This first Deadpod of Spring we will be hearing the second set from the bands' performance on St. Patrick's Day, 1991 at the Cap Center in Landover MD. A fine pre-drums segment, highlighted for me by 'Crazy Fingers'... but what really brings the crowd to their feet is the east coast breakout of 'New Speedway Boogie' for the first time in over 20 years. This tune had been played on the west coast about a month earlier, but despite some rough vocals everyone was stoked to hear it! Post Drumx highl...
Mar 22, 2013•1 hr 49 min
Well it's St. Patrick's Day weekend! so i decided to bring everyone a dose of St. Patrick's Day Dead for this week's Deadpod... This show comes from the Spring of 1991, so there's both Bruce Hornsby and Vince Welnick in the mix.. This one starts with a nice Hell in a Bucket and a pretty good Sugaree.. Bruce is especially prominent during a squeeze box solo during Queen Jane.. the highlight of this first set is the breakout of 'Rubin and Cherise'. The second set will come next week, but I hope yo...
Mar 15, 2013•1 hr 8 min
This week I'm thought I would share this very interesting show from way back in 1969. This is quite a fine recording, and I thought I'd go ahead and bring you the entire show this week, although it makes for a bit longer Deadpod than usual. As you can see below the show features a number of tunes without Garcia and Pigpen; the story goes that each were too incapacitated in their own way, to continue.... the jamming how does.. and very nicely. I think you'll agree this is a fantastic recording of...
Mar 08, 2013•2 hr 2 min
This second set from 6/11/93 features the only Eyes of the World performed on the summer tour that year, as the opener. Its quite nicely done, and followed by another well-played Playin' In the Band... the band and Jerry in particular do a very credible job on these.. out of space, the Wheel and Watchtower are a pleasure to hear as well, but the Black Peter is a personal favorite and I think Jerry takes the time to do a decent version here.. the Sugar Mag had everyone dancing, and of course the ...
Feb 15, 2013•1 hr 48 min
I've had some requests for a 90s show and I thought this would be a nice change of pace this week. This was one of my favorite outdoor venues as a show here was, for all the hassles, usually a gas. This show, from Buckeye Lake in the summer of 93, was a blast. I think the band was having fun and playing well. The Jerry tunes here are fun to hear and I'm a real fan of the Tom Thumbs if this era as well as the Masterpiece. We'll hear the interesting set two next week. Buckeye Lake Music Center, He...
Feb 08, 2013•56 min
Nothing beats a fine second set like this one from fall of 73.. a great mix of songs.. starts off with some great classic, rocking numbers, then a truly fine Weather Report Suite - be sure and listen to the wonderful ensemble playing at the end.. I think you'll find the Dark Star that follows to be quite memorable.. it starts off quite softly .. but it certainly explores some unexpected spaces.. the Eyes that follows is very well played as is Wharf Rat.. I know I have a weakness for this era of ...
Feb 01, 2013•1 hr 49 min
I think this is a really nice second set from the great Fall of 1980 tour.. it contains some of my favorite songs and I think that Jerry and the band do them all justice. In particular the opening 'Feel Like A Stranger' however the following 'To Lay Me Down' is just too short and too sweet... The Let It Grow is back to full throtle Dead, and flows into a short but sweet Terrapin Station.. While the rest of the set may not match the pre-Drums peak, its still certainly worth listening to and remem...
Jan 18, 2013•1 hr 28 min
I've been wanting to play something from this time period for some time, and while I previously presented part of a show from a couple nights later, this recording captures quite well the bands' energy and talents during the tour from the late Fall of 1980. We'll listen to the first set this week, which features a really fine 'Little Red Rooster' as well as a superb version of 'Looks Like Rain'. The set closing 'Deal' is raging... I hope you enjoy this as much as I do, we'll listen to set 2 next...
Jan 11, 2013•57 min
Happy Holidays! On this Winter Solstice I bring you this the 2012 Holiday edition of the Deadpod. As is our tradition this week's Deadpod features acoustic Grateful Dead for your enjoyment. I decided to make this year's Holiday Deadpod both very classic and a bit different... First the classic - how about the very first acoustic set from the famous Fall of 1980 shows at the Warfield in San Francisco? We have the entire acoustic set from this famous show from September 25th, 1980 as well as sever...
Dec 21, 2012•2 hr 17 min
This week another fabulous version of Playing In the Band from 1972... this one is a real monster - Phil and Jerry trade some really intense leads and while this is not the only reason to listen to this set (recently re-mastered by Charlie Miller) its probably the highlight.. I think its certainly worthy of a listen and hope you do as well! Grateful Dead - November 18, 1972 Hofheinz Pavilion - Houston, TX Set 2: Bertha -> Greatest Story Ever Told He's Gone Jack Straw Deal Playing In The Band ...
Dec 14, 2012•1 hr 37 min
This week it's set 2 of 12/5/71 .. sure this one is not as crispy as many boards from this era, but this is such a fine, energetic performance that in my opinion it makes up for all the flaws in the recording.. Listen to the wonderful transitions from Dark Star into Me & My Uncle back into Dark Star and then into Sittin' On Top of the World... these are truly exquisite. This is a fine example of relatively early Grateful Dead.. I'm also a huge fan of the closing NFA->Goin' Down the Road-&...
Dec 07, 2012•1 hr 44 min
This week's Deadpod features a great show that I've meant to play for some time - the Grateful Dead's performance on December 5th, 1971 at the Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. This comes to us from a pre-fm soundboard, but the sound is a bit iffy at times and sounds a bit 'condensed'.. nevertheless the performance is really alive and Jerry is zinging with energy. The set features a wonderful Brown-Eyed Women, the only performance of 'I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water', ...
Nov 30, 2012•1 hr 24 min
This week's Deadpod features a wonderful show from 1969 - this one from December 19th, 1969 at the Fillmore in San Francisco CA. This show starts off with a rare acoustic 'set' of sorts with just Jerry and Bob, due, we hear, to Phil being late to arrive. His tardiness gives a nice treat - the first four songs are a great treat to hear, Once everyone is back in the fold, the band moves effortlessly into a great electric set, which I decided to bring to you in its entirety. To me, its a great trea...
Nov 23, 2012•2 hr 2 min
This week we will finish the Dead's 9/29/89 concert at Shoreline Ampitheater. As you can see below this is a fine second set. As a Terrapin fan, I would've been pretty darn happy with everything up through drums, and content when Bob broke out the Miracle that I'd gotten a full measure of the price of admission.. however that's when they broke out 'Death Don't Have No Mercy...' this was the first time since 1970 that this classic had been played. It always brings chills to my neck to hear Garcia...
Nov 16, 2012•1 hr 37 min
This week's show was the result of a request made over on the Deadpod's facebook page for a great version of Brent doing 'We Can Run'.. While this may not be the very best version of that song its plenty good.. and it is a part of a pretty good show from a great Fall tour. Highlights for me on this first set include the off-tempo Franklin's Tower, and a great Bird Song and Promised Land.. Set 2 follows next week, with a foreshadowing of the Hampton shows that came later in this tour.. Grateful D...
Nov 09, 2012•1 hr 15 min
This week we get to listen to the second set from a nice performance from the fall of 1972 - 10/28/72 Cleveland Ohio.. The Dark Star is clearly the crown jewel of this performance and I encourage you to read the description of that piece given by Robert Goetz in the Grateful Dead Tapers Compendium. It is far from the only thing worthwhile in the set to be sure. While some of the sound is not pristine (my apologies for that), still I really enjoyed the rest of the set, especially the Attics.. and...
Nov 02, 2012•1 hr 36 min
I know that I may have featured too many shows this year from 1972 (is that possible?) but being that its the 40th anniversary of these shows I'm naturally led to take a look at them and often I'm drawn by their quality. 1972 was a wonderful year.. this week I decided to feature this show from the weekend before Halloween due principle to the fact that I really really want to play the Dark Star from set 2.. sometimes this desire to feature a particular segment or song from a show might cause me ...
Oct 26, 2012•1 hr 22 min
This is a fine second set from the Fall of 1976 - enjoy this one along with the fine Fall weather.. I especially recommend that you savor the wonderful Slipknot.. as well as the Franklin's Tower that follows.. this is really an under appreciated gem. The Dancin'->Drums->Wheel->Ship is not only unusual but very nicely done, especially the Ship of Fool.. this one makes a truly wierd but wonderful transition back into the Dancin' reprise.. There's no point in describing the GDTRFB.. listen...
Oct 12, 2012•1 hr 33 min
Fall of 1976 was an excellent period for the band and this week's show is a nod to the upcoming release of 'Dave's Picks' 4' as well as a great representation of this tour, as we travel to Indianapolis for a show that took place on October 1st, 1976. We will hear the first set this week, and while it does take a song or two for the band to really rev up, I think by the time Deal arrives we know we're in for a good show. My personal highlights include the Brown Eyed women and of course, the rare ...
Oct 05, 2012•1 hr 1 min
This week's Deadpod allows us to enjoy the second set of the band's wonderful performance from Sept. 18th, 1987 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. If you caught the first set last week you know the band was firing on all cylinders here and they come out with a smokin' hot Shakedown Street, followed by a nice Man Smart, Woman Smarter, then an excellent Terrapin Station.. not a bad part 1! They come out of space with a rollin' Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad, which flows into...
Sep 28, 2012•1 hr 31 min
This week marks the 25th anniversary of the show I selected to play this week, and it clearly is one of the better later-day Dead shows. This comes to us from September 18th, 1987 at Madison Square Garden New York. It starts out with Weir refering to their appearance on Letterman the night before and then kicks into a great Hell In a Bucket... The Sugaree that follows is no slouch.. This first set also has a wonderful version of Candyman and When I Paint My Masterpiece. Its a short but solid set...
Sep 21, 2012•1 hr 2 min
This week's Deadpod features the 2nd set from the performance that took place on September 11th, 1990 at the Spectrum in Philladelphia PA. This was the first performance of "He's Gone" since Brent had passed, and I really feel that the emotion for both band and audience alike comes through on the music. The 'Spoonful' that follows surely was a deliberate pick and is also fairly heavy with emotion.. an interesting and unique jam follows.. after Drumz, the highlights for me are a well performed 'B...
Sep 14, 2012•1 hr 46 min
There's of course quite a lot of interest in the Grateful Dead's 1990 catalog right now with the release of the Spring 90 box set. As I reflected upon that year, and on this month, I was led to choose this show for the next Deadpod. I've always loved this performance. It took place when I was still saddened by the loss of Brent Mydland and fearful for what would happen to the band, and it reaffirmed for me the power and sway of this music in a way words won't do justice. We'll listen to the seco...
Sep 07, 2012•1 hr 4 min
This week we have the opportunity to experience the 2nd and 3rd sets from the legendary Field Trip which took place on August 27th, 1972 in Veneta Oregon. While I inadvertently omitted the opening Playin' In the Band from last week's Deadpod - it starts us off this week as we strap in and prepare for flight! And what a ride this one is.. this is a show you should simply experience for yourself - music that is not only pleasurable but transformational. Don't overlook songs like 'Jack Straw' - you...
Aug 31, 2012•2 hr 15 min
This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of what some call the greatest single Grateful Dead show ever. While I might not go that far, it certainly was a remarkable occasion and one well worth reliving. While the band is firing on all cylinders as was often the case during this remarkable year, its clear that there is something special in the water this day. The 'Field Trip' as its been known is a very special afternoon and evening of remarkable improvisational psychedelic music. During this week...
Aug 24, 2012•1 hr
This week, the heart of set 2 from the classic Red Rocks show performed on July 8th, 1978. There's no filler here, folks, just prime cut Dead. You might notice that sometimes they're not quite sure where the muse is going to take them, but once it does they follow at full throttle. The Wharf Rat is one of my all time favorites. The Werewolves of London is clearly the best they played. Grateful Dead July 8, 1978 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO from set 2 Estimated Prophet -> The Other One ...
Aug 17, 2012•1 hr 43 min
Here's a really fabulous show from the summer of 1978.. from a listener request, one of two *great* shows at Red Rocks that ended Summer tour that year, I picked this one mainly because the tape is of such fine quality. The boys are very energetic, you can just hear in their voices how much fun they are having. Another thing to notice is how up in the mix Bobby is here - you can really hear his distinctive sound and what he adds to the mix. This El Paso is one of my favorites! Settle back and en...
Aug 10, 2012•1 hr 16 min
Here we are again - another year rolls by - I'm thankful we have so much of Jerry's music and spirit to move us. I decided to play this one for you this week - I was turned on to this version by a good friend of the Deadpod - its been called the last great Grateful Dead show. That's hyperbole I'm sure but I played it for the Stella Blue... its not the Stella Blue I listened to this week when I sat in the Grateful Dead movie.. here is Garcia 20 more years down the line.. 20 years of experience, w...
Aug 03, 2012•1 hr 52 min
Set two of a fine show from the Summer of 1990 is up to entertain you this week - personally I'm a fan of the Standing on the Moon->He's Gone->JAM.. good stuffI recall everyone on their feet and shaking it for the Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad.. Hope you enjoy the show! 7/6/90 - Grateful Dead Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY Set Two China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider > Man Smart, Woman Smarter > Standing On The Moon > He's Gone > Jam > Drums > Space > Truckin' ...
Jul 20, 2012•1 hr 46 min
This week I decided to play a show that I have some fond memories of - July 6th, 1990 at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville KY. I have vivid memories of the trip to this show (following the blistering 4th of July show in Kansas) as well as walking through this group of fundamentalists on my way to the venue (they were all carrying brooms and Bibles to sweep out Satan I guess).. the weather was HOT and they cut off beer sales right when the boys went on stage.. but still a great night of music.. The ...
Jul 13, 2012•1 hr 14 min
