Dead Show/podcast for 9/25/15

Generally considered the strongest show of one of the strongest runs in the band's Post-Brent Mydland career, this week's Deadpod pays homage to the band's performance on September 20th, 1990 at Madison Square Garden in New  York City, NY. I clearly remember how excited and happy I was when I first heard of, then finally got to listen to, this run of shows. There was much uncertainty about how the band would hold up after the passing of Mydland, but this run of shows showed that they were truly 'built to last'. The addition of Bruce Hornsby to the lineup provided a welcome surge of energy to Garcia, who, despite a voice that was sometimes a bit raspy, turned in an epic performance. This first set which we'll hear this week, shows a confident and rocking lineup. I'm especially fond of 'Ramble On Rose' and the 'Greatest Story Ever Told' 'US Blues' ending. Next week's second set features some GREAT jamming. I hope you enjoy it! 

Grateful Dead

Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY (9/20/90)

Set one: 

Feel Like a Stranger
Althea
It's All Over Now
Ramble on Rose
El Paso
Brown Eyed Women
Greatest Story Ever Told
U.S. Blues

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod_092515.mp3

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest for the '30 Trips' cd.. I only wish I had copies for everyone! Thanks so much for your kind words.. I've mailed the CDs out to the winners.. 

Thanks so much for your support.. I so appreciate it.. 

Be kind. 

Dead Show/podcast for 9/18/15

This week we return to the Berkley Community Theater for the second set of the band's performance back on August 14th, 1971. The tape cuts into Truckin' in progress,  luckily however the excellent jam that ends the song is preserved.. from there we go into an early set Drums, and then, suddenly if not unexpectedly, the bombs drop signalling a truly great Other One to follow. Phil really shines on this one, and it leads to a truly psychedelic jam following the first verses. There are some great themes here... see what you can identify! The band flows back into the Other One which really was a signature jam in these days. Following a lengthy tune up Bobby goes into a nice version of 'Me & Bobby McGee'.. The Sugar Magnolia that follows really pops.. they really get cooking here, eventually the move  into a smoldering 'Not Fade Away'-> 'Goin' Down The Road'->'Not Fade Away'.. The boys eventually return for an excellent double encore of  'Johnny B Goode' and 'Uncle John's Band'.... I think this one surely stands out as one of the best shows of a most excellent year.

Berkeley Community Theatre
Berkeley, CA 8/14/71 - Saturday
Two:

Truckin' [3:#56] >
Drums [3:35] >
The Other One (1) [16:40] ;
Me And Bobby McGee [5:39] ;
Sugar Magnolia (2) [5:45] ;
Not Fade Away [5:27] >
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [10:47] >
Not Fade Away [3:14]
Encores:
Johnny B. Goode [3:30] ;
Uncle John's Band [6:06]
Comments Happy Birthday for David Crosby before Johnny B. Goode.

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod091815.mp3

I also have a CONTEST of sorts to announce!

 I've received two copies of the CD 'The Best of the Grateful Dead'.. here's some info from the Dead.net website about this CD:

THE BEST OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD’s 32 tracks feature music from every Grateful Dead studio album and cover the key waypoints on the band’s mystical musical journey. Arranged chronologically, the tracks reflect the evolution of the group’s sound – and its membership – across more than two decades – from 1967’s “The Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion)” to 1989’s “Standing on the Moon.” In between, listeners will find the essential tracks that made the band such a cultural phenomenon, including such fan favorites as “St. Stephen,” “Casey Jones,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Scarlet Begonias,” and “Hell In a Bucket.”


In addition .. I have ONE copy of the newly released 4 CD set culled from the *80* disk 30 Trips arond the Sun:
this set features one cut from each of the 30 years of the band's touring history..

I usually offer these kinds of promotional disks as an incentive to make a donation to the Deadpod.. but since I only have 3 of these to offer, I'll be glad to send them out to three lucky folks who submit an entry today, Friday September 18th (the release date for the 30 trips around the Sun 3 cd set) 

to my email address: j.henrikson @gmail com,.. with '30 Trips' as the subject .. 

Be sure and include your US mailing address so I can send it to you if you win!! 

Of course I'd be glad to get a few donations too!!! 

Thanks for your support.. be kind to everyone! 

Dead Show/podcast for 9/11/15

A request from one of my supporters, as well as the fact that this past week marked Pigpen's 70th birthday inspired this week's Deadpod selection from the Berkeley Community Theater on August 14th, 1971. This is a great tape that showcases the early versions of many classics like 'Sugaree' and 'Playin' In the Band' as well as some outstanding Pigpen performances. Highlights include the opening 'Bertha', 'El Paso' played nice and slowly, 'Big Railroad Blues' (a personal favorite), and of course Pigpen on 'Big Boss Man' and 'Hard To Handle'. I'm always a fan of this period of the Dead's history and of course it helps that there are such great sounding tapes that we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy.

Grateful Dead
Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley, CA
8/14/71 - Saturday

One
Bertha [5:43] ;
Me And My Uncle [3:09] ;
Mr. Charlie [3:13] ;
Sugaree [6:08] ;
El Paso [5:03] ;
Big Railroad Blues [3:26] ;
Big Boss Man [4:58] ;
Brokedown Palace [5:20] ;
Playing In The Band [4:28] ;
Hard To Handle [7:16] ;
Cumberland Blues [5:29] ;
Loser [6:31] ;
The Promised Land [2:53]

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod091115.mp3

My sincere thanks to all of you whose support helps to keep the Deadpod alive...

Be kind.

Dead Show/podcast for 9/4/15

This week's Deadpod continues with the second set from the band's performance on September 6th, 1980 at Lewiston Maine. Wildly praised by those in attendance, I think you'll enjoy this recording even though it has its share of flaws, and several of the songs are only from an audience recording. The set starts with one of those funky 80's Shakedown Streets.. always a great way to get the crowd on their feet and moving! A fairly standard Sailor->Saint leads into a nice Althea, but the magic starts to happen after that with a great Playin->Uncle John's->Space->Drums->Space..this recording, being a matrix, really captures the energy of the crowd when that Uncle John's starts up.. they follow with an excellent drums, then following space a really excellent NFA into the Wheel. I love how they come out of this and back into Uncle John's then into a Playin' reprise.. short but nicely done! 

A strong Sugar Magnolia closes the set, and the band returns for a double encore, featuring, of course, One More Saturday Night and a sweet Brokedown Palace.. 

State Fairgrounds, Lewiston, ME (9/6/80)

set 2 

Shakedown Street
Lost Sailor
Saint of Circumstance
Althea
Playin' in the Band
Uncle John's Band
drums
Not Fade Away
The Wheel
Uncle John's Band
Playin' in the Band
Sugar Magnolia

One More Saturday Night
Brokedown Palace

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod090415.mp3

Have a GREAT and safe Labor Day Weekend!! 

Thanks for your support..