The Deadpod

This week's Deadpod takes us to the first Midwestern stop since Garcia's coma, and it seems clear that Jerry is determined to show the fans that he is back and kicking! Following the 'Hell In A Bucket' opener, Jerry delivers a resounding 'Sugaree' with plenty of sparks and flourishes. Bobby's 'New Minglewood Blues is nicely paced - especially brimming with Brent's B3 contributions. The 'Loser' tha...

 They open with a bouncy "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" before Jerry brings out one of his more poignant ballads, "To Lay Me Down." The introspective mood continues as Bobby rolls into "Lost Sailor," but things pick up speed as he moves into "Saint of Circumstance." Drums and Space follows, slowly building momentum until Phil drops a huge bass bomb leading into "The Other One" — the jamming, psychede...

We roll into the Spring Tour of 1982 on this week's Deadpod, visiting Rochester, New York, where the boys always seemed to play a great show—and this one is no exception. They open with a jumping "Alabama Getaway" that slides into a tight "Greatest Story Ever Told." From there the feel shifts from an easy‑rolling "Dire Wolf" into a bluesy "C C Rider." The band takes flight on a soaring "Bird Song"...

Nassau Coliseum, March 12, 1992 — and the second set is where the real action is. Bobby charges out of the gate with a muscular 'Saint of Circumstance' that rolls straight into a gorgeous 'Ship of Fools', with Vince's backing vocals elevating the whole thing. Then comes 'Corrina' — percolating along until Phil takes the wheel and steers them into a reprise of 'Playin' in the Band' from the night b...

This week's Deadpod drops us into the Spring 1992 tour, catching the band at the Nassau Coliseum for a rockin' first set that showcases both Phil Lesh and Bruce Hornsby — in what would turn out to be Bruce's final tour with the band. The set runs a bit short, but that was pretty typical for the latter-day Dead. No matter — the band is in fine form. Phil kicks things off leading the charge on 'Grea...

This week on the Deadpod, we've got the second set from the Grateful Dead's Mardi Gras show on March 3rd, 1987. After the parade winds through, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band joins the boys for a loose and funky "Iko Iko." It takes a minute for everyone to sync up, but it's all part of the fun — you can feel how much they're enjoying themselves. The set really kicks into gear with "Saint of Circumstan...

This week we return to the post-coma Dead of early 1987 - this show took place on March 3, 1987 at the Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland. I happen to think the band, and Garcia, shows a real rebound here and hope you agree. The opening 'Quinn the Eskimo' is a perfect way to elevate the crowd's mood, and Jerry does a fine job on the vocals.. it flows into a nice 'Greatest Story Ever Told ' and Je...

This week on the Deadpod, we roll into the second set from the band's show at Pauley Pavilion, UCLA, on February 21, 1982. The set kicks off with a lively China → Rider that flows effortlessly into a spacious Estimated Prophet. The jam here has a jazzy, relaxed vibe, with Bobby laying down some especially tasteful rhythmic textures. Eyes of the World follows — played at that brisk early-'80s tempo...

Today we head back to February 1982 and the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA for a fine‑sounding tape of a very tasty Grateful Dead set. They come out of the gate with a wonderful Shakedown; Brent and Phil are all over this one, and it makes for a perfect opener. A gritty New Minglewood Blues follows, with Bobby leaning into the slide work here and again later on Little Red Rooster. Jerry is in strong voic...

  Welcome to this week's Deadpod! We're diving into the second set from the Grateful Dead's homecoming performance at the Oakland Coliseum on February 26, 1990 — the middle night of their Mardi Gras run. The boys were clearly thrilled to be back in the Bay Area, and that energy radiates through this exceptional set. The pre-drums sequence is absolutely stellar: nearly 30 minutes of Scarlet > Fire...

As we roll into February this week's Deadpod comes from the second night of the Mardi Gras run of 1990. I think the boys are in good spirits here and we have some nice treats here in set one, with more to follow in next week's second set.  Bobby opens with 'Hell In A Bucket' and you can tell how much he enjoys delivering it. Following a nice 'Peggy-O' we get another spirited Bobby number with a re...

This week I decided to go back and pick up this second set from the band's performance back on January 16, 1970 at Springer's Inn in Portland Oregon.   This recording has some issues - especially during the first two numbers - the Cumberland Blues is cut both at the start and the end, and Me & My Uncle is cut at the start. I've included both out of a love of completeness and because they still sou...

  Honoring Bob Weir 1947-2026    This week on the Deadpod I want to conclude my presentation of the Ratdog performance that took place back on November 2, 2000 in Columbia Missouri.  I'll let the music speak for itself, and hope that you enjoy this recording. I was lucky enough to meet Bob and the band this evening and the show has always had a place in my heart.  Fare thee well, Ace.     Bob Weir...

      RIP Bob Weir 1947-2026 The passing of Bob Weir this last week brought us all shock and sadness. Speaking for myself I wasn't ready for Ace to be gone, and I know it will hurt for a long time. Since there there have appeared countless tributes and appreciations for his talent, character and life. I won't try to add another one here. What I've decided on is to present to you this week a show t...

This week we have some 'Good Ol'Grateful Dead' for your listening pleasure.. This comes to us from Springer's Inn in Portland Oregon on January 16, 1970.  The opening 'Casey Jones' has a number of sound problems, but bear with it the rest of the set is quite good - especially when you consider it is 55 years old.. There are a number of highlights here - the 'Black Peter' is exceptionally soulful, ...

As we turn the calendar to 2026, we present the second set from the band's performance at the Boston Music Hall on December 1, 1973.  This is a very interesting second set, with songs that you don't always associate with that second set making an appearance.  They open with what is often a set closer - 'Around and Around' Then ease into some more traditional fare, with 'They Love Each Other' and '...

 Merry Day-After-Christmas!! For your boxing and unboxing pleasure I thought this show, from the legendary year of 1973 might be just exactly perfect.. this comes to us from the Boston Music Hall from December 1, 1973. This show took place in the middle of a three show run at this famous venue, both of which have been previously commercially released.  This is a nice long, first set, as was custom...

This week's Deadpod brings us the second set from the band's performance in Long Beach California on December 14, 1980.  This is a fine high-energy set, punctuated by guest appearances by Fora Purim, Airto and Matthew Kelly but full of outstanding renditions of some classic numbers.  I am always pleasantly surprised when I get a 'Must Have Been the Roses' and really enjoy this one. This is followe...

This week we go back 45 years to an excellent show the band played in Long Beach California on Sunday, December 14.  They open this first set with a standard 'Bertha>Greatest Story', then 'Althea' goes into a raucous 'Little Red Rooster' this one with Matthew Kelly joining in. The 'Loser' that follows is a personal favorite.  The rest of the set is first rate as well, culminating in a most excelle...

This week we pick up the second set from the band's performance on November 14th, 1987 in Long Beach California.  A strong opening finds them opening with a nice 'Maggie's Farm' into 'Cumberland Blues'.. Bobby flubs the first line of the vocals but nevertheless a great high energy start. 'Playin' In the Band' follows, while a bit short, this still contains some nice jamming. 'Terrapin Station' is...

Happy Thanksgiving!  As is my tradition here on the Deadpod, Thanksgiving is the time for Acoustic Dead. This year I've found two sets of fine acoustic Dead that I thought you would enjoy. The first is from July 30, 1970 at the Matrix in San Francisco and the second from earlier that year, on May 14th, in Kirkwood Missouri.  There's only one repeat in the two sets - Candyman - but I didn't think y...

We head to Shakedown Street on this week's Deadpod with a fine version from Long Beach California on November 14, 1987.  A great start to this short first set, followed, somewhat unfortunately in my opinion, by 'Little Red Rooster;, but the boys more than make up for it with the rest of set including a nice 'Althea' and 'When I Paint My Masterpiece' and my personal highlight - Brent giving us a sp...

 We continue with the second set from the Uptown Theatre in Chicago on November 18, 1978.  This one starts with a fine Scarlet>Fire, perhaps a bit shorter than some, but with some nice Garcia intensity leading into Fire. Miracle follows leading into an excellent 'He's Gone' - there's an interesting jam here unlike most you'll hear in this song. The recording really brings this one home. Instead of...

This week's Deadpod takes us to Chicago - to the Uptown Theater home of many fine Grateful Dead shows. This one is from Saturday, November 18, 1978.  Our tape starts, unfortunately, with an abbreviated 'Jack Straw', but what we have shows us the energy the band came on stage with on this evening. A soulful 'Candyman' follows, then the 'Me & My Uncle>Big River' combo - marked by an exceptional Big...

 Happy Halloween!!  In honor of the fact that this week's Deadpod falls on Halloween, I decided to go back and find an appropriate show that the band played on this date... I think this one from 1969 is certainly worthy of a listen..  The show starts out with a truly nasty recording of Casey Jones - I left it in for the sake of completeness, but I hope you will stick with it as the recording great...