The Deadpod

 Here's a request from a friend of the Deadpod from down under... this comes to us from the beautiful Red Rocks Ampitheater, on September 8, 1983. Now I only have set 2 in a soundboard format so that's all I'll present of this wonderful show, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.  They come out of the gate with a smokin' Scarlet>Fire, the Scarlet almost has a calypso feel to it to my ears as they start, a...

 Happy Labor Day Weekend!  This week we bring you the second set from the band's performance on August 23, 1987 at the Calavaras County Fairgrounds in Angel's Camp CA.  It's a nice setlist, and opens with a Scarlet>Fire. Playin' in the Band leads into Drums and Space and we get a 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' post drums.. The highlight of this set however is the 'Morning Dew' where you feel like they really...

This week we travel to the home of the celebrated jumping frogs - Calavaras county - to bring you the band's performance from August 23, 1987.  I find this to be quite an enjoyable first set as it features many songs not often broken out, including a set opening 'Box of Rain'. The 'Jack Straw' and 'West LA' are both solid and well played. 'High Time' is really a pleasant surprise but the highlight...

 August flies... and we are favored this week with a second set from August 12, 1972 in Sacramento California. While most of the band's performances are quite good from this time, each are unique and this second set contains some very good and unique moments.  The recording unfortunately has a short cut in the opening of the first selection, 'Greatest Story Ever Told', but it, and the following 'R...

 Here's a long and strong first set from that great year in Dead history - 1972. This comes from Sacramento California from August 12, 1972. This is an especially long first set with some nice surprises therein. 'Sugaree' is tinged with some bluesy elements, and I find it quite enjoyable. There's some interesting chatter to the crowd before 'Uncle' :) and the 'Bird Song' that follows is nicely mel...

This week we end the 'weekend at the beach' .. and the Days Between... with the second set from the band's performance at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on July 22, 1984.   The boys break out a rockin' Samson and Delilah in honor of the Sunday, then make a sharp turn into 'Ship of Fools'. Following that, Brent breaks out 'I Just Want to Make Love To You' for the first time the band has played it s...

This week we hit the beach for a most excellent time with the band as they play the Sunday show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura California on July 22, 1984.  This is a fine recording of a very energetic set which I am sure you'll enjoy. We start appropriately enough, with 'Dancin' In the Streets' - a better than average version in my opinion. The boys keep rockin' with 'Bertha'. Weir...

A great second set from July 18, 1976 from the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco is on the table for this week's Deadpod. You'll have plenty to choose from here, as the boys stretch it out and deliver a smorgasbord of many of their best songs on this two hour marathon. There are too many highlights to mention all of them, but I would call  your attention to the fine 'Lazy Lightning>Supplication>Let...

Hello Friends! This week we begin listening to the last show of a famous 6 night run at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco CA, back on July 18, 1976. This was an exceptional run of shows, and this last night was perhaps the topper. It features an exceptional second set, which we'll have the pleasure of hearing next week, but this first set is quite well played as well. The show was originally br...

This week we get a second set that is almost as hot as the weather around here this week - it comes to us from July 1st 1980 in San Diego California.  An excellent China>Rider opens the set and contains some of my favorite jamming of the evening.. the China cat jams from Garcia in particular are noteworthy, as is Brent's contributions.  A rare 2nd set Peggy-O follows CC Rider, then we are treated...

Happy July 4th!  This week's Deadpod takes place back on July 1, 1980 in San Diego California, where the Dead would play a very nice show at the Sports Arena. This week we will hear the 1st set, which opens with a great Jack Straw > Franklin's Tower combo. They only did this opening combo eight times, but I think its a great way to open a show. El Paso and Tennessee Jed folow, then another combo,...

This week on the Deadpod we have another monumental set from the seminal year of 1974. This week of course from the show in Springfield MA, on June 30, 1974.  Following Seastones, the boys came out with a fine 'China>Rider' a combo often used to good effect as a second set opener. The transition is quite fine. 'Big River' follows and shows the spark it had which made it an excellent second set tun...

This week's selection - a birthday request from a good friend of the Deadpod - takes us back to the last show of the June 1974 east/midwest tour which took place in Springfield Massachusetts on June 30, 1974. The first set, which we will hear this week, features some outstanding leads by both Jerry and Phil and a great song selection. Be patient during the opening number 'Don't Ease Me In' which i...

This week we continue listening to the band's performance at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia PA on June 24, 1976 with a somewhat short, but quite sweet, second set.    As with many great second sets, this one starts with a fine 'Help>Slip>Frank' containing an exceptional 'Slipknot!' . This fine recording, which has been available as a soundboard and an FM long before the first set, continues wit...

This week's Deadpod features a fine show from June 24, 1976 at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby PA, near Philadelphia. This spring '76 tour features mail order tickets for the first time, and rejuvenated vocals from Bob and Donna, who seem to have benefited from the time off. This particular show was broadcast on FM but this is a soundboard copy and I think it sounds great. This one also has a hil...

A energized show from 49 years ago highlights this week's Deadpod, from Winterland on May 30, 1971. We only have a partial second set from this Sunday night show but its in fine quality and the band is in top form for this period. The recording starts with a partial 'I Know You Rider' and you immediately wish the entire show survived. A fine 'Sugar Magnolia' follows,  and then 'Cumberland Blues' r...

This week we are treated to the second set from the band's performance in Troy NY at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on May 7, 1978. This is a solid set throughout, featuring the opening Scarlet>Fire which clocks in at over 20 minutes with some exceptional Garcia licks.  The 'Estimated Prophet' that follows features some nice Garcia work on the wahwah as well. 'He's Gone' slows things down...

This week's Deadpod will take us to May of 1978. This show took place in the Field House at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on May the 7th, 1978, a place that was described as basically an aircraft hanger with terrible acoustics and hot as hell. Luckily the tape we have is pretty good overall because this was a show where you can tell that the band was in great spirits and having fun...

Happy Mother's Day Weekend! This special Deadpod goes out in honor of all our Mothers..and this one is a huge dose of big ol' Grateful Dead lovin!  This is the second (and third?) set from the band's performance on Mother's Day, May 12, 1974 in Reno Nevada.   As I mentioned last week, this was an outdoor, Wall of Sound show with quite high winds, which complicated things a bit. In fact, Garcia was...

Hello May Day! hoping this finds you and yours healthy and safe.. This week I'm bringing you the show that kicked off Spring Tour 1974, from the University of Nevada in Reno Nevada on May 12th, 1974 - Mother's Day.. We will listen to the first of this three set show this week, then sets 2 & 3 for a Mother's Day treat next week. This was an outdoor Wall of Sound show, as well as the first real show...

This week we feature the second set from a fine late '89 Grateful Dead show - from the Great Western Forum on Sunday, December 10, 1989.  In my opinion the meat of this set comes right out of the gate with a exquisite 'Jack Straw' followed by a wonderful, driven 'China Cat Sunflower'. The 'I Know You Rider' is no slouch either and the combo is, in my opinion the highlight of this set. The always-f...

Hello friends.. this week's Deadpod results from a special request and is dedicated to a brother who just lost his battle with cancer - Joel Hatcher. His friend Tiffany who contacted me shared that he was listening to the 'pod throughout his chemo treatments and that he loved the Dead and the Blues.  This was their first show together and I'm honored to be able to play it in his honor. This show -...

Strap in for some serious fun on this Good Friday edition of the Deadpod.. the second set from April 2, 1973 at the Boston Gardens is a classic.. There are memorable moments right from the start as Phil warns us to "watch out for the electric popcorn"..  We get a mix of well played Dead classics, for example the 'Greatest Story Ever Told' is filled with some unique Garcia wahwahs.. 'Loose Lucy' is...

I had mastered an entirely different show for this week when I was reminded of this one... I played this one back in 2003 on-air at KOPN in Columbia MO, but never here on the podcast. This one is a monster. We have one of the best of the Spring 73 shows, this one from April 2nd.. Boston Garden. It's a 16 song first set, great sound (a bit of a rough start but that was common in this period :). Whi...

Might you need some energy after some time cooped up with 'social distancing'? Well I think this show will have you covered.. true primal Dead here.. the frantic scorching solos from Garcia on most of these might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this is a great presentation of where the band came from and what the sound was like back in 1967. This was the third time they had played Winterland and...