We continue this week with the second set from the band's performance on January 11, 1979 at the Nassau Coliseum. They come out smoking with a hot version of 'I Need a Miracle'; Bobby is pretty amped up here and there is some very nice guitar work in this version. Ship follows and slows things down a bit, but the Estimated that follows gets things in the groove again, and leads into a long 'He's Gone'. Here the tempo slows down again, but still has some nice moment. Drums leads into a very short...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 46 min
We head into the new year with a show from the Winter of 1979 - this comes to us from the Nassau Coliseum on January 11, 1979. The first set starts off with a wonderful version of 'Sugaree' - Garcia sets the tone for this set right out of the gate.. some wonderful runs here. 'Me & My Uncle' and 'Big River' follows and the latter, in particular, delivers more Jerry magic. Things slow down a bit with a long 'Peggy-O', and Bobby does a nice 'Cassidy' to follow. 'Friend of the Devil' and the 'Ne...
Jan 07, 2022•1 hr 28 min
Happy New Year! To celebrate the New Year (hopefully a better one for everyone) and the fact that today is New Years' Eve, I decided to bring you an entire New Year's Eve performance.. this one from New Years' 1977... While the New Year's shows were often not as magical as some of the prior performances of the run, I do think this one stands up and hope you enjoy it as well.. Over two and half-hours of Live Dead... Grateful Dead Winterland Arena San Francisco, CA 12/31/77 - Saturday One The Musi...
Dec 31, 2021•2 hr 42 min
Merry Christmas! On this Christmas Eve edition of the Deadpod we get to listen to the second set of this fine performance from December 27, 1970 in El Monte California. The tape begins with an abbreviated 'Good Lovin' - while I wish we had all of this song, what we have is really good. Pigpen follows with 'In the Midnight Hour' and boy its clear in these two songs what he means to the band. Fine versions of 'Attics' and 'Bobby McGee' follows, then the Chuck Berry 'Around and Around'. The jamming...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 12 min
This week we go back to some good ol' Grateful Dead from December 1970. The boys are young and full of spunk on this one as they run through some of their early numbers. Pigpen is in fine form here and the 'Hard to Handle' is classic. The 'Deep Elem' has a unique and very pleasant arrangement to my ears. 'Cumberland Blues' showcases Phil's talents as always and a great China>Rider could be the highlight of the set. For a tape from 1970 this one sounds really good, I hope you enjoy it! Gratefu...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 13 min
This week we continue with the second set from the band's performance at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach California on December 13th 1980. The set starts with a wonderful Scarlet>Fire. In particular I love the transition here, unique and rhythmic to a high degree, flows into a an excellent Fire, nice Brent highlights. Jerry has some wonderful solos in the coda here which results in prolonged applause following the conclusion. The pre-drums portion continues with an uptempo 'Playin' In The ...
Dec 10, 2021•1 hr 26 min
This week we welcome December with a great show from December 13, 1980 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach California, just a couple months after last week's acoustic set. This first set is quite good all the way through but starts with an excellent trifecta -' Feel Like a Stranger' into a wonderful 'Sugaree' then into 'C C Rider' with some great Garcia slide work. Then Jerry slows things down a bit with a soulful 'To Lay Me Down'. A fine version of 'Minglewood' follows with some unusual and i...
Dec 03, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Happy Thanksgiving! As always, an acoustic Dead set is on the menu for today, a thank you to all of you for your support of the Deadpod! This lovely recording is from Betty Cantor's reels and is a fine representation of the band's acoustic work during this period. This is from the Warfield in San Francisco on September 27, 1980. While this recording is missing the 'Dire Wolf' opener that appears on most lists for this show, the remainder of the set is of wonderful quality; with the possible exce...
Nov 25, 2021•49 min
This week we have a 'rare and different' tune indeed. The second set from the band's performance in Cleveland begins unlike any other in the band's storied history. They come out and drop into a free-form, unique jam that winds it way through any number of modes, but is sure to take you with it if you allow it to. A short 'Drums' kicks in once the jam reaches a high point, but then they return to the jam until eventually moving into a slow but heartfelt 'JackARoe'. A energized 'Playin' In the Ba...
Nov 19, 2021•1 hr 8 min
From a show I was lucky enough to see, in a beautiful venue, this week's Deadpod takes us to Cleveland for a show back on November 20, 1978 at the Cleveland Music Hall. This is a very interesting and well played show. The second set, which we will hear next week, is most unique, but this first set is certainly worth hearing, despite some obvious flaws in the recording. The opening Mississippi Half-Step into a fine Franklin's Tower clocks in at over 20 minutes, and features some fine jamming by G...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 19 min
I think anytime I come across an excellent sounding tape from 1970 it is a real treat. There are so few great tapes from that year and the band is having so much fun that when I do I want to share. So this week here is one from the Fillmore East on November 16, 1970. There are some anomalies - there is some Elton John music playing through the house PA at one point - don't freak out ! :) I had to leave it in just to keep the atmosphere of the venue and the date. I love hearing Pigpen here as wel...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr 45 min
Happy Halloween Weekend! I think we have a great Deadpod to share this week with the second set from the show on October 28, 1979 at the Cape Cod Coliseum in South Yarmouth MA. This one starts with a really great China>Rider, the energy is off the charts and I really love hearing the Phil bombs and the Jerry's fan outs in Rider. This one is bound to bring a smile and make you wish you were shaking your bones! They follow with a most excellent Samson and Delilah (being Sunday:) and only show i...
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 25 min
When the same show gets requested by two different listeners the same week I pay attention.. and I must say I am quite pleased to be able to present this request on this week's Deadpod. This comes to us from a show played on Sunday, October 28, 1979 at the Cape Cod Coliseum at South Yarmouth MA. You know the old saying about never missing a Sunday show - well this one certainly proves that old adage! It starts out just nuts with a great Mississippi Half-Step .. which Jerry and the boys jam out f...
Oct 22, 2021•1 hr 12 min
What a great Scarlet>Fire on this week's Deadpod! This comes to us from the second set of the band's performance at Madison Square Gardin on October 14, 1994. This opening Scarlet>Fire is clearly the highlight of the show, clocking in at over 30 minutes of intensive, improvisational joy. You probably won't believe that they could hit on all cylinders like this at this point of the band's history but just sit back and enjoy. I am particularly impressed by the pace of the arrangement and how...
Oct 15, 2021•2 hr
This week I decided to venture where I seldom go - with a show from the fall of 1994. While this first set is quite short, I believe as a whole this is perhaps one of the band's best from this period. This first starts with a very nice 'Jack Straw' and the 'West LA Fadeaway' that follows is also quite good. I'm a sucker for these 'Lazy River Road' versions, even when Jerry flubs them a bit. Bob follows that with an accoustic version of 'El Paso', which he did quite often on this tour. 'Ramble on...
Oct 08, 2021•51 min
This week we return to Munich for a second set that is ferocious from start to finish. 'Bertha' leads this one off and goes into a truly rockin' 'Samson and Delilah' that really roars. Jerry slows things down a touch with 'Ship of Fools', but they go into a nice extended jam in the 'Estimated Prophet' that follows. That one builds again to a gale force as they go into 'Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad'. I'm also fond of the jam in 'Space' and how Weir leads them into 'Not Fade Away'. 'Stella Blue...
Oct 01, 2021•1 hr 54 min
This week we stay on the Continent for a show that took place on October 12, 1981 at the Olympia Halle in Munich, West Germany during the band's Fall European Tour. For the most part this is quite an excellent recording, although it does have a couple patches.. They come out firing on an up-tempo 'Jack Straw', then Garcia delivers a more laid back selection with a pretty 'Candyman'. The 'Little Red Rooster' that follows is one of my favorite versions of this tune they delivered - check it out! B...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr 15 min
This week's Deadpod features the fine recording of the second set of the band's performance on September 20, 1974 in Paris France. This one is pretty sweet all the way through, starting with 'China Cat>I Know You Rider'. The 'Big River' that follows is nicely up tempo. Another highlight for me is the 'Brokedown Palace' which is placed right in the center of the set and features some great closing vocals. 'Truckin' is the most exploratory moment of the set, with Billy alternating with Phil and...
Sep 17, 2021•1 hr 48 min
This week's Deadpod features a wonderful recording of the band's performance in Paris France on September 20, 1974. This is a splendid recording, and a very interesting performance. The band opens with a spirited 'Cumberland Blues' followed by a nice 'Jack Straw'. The first-set 'Scarlet Begonias' features some very nice Phil leads. Bobby's vocals are top-notch on the 'Black Throated Wind' that follows. The 'Friend of the Devil' that is performed afterwards, is one of the last 'fast' versions the...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 35 min
We have a great second set for your Labor Day weekend enjoyment! This one is from the Greek Theater on August 19, 1989. This one certainly goes against the old thought that the band didn't really jam it out at the Greek.. We start with a fine 'China>Rider'.. the transition really catches fire! A wonderful opener, which then leads right into 'Playin' In the Band'.. the jamming here into a long, pretty, 'Uncle John's' is quite exploratory. Always a delight, this version of 'Uncle John's' is pre...
Sep 03, 2021•1 hr 31 min
This week I came across a fun show from August 19, 1989 at the Greek Theater in Berkeley California. The opener is so much fun -when you listen you just know you're in for a treat. A great 'Jack Straw' follows, played just at the right tempo :) Brent follows with 'We Can Run' - and its hard not to reflect on how little has changed.. 'Tennessee Jed' is always a good time, and Jerry really rips it up. Bobby belts out 'It's All Over Now' and then a great version of 'Loser' follows. I enjoy Weir's r...
Aug 27, 2021•1 hr 2 min
This week's second set from Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City NJ, is one of the best of that year, in my opinion. It starts out with a smokin' Help>Slip>Frank, the Slipknot here is particularly great. A wonderful summertime 'Dancing In the Street' follows, then 'The Wheel', and 'Samson'.. again Phil is way up in the mix and I only wish I could hear him so well more often.. 'Roses' follows, with the '76 tempo.. personally I wish Donna was a bit farther up in the mix here. The rest of the set...
Aug 20, 2021•1 hr 55 min
This week the Deadpod stays right in Jersey City, for this wonderful show from August of 1976. This show too, took place at Roosevelt Stadium on August 4, 1976. We start out with a long, dreamy 'Sugaree' - clocking in at over 14 minutes. Jerry is in good voice at this show, and you will notice that Phil is quite up front in this recording as well. These songs are all played at the slower pace characteristic of 1976, but I find the recording as well as the ensemble work quite pleasing. Other high...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr 25 min
I can think of no better way to celebrate the 'Days Between' than with this fabulous second set from Jerry's Birthday show on August 1, 1973 from Jersey City, New Jersey. All around excellence here. Just when you're settling in they give you a Dark Star for the ages - including probably the first 'mind left body jams'. They come up for air with 'El Paso' then deliver one of the all-time great 'Eyes of the World'. As if that is not enough, Jerry delivers a fabulous, emotional 'Morning Dew'.. Suga...
Aug 06, 2021•1 hr 54 min
While Jerry's birthday is not until Sunday, I felt that there could be no better way to start off the 'Days Between' than with this humdinger of a show from August 1st, 1973. I realize this is only days after last week's Deadpod fom Watkins Glen, but, hey its one of the few, and probably the greatest of Jerry's Birthday show with the band. Now this version of the events is captured on what I feel is an excellent audience recording. The existing soundboard, especially for this first set, is fairl...
Jul 30, 2021•1 hr 4 min
I originally thought I would play Brent Mydland's last show with the band - 7/23/1990 - but at the last moment decided I would bring you something much happier - the famous soundcheck from the Watkins Glen festival that took place on July 27, 1973. Long a favorite among Deadheads, you've likely heard this before - but this is one of those performances that deserve to be listened to again from time to time - like using that good china that is collecting dust in the cabinet. This is a fine recordi...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 31 min
Hey Now! what a great second set this week as we explore the rest of the band's performance on September 26, 1972 at teh Stanley Theater in Jersey City, New Jersey. Right out of the gate we get a wonderful psychedelic ride with a 20 minute 'Playin In The Band'. Phil is all over this. They follow up with the very last performance of 'You Win Again'. 'El Paso' follows but things get sharp again with Half Step and Greatest Story Ever Told (albeit with a Donna wail). 'Tomorrow Is Forever' is the 2nd...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 41 min
A great show from a great run is showcased in this week's Deadpod. This is from September 26, 1972 at the Stanley Theater in Jersey City, New Jersey. The first show of a three night run, this features some great guitar work by Garcia throughout, even here in the first set. A fine 'Cold Rain and Snow' might be overlooked by the early 'He's Gone', but there is so much great music here. I love the 'Bird Song' and the 'Sugaree'. The band is loose throughout and I'm certain you'll enjoy this classic ...
Jul 09, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Happy 4th of July! This week we present the second set of the band's performance from Anchorage Alaska on the summer solstice, June 21, 1980. This is a fine setlist, and most of the songs are quite well-played. I think 'Big Railroad Blues' is a great opener, and the Samson and Delilah' that follows is quite swell. The pre-drums 'Terrapin' has a wonderful segue into the jammin' 'Playin' in the Band'. Post-drums suffers a bit, but 'Stella Blue' is always a pleasure, and the band gave the fans in t...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 29 min
A summer solstice show to celebrate the arrival of summer, this comes to us from the band's only trip to Alaska back on June 21, 1980. This first set opens with a strong 'Sugaree', and Jerry continues to light it up on the Minglewood that follows. In fact most of these first set songs are quite strong and fast paced, I'd particularly call your attention to the 'Lazy Lightni'>Supplication', Brent's work on 'Far From Me' and the closing 'Feel Like a Stranger' all of which really work well. 1980...
Jun 25, 2021•1 hr 17 min
