We usher in the New Year with a long, fantastic second set from the Dead's performance on 12/30/78 at the Pauley Pavilion in UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. The bands opens with a trifecta of rock and roll - 'I Need a Miracle' (check out Weir's shouting here) into 'Bertha' into 'Good Lovin'. This leads into a fantastic, long Scarlet > Fire (almost 18 minutes). You might think they'd head into Drums and Space but no, tonight we get both a 'Playin' in the Band' AND a 'Shakedown Street' pre-Drums. This D...
Jan 05, 2018•2 hr 2 min
First off - Happy New Year! Always a significant date on the touring calendar, the NYE run has seen many great shows over the years. I've decided to bring you one from 39 years ago, 12/29/78 at Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in Los Angeles CA. This rather long first set is a combination of slower Garcia ballads and rockin' Weir covers.. but it all works and I hope you'll enjoy it. An opening 'Jack Straw' is always a treat, and this one is quite welcome.. 'They Love Each Other' follows, then Bobby bring...
Dec 29, 2017•1 hr 32 min
Our annual Christmas Deadpod features a very entertaining acoustic show from the summer of 1970. While it is true that the mandolin and the guitars are higher in the mix than optimal, I am of the opinion that the quality of the recording, and the originality of the set list, make this a worthwhile pastime on a cold winter's day. I do hope you agree. I wish for all of you peace and happiness and hope that this holiday weekend finds you with the people you love, for that is the greatest of all gif...
Dec 22, 2017•1 hr 3 min
This week's Deadpod features a one-set wonder (as it is only the 2nd set that we have a soundboard tape of) of a superb show from December 1st, 1971 from the Boston Music Hall in Boston MA. This is a beautiful recording of the young Dead and I'm quite certain you'll enjoy both the stand alone songs and the insane jamming of 'The Other One'. The ending 'Not Fade Away'>Going Down the Road Feelin' Bad'>'Not Fade Away' is wonderful as well. Grateful Dead Boston Music Hall Boston, MA 12/1/71 - ...
Dec 15, 2017•1 hr 7 min
This week - a really fun second set from the early Winter/late Fall of 79. This set starts out with a great Shakedown Street into a drummer's favorite - Samson and Delilah. Jerry slows things down a bit with a beautiful 'High Time' bu tthey pick back up with a long and well jammed-out Estimated->Eyes of the World. The jam going into Drums is particularly tasty. 'Black Peter' comes out of Drums, then they rock out the rest of the set with a 'Around and Around' into 'Johnny B. Goode', and a roc...
Dec 08, 2017•1 hr 36 min
This week - a show I really don't think I've broadcast before :) this one from my old hometown of Cleveland Ohio back on 11/29/79 at Public Hall. The boys always seemed to rock in the Land and this night was no exception as they started out with a great 'Alabama Getaway' into 'Promised Land'. Je4ry slows it down a bit with 'Candyman' but the 'Mexicali' is smokin'. A beautiful 'They Love Each Other' follows with some great leads from Jerry. Brent is stlll new in the chair but 'Easy To Love You' i...
Dec 01, 2017•1 hr 15 min
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm hoping you'll enjoy this early acoustic Deadpod as my holiday present to you... This comes to us from November 8th 1970 from the famous Capitol Theater in Port Chester New York. As is my tradition, we'll enjoy the fine acoustic set for Thanksgiving and then next week I'll present the tasty electric set. 'Operator' and 'Wake Up Little Susie' make their final appearance in this setlist, and be sure and catch the Godzilla discussion that (who else) Weir goes into.. there's e...
Nov 23, 2017•1 hr 8 min
This week we hear the conclusion of this great, fresh sounding show from April 14th, 1971 at Bucknell University. This set starts with a great and somewhat longish for the period, Bird Song, and just keeps getting better.. with a unique Sugar Magnolia, a psychedelic Crypical, and the Pig on 'Hard To Handle'. The closing jam on 'Not Fade Away'-> 'Goin' Down the Road'->'Not Fade Away' is great and they come back for a nice 'Uncle John's Band' encore. Hope you enjoy this dose of early, Good '...
Nov 17, 2017•1 hr 26 min
This week's Deadpod takes us back to the early days of 1971, to a performance that was before a small crowd at Davis Gymnasium on the Bucknell University Campus in Lewisburg PA on April 14th, 1971. This is a wonderful tape, despite a little static here and there.. it has by and large excellent sound and the band is really energized. There's a great mix of rocking numbers like 'Truckin' and 'China Cat' along with quieter ballads like 'Me & Bobby McGee' and 'Sing Me Back Home'. I love how clea...
Nov 10, 2017•1 hr 20 min
This week we bring you the historic second set from the Dead's performance on Holloween night, 1991 in Oakland California. This one is powerful, dark at times, rocking at times. Very introspective I think. A great 'Scarlet->Fire' leads it off, followed by Bobby on Truckin' and Spoonful. The Dark Star is the heart of the matter of course, wonderful flights of imagination and highlighted by Ken Kesey's eulogy for Bill Graham. Words that resonate today. The Last Time is a great choice coming out...
Nov 03, 2017•2 hr 2 min
This week I've decided to bring you the first set of what might very well be the band's most historic Halloween show - 10/31/91 in Oakland. The run was historic because it occurred the week of the passing of Bill Graham in a tragic helicopter crash. A great friend of the Dead, Bill's passing was marked in the second set of this show during a eulogy from Ken Kesey, which we'll hear next week. This first set however is definitely worth hearing and should provide a great warm up to your Halloween w...
Oct 27, 2017•1 hr 2 min
This week's Deadpod features a rather historic show in the band's history - this was the very first show with Keith Godchaux, on October 19th, 1971 in Minneapolis Minnesota. Not only was this Keith's first show it features the premier of six songs that would all become staples in the band's repertoire, Tennessee Jed, Jack Straw, Mexicali Blues, Comes a Time, One More Saturday Night and Ramble On Rose. There's plenty of energy in this set, and the new tunes and the addition of Keith mark a turnin...
Oct 20, 2017•1 hr 32 min
This week's Deadpod features the 2nd set of the band's performance on October 14th, 1977 from the Hofheinz Pavilion at the University of Houston in Houston Texas. They really come out rocking here with a great Bertha into a sweet Good Lovin'. Candyman follows, with Garcia in fine voice. Then they move out into space with a fine, long 'Playin In the Band'... some great explorations here. They transition seamlessly into a short but interesting Drums, then back out quickly into that beautiful intro...
Oct 13, 2017•1 hr 33 min
This week we'll feature a fine show from the Fall of 1977, a period which doesn't get as much attention as the Spring but which nevertheless contains some very fine music. This fine show from October 14th, 1977 at the Hofheinz Pavilion in Houston Texas has some wonderful harmonies - check out the wonderful Mississippi Half-Step and the really beautiful Friend of the Devil. Passenger and The Music Never Stopped show the band can still rock it this night as well. Grateful Dead Hofheinz Pavilion - ...
Oct 06, 2017•1 hr 29 min
We'll close out September with the second set of this fine show from September of 1982.. September 21st at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It starts with an interesting combo of 'Touch of Grey' into 'Samson and Delilah'. 'High Time' follows, a song far too infrequently played, in my opinion. Estimated Prophet goes into He's Gone - marked by a loud M-80 which was set off during the song. Post-Drums, Jerry brings things home with 'Black Peter'.. then Bobby ends with a rockin' Good Lovin'.....
Sep 29, 2017•1 hr 41 min
Happy Autumnal Equinox! While it still feels like summer here, we have a wonderful show from 1982 to celebrate the arrival of Autumn. This comes to us from September 21st, 1982 at Madison Square Garden, N.Y., N.Y. This first set has been called the best of the year and while I'm not quite certain I'm willing to crown it that I will say I found it very enjoyable and hope you do as well. This is one of those shows where they delighted the crowd with an unusual opening.. a wonderful Playin' in the ...
Sep 22, 2017•1 hr 12 min
Always a great way to start out set 2, this week's Deadpod starts with a wonderful Scarlet ->Fire. The boys do a nice job of exploring on this one, as the Scarlet is a bit more exploratory as usual, and that is a property of this entire set. Highlights for me include the great transition between Eyes of the World and Space, Garcia really explores some new areas there. The unusual post-drums setlist puts Not Fade Away before Wharf Rat and gives us a unusual double encore to end our evening! Gr...
Sep 15, 2017•2 hr 2 min
This week we celebrate going back to school with a trip back to one of our favorite schools - the Univ of California at Berkeley with a wonderful show at the Greek theater on September 12th, 1981. The show is rad throughout, but this first set is off the hook with a great Shakedown Street opener and a rousing Greatest Story to open the set. Friend of the Devil follows in a slower but quite pretty tempo. El Paso is improved with some Jerry trills.. but the Birdsong that follows is clearly the hig...
Sep 08, 2017•1 hr 26 min
This week's Deadpod opens with a classic combo the band did justice to as they opened the second set on August 22nd, 1993 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. This Help->Slip->Frank is, and always was, a wonderful way to open a set, and I hope, a great way to open your Labor Day weekend. The jam into Slipknot is particularly tasty. They follow with a rockin' Samson (it was Sunday after all). Corrina makes a rare but welcome appearance on the Deadpod going into Drums and Space.. The post-dr...
Sep 01, 2017•1 hr 58 min
Usually in the month of August I'm drawn to playing some latter day Dead simply because the power of Garcia's ballads seemed to grow as his other abilities diminished. I also enjoy hearing some of the songs that the band debuted in the latter phase of their existence. Many listeners of the Deadpod only had the chance to see the band live in these latter day concerts as well, so its great to revisit them occasionally. I think the show I've chosen this week is one of the better ones. This occurred...
Aug 25, 2017•1 hr 4 min
We have a very fine second set to usher in the start of 'full eclipse' weekend on this edition of the Deadpod! Shows at the Uptown in Chicago were usually great, and this one was no exception. They start with a song they hadn't played since 1965! - Little Red Rooster - while you may have grown tired of it - the audience that night couldn't say the same :) The rest of the set is well played and I really enjoy hearing Brent as he fits into his role with the band at this early stage of his tenure. ...
Aug 18, 2017•1 hr 39 min
Version:1.0 StartHTML:000000211 EndHTML:000002646 StartFragment:000001205 EndFragment:000002614 StartSelection:000001205 EndSelection:000002614 SourceURL:https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7847493 This week we have a really fine show from the summer of 1980 - this one takes place at the Uptown Theater in Chicago IL, on August 19th, 1980. They start with a trifecta that really takes off and was only done on two other occasions, the Mississippi Half-Step->Franklin's Tower->Minglewood. ...
Aug 11, 2017•1 hr 28 min
Here is the second set from the band's performance on July 25th, 1972 at the Paramount Theater in Portland Oregon. I think its a great performance to hear during these 'Days Between' as it showcases the band at one of the peak times of their career. Check out the rousing 'Greatest Story Ever Told' and the unusually languid 'China Cat->I Know You Rider' that follows. The Other One and the jams around it are the stars here however. I'm happy that this one includes a fine 'Wharf Rat'.. while the...
Aug 04, 2017•2 hr 1 min
As we approach what would have been Jerry Garcia's 75th birthday on Tuesday, I always struggle with finding the appropriate show to feature. I settled on a classic show from the summer of 1972 which showcases the band during one of their best periods. This comes to us from July 25th, 1972 at the Paramount Theater in Portland Oregon. It is surely not the 'best' show of this year, perhaps not even the best show of the run, but it is surely a good show; the band is listening to each other and playi...
Jul 28, 2017•1 hr 44 min
This week's Deadpod features the second set from the excellent performance the band gave us from March 24th, 1973 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia PA. This performance is solid throughout, Jerry's vocals are spot on, and the entire band is on the top of their game. This set contains one of the great jams ever, coming out of Truckin' and through to the Dark Star. The China->Rider is no slouch either. Settle back and be transported.. Grateful Dead The Spectrum Philadelphia, PA 3/24/73 - Saturday...
Jul 21, 2017•1 hr 45 min
This week's Deadpod is a request from Steve, a great friend of the Deadpod's, who wanted to hear this phenomenal show from March 24th, 1973 at the Philadelphia Spectrum. The first set clocks in at over 90 minutes and is an excellent example of the early 1973 sound, where the band is moving from towards a more jazzy fluid style and its reflected even here int he first set numbers although perhaps more so in next week's set 2. Too many highlights to list here, but of course there is 'The Race Is O...
Jul 14, 2017•1 hr 56 min
Lucky 7's today :) and I hope you'll feel lucky after listening to this week's fine second set from the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mt. View CA on June 21st, 1989. This is a fine set for the period, Jerry is in excellent voice, and Phil is energetic and out front throughout. Jerry breaks out the Fender -Midi outfit during space, which is quite interesting and the addition of the late, longtime E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons adds a nice fill to several spaces in the music, I think. The ...
Jul 07, 2017•1 hr 52 min
Here we are already at the end of June.. summer is flying by and for alot of people this is the start of a big 4th of July celebration.. I decided to bring you what I consider a very good show from the summer solstice of 1989 - June 21st, 1989 from the Shoreline Ampitheater. This was originally offered as a Pay Per View broadcast so some of you may have watched it. Despite playing this first set in a hot, sunny afternoon (to accommodate East Coast viewers), I think they put on a fine performance...
Jun 30, 2017•1 hr 13 min
Version:1.0 StartHTML:000000211 EndHTML:000002909 StartFragment:000001205 EndFragment:000002877 StartSelection:000001205 EndSelection:000002877 SourceURL:https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7847493 This week we are back in Miami for the 2nd set of an incredible show the Dead played back on June 23rd, 1974. This set starts with a beautiful jam into Ship of Fools. The pace picks up with a sprightly Big River, featuring some great Garcia runs. Jerry slows the pace again with a soulful, 'Black ...
Jun 23, 2017•1 hr 32 min
This week's Deadpod features a classic from the Wall of Sound era - June 23rd 1974 - from Miami FL. This is a great big first set, to go with that great big sound stage - clocking in at over 1:47, and featuring some excellent versions of Dead standards along with the only time they ever played the great 'Let It Rock'. The sound is a bit muffled at first, but clears up fairly nicely, there are some anomalies here and there -this setup had its issues - but overall it sounds great. There's a fine l...
Jun 16, 2017•1 hr 47 min
