The Deadpod

 A fine first set from a beautiful venue is on tap for this week's Deadpod. This performance, from August 3, 1982 at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City Missouri, features a most excellent first set.  Jerry brings the 'Mississippi Half-Step' to life by shaping the sound quite sweetly, and in particular the transition into 'Franklin's Tower' is not to be missed. Note the fine interplay with Phil h...

This week's Deadpod features the continuation of the band's performance at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco on July 13, 1976.  There are issues with the tape on 'Music Never Stopped' but this clears up quickly so please be patient.  'It Must Have Been the Roses' follows, then 'Samson' but the highlight here is a beautiful version of 'High Time'.  After some pause, they go into 'Saint Stephen'...

As we wind down the month of July and head into the Days Between, I came across this recording from the historic  July 1976 run at the Orpheum Theatre - San Francisco, CA which I thought was most enjoyable so I wanted to share it with you. This is from the second night, July 13. I hadn't heard the show in this quality before so I hope you enjoy it.  Some of the highlights here include a very prett...

This week's Deadpod features the audience recording of the second set from 7/14/81 at McNichols Arena in Denver Colorado.  A funky 'Shakedown Street' opens up the proceedings, followed by 'Samson & Delilah' and an intimate 'High Time'.  Bobby blows the circus whistle for the start of a strong 'Truckin', punctuated by a great Jerry solo going into 'Eyes of the World' (unfortunately a small cut in t...

"Being summer, I took off my shirt...." well I'm not taking my shirt off but I am bringing you a summertime treat I think, with an excellent audience recording of the band's performance in Denver on July 14, 1981. As I listened to this tape it just struck me that the feeling of being there that a good audience recording gives you was perfect for this time of the year, when many of us have been luc...

 Here's the second set from the band's performance at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on June 23, 1990.  A rather slow and dreamy 'Eyes of the World' leads us into a great 'Looks Like Rain', Bobby really does it justice here. 'Crazy Fingers' follows and while Jerry's voice is a bit craggy here its still, for me, a pleasure to hear. The band busts it out on the following 'Playin' In the Band' which opens...

Summertime.. and the livin' is easy...  This week I decided to bring you a show from the summer tour of 1990, one of my favorites.. this comes to us from Eugene Oregon from June 23, 1990. A fine afternoon show, Little Feat was the opening act and the fans were treated to what I think is a great display of the band at this period of time.  A powerful 'Feel Like a Stranger' opens things up, then Jer...

Prepare to be psychedelicized this week as we listen to set 2 of the Dead's performance at the Fillmore West in San Francisco on June 7, 1970.  The boys take us right to the deep end with a Cryptical to open set 2, then blow into a great Other One, and back into Cryptical. Drums then take us into a rare 'The Main Ten' jam before we get to hear the very first 'Sugar Magnolia'. Pigpen is in fine for...

This week's Deadpod is a short but very sweet show from June 7, 1970 at the Fillmore West in San Francisco. This week's first set is 'relatively' acoustic, that is the first two songs are acoustic, but Jerry uses an electric guitar and Weir acoustic on the remainder of the som et. Frdeadlists.com:  " David Nelson plays mandolin on Cold Jordan and Swing Low, and he and Marmaduke contribute backup v...

This one is a treat for me to listen to so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do... this second set from the band's performance at the first 'Day on the Green' on June 8, 1974. These '74 Wall of Sound shows are some of my favorites, as you can tell from the opening 'U.S. Blues' that the boys are here in full force. Keith and Phil are rocking and the entire ensemble sounds great throughout. The 'cosm...

 This week's Deadpod comes from the famous 'Day on the Green' #1 at Oakland Stadium on June 8, 1974.  This first set of this 'Wall of Sound' show, features less jamming than will be coming up in set 2, but still some wonderful playing, highlighted by some great contributions from Keith and Phil. I particularly enjoy the stand-alone Scarlet and the Greatest Story Ever Told!     Grateful Dead Oaklan...

A fine second set from Boston Garden on May 12, 1980 to send you off on your Memorial Day weekend adventures. This one starts with an excellent 'Feel Like a Stranger', followed by an intense 'Ship of Fools'. A rolling 'Estimated Prophet' and 'He's Gone' follows, but then the band dissolves into a unique and interesting 'Caution' jam for about 10 minutes, for me the highlight of the set. Drums foll...

One of my favorite tours, the Spring tour of 1980 will give us one more fine show on this week's Deadpod. From the old Boston Garden on May 12, 1980 the boys shook the rafters on this Monday night with a rocking first set.  They come out blazing with a great 'Jack Straw>Alabama Getaway>El Paso' opening trifecta. While this is an unusual combo, Jerry and Brent in particular shine on these opening t...

 I don't believe Friday the 13th is bad luck here on the Deadpod! This week's show is the 2nd and 3rd sets from the band's performance in Paris France on September 21, 1974. I've taken the liberty of removing 'Seastones' which started set 2, simply because I generally find it unlistenable.  Be that as it may the Playin' In the Band which follows and which concludes the second set is one of the hig...

As this weekend is the first weekend in May, we not only celebrate our Mothers, but the Run for the Roses! Naturally I felt this called for a rendition of 'The Race Is On', and this one comes to us from the bands European tour of the Fall of 1974. Specifically from Paris on September 21, 1974.  This first set which we will hear this week shows considerable change from those European shows of 50 ye...

This week's Deadpod features a long second set on the occasion of Brent Mydland's first gig with the band, on April 22, 1979 in San Jose California.  The band opens with the trifecta 'I Need a Miracle' into 'Bertha' into 'Good Lovin', while it starts out a bit rough it picks up alot of energy by the end and they then go into a wonderful version of 'Scarlet Begonias' into 'Fire on the Mountain'. Th...

43 years ago today Brent Mydland played his first show with the Grateful Dead.  This week we will listen to the first set of that show here on the Deadpod.  I think you'll immediately notice the increased energy on stage, especially when you compare to the early '79 shows. The boys have been rehearsing and I believe it shows in this first set. Highlights for me include the great 'Jack Straw' opene...

This week we feature a great set from April of 1971 - 4/12/71 from Pittsburgh PA.  Again, this is a sweet recording only one or two minor flaws. 'Truckin' starts us off hot, with some nice jamming punctuated by Billy K pounding the kit as they lead into a 10 minute 'Other One'. Of particular note here is the transition into 'Wharf Rat'.  'Me & Bobby McGee' is nicely done but marred at the end by a...

This week's Deadpod is from a marvelous sounding tape (with one or two issues) from the Spring of 1971. This set has Phil all over it - I especially love his sound on 'Bertha'. Pigpen does a wonderful 'Next Time You See Me', and 'Hard to Handle' (although it has a very tragic tape flip that loses the end of the song). The boys are tight and their playing is crackling with energy.  No jazzy spacy j...

No tricks here! Just some fine Grateful Dead from March 28, 1989 in Atlanta GA.  This week's Deadpod features the second set from the above performance at the Omni, and begins with a sweet 'Samson and Delilah' that gets the set off to a rockin' start. the 'Ship of Fools' that follows slows things down a bit, but is followed by a rare (in this time) complete, 'Playin' In The Band' which goes into a...

For several years, one of my favorite trips when Spring rolled around was to go down to Atlanta when the magnolias were bloomin' to see the boys during Spring tour. While the Omni might not have been the greatest venue, I always had a wonderful time. This week I decided to bring you a show from there that took place back on March 28, 1989.  This was has a great trifecta to start, with a wonderful...

This week's Deadpod features a fine recording of the second set from the Rex Benefit that took place on March 13, 1985 at the Berkeley Community Theater.  The boys give us a most excellent start with a fine 'Music Never Stopped' into 'Franklin's Tower'. While Jerry flubs a few lyrics here, he more than makes up for it with his fine soloing work. Bobby continues the first-rate performance with a gr...

This week's Deadpod features a Rex Benefit from March 13, 1985 at the Berkeley Community Theater.  It starts out with a smoking 'Jack Straw', this is quite a pleasure to hear. 'Althea' follows; here Jerry's voice is not in the best of shape, but as is often the case in '85 his playing throughout this first set is quite inspired. The cowboy combo of 'Mama Tried>Mexicali' follows and features both a...

 This week's Deadpod features the second set from February 17, 1979 in Oakland California.  This is a fine set, almost two hours long, and features some excellent improvisational jamming, as well as the return of some music into the rotation and the last time one song would be played.  Might as Well opens th ing sup, then a great 'I Need a Miracle>Bertha>Good Lovin' combo. Garcia is n particularly...

This show marks a significant event in the band's history - the last show with Keith and Donna in the group. It takes place on February 17, 1979 in Oakland. By this time, Keith's contributions had been steadily decreasing and while Donna was still, in my opinion, adding to the sound, it was clear that a change was going to have to happen.  This first set features the return of 'Greatest Story Ever...