'. Bre...

 Hey Now, this week we'll play the second set from the band's performance on April 7, 1987 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.  'Box of Rain' is the opener here, a rather unusual choice. A short 'I Need a Miracle' follows into 'Bertha'. 'Ship of Fools' slows things down, but they then go into another crowd favorite, 'Man Smart, Women Smarter' before going into a fairly lengthy drums and Space.  Out...

36 years ago the Grateful Dead played this week's show at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, and also on the radio. This week's first set has some fine rocking although perhaps not alot of jamming. The boys start with 'Touch of Grey' played perhaps a touch too fast, but this goes into a nice 'Minglewood' with a strong Phil bass line, then Jerry sings a great 'Friend of the Devil'. There are s...

After five months of 'retirement' the Grateful Dead returned to the stage at this benefit concert in San Francisco on March 23, 1975. While they were billed as 'Jerry Garcia and Friends' and Ned Lagin and Merl Saunders were sitting in, this performance was seen by most as confirming the rumors that the Grateful Dead's retirement was ending.  I will leave it to you to imagine what it must have been...

This week on the Deadpod we'll hear the second set from March 5, 1992 at Hampton Virginia.  This starts with a very nice 'Eyes of the World', and you will immediately recognize the presence of both Hornsby and Welnick on this long 14+minute version.  'Way To Go Home' follows. I think this is the 4th time I've played this on the Deadpod, and the first since 2017. Consider it a watermark of the time...

This week the Deadpod moves twenty years in the future from last week's set,  this one which took place on March 5, 1992 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton Virginia. The first set, short as was the norm during this period of the band's existence, opens with a fine 'Help>Slip>Frank'. The boys sound energetic and Jerry plays some fine licks here, especially during the 'Slipknot'. A long bluesy 'The...

This week we move onto the second set from this massive show that took place on March 16, 1973 at the Nassau Coliseum. When you look at the setlist and the timings you might be tempted to think that the first half of the show is just a warm up to the huge Dark Star jam that takes place in set 2, but that would be a mistake. The band screams during these first three numbers in particular! I love th...

This week's Deadpod features another fabulous show from 1973. This week's show comes shortly after the death of Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan on the 8th of February 1973, and is the 2nd night of a three night run at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale NY, on March 16, 1973.  Folks this is a massive 14 song first set, and the come out of the gate flying with a high energy 'China>Rider', complete with a great,...

This week's Deadpod features the second set from the band's performance on February 21, 1991 in Oakland CA.  This is a very nice second set, sans Bruce Hornsby, it starts out with the unusual set opening 'Playin In the Band'. This version is quite nicely jammed out and just when you wonder when they'll come down we get a 'Terrapin Station' tease.. but no, they go instead into a tight 'Uncle John's...

This week we feature a fine show from February 21, 1991 at the Oakland Coliseum. This was the last night of a three day run to open the year for the band, and this particular run was without Bruce Hornsby. Any show that opens with 'Help>Slip>Frank' offers great promise and I think they boys delivered on this night.  The 'Slipknot' in particular is especially well-formed, and sweet to hear. They fo...

This week we bring you the conclusion of the band's performance on February 28, 1970 at the Family Dog at the Great Highway in San Francisco California.  The set starts with 'Good Lovin' complete with a very interesting drum solo followed by a wonderful jam.  The drummers return for a unique set between 'Alligator' and 'The Other One', which is followed by the rare 'Mason's Children'. The band ret...

Well, I think that groundhog saw his shadow, but I've got a show for you this week that is sure to warm you up.. this one comes from way back in 1970 - from February 28, 1970 in San Francisco. While this was probably one long set, I'm going to play part 1 this week and part 2 next week.  The show starts with an unusual 'Lovelight' to open, and it has a different sound to it in this spot, a bit mor...

PLEASE NOTE if you automatically downloaded this episode this morning you may have a corrupted file  please redownload from this link! Thank you!   This week we conclude our visit to the Uptown Theater with the second set from the band's performance on  January 31, 1978.  This set starts with a fine Scarlet>Fire with a wonderful transition with Donna hitting this just right. The Samson is raging,...

 I'm going to do something I don't normally do this week - play the show immediately following last week's show.. and there's plenty of good reasons to do so. This show - 1/31/78 from the Uptown Theater in Chicago is very very good.  The opening 'Mississippi Half-Step' gives us a taste of what is to come - check out Garcia's licks here, then we get a smoking hot 'Passenger' with outstanding contri...

This week we feature the second set from the band's performance at the Uptown Theater in Chicago Il. on January 30, 1978.  I'm quite impressed with this set. It starts off with a fine 'Bertha' which goes into an excellent 'Good Lovin', followed by 'Ship of Fools'. What follows however is over an hour of non-stop Dead magic.  'Estimated'>'Eyes' where Jerry has some interstellar noodling going into...

As we head into the New Year, here's a January show, a rarity for the band, from the intimate Uptown Theater in Chicago on January 30th, 1978. While this first set doesn't have the jamming that you'll hear in set 2, it is tight and Jerry's voice is much better than it was earlier in the month. There is some funny back and forth between songs, and the Lazy Lightning is greatly improved by Phil's co...

 As we countdown the minutes until 2023, you should enjoy this gem of a show from 33 years ago - December 30, 1989. I don't believe I'm engaging in hyperbole if I say this is a great second set from this period of the band's history. There's not a bad song here. Jerry smokes his leads in 'Jack Straw' and 'I Know You Rider'. This 'Estimated Prophet is one of the best ever. I even dare say the drums...

 As Christmas approaches, Hanukkah continues, and the big snowstorm closes in on many of us, I hope that this week's Deadpod brings you some joy this week!  I bring you the first set of what is a really great show from December 30, 1989 in Oakland California. The opening 'Bertha' flows into a rare first-set 'Good Lovin' which then flows into an excellent version of 'Sugaree'. The entire set is qui...

Whoa! Another 2 hour plus Deadpod this week as we explore the second set of the band's performance at Duke University in Durham North Carolina on December 8, 1973. This massive second set contains both its share of standard tunes and psychedelic moments. They start out with some standard rockers - 'Around and Around' 'Ramble On Rose', 'El Paso'. (but don't miss the fun introduction with Phil and B...

 A really BIG show this week on the Deadpod!  From December 8, 1973 at Duke University we have this gem on this week's Deadpod. A huge 16 song first set featuring some really wonderful renditions and great jamming on some of these tunes. An example is Jerry on the 'Mexicali Blues', a very fine version of 'Me & Bobby McGee', and a complete 'Weather Report Suite'.  For fine jamming, the China>Rider...

Think that a show from 56 years ago doesn't rock? If so I challenge you to listen to this week's Deadpod... from November 19, 1966 in San Francisco, this primal Dead will surely knock your socks off... Such amazing energy and emotion on display here. The boys are spreading their wings while still exploring the legacy of the blues in the midst of Beatle mania.  There are many highlights here, but I...

I know that I've previously said how enamored I am of the music the Grateful Dead created in the Fall of 1973, specifically during November. Luckily for us, there is an exceptional set that has yet to be released commercially nor here on the Deadpod that I have the privilege of featuring this week. This occurred on November 1, 1973 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.  While we only h...

 Happy Thanksgiving!  As is the tradition on the Deadpod, this week we feature an acoustic set from the band. This one comes from the Warfield in San Francisco on October 3, 1980.  This one is in exceptional quality, I think, and so far as I can tell I haven't featured it before :)  Thank you so much for the privilege of sharing this music with you over the years. I can't tell you how much your ki...