The Deadpod

My understanding is that it was raining hard most of this show but that did not stop the band, and Phil in particular, from smoking up the place with a great show.  A nice 'Good Times' opens things up, but the band really gets going on a strong 'Bertha'. Brett shines as always on a great 'Just A Little Light' my favorite of his songs. Hard to believe its been 33 years since we lost him :(  Other h...

This week the Deadpod continues with the high energy second set from July 9, 1989 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. This is a rockin' second set, starting with a great 'China>Rider' - check out Jerry when he is on that northbound train! The jam out of Truckin' is also quite excellent and the entire post-drums sequence shows some serious rockin'!  Never miss a Sunday show!  Grateful Dead Gi...

This week's Deadpod came from a request from Tyler, a friend of the pod, who wanted to hear this classic summer stadium show from 1989. This is from Giants Stadium on July 9, 1989. The band is fired up and ready to satisfy what I'm sure was a loud and raucous crowd, opening with the classic 'Shakedown Street' and then an uptempo 'Jack Straw'. Things slow down a bit with 'West L.A. Fadeaway' then t...

This week we'll conclude our excursion into the final Dead & Company tour with the second set from their performance at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA on June 15, 2023.  This is a fine set the tone set by a fine opening 'Fire on the Mountain'. The 'Estimated' into 'Eyes of the World' is perhaps the highlight of the set with some particularly fine phrasing throughout. I've heard others say...

This week is a first for the Deadpod as I've decided to bring you a fine audience recording of one of the recent Dead & Company Final Tour shows. This is from Philadelphia on June 15, 2023.  I think this tour has to rank among one of, if not the best, run that Dead & Co. has performed, and since they do not plan to tour after this I felt it worthwhile to try and document at least one of these fine...

This week we feature the second set from the performance on June 22, 1976 near Philadelphia PA. Again, an unusual opener, with a jazzy 'Playin' going into an intense 'Space Jam' - this one featuring the 'Happiness is Drumming' themes that later developed into 'Fire on the Mountain'. 'The Wheel' follows, with its own spacy elements, including some great Phil riffs, before going back into the 'Playi...

This week the Deadpod returns to 1976, for a sweet show that took place at the Tower Theater near Philadelphia PA on June 22.  A great first set starts out with an unusual 'U.S. Blues' opener, then continues to surprise with a nice 'Music Never Stopped', then an excellent 'Crazy Fingers' into a sweet, soulful 'Comes A Time'. A rocking 'Big River' gets the train rolling with 'Tennessee Jed' followi...

This week we return to Deer Creek for the second set of the band's performance on June 9, 1991.  This second set opens with a scorching Scarlet>Fire.. the boys put it together here, with Jerry adding some nice flute-like touches and Hornsby pulling out the squeezebox during Fire.. one of the best of the year for sure. 'Truckin' follows, with an excellent closing jam into 'New Speedway Boogie' whic...

Summer is here, and it's time for a classic Summer show, this one from the Summer tour of 1991, a very good tour in my opinion.  This week I decided to share the first set of the show from June 7, 1991 at Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, a favorite stop on the latter day tour trail.  This set starts with a fine 'Half-Step', Jerry has a wonderful closing jam on this one.  The Rooste...

For your Memorial Day weekend we have the second set of the band's performance on May 25, 1974 at the University of California at Santa Barbara.  After a rocking 'Promised Land' opener, and 'Ship of Fools' we are treated to a wonderful 'Big River' - Keith's piano work here is outstanding. The meat of this set however comes in the wonderful 'Truckin' that really showcases why this was a vehicle for...

We're stepping it up this week.. yes! believe it or not, this week's Deadpod is probably even hotter than last week's show from 1973! This one comes from May 25, 1974 at Santa Barbra California. A beautiful afternoon show that must have seemed to go on forever...  The first set starts with a U.S. Blues.. a great way to start a show and start this 13 song first set! The entire set is smoking hot, a...

This week we continue listening to the second set of the band's performance at Memorial Auditorium in Uttica New York on March 21, 1973. As was the case last week, we have a very long set this week, around an hour and 43 minutes. This set features more jamming of course, including a jazzy 'Dark Star' marked with some fine drum rolls by Mr. Kreutzmann, a lovely 'Eyes of the World' and several class...

Happy Cinco de Mayo! As we roll into the first weekend in May, I wanted to bring out the customary tribute to the Kentucky Derby with a fine 'The Race Is On'. This show does that as well as pays homage to the new, fat,  'Here Comes Sunshine' release from Grateful Dead Productions ( Here Comes Sunshine from Dead.net ). This show does both, although it takes place in early spring of 1973, rather tha...

This week's Deadpod features a fine second set from the band's performance on April 15, 1988 at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago Illinois.  The band is tight throughout on this night, starting from the opening Bucket, which goes into a very nice 'Crazy Fingers'. Garcia gives a lovely solo here, and it sets the mood for a reflective 'Looks Like Rain' which follows and on which Weir provides a lovely...

 We are going to stick with the late 80's this week as we feature a show from the Rosemont Horizon on April 15, 1988.  I believe this is the only Scarlet>Fire opener the boys ever played, which immediately makes the radar go up that we're in for a good show. I don't think this one disappoints. Weir slows things a bit with a 'Walkin' Blues' but Jerry follows with the always favorite 'Candyman'. Bre...

 Hey Now, this week we'll play the second set from the band's performance on April 7, 1987 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.  'Box of Rain' is the opener here, a rather unusual choice. A short 'I Need a Miracle' follows into 'Bertha'. 'Ship of Fools' slows things down, but they then go into another crowd favorite, 'Man Smart, Women Smarter' before going into a fairly lengthy drums and Space.  Out...

36 years ago the Grateful Dead played this week's show at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, and also on the radio. This week's first set has some fine rocking although perhaps not alot of jamming. The boys start with 'Touch of Grey' played perhaps a touch too fast, but this goes into a nice 'Minglewood' with a strong Phil bass line, then Jerry sings a great 'Friend of the Devil'. There are s...

After five months of 'retirement' the Grateful Dead returned to the stage at this benefit concert in San Francisco on March 23, 1975. While they were billed as 'Jerry Garcia and Friends' and Ned Lagin and Merl Saunders were sitting in, this performance was seen by most as confirming the rumors that the Grateful Dead's retirement was ending.  I will leave it to you to imagine what it must have been...

This week on the Deadpod we'll hear the second set from March 5, 1992 at Hampton Virginia.  This starts with a very nice 'Eyes of the World', and you will immediately recognize the presence of both Hornsby and Welnick on this long 14+minute version.  'Way To Go Home' follows. I think this is the 4th time I've played this on the Deadpod, and the first since 2017. Consider it a watermark of the time...

This week the Deadpod moves twenty years in the future from last week's set,  this one which took place on March 5, 1992 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton Virginia. The first set, short as was the norm during this period of the band's existence, opens with a fine 'Help>Slip>Frank'. The boys sound energetic and Jerry plays some fine licks here, especially during the 'Slipknot'. A long bluesy 'The...

This week we move onto the second set from this massive show that took place on March 16, 1973 at the Nassau Coliseum. When you look at the setlist and the timings you might be tempted to think that the first half of the show is just a warm up to the huge Dark Star jam that takes place in set 2, but that would be a mistake. The band screams during these first three numbers in particular! I love th...

This week's Deadpod features another fabulous show from 1973. This week's show comes shortly after the death of Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan on the 8th of February 1973, and is the 2nd night of a three night run at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale NY, on March 16, 1973.  Folks this is a massive 14 song first set, and the come out of the gate flying with a high energy 'China>Rider', complete with a great,...

This week's Deadpod features the second set from the band's performance on February 21, 1991 in Oakland CA.  This is a very nice second set, sans Bruce Hornsby, it starts out with the unusual set opening 'Playin In the Band'. This version is quite nicely jammed out and just when you wonder when they'll come down we get a 'Terrapin Station' tease.. but no, they go instead into a tight 'Uncle John's...

This week we feature a fine show from February 21, 1991 at the Oakland Coliseum. This was the last night of a three day run to open the year for the band, and this particular run was without Bruce Hornsby. Any show that opens with 'Help>Slip>Frank' offers great promise and I think they boys delivered on this night.  The 'Slipknot' in particular is especially well-formed, and sweet to hear. They fo...

This week we bring you the conclusion of the band's performance on February 28, 1970 at the Family Dog at the Great Highway in San Francisco California.  The set starts with 'Good Lovin' complete with a very interesting drum solo followed by a wonderful jam.  The drummers return for a unique set between 'Alligator' and 'The Other One', which is followed by the rare 'Mason's Children'. The band ret...