Nineteen

Through all the broken dreams
And vanished years

It's hard to choose a single show on certain days, as I have said on at least one occasion, I think. Today I have three for you...continuing certain patterns, and an outlier.

In 1974, the group made it to Springfield, MA and played at the Civic Center.

Did I mention "Seastones" yet? Well, that was the name for the mini-set of...ummm...noises...during the break between the Dead's sets. Phil Lesh and Ned Lagin would take a few minutes to go off on what I guess you could call a precursor to today's electronic musics. Wild, and on occasion somewhat jarring. Great show, though.

In 1985, the band had landed in Columbia, MD at the Merriweather Post Pavilion for a two-night run which would stand up as a true summer highlight. This, the first night, is just sublime.

(but wait until tomorrow...)

The last one for today comes just two years later, at Kingswood Music Theatre in Maple, Ontario, Canada.

By summer 1987, the Dead were riding a wave of popularity due to the success of "Touch of Grey" on MTV. It ended up changing a lot of the dynamics of the group, and certainly played a role in how the final years of the band would go down before Garcia's death.

This is a real solid show, though, and could be worth a listen.

Set lists after the break...

Eighteen

It's not been uncommon through the years for a Dead show to be broadcast on local radio. It still happens, in fact...the latest incarnation, Dead & Company (featuring John Mayer), has webcast a couple of shows for free this summer. They will wrap up their month of touring this weekend in Chicago, at Wrigley Field. Should be a beauty! 😵

Speaking of Chicago...

When I was growing up, Chicago was the largest city in close proximity...and that meant about 3 hours on the road, counting traffic, to make it to the Windy City. I didn't make it all that often, but I remember the trips very fondly...and I have known many nice folks from Illinois, despite the midwestern rivalry. 😉

The lovely venue above (the Auditorium Theater) hosted the Dead on this date in 1976, and a local radio broadcast captured the jams...and boy, there were some jams...

...mellow ones, though. The tempos are still a subject of debate to this day! 

(that's true of the new group, too...old dudes play slow, can you blame 'em?)

Set list after the break...

Seventeen

Back to 1985 today, at Hershey Park Stadium in (wouldn't you know?) Hershey, Pennsylvania.

It rained during this show, I have read, so the big man had to wear a coat.
(Garcia was famous for his plain dark tee shirt look, so a blazer was a big deal! 😄)

It's a cool show. Some unexpected choices among the tunes, and some odd placements, if you look at trends and that sort of thing.

Vintage 1985, in summary. Blaze it!

Set list after the break...

Sixteen

27 June 1985 saw the summer tour land at SPAC - the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

For me, this was a tape which contained almost all of the first set and the beginning of the second...and although the quality isn't superb, it eventually became a favorite.

I really like the 1985 sound. It does seem to be a little stretched at times, sort of straining...and Garcia's health was becoming worse, so maybe it's all hindsight. Who knows. Loved that guy, though.

Love's a funny thing, you know? Keep enough for yourself, but don't forget to spread it around. Many people never get it from anyone else.

Set list after the break...

Fourteen and Fifteen

When company arrives as the weekend is ending, you know you're doing it right. 😎

It's after 1 a.m.  A two-for-one it is!

So yesterday we had 1978...from Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR.

1978 is like a really fine wine, but it's getting close to losing it...or something like that. Good show. Groovy venue. Big college town. Very nice!

Then, for today...1974, at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, RI.

What did I tell you about 1974?

It's the shit.

Set lists after the break...

Twelve and Thirteen

Ahhh, a four-day week.  Leaves Friday to be a day where often I just end up goofing around all day, but yesterday I did a lot of yard work...

...so I forgot to tell you what I was listening to!

23 June 1974, Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, FL

So this was basically an arena where you could watch competitive Jai Alai, which sounds pretty cool. Never played it. Never seen it! I should check out some YouTube...

Great show.  The passage beginning with "Dark Star" used to circulate on its own, as a "filler" on 90-minute cassette tapes that didn't entirely fill with a show. Awesome stuff.

24 June 1983, Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI

I guess it's the Alliant Energy Center now.  Haven't been back in a while...I am from Madison.

I saw a lot of hockey played at this arena, and some music too.  This show...damn.

Set lists after the break...

Eleven

1973...

In Vancouver, the Pacific National Exhibition Coliseum has hosted many concerts and events during its 49-year history.  The Dead were there on this date in 1973.

1973 was a very interesting year for the Dead.  They were starting to grow into the post-Pigpen lineup, with only one drummer and a very jazzy pianist.  The music began to stretch and songs that flowed migrated to the second set while other tunes seemed to make more sense at the beginning.

But there are exceptions to trends all the time, and one must not get too comfortable, so as to start predicting a Prankster...


Set list after the break...

Ten

Still in Alaska...longest day, takes forever to get back, you know... 😎

Heating up again.  Stay cool, stay safe.  Conserve electricity...listen to music, or "unplug" and play some of your own!


Set list after the break...

Nine

1980...

The Dead were officially 15 years old, and celebrating with a summer tour.  The fall schedule would include extended stays in New York City and San Francisco, which yielded two live albums - "Dead Set" and "Reckoning."  Both are great.

This show...is fabulous.  Up in Alaska at this time of year, the days are mighty long...more light to party, which many must have done at this performance in Anchorage, at the West High Auditorium.

Enjoy!!


Set list after the break...

Eight

Back at Shoreline, we have a show from 1989 today...and I like it.  The second set of songs (starting with "China Cat Sunflower") is another of the first group of tapes I ever had, so I am pretty fond of it.

It's so nice to have the Archive so that you and I can hear the first set as well!


Set list after the break...

Seven

This must be a decent day...

...there are so many contenders for today's selection! I am going to play it safe and choose a show from 1974 again, from Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY.

As you might guess, this is the show after the one from Iowa the other day. It's not uncommon at all to have excellent shows in bunches, and summer 1974 was a pretty big bunch.  You're going to hear more from it.  Today's is one of the tastiest.

Enjoy, and happy Father's Day!


Set list after the break...

Six

From 21 October 1975 to 2 June 1976, the Dead were officially "retired"...from touring, at least.

Today we have one of the four shows of 1975, this one from San Francisco's Winterland Arena.

There are also recordings of that year's rehearsals of much of the new material, which was arguably the most complex the band had attempted.  They're kind of cool.

The album from 1975, "Blues for Allah," is one of the first CDs I ever bought...great stuff.

Enjoy!


Set list after the break...

Five

Today, we are back in 1974...

It's a hot summer day at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and the Dead have come to play.

1974 was the year before the short "retirement" and it is notable for several truly remarkable shows, as they tried to take full advantage of their massive amplification system (the "Wall of Sound") in huge stadiums around the country.

This show is, for one thing, long.  It is also, truly, solid.

So many great jams, so many groovy moments...I have plenty of good memories of listening to this show.  Not the same as being there, but still pretty nice!

...time on your hands?

...then, why not another one?

This is from 1985, the Greek Theater in Berkeley.  Phenomenal show.


Set lists after the break...

Four

Today, let's come back to California and check in with 1990.  This show was performed at Shoreline Amphitheatre.

1990 is generally considered a very strong year for the band, and this is a pretty good show to demonstrate why.  Great songs, engaged playing...what a setting, too.

Also (sadly) notable since the keyboardist, Brent Mydland, would be dead by the end of the summer.



Set list after the break...

Number Three

We're going back to 1976 for today, but we've moved to New York City and the Beacon Theater.

On Monday I commented that the show of that day from Boston wasn't "the hottest"...well, that doesn't mean it wasn't rocking and rolling pretty well at times!  Today's show is similar.  It's got such a smooth feel...they had scaled back the touring rig considerably and were playing smaller theaters purposefully, and it paid off in some interesting ways.  I love this.

Also, the sound is tremendous.  There will be days/shows that will sound much different, you'll find, but this is a real gem.  Hooray!


Set list after the break...

Summer Tour, #2

Today we're going to head back to 1969, from the Fresno Convention Center, featuring Selland Arena, which may have hosted this.

A good example of what most of the shows seemed to be like at that time. Pigpen (Ron McKernan) featured prominently. "Primal" sound.

Enjoy!


Set list after the break...

Summer Tour, #1

Spend your summer six-week session nights listening to shows from a uniquely American band, the Grateful Dead.

The first show is from the Music Hall in Boston, Massachusetts.

Played 12 June 1976, it was one of the first after they returned from their "retirement" of about 18 months. It's got some funky moments but it's not the hottest of that summer, by far.

I got a tape of this show from some dude at Deadhead night at a local bar when I was in college.

Righteous...



Set list after the break...

Fare you well

We're done here.

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER