Twenty-One

Today, we first want to return to 1985 for a night at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena.

A couple of things about this.

• Sometimes a good run of shows isn't all in one venue, of course, and this is a good example of that. The good energy of the previous nights at MPP came along, although one might say it lasted the whole summer...did I mention that this was the "unofficial/official" 20-year celebration tour? 😉   Anyway, it's really a nice show.

• Sometimes the taping process is...mysterious. There are people who taped the shows, and then there are recordings that got patched into the mixing board - the "soundboard" copies - and nowadays there are even folks who spend their time mixing the two, to give a "matrix" experience of the concert.

I'm going to offer the soundboard copy first...

Then the matrix here...

The soundboard copy is tracked incorrectly, as the encores are in the middle of the sets. Whatever. Enjoy it.

Then we settle even further back in time...1971, at the Fillmore West in San Francisco.

This year we celebrate 50 years since the "Summer of Love." By 1971, events had seemingly soured the scene in the city, and many artists moved to the surrounding communities for a breath of fresh air and less stress. This may have played in part in why some of the arenas which had hosted the music of the later 60's began to close, most notably the Fillmore East (in New York City) at the end of April and this venue, on this night!

It's a great show. Yes, they are not exactly in tune for much of the night. Yes, the performances are a little more than ragged. It was a big acid blow-out, and it sounds like it. But it's great. I remember staying up to record it on the radio when I was in college, and as it crackled through my system I shared some of the trip...hope you will as well.

Set lists after the break...

Pittsburgh

Jack Straw
It Must Have Been the Roses
New Minglewood Blues
Friend of the Devil
Cassidy
Big Railroad Blues
Promised Land

Man Smart/Woman Smarter
Crazy Fingers
Lost Sailor
Saint of Circumstance
Terrapin Station
drums
Wharf Rat
Throwin' Stones
Turn on Your Love Light

Revolution
Brokedown Palace

San Francisco

Bertha

Me and Bobby McGee

Next Time You See Me

China Cat Sunflower >

I Know You Rider

Playing in the Band

Loser

The Rub

Me and My Uncle

Big Railroad Blues

Hard to Handle

Deal

The Promised Land

Good Lovin'

Sugar Magnolia

Sing Me Back Home

Mama Tried

Cryptical Envelopment >

Drums >

The Other One >

Big Boss Man

Casey Jones

Not Fade Away >

Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad >

Not Fade Away

Johnny B. Goode