The Deadpod

There were quite a few outstanding shows that took place in early Spring throughout the history of the GD, so picking one for this week's show wasn't that easy. I think this is however a good show from an outstanding tour, Spring of 1987. The band roars out of the gate on Jack Straw, then goes into an outstanding Franklin's Tower, in honor of Philadelphia I presume.. The first set is full of spark...

This week's Deadpod features the second set from March 16th, 1990 at the Capital Center in Landover Maryland. The set starts with an unusual Scarlet->Estimated combination, which then leads into Ship of Fools.. The Man Smart, Woman Smarter that follows has a unique sound as does the sweet jam leading into Space.. I'm not as big a fan of the intro into 'The Other One' this time.. Some folks dislike...

March winds will blow.. all my troubles away..... Well I can hope right? I thought for this March Deadpod that I'd bring you a show from the Spring of 1990, this one occurred the day following the show released as "Terrapin Station' .. on March 16th, 1990. I think this is quite an interested show as well and well worth a listen. Of particular interest in this first set is the first performance of...

This week's featured show on the Deadpod comes from a request from one of my listeners who has recently been digging on shows from 1970 - a truly great year - I only wish there were more recordings of the band from this year. This week's comes from February 23rd in Austin Texas. While this is obviously not a complete show, it still provides so much high energy Dead that I'm sure you'll enjoy it. F...

Laissez les bon temps rouler! OK, I'm a few days late: ) still the Mardi Gras run is a great occasion to commemorate and the Dead did it up right many years - this one I think was one of those.. this week we have the second set from February 11th, 1986 with the Neville Brothers. It starts with a nice jamming drums into a groovy Iko.. the Eyes that follows won't make anyone's top 10 list, but the d...

Hard to believe but it almost LENT already! And that of course means its Mardi Gras time! This next show up on our plate is from Mardi Gras 1986 - a request from a great friend of the Deadpod - from February 11th, 1986. This is one of those great Oakland Mardi Gras runs where the Neville Brothers opened for the boys (and we'll hear them on the second set next week). This week's first set, although...

Inspired - that's the word that comes to mind when I think of this performance.. this is a wonderful piece of work - surely one of the better shows of 1976, and this nearly 2 hour second set features some real gems. Lazy Lightin'>Supplication>Let It Grow.. the slow and beautiful St. Stephen, and the Stella Blue, of course.. oh that Stella Blue.. the end of which will surely melt your heart. I hope...

This week's Deadpod comes from another great request - this for a show that while widely traded back in the day, often had less than stellar sound. I think this copy is quite good however and am happy to be able to share with you this fantastic show from 1976. Both sets are very well played, and I enjoy the sound of Phil throughout.. Jerry's vocals are also spot on, especially in the second set as...

I've had the jones for some early mindbending Dead for awhile.. I finally decided this week was as good a time as any to feed it.. This week's Deadpod features fragments from two shows that took place 43 years ago, February 2nd and 3rd at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland OR. It's great to hear Tom Constantin on these tapes, I especially enjoy him on the Clementine from the 2nd.. that show on the 2...

All the publicity this week about the release of Dave's Pick's Vol 5. gave me a good excuse to bring out another 1973 gem to play on the Deadpod..  This week's show took place about a month after the 11/17/73 show featured on Dave's Picks - this one is from 12/18/73 at the Curtis Hixon Convention Hall in Tampa FL. - yes the night before the show featured on Dick's Picks Vol 1! I know  - finding th...

This week's second set from May 26th, 1993 features believe it or not probably the finest version of Playin' in the late 90s era. This is a real scorcher and the drums in the middle of the sandwich is very tasty as well.. Crazy Fingers is also quite nice and I'm a fan of almost any China Dolls... I hope you'll give this one a listen I am sure you won't regret it.. Grateful Dead  5/26/93 - Wednesda...

Of course I don't know how it has been where you are... but the winter up here in Michigan has been pretty mild so far (now I've jinked myself :) Still.. I didn't think a little pick-me-up would be a bad idea.. this show is a request from one of my listeners and I thought a little Springtime Dead would be just the thing for the after-holidays blues.. Hope you enjoy this one.. I'm always a fan of '...

This week a little early holiday cheer - I get alot of requests for these guys.. I shy away from featuring them too much, but thought that something from the recent fall tour might fit in nicely this week. I did enjoy the Shakedown :) Furthur Allstate Arena, Rosemont IL 11/18/11 set 2: partial Playin' in the Band Dear Mr. Fantasy Dark Star The Eleven Mountains of the Moon Saint Stephen Shakedown S...

This week's second set from December 6th, 1981 - I think any set with 'To Lay Me Down' in it is probably worth the trouble to listen to, and I think this one is quite nice, classic 81 Dead. I love the effects during space also.. (40 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor?..). Hope you enjoy this one too, thank you so much for your support. Grateful Dead - December 6, 1981 Rosemont Horizon Arena -...

This week's Deadpod comes from a show that took place almost exactly 30 years ago - back on December 6th, 1981 once again at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago Illinois. This is a very well played show, and I really think you'll enjoy the Sugaree as well as the Look Likes Rain, among others.. This was a really nice tour for the band, and they are firing together on all cylanders.. I hope you enjoy it...

This weekend, as we celebrate all those people and things in our lives that we are thankful for, I can think of nothing better to share with you than this wonderful music, music which has changed my life and touched my soul and which I'm sure means so much to all of you as well. Thanks for letting me bring this to you each week, and I hope you all enjoy this week's show as much as I do.. Grateful...

I'm afraid that when I think of an iconic year for Grateful Dead music in the month of November that 1973 always pops into my mind. This, combined with a long-time request for this show on my request list, led to this week's show. Yes, this is only a day before the show released as Road Trips vol 4 no. 3, and that release does contain a few songs from this set 2, nevertheless, this music is far to...

This week I'll make good on my promise to play the second set from the Dead's performance at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago Illinois on March 11th, 1993. If you're not familiar with the spoken word work of Ken Nordine you're in for a treat here as he recites two of his wonderful word poems, "Fliberty Jib" and "The Island".. the music is quite good also.. I won't say much about 'Wave to the Wind'...

Sometimes we all need to be flexible, right? Well this week I hope you'll forgive a change of plans. I'm going to push back the second set of 3/11/93 for a week to bring you a show that was played 26 years ago on November 5th, 1985 at The Centrum in Worcester, MA. The entire first week of November 85 was marked by a number of wonderful shows and this one is no exception. I decided to bring you the...

I've had a fair number of requests for 90's Dead shows recently, and this week's shows features one of the best shows that took place back in 1993. This one is a favorite not only because the second set features an appearance by Ken Nordine, but also because I really enjoy Jerry's playing and the rest of the band puts in a solid performance. This starts with a tight Help->Slip into a nice long Fra...

The second set of the Grateful Dead's performance at Wembly Arena on October 30th, 1990 features a great Foolish Heart and Looks Like Rain.. of course I readily admit a soft spot for a good Terrapin and this show has that as well. Listen for the Pink Floyd like phone calls during Drumz.. Grateful Dead - Oct-30-1990 Wembley Arena - London,England SET2 Picasso Moon Foolish Heart Looks Like Rain Terr...

This week's Deadpod came as the result of two requests I received this week - its not unusual to get requests but it is to get two requests for the same show, both from brothers in Europe! Its a fine show, and even though I'd played a show from this year recently I think its worth hearing this one. Besides, something in the ether is wanting me to play this so here it is :) This comes to us from We...

This week's Deadpod takes us back to some early "primal" Dead, back to the Winterland Arena in the fall of 1967. While we don't have all of this show, I think you'll enjoy how tight and well played these songs are. The band is clearly listening to each other and hitting on all cylinders. Pay attention to the lyrics used here on "The Other One". This show's a blast.. afterwards, I've included a cut...

This week as we end the month of September, we get to listen to the 2nd set of a wonderful show from the seminal Madison Square Garden run that occurred back in the fall of 1990. This second set starts out with a tight and wonderful Eyes->Estimated->Foolish Heart. We then go into quite a nice drums->space, which takes us to a nice quiet place ripped open by Phil as the band turns into the Other On...

Well Fall has officially arrived, and this season inevitably brings to my mind the fond memories of one of the greatest later-era Grateful Dead runs - Madison Square Garden in the Fall of 1990. When the band arrived in New York the jury was still out on their future following the passing of Brent Mydland. By the time they left after these shows, they had a new member, and any questions were answer...