The Deadpod

This week we return to Hartford Connecticut for the second set of the band's performance on April 17, 1982.  This set starts out with a smokin' 'Shakedown Street' featuring some exuberant Brent runs and interplay with Garcia. They then go into a top version of 'Sailor>Saint' which culminates in a bit of a Spanish Jam before leading into Drums and Space. 'Uncle John's Band' comes out of Space, not...

This week on the Deadpod a fine show from the spring of 1982, one often overlooked due to the notoriety of the next night's performance.  This show, from April 17, 1982 in Hartford Connecticut features quite a nice first set, with fine versions of Bird Song and Jack-A-Roe (which was still relatively new at the time). I also would call your attention to the arrangement of El Paso, which is played a...

 What a classic set list we have on this week's Deadpod. While this show took place back in 1991, none of the songs debuted earlier than 1972. Better yet, they are all played with joy and authority reminiscent of earlier periods in the band's history.  The tight opening China>Rider portends a great second set, and we are not disappointed for following this we have a fine 'Looks Like Rain' highligh...

An outstanding performance awaits on this week's Deadpod as we usher in the month of April with a memorable set from April Fools' Day, 1991 at Greensboro, North Carolina. The band roars into a fantastic version of 'Jack Straw' and I for one, love the presence of Hornsby here and throughout the set. They dovetail into a nice version of 'Peggy-O' and Jerry is in fine form here. Bobby takes over for...

This week we're happy to present the second set from the band's performance back on March 22, 1973 at Utica New York. The set starts with a rockin' 'Big River' and then the early 'Wave That Flag' and 'Me & My Uncle' before getting down to business with a nice 'Here Comes Sunshine'. The heart of the set follows with long jazzy versions of  'Truckin', 'The Other One' and 'Eyes of the World'. 'China...

At the risk of featuring too many sets from this period I decided to bring you this long, wonderful first set from March 22, 1973. While most of these songs don't feature stratospheric jams, they are quite well played in my opinion, and this set does include a truly beautiful 'Bird Song' and a great ending with 'China->Rider- >Playin' In the Band'   There are two sources used, the majority is prov...

A roaring Scarlet>Fire leads off this week's Deadpod from the second set of the band's performance at the Rainbow Theater in London England on March 20, 1981.  They keep up the momentum throughout, going into a nice Sailor>Saint, then slowing things down with a beautiful He's Gone.. the transition to Drums is worthy of note, as is the transition, led by Phil Lesh, into a rousing Truckin'  that lea...

This week's Deadpod takes us across the pond to London, where the band kicked off their Spring European tour of 1981 on March 20 at the Rainbow Theater.  They come out smoking on 'Feel Like A Stranger' and you know they were looking forward to this.. 'Friend of the Devil' which follows is played leisurely, they are in no hurry to get through this evening. 'C.C. Rider' follows with a bit of the blu...

      This week on the Deadpod we have the pleasure of listening to the second set from the band's performance on February 17, 1973 in St. Paul Minnesota..  This set begins with a nicely jammed out 'Truckin' followed by 'Row Jimmy' and appropriately, 'Big River'.. Donna follows with a 'You Ain't Woman Enough' but that leads us into the heart of this set, an exquisitely crafted trifecta of 'Here Co...

This week's Deadpod takes us back to the early days of 1973, this one was played in St. Paul Minnesota. This was when they were figuring out the wall of sound, and the first part of set 1 suffers from several sound issues as they try to dial in the mix, most notably in a bad start with a 'Promised Land' that suffers greatly. Don't let that scare you off from the rest of this long set. There is ple...

Happy Valentine's Everyone!  This week on the Deadpod we conclude the band's performance from February 19, 1982 in San Diego CA.  Again, this comes from an audience tape so while the fidelity isn't quite up to soundboard levels, it does give you a great sense of being there..  The pre-drums portion of the set is well played, with the highlight being a sweet Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance. The k...

This week's Deadpod again features an audience recording - this time of the performance on February 19, 1982 in San Diego California. This, the third performance of 1982 finds the boys finding their groove, with a hot opening 'Bertha', a great 'Dire Wolf' and of course 'Althea'. While the vocals are sometimes a little far back on this audience recording, you can't say the same for Garcia's guitar...

This week we continue with the second set from the band's performance at Shea's Theater in Buffalo, NY on January 20, 1979. This set picks up steam just before drums with a powerful 'Other One' which gets picked up again after drums and space and leads into a rare (for the period) 'Dark Star' which has some wild explorations. The band rocks it out afterwards with a 'Not Fade Away' into 'Sugar Magn...

This week's Deadpod features a great audience recording of a fabulous show by the late Jerry Moore..this is from January 20, 1979 at Shea's Theater in Buffalo New York.  I think this is a great first set... all of these are performed so very well. I especially love the tone of Garcia's work on 'Sugaree' and 'It's All Over Now'.. at times the vocals are a little low in the mix, but in the words of...

 This week's Deadpod features the second set from January 18, 1979 at Providence Rhode Island.  This is a rather unique second set as there is no drums/space segment here, unique since the band started introducing them as a matter of course back in the spring of 1978. It would be the last show without one for a long time. It's a solid show, in my opinion, the highlight being a raucous 'Trucking' t...

This week's Deadpod features one of the January shows in the Grateful Dead's history - this one from January 18, 1979 in Providence, Rhode Island. This is a nice first set, energetic, especially for the time period (in a month Keith Godchaux would be leaving), and features some nice versions. I am especially fond of the 'Cassidy' here but there are several excellent tunes in this first set.   Grat...

   On this first Friday of 2025, we continue with the conclusion of the Grateful Dead's New Year's Eve concert from December 31, 1971 at Winterland in San Francisco.  A long, fun if somewhat sloppy at times show, the enjoyment the band was having is evident throughout.. After a Bill Graham intro they go into Truckin' then Billy really goes off as they go into a Other One jam, then quite interestin...

Happy New Year! ... but this NYE set by the Dead should put you in the mood to say goodbye to 2024 and to ring in a brand new 2025... This show occurred at an important turning point for the Dead, as they moved forward with many 'new' tunes and with Keith and Donna as members of the band (Donna makes her vocal debut here on 'One More Saturday Night'). The sound on this FM broadcast is generally ve...

Here's a bit of a Christmas present from the Deadpod - a great second set from December 12, 1973 at the Omni in Atlanta.  This features a fine combination of classic tunes and some unusual combos (see Mississipi Half-Step into Me & Bobby McGee, as well as Wharf Rat> Me & My Uncle>Eyes). All the songs here are first rate - the China >Rider is wonderful as is the GSET.. then we get a complete Weathe...

This week's Deadpod takes us down south to Atlanta Georgia, where the Dead played the first of 36 shows at the Omni back on December 12, 1973. This long and very tasty first set features many of the classics, all played quite well. It features only the second time that 'Peggy-O' was played, great sound throughout, and a very long and spacey 'Playin' In the Band' to end this first set.  Next week w...

We welcome December this week by returning to the second set of the band's performance at the Golden Hall in San Diego on November 24, 1979. This set has an upbeat beginning with 'Alabama Getaway' going into a classic 'Greatest Story Every Told' - listen for Phil in that wild transition. 'Ship of Fools' follows, with Jerry giving us a find rendition complete with some extended soloing where it doe...

Happy Thanksgiving As is the custom here on the Deadpod, this Thanksgiving we feature an acoustic set and I think we are especially fortunate this year as this set is one of the very best such sets from 1970. From September 20, 1970 this set from the Fillmore East features both David Grisman and David Nelson on mandolin for much of the set, including a very unusual 'Big Railroad Blues' and an acou...

This week's Deadpod takes us back to the Fall tour of 1979 - this time at San Diego for the Saturday night show that took place on November 24. This first set opens with a rare and refreshing 'China Cat>I Know You Rider'. Love hearing this as an opener and I think it sets a nice atmosphere for the show. Cowboy songs come next then a really nice 'Peggy-O' and 'Cassidy' which are both highlights of...

   Here's a fun second set from November 1985 for this week's Deadpod. 'Touch of Grey'  into 'Samson' starts things off with some nice Jerry solos in Samson... The 'High Time' that follows makes up for the flubbed ending on Samson with some excellent Jerry vocals. 'Let It Grow' is probably the highlight of the pre-drums segment however, with some excellent improvisational jamming. That spirit is c...

This week we have one of the finest shows from the Fall tour of 1985. This comes to us from Rochester New York on November 7, 1985. The opening 'Dancing In the Street' is strong and cohesive - we can tell we are in for a special night. The 'Dire Wolf' presents Jerry in fine voice. While Bobby is a bit cheesy on 'CC Rider' the 'Loser' that follows is excellent. The country 'Mama Tried'>'Mexicalli B...