Dead Show/podcast for 10/27/17

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 weekend! It starts off with a great Help->Slip->Frank, with Phil out front and driving the train. The Slipknot is a beautiful ensemble effort, especially Vince and Bruce's contributions to the overall structure. It floats along beautifully, then, just as it reaches its apex, we're plunged into that great bouncy Franklin's Tower. Jerry's leads here are crystalline, soaring.. Jerry's voice contains just enough world weariness to make me feel the wisdom here. While 'Little Red Rooster' wouldn't have been my choice to follow this up with, it is one of their better versions, with some nice slide work. 'Loser' follows, it takes a bit to get warmed up, but Garcia builds it up slowly into a great crescendo. Phil follows with a great version of  'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues', a song they would only break out 4 or 5 times a year. A long 'Let It Grow' closes the set, an interesting if not completely enrapturing performance of this piece....

Grateful Dead

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Oakland, CA
10/31/91 - Thursday
One
Help On The Way >
Slipknot! >
Franklin's Tower ;
Little Red Rooster ;
Loser ;
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues ;
Let It Grow

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod102717.mp3


For those of you looking for the 2nd set from October 19, 1971, you can find it here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod070811.mp3

My apologies for repeating the first set last week..

Have a safe and happy Halloween!!

As always, my sincere thanks for your support, my friends.

Dead Show/podcast for 10/20/17

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 turning point in the band's trajectory, as the sound begins its transition to the characteristic sound of 1972.

Its also a nice coincidence that I received an email this week from the author of a new blog, all about 'Comes A Time' .. it has a nice writeup about this show as well as other great versions. You can find it here: https://gotanemptycup.wordpress.com/, check it out!


Grateful Dead
Northrup Auditorium
Minneapolis, MN 10/19/71 - Tuesday
One
Bertha [5:46] ;
Me And My Uncle [3:01] ;
Sugaree [6:14] ;
Beat It On Down The Line [3:29] ;
Cumberland Blues [5:01] ;
Tennessee Jed [5:59] ;
Black Peter [8:43] ;
Jack Straw [5:02] ;
Big Railroad Blues [3:14] ;
Brown Eyed Women [4:15] ;
Mexicali Blues [3:22] ;
Comes A Time [7:01] ;
Playing In The Band [5:42] ;
One More Saturday Night [4:22] ;
Casey Jones [5:47]

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod102017.mp3

for some reason the number of listeners seems to have gone down a bit lately..
if you have any suggestions please let me know!

have a great week and thank you for your support!!

Dead Show/podcast for 10/13/17

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 introduction to the Wheel.. ahhhhhhh.. I'm always taken back to sweeping vistas of beautiful open spaces when I hear this tune, one of my all-time favorites, and Donna's contributions here are on key and for me, enjoyable. It dissolves, slowly and beautifully into the Wharf Rat.. Garcia here is a such a emotive storyteller, both with his vocals and his playing.. simply lose yourself here.. Garcia's jam before the last verse is stunning.  Around and Around follows, and builds to a rockin' crescendo. 

They end a beautiful evening with Brokedown Palace, then back into a pretty, spacey, Playin' reprise..




Grateful Dead
Hofheinz Pavilion - University of Houston
Houston, TX
10/14/77 - Friday
Two
Bertha [7:08] >
Good Lovin' [5:59] ;
Candyman [7:28] ;
Playing In The Band [16:#56] >
Drums [3:35] >
The Wheel [7:15] >
Wharf Rat [13:49] >
Around And Around [8:23]
Encores
Brokedown Palace [5:51] >
Playing In The Band [4:13#]

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod101317.mp3

I hope you enjoy this week's Deadpod as much as I did..

Thanks so much for your support.. love one another !

Dead Show/podcast for 10/6/17

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 - University of Houston
Houston, TX
10/14/77 - Friday
One
Jack Straw [5:03] ;
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo [11:22] >
El Paso [4:06] ;
Brown Eyed Women [4:53] ;
New Minglewood Blues [5:05] ;
Loser [7:#09] ;
Passenger [3:24] ;
Friend Of The Devil [8:13] ;
Me And My Uncle [3:08] ;
Tennessee Jed [8:46] ;
The Music Never Stopped

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod100617.mp3\

My thanks for your kind support of the Deadpod..
I hope the music brings you some joy.