The Deadpod

While this tape may not be complete, and it does take a bit to for the crew to dial the sound in completely, I decided to bring you this gem from the fall of 1973. This took place on October 23rd in Bloomington MN. From the lists I've seen what I have is probably not the complete show and may not be in the correct order. What is certain is that there is some very fine music here that I hope you en...

This week we return to the Grateful Dead's first visit to the Frost Amphitheater on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto California on October 10th, 1982. This second set starts with a very unusual 'Throwin' Stones'>'Touch of Gray' opener; both songs are relatively new and contain some different lyrics which makes them even more interesting. 'Estimated' into 'Eyes of the World' follow...

I don't often feature audience recordings on the Deadpod but this one is so clean and of such a great show that I decided to share it this week.. this comes to us from October 9th, 1982 at the Frost Ampitheater in Palo Alto, CA. This was by all reports, a fun, sunny day on which both band and audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves and each other. You can hear it in the songs.. some favorites of mi...

This week's Deadpod is the result of a request from a longtime listener/supporter of the show. It comes to us from early in 1972, March 5th, 1972, only the second show of that legendary year, and the last time that Pigpen played with the band in San Francisco. This show was a benefit for the American Indains, and the Dead were the third band on the agenda. It turns out that they were pressed for t...

This week's Deadpod features the 2nd set from the performance on September 19th, 1990 at Madison Square Garden in New York.   This is one of the better latter day Dead shows. Bruce brings a spark to Jerry, and the boys are jamming full blast here. The jam out of the great Let it Grow with Bob, Bruce and Jerry is outstanding! But don't overlook the fine Goin' Down the Road.. Stella Blue as always,...

I always love to feature a show from the historic September 1990 run at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This week I decided to bring you this wonderful show from Wednesday, September 19th 1990. This first set is energetic, and played wonderfully. Of course, the band was finding itself anew after losing Brent, and Bruce Hornsby's fourth show as a member of the band, bringing a new vitality...

It always feels special when I can reach way back in the archives for some truly 'primal' Dead, and this week's show certainly fits. This is a fabulous show from September 3rd, 1967 at a dance hall in Rio Nido CA. There were supposedly a very small crowd, perhaps as few as 25 there, but as Phil recalled later,  " This was recorded at a Russian River resort ballroom on Sunday night of Labor Day Wee...

For a long Labor Day weekend I think this week's Deadpod provides a perfect soundtrack - the second set from the band's smoking performance on August 24th, 1972 at the Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley CA. Each of these standards are played most excellently. In addition we are treated to a true pinnacle of improvisational excellence with the 'Dark Star>Morning Dew'. I would have thought th...

This week's Deadpod features a show from 46 years ago at the Berkeley Community Theater in Berkeley CA. This run, which lead up to the famous show at Veneta Oregon on the 27th, often is overlooked, but is a stellar example of why the band were at the top of their game during this period. While I previously featured the next night of this run, this may well be the better of those two. While the pla...

This week another super long set from 1974 - this of course is the second set from August 6th, 1974 at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City New Jersey. What a way to start - a wonderful 'Uncle John's Band' with a great jammy intro.. other great highlights from this set include a personal favorite - a nice 'Black Peter', an excellent 'Loose Lucy' and 'Ship Of Fools' - a bit more uptempo which I think s...

As summer flies, it seems this might be a good choice to wrap up the 'days between' and lead us into the rest of August; a true classic from August 6th, 1974 at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. The band is full on throughout this fabulous first set clocks in at over 90 minutes with some of the best versions of some of these standards that you'll find during 1974. You can feel the ener...

A wonderful second set to celebrate the start of the Days Between on this week's Deadpod from 6/11/76 Boston Music Hall.  What a way to open a set! St. Stephen!  They step it up even more by following that with a unique jam into  'Dancing In the Streets' into 'The Music never Stopped.. As you might notice there is no real drums or space in this second set, but an abundance of great tunes and fine...

The laid back rhythms of '76 make for a perfect compliment to the hot weather as we explore a wonderful show from June 11th, 1976 at the Boston Music Hall in Boston MA. A very clean recording and sweet solos by Garcia highlight this set.  Love the pace of this Tennessee Jed.. Big River will definitely get you up after a sweet and sleepy Candyman.. you'll feel the power building in the Scarlet as t...

This week's Deadpod features the second set from the beautiful Greek Theater in Berkeley CA that was performed back on July 13th, 1984. While this show is most famous for the 'Dark Star' encore (preceded by a shooting star), the set itself is quite solid with some outstanding performances for the year. They begin with a 'Scarlet>Touch>Fire' that is high energy and punctuated by some great work by...

On this Friday the 13th I decided to bring you probably one of the most famous Friday the 13th shows the Grateful Dead performed - this one from Friday, July 13, 1984 at the Greek Theater in Berkeley CA. While the show is justifiably famous for the appearance of Dark Star in the 2nd set; I'm completionist enough to include the 1st set this week. All in all, this is a good 1st set and a fine exampl...

For your post-July 4th enjoyment the Deadpod brings you the 2nd set from the Jai-Alai Fronton in Miami Florida on June 22nd, 1974. One of the great 'wall of sound' shows, this second set starts out strong with a wonderful 'China Cat Sunflower' into 'I Know You Rider'. A tight 'Me & My Uncle' and 'Ship of Fools' follow. The 'El Paso' is surprisingly hot. Then a long jammy 'Eyes of the World' op...

A year ago I played what many would consider the 'big brother' to this week's Deadpod selection - 6/23/74. This week I'm going to begin to feature the night before - 6/22/74 Miami Florida. This band may stumble on occasion here.. the levels take a bit to get 'just exactly perfect', but remember it was a 'wall of sound' show, and overall this is a great recording. The first set which we will hear t...

Happy Summer everyone!   This second set from May 11th, 1980 is really a classic set list with a powerhouse pre-drums set and a rare set-closing Johnny B. Goode.. I would've loved to have seen this one! Bet the place was rockin' after the Black Peter as well! Another example of 'never miss a Sunday show'!   Grateful Dead Cumberland County Civic Center Portland, ME 5/11/80 - Sunday Two Scarlet Bego...

The band was on a roll not only during May of '77 but also during May of 1980 so I decided to bring you this smoker of a show from that month, 38 years ago. This one comes from Portland Maine on May 11th, 1980. This one gets up and roaring with a hot 'Alabama Getaway' into 'Promised Land'. Garcia's voice is great on 'They Love Each Other' which follows and throughout. The only flaw here for me is...

This week's Deadpod features a very nice second set from Deer Creek Music Theater in Nobelsville Indiana on June 6th, 1991. The set starts with China>Rider, which, after a bit of a warm up moves along very smartly. While this is most definitely a 90s sound, there is enough great Garcia licks (as well as a great 'headlight on a northbound train'  to please, I think. The band are definitely function...

As we head into June and the Summer concert season I decided to bring you a show from one of the favorite venues for summertime Dead - the Deer Creek Music Theater in Nobelsville Indiana, from June 6, 1991. I like the balance on this recording - everyone's sound  seems well blended and no keyboards overpower the music. The 'Jack Straw' opener is especially bright and snappy..  other favorites for...

What a great set to share with you on this holiday weekend! This week we get to hear the third set from the band's performance on May 20th, 1973 at Santa Barbara California. The set starts out with a fine 'Truckin'.. but the magic starts right after that,  first in an exquisite jam out of Trucking, then, a 'Nobody's Fault' jam. I recommend letting the music take you where it will beyond this point...

This week's Deadpod continues with the second set of the band's performance back on May 20th, 1973 at UC-Santa Barbara, CA. While this set appears more like a 'first' set setlist, but the playing is spectacular throughout. 'Big Railroad Blues' is always a keeper and these early 'Here Comes Sunshines' are spectacular.   Grateful Dead Campus Stadium - University Of California Santa Barbara, CA 5/20/...

This wasn't the show I'd planned on presenting this week.. I thought oh this was too long.. but after listening to what I had prepared, and listening to this again, well, it was no choice.. so from the great year of 1973, we bring you the band's performance from May 20th, 1973 at Santa Barbra California.. Now this isn't your typical 2 1/2 hour show.. this one is going to stretch out for probably 3...

This wasn't the show I'd planned on presenting this week.. I thought oh this was too long.. but after listening to what I had prepared, and listening to this again, well, it was no choice.. so from the great year of 1973, we bring you the band's performance from May 20th, 1973 at Santa Barbra California.. Now this isn't your typical 2 1/2 hour show.. this one is going to stretch out for probably 3...