Dead Show/podcast for 7/31/26

 This week on the Deadpod we head back to the Family Dog at the Great Highway in San Francisco for a superb show from August 3, 1969. This is the kind of set that reminds us just how quickly the Grateful Dead were evolving in that remarkable year, moving from the raw energy of their early material into the open-ended exploration that would define so much of what followed.

The set opens with a fine run of songs including “Hard To Handle,” “Beat It On Down The Line,” “Hi-Heel Sneakers,” “High Time,” and “Mama Tried.” From there the show opens up beautifully with a long and searching “Dark Star,” followed by the powerful sequence of “Alligator,” “Drums,” “The Other One,” and “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks),” before closing with “And We Bid You Goodnight.”

There are two guest artists - an unknown sax player and David LaFlame from 'It's A Beautiful Day', and they add a rich extra dimension to the sound that I really dig. 

There’s a lot to enjoy here: the contrast between the concise song-based first half and the expanded improvisational stretch that follows, the relaxed confidence of the band, and the sense that they are really finding their collective voice in real time. It’s a strong late-summer 1969 performance and a great listen for anyone who loves this transitional era of the Dead.

 

Grateful Dead
Family Dog at the Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
8/3/1969 - Sunday    

Hard To Handle  
Beat It On Down The Line  
Hi-Heel Sneakers  
High Time  
Mama Tried  
Dark Star  
Alligator> 
Drums> 
The Other One> 
Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)> 
And We Bid You Goodnight

 

 You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod073126.mp3 

Dead Show/podcast for 7/24/26

This week on Deadpod we’re back at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco for the second set from 7/12/76, a show that has that special midsummer 1976 feel I’ve always loved: relaxed, open, and full of musical space, but with plenty of spark still in the band’s step. 

The set gets underway with a very nice “Sugaree,” followed by a spirited “Samson And Delilah,” and then we move into one of the great touchstones of the era — “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower,” played here with real assurance and flow. From there the band keeps the momentum going with a lively “Dancing In The Street,” and then settles into the deep emotional current of “Wharf Rat.” After that comes “Drums,” and then a wonderfully expansive “The Wheel” that helps push the set into its final stretch. “Around And Around” closes things out with some good old-fashioned punch, and “U.S. Blues” brings us home in the encore with just the right amount of swagger. It’s a set that really shows what was happening with the Dead in 1976: the band had found a new balance, and they were making music with patience, depth, and a real sense of possibility. I hope you enjoy it.

Grateful Dead
Orpheum Theatre
San Francisco, CA 
7/12/1976 - Monday	

Two 	
Sugaree [10:53] %
Samson And Delilah [6:46] %
Help On The Way [4:32] >
Slipknot! [7:44] >
Franklin's Tower [14:11] 
Dancing In The Street [11:26] 
Wharf Rat [12:24] >
Drums [4:41] >
The Wheel [4:47] >
Around And Around [7:07]
Encore
U.S. Blues [7:20]


You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod072426.mp3


"summertime done, come and gone my oh my"

Dead Show/podcast for 7/17/26

This week takes us to Summer tour 1976 - to the first night of a six night run on the home turf of San Francisco California for a delightful show at the intimate Orpheum Theater on July 12, 1976. 

'The Music Never Stopped' provides a fine and fitting opener as the boys return to the stage on the West Coast following their hiatus from touring and the completion of 'Blues for Allah' and an East Coast swing. 

This first set is filled with old favorites colored with new tempos and some very sweet jams. Some of my favorites include 'Tennesse Jed' (here included from an audience recording), 'Row Jimmy', 'Lazy Lighting into Supplication' and a short but sweet 'Deal'.

We'll listen to set 2 next week with more 'new' material included.... 

 

Grateful Dead
Orpheum Theatre
San Francisco, CA 
7/12/1976 - Monday	

One	
The Music Never Stopped [5:23] 
Brown Eyed Women [4:25] 
Cassidy [4:05] 
Tennessee Jed [8:27] 
New Minglewood Blues [4:22] 
Candyman [7:04] 
Looks Like Rain [6:26] 
Row Jimmy [9:33] 
Lazy Lightnin' [2:55]
Supplication [4:46] 
Deal [4:37] 
The Promised Land [4:08]

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod071726.mp3  

My thanks for your kind support my friends 

Dead Show/podcast for 7/10/26

We return this week to the plains of Kansas for the second set of the band’s July 4, 1990 performance at Sandstone Amphitheater. The band comes back as the sun dips down and treats us to a couple of their newer songs, starting with ‘Victim or the Crime’. They lighten the mood with a fine ‘Foolish Heart’, which flows into one of my favorite Brent tunes, ‘Just a Little Light’. Knowing this was one of the last shows Brent ever played, I’m especially grateful to have seen him that final time. A wonderful ‘Scarlet > Fire’ follows—perfect for this sizzling day—and Jerry is absolutely sizzling on it. ‘Drums’ and ‘Space’ come next and lead nicely into a heartfelt ‘Wheel’. Things ramp up with ‘Gimme Some Lovin’, again punctuated by great contributions from Brent. A soulful ‘Stella Blue’ follows, and the crowd falls completely silent, hanging on every verse. The band closes with ‘Sugar Mag’, then, appropriately, returns with a raucous ‘U.S. Blues’ encore.

Grateful Dead
Sandstone Amphitheatre
Bonner Springs, KS 
7/4/1990 - Wednesday 

Two 	
Victim Or The Crime >
Foolish Heart >
Just A Little Light >
Scarlet Begonias >
Fire On The Mountain >
Drums >
Space >
The Wheel >
Gimme Some Lovin' >
Stella Blue >
Sugar Magnolia

Encore 	
U.S. Blues 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod071026.mp3  

Stay strong my friends and thank you for your kind support.  

Dead Show/podcast for 7/3/26

On this sweltering Fourth of July weekend, I’ve decided to travel back to another sweltering Fourth—July 4, 1990 at Sandstone Amphitheatre in Bonner Springs, Kansas. With temperatures well over 100 at showtime and no roof over the seating area, this was probably the hottest showtime I’d ever experienced. For me, it was a deeply memorable night: not only the last time I’d see Brent before his tragic passing, but also a show with some killer versions of classic songs.

The first set, which we’ll hear this week, is a bit short—the boys were getting scorched with the sun shining directly on them, Jerry in shorts and all—but there are some great highlights, starting with the ironically appropriate opener, “Cold Rain & Snow.” Other standouts include a fine “Half‑Step,” a rare “Loose Lucy,” and a strong “Loser.” And for the setlist nerds among us, it’s worth noting that all of Bob’s tunes in this first set are covers, from Son House to Dylan to Chuck Berry.

Even with the band and crowd baking in that relentless Kansas sun, there’s an energy and focus in this first set that still comes through on the tape. You can hear the band leaning into the songs rather than stretching out, but that only seems to sharpen the edges on “Cold Rain & Snow” and “Half‑Step,” and give “Loose Lucy” and “Loser” a little extra punch. I hope you enjoy revisiting this hot, short, and very sweet first set with me this week—and that you’ll be back next time when we pick things up after dark for the second set, where “Victim,” “Foolish Heart,” and a big “Scarlet → Fire” really show what Summer ’90 could do.

Grateful Dead
Sandstone Amphitheatre
Bonner Springs, KS 7/4/1990 - Wednesday 

One

 
Cold Rain & Snow >
Walkin' Blues 
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleloo 
Queen Jane Approximately 
Loose Lucy 
It's All Over Now 
Loser 
The Promised Land 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod070326.mp3

I hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July! 

stay hydrated! 

Dead Show/podcast for 6/26/26

This week’s Deadpod features the Grateful Dead’s second set from June 4, 1978, at Campus Stadium, University of California, Santa Barbara—a show that captures the band in a confident and fluid late-’70s mode.

The set opens with a lively “Samson and Delilah,” followed by a nicely rendered “Ship of Fools” that provides an early contrast in mood. The improvisational core begins with “Estimated Prophet,” which unfolds patiently before transitioning into a bright and engaging “Eyes of the World.” (nevermind Bobby stepping on Jerry's solo).  The Eyes is a bit on the fast side, I wonder if the presence of Ken Kesey and the Thunder machine had something to do with that?

“Drums” and a concise “Space” serve as a bridge into the closing sequence, where a driving “Not Fade Away” builds into “Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad” and a high-energy “Around and Around.” The set is capped by a pair of encores—“U.S. Blues” and “Sugar Magnolia”—that bring the performance to an upbeat conclusion.

Overall, this is a well-paced and cohesive second set, offering both strong song performances and a satisfying improvisational arc. As always, I hope you enjoy the listen.

 

 

Grateful Dead
Campus Stadium - University Of California
Santa Barbara, CA 6/4/1978 - Sunday 

Two     

Samson And Delilah [6:34] 
Ship Of Fools [6:57] 
Estimated Prophet [10:40] >
Eyes Of The World [10:16] >
Drums [10:#16] >
Space (1) [4:21] >
Not Fade Away [8:04] >
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [6:29] >
Around And Around [7:27]

Encores     
U.S. Blues [5:09] 
Sugar Magnolia [7:51]  

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod062626.mp3 

As always thanks for your kind support of the Deadpod!