This week we go to the wonderful Greek Theater in Berkeley California for the band's performance on May 21, 1982. I think this was one of the better years in terms of the band's history and this is not only a fine recording but a well-played set that I'm sure you'll enjoy.  The first set starts with a 'Bertha>Greatest Story' combo, one that was fairly new at the time. Jerry slows it down with a 'Friend of the Devil' but the 'Uncle'>'Big River' that follows benefits greatly from his...

This week's Deadpod takes us back to Irvine California for the second set of the show from April 23, 1988. This second set is well-executed, tight yet containing several delightful spacey interludes. The opening 'Playin In the Band', while short, is quite interesting and gives way to an excellent 'Crazy Fingers'. That leads into 'Uncle John's Band', afterwards the band goes into a rather extended Drums and Space, whcih are quite high powered and interesting.  Post-Drums highlights include a...

This week's Deadpod takes us to sunny California where we will get to hear a nice show from the spring of 1988. This one comes from April 23 at Irvine Meadows.  The boys open with a fine 'Hell In a Bucket' with Weir in full voice. 'Cold Rain and Snow' follows, then we get the first of several fun little interlude before a great version of 'Hey Pockey Way' with Brent doing a fine version.  Since they are in Cali, Jerry breaks out a 'West L.A. Fadeaway'. 'Me & My Uncle>Big River'...

  This week we will hear the second set of the band's performance on April 4, 1993 at the Nassau Coliseum.  A short but tight 'Eyes of the World' opens up the second set, going into 'Samson and Delilah'. One of the highlights of this set follows, a fine version of Phil singing 'Broken Arrow'. Phil does an excellent job with this Robbie Robertson tune here. A nice 'Estimated Prophet leads into a fine Drums and Space, helped by the guest appearance of Boba Olatunji.  A nice but short 'Other...

This week on the Deadpod we have a very nice latter day show from Spring 1993. This comes to us from the Nassau Coliseum on April 4, 1993, and it is a Sunday night show.  Some of the highlights of the first set include a very nice Sugaree (Jerry's voice is a bit frail at times but he carries it off the entire show). 'When I Paint My Masterpiece' is always welcome in my book. Jerry does an excellent version of 'So Many Roads' and the 'Bird Song' after 'Eternity' is a sweet way to wind up the...

We roll into April, and the prelude to the big Solar Eclipse, we get to hear a wonderful second set from the Grateful Dead's performance on Sunday, March 30, 1980 in Passaic New Jersey.  While the setlist might look anything but innovative, the playing on these great classic tunes is anything but pedestrian. The entire pre-drums is full of some wonderful ensemble moments punctuated with some great Garcia solos. In particular, I'm fond of this 'Fire on the Mountain' and 'Eyes of the World' bu...

This week's Deadpod features the second show the band played in 1980, this from the Capitol Theater in Passaic New Jersey on March 30, 1980.  Brent is fairly new to the band, and finding his way on some of these tunes.. they open with a relatively new 'Alabama Getaway' which goes into 'Promised Land' for a rockin' start to the evening. 'Cassidy' which follows 'Peggy-O' is a bit rushed, but the 'Loser' that follows is quite good. Brent debuts his 'Far From Me' which still needs some work but...

This week's Deadpod features set 2 from the St. Patrick's Day show on March 17, 1988 at the Henry Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland CA.  I think you'll find this is a fine, high energy set, with some wonderful highlights, which include a roaring 'Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad' out of Space, and a particularly well done 'Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude' set closer.  The 'Black Muddy River' encore is very soulful as well.  Enjoy     Grateful Dead Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center ...

In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick's Day I decided to bring you a St. Patrick's day Dead concert - this one is from March 17, 1988 at Oakland California.  The first set, which we will hear this week, features a nice opening 'Hell In A Bucket'  into a fine 'Sugaree'. Another highlight is the first 'Memphis Blues' without Bob Dylan. 'Row Jimmy' and a nice 'Let It Grow' finishes the first set. I'll bring you the second set next week..                                                          ...

Here is the second set from the band's performance on March 3, 1981 at the beautiful Music Hall in Cleveland Ohio.  They open with 'China Cat', while Garcia flubs the first verse, he makes up for it with a fine transition into Rider. A rockin 'Samson and Delilah' follows and then a long 'He's Gone'. The Drums section is particularly potent here, leading not into a long Space but instead into a 'Sailor>Saint' combo. The 'Black Peter' that follows is very soulful indeed. They close the set...

 I think this week's Deadpod brings March in both as a lion and a lamb = this first set from Cleveland on March 3, 1981 has some great rockin' tunes and some sweet ballads to please the most discerning Deadhead.  Don't be put off by the start of 'Feel Like a Stranger' - the audience patch only lasts for a short bit - the rest of this tape is a fine sounding soundboard in which you can hear the interplay between the members most clearly.  A sweet 'Peggy O' follows then a fine 'Me & My...

A wonderful set of classic Grateful Dead awaits your listening pleasure on this week's Deadpod as we visit the second set from their performance on February 15, 1973 in Madison Wisconsin.  The opening 'Here Comes Sunshine' foretells a special night as the band warms up with some fine renditions of several favorites leading into the real treat - a special 'Dark Star'. This version features some extra-special Phil Lesh contributions which foretell a lovely 'Eyes of the World'. The band paints...

 This week the Deadpod goes back 51 years to February 15, 1973 when the Grateful Dead played a massive show in Madison Wisconsin. this first set clocks in at about 100 minute... it starts with a song they debuted about a week earlier 'Loose Lucy'. They are still warming up when they then 'Beat It On Down The Line'. Several favorites follow, but things really get rolling with a fine, up tempo 'Row Jimmy'. The highlights of the set follow, with a wonderful 'China Cat >I Know You Rider' and a...

    An unusual second set setlist and an unusual guest highlight this week's Deadpod from February 12, 1989 in Los Angeles.  Following an opening 'Iko, Iko', Bob breaks out 'Monkey and the Engineer' for the final time, although it sounds a bit different than in the past due to Bob's different timing of the verses. 'Alabama Getaway' follows, another unusual second set choice, then again, 'Dire Wolf', if with a bit of a ragged chorus.A nice version of 'Cassidy' follows, then 'Stuck Inside of...

This week's Deadpod takes us to L.A., where the Dead are joined by some special guests for a unique performance back on February 12, 1989.  This first set has a nice 'Cold Rain and Snow' opener, followed shortly by 'Hell In A Bucket'. 'Row Jimmy' follows with a nice dreamy tempo. An unusually placed 'Beat It On Down the Line' goes nicely into 'The Promised Land'. After a 'West L.A. Fadeaway', Spence Davis joins the band for a spirited 'How Long Blues' and a nice set-closing 'Gimme Some...

  This week's Deadpod features a historic performance - it occurred on the night the band was 'busted down in New Orleans' - January 30, 1970 at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana. Also historic as it was the last show that Tom Constantin played in the Dead.. but aside from that this is a fine show and I think you'll enjoy hearing this very good tape..  The tape is missing part of the opening Casey Jones, nevertheless good vibes here and on the following 'Me & My Uncle'.. 'Black...

Here is the second set from the Grateful Dead's performance at the Oakland Coliseum Arena on January 25, 1993.  They start with a nice uptempo 'China Cat Sunflower->I Know Your Rider', which gets things off to a very good start. Sadly that tempo is halted with the following 'Way To Go Home'. They then go into another new tune at the time 'Corrina' which however has the virtue of providing an interesting transition into a 'Playin' In the Band' reprise (they had played Playin' the night...

This week's Deadpod features a nice later day show from January 25, 1993 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena. This one opens with a fine 'Shakedown Street' - always a good omen, and I think the rest of the set is quite nicely played as well. 'The Same Thing' makes an appearance, as does a relatively rare 'Loose Lucy'. One of the highlights has to be a wonderful version of 'Maggie's Farm' - I always enjoyed the band's harmonies on this one. They close this rather short first set (common for this...

This week's Deadpod returns for the second set of the band's performance at the Oakland Coliseum Arena on December 27th, 1989.  Clarence Clemmons makes a surprise appearance on the opening Iko, Iko and adds a great touch here as the band gets the crowd wound up for what is a fine second set. A spacey 'Playin' In the Band' follows - with some extraterrestrial exploration before going into a lovely 'Crazy Fingers'. 'Uncle John's Band' caps off the pre-drums set. The post-drums is highlighted...

We're going to closeout our Deadpods for 2023, with this beauty from the New Years Eve run of 1989 .. this one is from December 27, 1989 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.  This first set has some great rocking going on, as is evident from the opening 'Cold Rain and Snow' and 'Greatest Story Ever Told'. Brent supplies 'Never Trust a  Woman' aka 'Good Time Blues'. then we have a fine 'Althea' before a rockin' 'Uncle>Big River'.  The crowd gets it's wish as Phil then sings 'Just Like Tom...

This week's Deadpod features the conclusion of the band's performance at McNichols Arena in Denver Colorado on December 14, 1990.  This is a fine, professional performance... starts out with a relatively new song, 'Victim or the Crime', then flows into an uptempo 'Foolish Heart', then 'Man Smart, Woman Smarter'..  The He's Gone that follows flows nicely into a particularly interesting Drums and Space.. then into a reprise of the opening night's 'Dark Star'. The boys flow into a rousing...

From what I think is the last strongest year of the Grateful Dead, this week's Deadpod comes to us from Denver Colorado on December 14, 1990. This was the last show of a three show run at the old McNichols Arena there, and is a fine culmination of what was a very strong run (you can go back in the Deadpod archives to hear the previous two shows).  There is no Bruce Hornsby this evening, and Vince stands out throughout - most of the time in a good way I think. The opening Shakedown is quite...

This week we conclude our presentation of the band's performance at the Warfield in San Francisco back on September 26,1980.  This third set starts with Scarlet>Fire and while it is a worthwhile listen the real fire breaks out on the 'Estimated Prophet' that follows.. some great Garcia/Weir interplay and the entire band is cooking here. The 'Eyes of the World' that follows is a bit fast for my taste, but certainly has some sparkling runs. Drums/Space leads out into a fine 'Not Fade Away'...

Because I didn't want to orphan the rest of this show, and because it is a fine recording and a good show, I'm going to bring you the rest of the performance we started last week from the Warfield Theater in San Francisco on September 26,1980. This is a fine electric set, with many classic numbers, if not a huge amount of jamming.  The opening 'Feel Like a Stranger' features some interesting Brent additions. All of these songs are well played, if a bit safely - I think this was being...

Happy Thanksgiving!  As always here on the Deadpod, I'm publishing this holiday edition on Thanksgiving day for you to enjoy sometime during your festivities, if you like. As is also the tradition on the Deadpod, this is an acoustic show, and I've managed to find a really beautiful acoustic set for this year, coming to us from September 26, 1980 at the Warfield in San Francisco.  This one starts with the first 'To Lay Me Down' since 10/19/74, and the first 'On the Road Again' since...