The Deadpod

This week we have the second set from the band's performance at Alpine Valley on July 7, 1984. This is a strong set throughout, with the band really coming together I think to deliver some great versions of these songs.  'Samson and Delilah' opens with the drummers providing the familiar beat.. Jerry follows with 'Cold Rain and Snow' - always appropriate for a July show. They then seg into 'Playin...

This week we travel to one of the beloved summer venues - Alpine Valley - for a show that took place back on July 7, 1984, a Saturday night.  The first set starts with 'Hell In A Bucket', then moves into a fine 'Dire Wolf' Jerry really belts it out here, and its fun to listen to. 'New New Minglewood Blues' follows with Bobby telling us its 'T for Alpine Valley' .. 'Dupree's Diamond Blues follows -...

This week's conclusion of the band's performance down at Eugene on June 24,1990 displays several sides of the band which highlight their agility and craft at putting together a setlist.  From the opening sequence which I'd describe as light and bouncy - 'Foolish Heart' into 'Man Smart, Woman Smarter' they move into 'Standing on the Moon' and 'Box of Rain'. They follow with a typically animated Bob...

 It sure feels like summertime here, and one of my favorite summer time tours was back in 1990.. this week we go back to Eugene for a fine show that took place on June 24, 1990 at Autzen Stadium at the University of Oregon.  The first set starts with a fine Help>Slip>Frank - Jerry has some great leads here.. Masterpiece follows and Bob does the vocals just right. Loose Lucy made its reappearance i...

 Here is the second set from the band's performance at the Boston Music Hall on June 10, 1976. Samson always seemed like a favorite to break out in Boston, and revs things up for a fine 'Help>Slip>Frank' here. Nice harmonies here, and the Slipknot features some upfront work by Keith. Bobby does a fine 'Let It Grow', then we have a mid-set 'Friend of the Devil' - a bit more spacey than usual, but t...

A fine show from the comeback year of 1976 graces this week's Deadpod. This is from June 10, 1976 at the Boston Music Hall in Boston. The thirteen song first set should provide plenty of chances to reflect on how fortunate we hare to have this music after all these years..  In general this set, as most from this time period, shows the band concentrating on tight arrangements with powerful singing,...

This week the Deadpod returns to Milwaukee for the second set of the band's performance from May 30, 1980.  A fine Scarlet>Fire opens this set, including some excellent jamming in the transition (by the way check out this week's Deadcast for an excellent discussion of 'Scarlet Begonias' here: https://www.dead.net/deadcast ) A seemingly short 'Playing In the Band' follows, but there is some excelle...

 I think we have a good one to send you off on your Memorial Day weekend - this comes to us from May 30, 1980 at the Milwaukee Auditorium in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  The first set starts with a fine 'Jack Straw' - the first minute forty is supplied by an audience tape but hold on because the rest is a fine soundboard. The transition jams from Jack Straw to Franklin's Tower are off the chart.. Jerry i...

This week on the Deadpod we continue with the second set from the band's performance at the Greet Theater in Berkeley California on May 21, 1982.  The set kicks off with a tight 'Playing In the Band' highlighted by contributions from Brent that are just exactly perfect. An uptempo 'Uncle John's Band' follows, the jam leading out into drums has a nice interplay between Phil and Jerry that is quite...

This week we go to the wonderful Greek Theater in Berkeley California for the band's performance on May 21, 1982. I think this was one of the better years in terms of the band's history and this is not only a fine recording but a well-played set that I'm sure you'll enjoy.  The first set starts with a 'Bertha>Greatest Story' combo, one that was fairly new at the time. Jerry slows it down with a 'F...

This week's Deadpod takes us back to Irvine California for the second set of the show from April 23, 1988. This second set is well-executed, tight yet containing several delightful spacey interludes. The opening 'Playin In the Band', while short, is quite interesting and gives way to an excellent 'Crazy Fingers'. That leads into 'Uncle John's Band', afterwards the band goes into a rather extended...

This week's Deadpod takes us to sunny California where we will get to hear a nice show from the spring of 1988. This one comes from April 23 at Irvine Meadows.  The boys open with a fine 'Hell In a Bucket' with Weir in full voice. 'Cold Rain and Snow' follows, then we get the first of several fun little interlude before a great version of 'Hey Pockey Way' with Brent doing a fine version.  Since th...

  This week we will hear the second set of the band's performance on April 4, 1993 at the Nassau Coliseum.  A short but tight 'Eyes of the World' opens up the second set, going into 'Samson and Delilah'. One of the highlights of this set follows, a fine version of Phil singing 'Broken Arrow'. Phil does an excellent job with this Robbie Robertson tune here. A nice 'Estimated Prophet leads into a fi...

This week on the Deadpod we have a very nice latter day show from Spring 1993. This comes to us from the Nassau Coliseum on April 4, 1993, and it is a Sunday night show.  Some of the highlights of the first set include a very nice Sugaree (Jerry's voice is a bit frail at times but he carries it off the entire show). 'When I Paint My Masterpiece' is always welcome in my book. Jerry does an excellen...

We roll into April, and the prelude to the big Solar Eclipse, we get to hear a wonderful second set from the Grateful Dead's performance on Sunday, March 30, 1980 in Passaic New Jersey.  While the setlist might look anything but innovative, the playing on these great classic tunes is anything but pedestrian. The entire pre-drums is full of some wonderful ensemble moments punctuated with some great...

This week's Deadpod features the second show the band played in 1980, this from the Capitol Theater in Passaic New Jersey on March 30, 1980.  Brent is fairly new to the band, and finding his way on some of these tunes.. they open with a relatively new 'Alabama Getaway' which goes into 'Promised Land' for a rockin' start to the evening. 'Cassidy' which follows 'Peggy-O' is a bit rushed, but the 'Lo...

This week's Deadpod features set 2 from the St. Patrick's Day show on March 17, 1988 at the Henry Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland CA.  I think you'll find this is a fine, high energy set, with some wonderful highlights, which include a roaring 'Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad' out of Space, and a particularly well done 'Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude' set closer.  The 'Black Muddy River' encore is...

In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day I decided to bring you a St. Patrick's day Dead concert - this one is from March 17, 1988 at Oakland California.  The first set, which we will hear this week, features a nice opening 'Hell In A Bucket'  into a fine 'Sugaree'. Another highlight is the first 'Memphis Blues' without Bob Dylan. 'Row Jimmy' and a nice 'Let It Grow' finishes the first set. I'll...

Here is the second set from the band's performance on March 3, 1981 at the beautiful Music Hall in Cleveland Ohio.  They open with 'China Cat', while Garcia flubs the first verse, he makes up for it with a fine transition into Rider. A rockin 'Samson and Delilah' follows and then a long 'He's Gone'. The Drums section is particularly potent here, leading not into a long Space but instead into a 'Sa...

 I think this week's Deadpod brings March in both as a lion and a lamb = this first set from Cleveland on March 3, 1981 has some great rockin' tunes and some sweet ballads to please the most discerning Deadhead.  Don't be put off by the start of 'Feel Like a Stranger' - the audience patch only lasts for a short bit - the rest of this tape is a fine sounding soundboard in which you can hear the int...

A wonderful set of classic Grateful Dead awaits your listening pleasure on this week's Deadpod as we visit the second set from their performance on February 15, 1973 in Madison Wisconsin.  The opening 'Here Comes Sunshine' foretells a special night as the band warms up with some fine renditions of several favorites leading into the real treat - a special 'Dark Star'. This version features some ext...

 This week the Deadpod goes back 51 years to February 15, 1973 when the Grateful Dead played a massive show in Madison Wisconsin. this first set clocks in at about 100 minute... it starts with a song they debuted about a week earlier 'Loose Lucy'. They are still warming up when they then 'Beat It On Down The Line'. Several favorites follow, but things really get rolling with a fine, up tempo 'Row...

    An unusual second set setlist and an unusual guest highlight this week's Deadpod from February 12, 1989 in Los Angeles.  Following an opening 'Iko, Iko', Bob breaks out 'Monkey and the Engineer' for the final time, although it sounds a bit different than in the past due to Bob's different timing of the verses. 'Alabama Getaway' follows, another unusual second set choice, then again, 'Dire Wolf...

This week's Deadpod takes us to L.A., where the Dead are joined by some special guests for a unique performance back on February 12, 1989.  This first set has a nice 'Cold Rain and Snow' opener, followed shortly by 'Hell In A Bucket'. 'Row Jimmy' follows with a nice dreamy tempo. An unusually placed 'Beat It On Down the Line' goes nicely into 'The Promised Land'. After a 'West L.A. Fadeaway', Spen...

  This week's Deadpod features a historic performance - it occurred on the night the band was 'busted down in New Orleans' - January 30, 1970 at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also historic as it was the last show that Tom Constantin played in the Dead.. but aside from that this is a fine show and I think you'll enjoy hearing this very good tape..  The tape is missing part of the opening...