The Deadpod

Well, I think that groundhog saw his shadow, but I've got a show for you this week that is sure to warm you up.. this one comes from way back in 1970 - from February 28, 1970 in San Francisco. While this was probably one long set, I'm going to play part 1 this week and part 2 next week.  The show starts with an unusual 'Lovelight' to open, and it has a different sound to it in this spot, a bit mor...

PLEASE NOTE if you automatically downloaded this episode this morning you may have a corrupted file  please redownload from this link! Thank you!   This week we conclude our visit to the Uptown Theater with the second set from the band's performance on  January 31, 1978.  This set starts with a fine Scarlet>Fire with a wonderful transition with Donna hitting this just right. The Samson is raging,...

 I'm going to do something I don't normally do this week - play the show immediately following last week's show.. and there's plenty of good reasons to do so. This show - 1/31/78 from the Uptown Theater in Chicago is very very good.  The opening 'Mississippi Half-Step' gives us a taste of what is to come - check out Garcia's licks here, then we get a smoking hot 'Passenger' with outstanding contri...

This week we feature the second set from the band's performance at the Uptown Theater in Chicago Il. on January 30, 1978.  I'm quite impressed with this set. It starts off with a fine 'Bertha' which goes into an excellent 'Good Lovin', followed by 'Ship of Fools'. What follows however is over an hour of non-stop Dead magic.  'Estimated'>'Eyes' where Jerry has some interstellar noodling going into...

As we head into the New Year, here's a January show, a rarity for the band, from the intimate Uptown Theater in Chicago on January 30th, 1978. While this first set doesn't have the jamming that you'll hear in set 2, it is tight and Jerry's voice is much better than it was earlier in the month. There is some funny back and forth between songs, and the Lazy Lightning is greatly improved by Phil's co...

 As we countdown the minutes until 2023, you should enjoy this gem of a show from 33 years ago - December 30, 1989. I don't believe I'm engaging in hyperbole if I say this is a great second set from this period of the band's history. There's not a bad song here. Jerry smokes his leads in 'Jack Straw' and 'I Know You Rider'. This 'Estimated Prophet is one of the best ever. I even dare say the drums...

 As Christmas approaches, Hanukkah continues, and the big snowstorm closes in on many of us, I hope that this week's Deadpod brings you some joy this week!  I bring you the first set of what is a really great show from December 30, 1989 in Oakland California. The opening 'Bertha' flows into a rare first-set 'Good Lovin' which then flows into an excellent version of 'Sugaree'. The entire set is qui...

Whoa! Another 2 hour plus Deadpod this week as we explore the second set of the band's performance at Duke University in Durham North Carolina on December 8, 1973. This massive second set contains both its share of standard tunes and psychedelic moments. They start out with some standard rockers - 'Around and Around' 'Ramble On Rose', 'El Paso'. (but don't miss the fun introduction with Phil and B...

 A really BIG show this week on the Deadpod!  From December 8, 1973 at Duke University we have this gem on this week's Deadpod. A huge 16 song first set featuring some really wonderful renditions and great jamming on some of these tunes. An example is Jerry on the 'Mexicali Blues', a very fine version of 'Me & Bobby McGee', and a complete 'Weather Report Suite'.  For fine jamming, the China>Rider...

Think that a show from 56 years ago doesn't rock? If so I challenge you to listen to this week's Deadpod... from November 19, 1966 in San Francisco, this primal Dead will surely knock your socks off... Such amazing energy and emotion on display here. The boys are spreading their wings while still exploring the legacy of the blues in the midst of Beatle mania.  There are many highlights here, but I...

I know that I've previously said how enamored I am of the music the Grateful Dead created in the Fall of 1973, specifically during November. Luckily for us, there is an exceptional set that has yet to be released commercially nor here on the Deadpod that I have the privilege of featuring this week. This occurred on November 1, 1973 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.  While we only h...

 Happy Thanksgiving!  As is the tradition on the Deadpod, this week we feature an acoustic set from the band. This one comes from the Warfield in San Francisco on October 3, 1980.  This one is in exceptional quality, I think, and so far as I can tell I haven't featured it before :)  Thank you so much for the privilege of sharing this music with you over the years. I can't tell you how much your ki...

This week's Deadpod features the second set from the band's performance in Oakland on November 20,1985.  The second set features some very nice highlights, including an excellent Sailor>Saint and an outstanding 'Terrapin Station'. This is a nice long version, punctuated by an excellent jam by Garcia going into the Brent tune 'Don't Need Love'.  The Sugar Magnolia was memorable as Bobby played rock...

A high energy first set for your enjoyment on this week's Deadpod comes to us from the Henry Kaiser convention center in Oakland California, on November 20, 1985.  The first night of a three night 'hometown' run, starts off with a roaring 'Jack Straw'. Jerry follows with a lovely 'Peggy O', then Bobby performs the bluesy 'CC Rider' featuring some nice effects on the Hammond from Brent. Following p...

The Dead played this second set 45 years ago today, on 10/28/77 at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City KS. This is a fine display of the rhythmic richness of the band at this high water mark of their career. The set starts with a high octane 'Samson & Delilah' then things slow down a bit for a sweet 'Candyman' and Donna Jean's 'Sunrise'. They start to rev back up with 'Passenger'...

We're going to close out the month of October with a great show from 1977. This one comes to us from Kansas City KS, on October 28, 1977. This week's first set is very melodic throughout, with a nice laid back rhythm for the most part.  Promised Land is the opener (don't fear -the audience splice only lasts a few moments), then a sweet 'They Love Each Other'. One of the things I love about this re...

While I played this show, unbeknownst to me, ten years ago on the Deadpod, I am still going to present the wonderful second set this week. This show, from Indianapolis on October 1, 1976, features a sweet second set. While a 'Might As Well' opener might not signal such a beauty, the 'Samson' that follows quickly convinces that we are in a for a treat. Great interplay throughout from Jerry and Phil...

This week's Deadpod features a set from the Fall tour of 1976. If you're not familiar with this period I think you'll enjoy this week's selection, which comes from Market Square Arena, in Indianapolis Indiana.   This is a fine set, in my opinion, which really gets going once they hit 'Deal'. The 'Cassidy' is no slouch and 'Big River' rocks as usual. The highlight of the set is probably the stand-a...

 Fifty years ago today, the Grateful Dead played this free concert in Washington D.C.  I present the fine second set for your entertainment today. I hope you agree that it is an excellent recording and contains some quite sublime moments. I'll draw your attention to just a few.. the 'He's Gone' is drawn out and heartfelt. I'm also a big fan of Jerry's performance of 'Brokedown Palace' here.  'The...

  This week's Deadpod features a 'free' show that took place on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. on September 30, 1972. This is a fairly standard '72 setlist, however it is a nice collection of well-played standards and we are fortunate to have such a nice recording (albeit there is a cut in the wonderful 'I Know You Rider').  Bob Weir is a bit higher in the mix than usual whic...

Pardon the brevity but as I'm feeling under the weather this intro will have to be even briefer than usual..  a find second set from the first night of the legendary Madison Square Garden run of 1990 features an excellent 'Scarlet>Fire' .. I love Phil and Jerry's contributions here, especially on the incendiary jams in Fire.. It's been awhile since I've featured a good 'Terrapin Station' and that'...

This week I'm featuring a show from the famous September 1990 run at Madison Square Garden in NYC, NY. I had thought I'd already played all of this run, but realized I hadn't played this - the first show of the run without Bruce Hornsby. This is a fine show, the band is jazzed to be back at the Garden and I think Jerry is in fine form.  The opening 'Feel Like a Stranger' is a great choice, and sho...

This Labor Day weekend the Deadpod brings you the 2nd set from the band's performance at the Shoreline Amphitheater on August 18, 1991. There's alot of joy in this set, I think, as the band seems to be enjoying themselves throughout. A fine 'Deal' opens things up - Hornsby is evident here and throughout. The band delivers a topnotch version of 'Samson and Delilah' to follow. A somewhat sloppy 'Mis...

   Here's a fun and happy Sunday show on this week's Deadpod - from the Shoreline Amphitheater on August 18, 1991. This first set features a very fine 'Jack-A-Roe' and some great piano work by Bruce Hornsby on 'CC Rider'. Jerry also brings out the Dylan cover 'It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry' which made its appearance this summer. One of the highlights of the set is Bobby seemingl...

This week's Deadpod continues the band's performance in Kansas City on August 3, 1982 at the Starlight Theater. This is a solid show, with a long, funky 'Shakedown Street' to kick things off. That flows into 'Samson', then a beautiful rendition of 'To Lay Me Down' follows.  Next up is a great version of 'Let It Grow', with some nice interplay between Jerry and Brent leading into the Rhythm Devils...