The Deadpod – Details, episodes & analysis

This week the Deadpod travels to January of 1980 for an unusual benefit show that the Dead appeared at for Cambodian refugees in Oakland, along with Jefferson Starship, the Beach Boys and Carlos Santana and John Cippolina. 

This is a tight and well played set throughout. The opening 'Jack Straw' into 'Franklin's Tower' is crisp and edgy. 'Minglewood' is a standout as well. I really enjoy all of these, but the 'Playin' is probably the highlight, although the Santana solo in 'Not Fade Away' is a treat as well; its interesting to hear these three great guitarists playing together.. 

 

Grateful Dead
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Oakland, CA  1/13/1980 - Sunday

One     

Jack Straw [5:42] >
Franklin's Tower [11:44]
New Minglewood Blues [6:56]
Tennessee Jed [8:21] >
Looks Like Rain [7:12] >
Don't Ease Me In [7:16]
Playing In The Band [10:41] >
Drums [7:15] >
Not Fade Away (1) [14:27] >
Sugar Magnolia (1) [7:30]

Encore     
U.S. Blues [#4:18]
Comments     Cambodian Refugee Benefit.
(1) with Carlos Santana and John Cippolina.  

It is with some sadness that I have to announce that this will be the last Deadpod for some time... I'm scheduled for open heart surgery next week and I'm not sure when I'll be able to be back here sharing these great songs with you. Don't give up on me as I don't plan to give up.. I'll be back as soon as I am able but in the meantime I'd encourage you to listen to some of the old Deadpods - the entire run is still available.. 

Keep your light on and thanks my friends for all of your support and for listening.. 

A fine second set awaits you on this week's Deadpod as we explore the second set from the band's performance at the Cumberland Coutny civic Center in Portland Maine on September 17, 1982.

This is a matrix recording - but the first two songs are a mix of several audience sources as the soundboard for those doesn't seem to exist.. 'Touch of Grey' and 'Man Smart, Woman Smarter' are played uptempo and crisply..Their followed by a beautiful rendition of 'High Time'; Jerry's emotive vocals just hint at how expressive this set will be. 

'Estimated' follows, then a delicate 'Eyes of the World'. Following drums and space Weir teases a Spanish Jam but they eventual let Phil take the helm and lead them into the powerful 'Other One' intro.. the crowd loves it and when they finish and go into 'Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad' there is a fair amount of sing along.. 

The highlight of the set in my opinion is the tremendous version of 'Morning Dew' that follows.. Jerry is at his most expressive here.. words won't do it justice. 

A fine 'Sugar Magnolia' closes the set and a 'US Blues' encore caps the evening...

 

 

Grateful Dead
Cumberland County Civic Center
Portland, ME 9/17/1982 - Friday

Two     

Touch Of Grey [6:33] >
Man Smart (Woman Smarter) [5:46] ;
High Time [7:16] ;
Estimated Prophet [12:27] >
Eyes Of The World [8:53] >
Drums >
Space [3:58] >
The Other One [10:56] >
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [5:37] >
Morning Dew [8:52] >
Sugar Magnolia [8:43]

Encore     
U.S. Blues [4:58]  

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod091324.mp3

May the music lift you up .. thanks for your kind support.

This week we have the second set from the band's performance at Alpine Valley on July 7, 1984.

This is a strong set throughout, with the band really coming together I think to deliver some great versions of these songs. 

'Samson and Delilah' opens with the drummers providing the familiar beat.. Jerry follows with 'Cold Rain and Snow' - always appropriate for a July show. They then seg into 'Playin' In the Band', while not overly long, this version does feature some interesting Brent effects and seqs interestingly into 'China Doll'. Jerry hits this one just right and then they move into a very good Drums segment. They come out of drums surprisingly into 'Terrapin Station' as you think you hear some 'Other One' notes being played.. but the Terrapin is told well and goes into Bobby doing 'Throwing Stones' with a few different lyrics. 'Not Fade Away' follows, but is short, as Phil insists they move into 'Lovelight'! the first since NYE 82.. Bobby does a fine version here, and they close with a return to 'Not Fade Away'.  A 'Brokedown Palace' encore prepares the faithful for that long trek up the hill... 

 

Grateful Dead
1984-07-07 Saturday
Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, WI

Two     

Samson And Delilah
Cold Rain And Snow
Playing In The Band >
China Doll >
Space >
Drums >
Space >
Terrapin Station >
Throwing Stones >
Not Fade Away >
Turn On Your Love Light >
Not Fade Away

Encore     
Brokedown Palace 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod071224.mp3 

Enjoy and be kind :) 

We're going to close out the month of October with a great show from 1977. This one comes to us from Kansas City KS, on October 28, 1977. This week's first set is very melodic throughout, with a nice laid back rhythm for the most part. 

Promised Land is the opener (don't fear -the audience splice only lasts a few moments), then a sweet 'They Love Each Other'. One of the things I love about this recording is the clarity of each instrument - which is evident especially in the 'Cassidy' that follows. This entire set is quite well done, but I would draw your attention to the 'Supplication' and 'Deal' that closes the set - there is some really fine jamming going on there! 

 

 

Grateful Dead
Soldier's And Sailors Memorial Hall
Kansas City, KS 10/28/1977 - Friday    

One    

The Promised Land [4:16] ;
They Love Each Other [7:10] ;
Cassidy [4:33] ;
Tennessee Jed [8:59] ;
Mexicali Blues [3:05] >
Big River [5:47] ;
Brown Eyed Women [5:01] ;
Lazy Lightnin' [3:13] >
Supplication [5:48] ;
Deal [6:19] 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod102122.mp3  

I'll play the second set next week. 

Thanks to Steve for this fine suggestion. 

Hope you got whatever Dead & Co. tickets you wanted... 

Be well and don't let the crazy noise this time of year get to you :)

While I played this show, unbeknownst to me, ten years ago on the Deadpod, I am still going to present the wonderful second set this week. This show, from Indianapolis on October 1, 1976, features a sweet second set. While a 'Might As Well' opener might not signal such a beauty, the 'Samson' that follows quickly convinces that we are in a for a treat. Great interplay throughout from Jerry and Phil. When the 'Help>Slip>Frank' that follows gets rolling the band hits on all cylinders. I especially love Keith's contribution in the great 'Slipknot!' jam here. A somewhat short 'Dancin' goes into an even shorter 'drums' but 'The Wheel' that follows is sweet. Following 'Ship of Fools', Bobby attempts to go back into 'Dancin' in a very unusual jam, but the boys move into a 'Goin' Down the Road' into 'Saturday Night' to end the set. 

 

Grateful Dead
Market Square Arena
Indianapolis, IN  10/1/1976 - Friday

Two    

Might As Well [5:37] ;
Samson And Delilah [7:13] %
Help On The Way [4:07] >
Slipknot! [12:52] >
Franklin's Tower [10:18];[1:07] ;
Dancing In The Street [7:26] >
Drums [2:#03] >
The Wheel [8:36] (2) >
Ship Of Fools [7:47] (3) >
Dancing In The Street [3:27] >
Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [7:36] >
One More Saturday Night [4:24]
Encore    
U.S. Blues [5:02]  

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod101422.mp3 

I hope you enjoy this 'encore' performance... and as always thanks for your kind support. 

This week's Deadpod features a set from the Fall tour of 1976. If you're not familiar with this period I think you'll enjoy this week's selection, which comes from Market Square Arena, in Indianapolis Indiana. 

 This is a fine set, in my opinion, which really gets going once they hit 'Deal'. The 'Cassidy' is no slouch and 'Big River' rocks as usual. The highlight of the set is probably the stand-alone 'Scarlet Begonias' which leads us into the set closing 'Promised Land'

Set 2 next week is no slouch!

 

Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Ind. (10/1/76)

Set One: Bertha Mama Tried Deal Cassidy Friend of the Devil Big River Brown Eyed Women It's All Over Now Scarlet Begonias Promised Land You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod100722.mp3 Hope you have a happy Harvest!

 

 Fifty years ago today, the Grateful Dead played this free concert in Washington D.C. 

I present the fine second set for your entertainment today. I hope you agree that it is an excellent recording and contains some quite sublime moments. I'll draw your attention to just a few.. the 'He's Gone' is drawn out and heartfelt. I'm also a big fan of Jerry's performance of 'Brokedown Palace' here. 

'The Other One' shows the boys more than willing to take the jam to the stars, Phil in particular is outstanding here. 'Sing Me Back Home' again, Jerry is sublime. I love the 'Uncle John's Band' closer.. while we don't have the encore, I think we have more than enough here to raise our spirits.. 

Grateful Dead
Reeves Field - American University
Washington, DC 9/30/1972 - Saturday    

Two    

Greatest Story Ever Told
He's Gone
Me And My Uncle
Brokedown Palace
Truckin' >
The Other One >
Sing Me Back Home
Sugar Magnolia
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
Uncle John's Band 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod093022.mp3

Thank you for listening, I so hope you enjoy! 

 

 

This week's Deadpod features a 'free' show that took place on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. on September 30, 1972.

This is a fairly standard '72 setlist, however it is a nice collection of well-played standards and we are fortunate to have such a nice recording (albeit there is a cut in the wonderful 'I Know You Rider'). 

Bob Weir is a bit higher in the mix than usual which results in an interesting listen. He is also in fine voice, hitting some higher notes than he was able to a few years later. Besides the aforementioned China>Rider, which is wonderful, some of the other highlights here are an excellent 'Black Throated Wind', 'Birdsong' (before which you can hear Bobby complaining about the stage heaters), a hot 'Big River', and a jammed out 'Playin' In the Band'. 

 

 

Grateful Dead
Reeves Field - American University
Washington, DC 9/30/1972 - Saturday    

One    

The Promised Land
Deal
Mexicali Blues
Sugaree
Black Throated Wind
China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
El Paso
Bird Song
Big River
Loser
Playing In The Band
Casey Jones  

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod092322.mp3

"Same old friends the wind and rain, Summers fade and roses die,
You'll see summer come again, Like a song that's born to soar the sky."

Pardon the brevity but as I'm feeling under the weather this intro will have to be even briefer than usual.. 

a find second set from the first night of the legendary Madison Square Garden run of 1990 features an excellent 'Scarlet>Fire' .. I love Phil and Jerry's contributions here, especially on the incendiary jams in Fire.. It's been awhile since I've featured a good 'Terrapin Station' and that's here too, as is a wonderful 'Wharf Rat'. 

All in all an excellent early 90s second set.. I hope you enjoy it. 

 

 

Grateful Dead
Madison Square Garden
New York , NY 9/14/1990 - Friday

Two     

Scarlet Begonias >
Fire On The Mountain >
Truckin' >
Terrapin Station >
Jam >
Drums >
Space >
The Other One >
Wharf Rat >
Sugar Magnolia
 

Encore     

U.S. Blues 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod091622.mp3

Hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to hearing from you. 

This week I'm featuring a show from the famous September 1990 run at Madison Square Garden in NYC, NY. I had thought I'd already played all of this run, but realized I hadn't played this - the first show of the run without Bruce Hornsby. This is a fine show, the band is jazzed to be back at the Garden and I think Jerry is in fine form. 

The opening 'Feel Like a Stranger' is a great choice, and shows the boys are here to play.. a fine 'Sugaree' follows, although I wish Vince would have dialed it down just a bit. The 'Minglewood' that follows is one of the better versions in my opinion. Other highlights here include a fine 'Black Throated Wind' and 'Jack-A-Roe', both of which feature fine vocals from Bob and Jerry, respectively. 

Be sure and also tune in next week for one of the best 'Scarlet>Fire's' of the decade.

Grateful Dead
Madison Square Garden
New York , NY 9/14/1990 - Friday

One    

Feel Like A Stranger
Sugaree
New Minglewood Blues
Ramble On Rose
Black Throated Wind
Jack-A-Roe
Cassidy >
Don't Ease Me In 

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod090922.mp3

Thank you for your kind support!