The Deadpod

This week we continue with the second set of the show on February 20, 1971 at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY, one of the famous 'ESP experiment shows'.  This show features an electric version of 'Ripple' - one of only three that were ever performed live. I think the 'Goin' Down the Road'>'Not Fade Away'> 'Goin' Down the Road' is quite exceptional as well. Then there is the classic Pigpen v...

Hey Now! This week we will explore the first set from a great show that took place during a historic run at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY back on February 20, 1971. This was during the famous 'ESP' experiments, and it was also the second show without Mickey Hart who had left the band after the first show of this run.  This show contains a number of 'new' tunes (at the time) and you'll see...

With many of being hit this week with some ungodly cold and snowy weather I figured it was time to bring out the smokin' hot primal Dead.. so here is a good one... this comes to you from February 21, 1969 at the Dream Bowl in Vallejo California.. We only have the second set, but perhaps that is for the best - who knows if I could handle more of this one ;)  We start with a great version of 'Good M...

This week the Deadpod continues with the second set from January 13, 1978 at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara California. This was a 'Stop Nuclear Power' benefit and as usual at these kind of events, I think the band was charged up for it and I think it shows in the energy of this great second set.  They start off with a rousing 'Bertha' into 'Good Lovin'. Donna follows with a nice version o...

Grateful Dead concerts in the month of January are rather sparse, however one exception is the west coast run that took place in January of 1978.  This week's show took place on January 13, 1978 in Santa Barbara California. It starts out with a nicely played 'Mississippi Half-Step' - while Jerry's voice is suffering a bit from the laryngitis he fought through on this tour - his playing more than m...

We continue this week with the second set from the band's performance on January 11, 1979 at the Nassau Coliseum.  They come out smoking with a hot version of 'I Need a Miracle'; Bobby is pretty amped up here and there is some very nice guitar work in this version. Ship follows and slows things down a bit, but the Estimated that follows gets things in the groove again, and leads into a long 'He's...

We head into the new year with a show from the Winter of 1979 - this comes to us from the Nassau Coliseum on January 11, 1979.  The first set starts off with a wonderful version of 'Sugaree' - Garcia sets the tone for this set right out of the gate.. some wonderful runs here. 'Me & My Uncle' and 'Big River' follows and the latter, in particular, delivers more Jerry magic. Things slow down a bit wi...

Happy New Year!  To celebrate the New Year (hopefully a better one for everyone) and the fact that today is New Years' Eve, I decided to bring you an entire New Year's Eve performance.. this one from New Years' 1977...  While the New Year's shows were often not as magical as some of the prior performances of the run, I do think this one stands up and hope you enjoy it as well..  Over two and half-...

Merry Christmas!  On this Christmas Eve edition of the Deadpod we get to listen to the second set of this fine performance from December 27, 1970 in El Monte California.  The tape begins with an abbreviated 'Good Lovin' - while I wish we had all of this song, what we have is really good. Pigpen follows with 'In the Midnight Hour' and boy its clear in these two songs what he means to the band. Fine...

This week we go back to some good ol' Grateful Dead from December 1970. The boys are young and full of spunk on this one as they run through some of their early numbers. Pigpen is in fine form here and the 'Hard to Handle' is classic. The 'Deep Elem' has a unique and very pleasant arrangement to my ears. 'Cumberland Blues' showcases Phil's talents as always and a great China>Rider could be the hig...

This week we continue with the second set from the band's performance at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach California on December 13th 1980.  The set starts with a wonderful Scarlet>Fire. In particular I love the transition here, unique and rhythmic to a high degree, flows into a an excellent Fire, nice Brent highlights.  Jerry has some wonderful solos in the coda here which results in prolonged...

This week we welcome December with a great show from December 13, 1980 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach California, just a couple months after last week's acoustic set. This first set is quite good all the way through but starts with an excellent trifecta -' Feel Like a Stranger' into a wonderful 'Sugaree'  then into 'C C Rider' with some great Garcia slide work. Then Jerry slows things down...

Happy Thanksgiving!  As always, an acoustic Dead set is on the menu for today, a thank you to all of you for your support of the Deadpod! This lovely recording is from Betty Cantor's reels and is a fine representation of the band's acoustic work during this period. This is from the Warfield in San Francisco on September 27, 1980.  While this recording is missing the 'Dire Wolf' opener that appears...

This week we have a 'rare and different' tune indeed. The second set from the band's performance in Cleveland begins unlike any other in the band's storied history. They come out and drop into a free-form, unique jam that winds it way through any number of modes, but is sure to take you with it if you allow it to. A short 'Drums' kicks in once the jam reaches a high point, but then they return to...

From a show I was lucky enough to see, in a beautiful venue, this week's Deadpod takes us to Cleveland for a show back on November 20, 1978 at the Cleveland Music Hall.  This is a very interesting and well played show. The second set, which we will hear next week, is most unique, but this first set is certainly worth hearing, despite some obvious flaws in the recording.  The opening Mississippi Ha...

 I think anytime I come across an excellent sounding tape from 1970 it is a real treat. There are so few great tapes from that year and the band is having so much fun that when I do I want to share. So this week here is one from the Fillmore East on November 16, 1970.  There are some anomalies - there is some Elton John music playing through the house PA at one point - don't freak out ! :) I had t...

Happy Halloween Weekend!  I think we have a great Deadpod to share this week with the second set from the show on October 28, 1979 at the Cape Cod Coliseum in South Yarmouth MA.  This one starts with a really great China>Rider, the energy is off the charts and I really love hearing the Phil bombs and the Jerry's fan outs in Rider. This one is bound to bring a smile and make you wish you were shaki...

When the same show gets requested by two different listeners the same week I pay attention.. and I must say I am quite pleased to be able to present this request on this week's Deadpod.  This comes to us from a show played on Sunday, October 28, 1979 at the Cape Cod Coliseum at South Yarmouth MA. You know the old saying about never missing a Sunday show - well this one certainly proves that old ad...

What a great Scarlet>Fire on this week's Deadpod!  This comes to us from the second set of the band's performance at Madison Square Gardin on October 14, 1994.  This opening Scarlet>Fire is clearly the highlight of the show, clocking in at over 30 minutes of intensive, improvisational joy. You probably won't believe that they could hit on all cylinders like this at this point of the band's history...

This week I decided to venture where I seldom go - with a show from the fall of 1994. While this first set is quite short, I believe as a whole this is perhaps one of the band's best from this period.  This first starts with a very nice 'Jack Straw' and the 'West LA Fadeaway' that follows is also quite good. I'm a sucker for these 'Lazy River Road' versions, even when Jerry flubs them a bit. Bob f...

This week we return to Munich for a second set that is ferocious from start to finish. 'Bertha' leads this one off and goes into a truly rockin' 'Samson and Delilah' that really roars. Jerry slows things down a touch with 'Ship of Fools', but they go into a nice extended jam in the 'Estimated Prophet' that follows. That one builds again to a gale force as they go into 'Goin' Down the Road Feelin'...

This week we stay on the Continent for a show that took place on October 12, 1981 at the Olympia Halle in Munich, West Germany during the band's Fall European Tour. For the most part this is quite an excellent recording, although it does have a couple patches..  They come out firing on an up-tempo 'Jack Straw', then Garcia delivers a more laid back selection with a pretty 'Candyman'. The 'Little R...

This week's Deadpod features the fine recording of the second set of the band's performance on September 20, 1974 in Paris France.  This one is pretty sweet all the way through, starting with 'China Cat>I Know You Rider'. The 'Big River' that follows is nicely up tempo. Another highlight for me is the 'Brokedown Palace' which is placed right in the center of the set and features some great closing...

This week's Deadpod features a wonderful recording of the band's performance in Paris France on September 20, 1974. This is a splendid recording, and a very interesting performance. The band opens with a spirited 'Cumberland Blues' followed by a nice 'Jack Straw'. The first-set 'Scarlet Begonias' features some very nice Phil leads. Bobby's vocals are top-notch on the 'Black Throated Wind' that fol...

We have a great second set for your Labor Day weekend enjoyment! This one is from the Greek Theater on August 19, 1989. This one certainly goes against the old thought that the band didn't really jam it out at the Greek.. We start with a fine 'China>Rider'.. the transition really catches fire! A wonderful opener, which then leads right into 'Playin' In the Band'.. the jamming here into a long, pre...