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...