Thirty-Nine

Only one show today.  In fact, there is only one show to choose, as they never played on this date in any other year.

1994, at Deer Creek.  It's a decent show, and apparently some rank it quite highly for the year.  Of course, for some, that's barely saying anything, since by this point things were almost done.

I won't go that far, and I leave it up to you to see if you can dig it.

This is Vince Welnick.  He replaced Brent Mydland in the fall of 1990, after Brent's passing at the end of summer (Bruce Hornsby also sat in from time to time during Vince's early days with the group, but it never became permanent).  He used to be part of The Tubes, responsible for the hit single (and music video) "She's a Beauty."

With the Dead, he had a rough tenure - I've mentioned that Brent had a hard time fitting in, and I have read that the same was true for Vince.  I can't imagine how hard that sort of role would be to fill.  Also, even though I am not a huge fan of the tunes he brought to the group (including "Samba in the Rain," performed in the second set of this show), I have a soft spot for Vince.  I wish he was still with us.

Garcia's passing hit him very hard.  He was not able to escape his demons, and apparently tried to commit suicide in late 1995.  He recovered enough to keep going, still pursued by depression, and in a 2003 interview he was quoted as follows:

In 2006, he killed himself.  Rest in peace, Vince.

Be good to yourself.
Set list after the break...

Feel Like a Stranger
Peggy-O
Beat It On Down the Line
High Time
Memphis Blues Again
Childhood's End
Don't Ease Me In

Box of Rain
Samba in the Rain
Looks Like Rain
Here Comes Sunshine
Corrina ->
Mathilda ->
Drums ->
Space ->
Uncle John's Band ->
I Need A Miracle ->
Morning Dew

Johnny B. Goode