The Deadpod

Normally I wouldn't publish two consecutive Jerry shows on the Deadpod.. but this week's show is not a normal tape - this is a top-shelf recording of Jerry and Merle at the top of their game.. this is simply a wonderful recording of a superlative performance. Once I listened to this I knew I should share it as soon as possible - hence it became the choice for this week's Deadpod.  This show was apparently originally advertised as an Old and In The Way performance - however its clearly Jerry and Merle Saunders. It supposedly was one of the tapes written about in the New Yorker article by  Nick Paumgarten (that you can read here). This was one of the Betty Cantor-Jackson tapes that was discovered in a trunk, but lucky for us was saved and restored by a professional recording engineer.. Not only is this a wonderful performance but a magnificent recording.. while its a bit longer than I would have liked (only when thinking of my hosting quota!) it is certainly well worth it..  The music itself defies easy categorization.. classic Jerry and Merle, but there is so much improvisation and creativity that we really can't label parts of this performance..  Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders Keystone 2119 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 November 3, 1973 (Saturday) --Set I (7 tracks, 83:05)-- s1t01. ... After Midnight [7:26] (1) [2:48] s1t02. Expressway (To Your Heart) [10:59] -> s1t03. collective improvisation [15:50] -> s1t04. transition to Merl's Tune [2:13] -> s1t05. Merl's Tune [7:58] [2:34] s1t06. Someday Baby [16:19] [1:55] s1t07. I Second That Emotion [14:50] (2) [0:11] % --Set II (2 tracks, 39:51, incomplete)-- s2t01. .. Mystery Train [10:01] [0:15] s2t02. My Funny Valentine [29:05] (3) ! Band: Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders ! Lineup: Jerry Garcia - el-g, vocals; ! Lineup: Merl Saunders - keyboards; ! Lineup: John Kahn - el-bass; ! Lineup: Bill Vitt - drums; ! Lineup: Martin Fierro - saxophone, flute. While we don't have the complete tape, I urge you to listen to Garcia in the 'collective improvisation' segment - it will blow you away..  You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod010413.mp3 Finally my most sincere thanks to those of you who are able to assist the Deadpod with your financial contributions.. thank you SO much! I certainly couldn't get the Deadpod out each week without your help!

As 2012 draws to an end, I was reflecting on what shows were most requested by my listeners, and what is readily apparent is that I get a whole lot of requests for more Jerry Garcia Band.. by a fortuitous coincidence, this tape happened to make an appearance this week. This had never before been in circulation, and that, combined with the wonderful year (for JGB) and setlist ensured that I'd choose it for this week's Deadpod..  I loved this lineup of the JGB, and this period in their performance history. While this is a mono recording, its such a happy occasion to have a new JGB release see the light of day that I decided it would be just right for this Deadpod... I hope you agree...  Jerry Garcia Band Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ March 17, 1978 Late Show 1 Mission In The Rain 11:00 2 Russian // Lullaby (glitch @ 8:32) 12:03 3 Tore Up Over You 11:37 4 Love In The Afternoon       12:03 5 I'll Be With Thee       05:03 6 Night They Drove Old Dixie Down     10:15 - encore - 7 Rhapsody In Red   07:21 Jerry Garcia guitar, vocals John Kahn bass Keith Godchaux keyboards Donna Jean Godchaux backing vocals Maria Muldaur backing vocals Buzz Buchanan drums You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod122812.mp3 I would be amiss if I didn't send out a huge thank you to all of you who have supported the Deadpod this year. I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have all of you help in making this weekly podcast possible. THANK YOU!  Finally my sincere wishes for a HEALTHY and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I hope that 2013 is better for all of us in every way.. 

Happy Holidays! On this Winter Solstice I bring you this the 2012 Holiday edition of the Deadpod. As is our tradition this week's Deadpod features acoustic Grateful Dead for your enjoyment. I decided to make this year's Holiday Deadpod both very classic and a bit different...  First the classic - how about the very first acoustic set from the famous Fall of 1980 shows at the Warfield in San Francisco?  We have the entire acoustic set from this famous show from September 25th, 1980 as well as several songs from the next evening as well.. There is really nothing better to unwind to than these classic acoustic numbers done as only Jerry Garcia and the band can do..  Grateful Dead 9/25/80 - Thursday Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA One: Bird Song I've Been All Around This World Dark Hollow  Rosalie McFall Monkey And The Engineer  It Must Have Been The Roses Jack-A-Roe Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie > Ripple 9/26/80 - Friday Warfield Theater - San Francisco CA To Lay Me Down Cassidy China Doll For the less traditional - I recently got ahold of this Jerry Moore tape of Bob Weir and friends - a show that took place back on May 29th, 1986 in New York  City. I really enjoyed hearing Bob's acoustic versions of these songs and decided to include them in part 2 of this year's holiday Deadpod.. I hope you enjoy them as well.. Bob Weir & Friends* 1986-05-29 The Great 60's Ball The Saint, NYC * Matthew Kelly Barry Flast Steve Kimock Jorma Kaukonen Anna Rizzo Peter Yarrow Intro - Abbie Hoffman Festival City Girls My Blue Tears This Time Forever Desolation Row Youngblood Spoonful Winners Easy To Slip Victim Or The Crime Throwing Stones Baby What You Want Me To Do Blowin' In The Wind You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod122112.mp3 Finally my thanks to everyone who has listened to, and those who have helped to support, the Deadpod this past year. I am blessed to have so many kind friends who enjoy the music as much as I do and I so want you to know how thankful I am for the chance to produce this show each week. I find in these sad times that this music gives me strength and hope, the light it brings me I can't find just anywhere else.. I hope it gives you all peace and joy as well... thank you my friends.. Happy Hanukkah - Merry Christmas - and a warm Winter Solstice to all of you!

This week another fabulous version of Playing In the Band from 1972... this one is a real monster - Phil and Jerry trade some really intense leads and while this is not the only reason to listen to this set (recently re-mastered by Charlie Miller) its probably the highlight.. I think its certainly worthy of a listen and hope you do as well!  Grateful Dead - November 18, 1972 Hofheinz Pavilion - Houston, TX Set 2: Bertha -> Greatest Story Ever Told He's Gone Jack Straw Deal Playing In The Band Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo Sugar Magnolia One More Saturday Night Encore: Uncle John's Band You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod121412.mp3 Thanks to everyone who put in a bid on the DVD video auction! I'll be closing that at noon today, 12/14/12... if you put in the winning bid be sure and contact me..  Finally a most sincere thank you to those of you who have contributed to the Deadpod.. I very much appreciate your support and have to tell you how great it feels to know the Deadpod is appreciated! thank you!! 

This week it's set 2 of 12/5/71 .. sure this one is not as crispy as many boards from this era, but this is such a fine, energetic performance that in my opinion it makes up for all the flaws in the recording.. Listen to the wonderful transitions from Dark Star into Me & My Uncle back into Dark Star and then into Sittin' On Top of the World... these are truly exquisite. This is a fine example of relatively early Grateful Dead.. I'm also a huge fan of the closing NFA->Goin' Down the Road->NFA.. and even in 71, when they do a Johnny B Goode encore, you know the boys were having a good time! Grateful Dead 12/5/71 - Sunday Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY Set Two: Truckin' Ramble On Rose It Hurts Me Too Sugaree Sugar Magnolia Dark Star -> Me And My Uncle-> Dark Star -> Sittin' On Top Of The World Me And Bobby McGee Big Railroad Blues Mexicali Blues -> You Win Again Not Fade Away -> Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad -> Not Fade Away ; E: Johnny B. Goode You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod120712.mp3 A quick reminder - see the post below for details on our Grateful Dead DVD auction!! Bidding will close on 12/14/12.... Thank you all so much for your support - I really appreciate it and am fortunate that you enjoy the Deadpod!! thank you!

This week's Deadpod features a great show that I've meant to play for some time - the Grateful Dead's performance on December 5th, 1971 at the Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. This comes to us from a pre-fm soundboard, but the sound is a bit iffy at times and sounds a bit 'condensed'.. nevertheless the performance is really alive and Jerry is zinging with energy. The set features a wonderful Brown-Eyed Women, the only performance of 'I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water', as well as a simply fine Tennessee Jed and Comes a Time...  We'll hear the second set next week but everything, from the great Bill Graham introductions of the band members (if rock and roll had a Godfather.....").. to the set closing Saturday Night is spot on and shows us the band in their full youthful glory.. Grateful Dead Date: 12/5/71 - Sunday Location: Felt Forum - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY One: Bertha Beat It On Down The Line Big Boss Man Brown Eyed Women I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water Jack Straw  Mr. Charlie  Tennessee Jed  El Paso Deal  Playing In The Band Next Time You See Me Comes A Time Casey Jones > One More Saturday Night  You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod113012.mp3 I hope that as we watch November,and indeed all of 2012 go slowly behind us, that you are all well and happy.. I can't think of a finer audience and thank you all so much for listening and for your kind support.. 

This week's Deadpod features a wonderful show from 1969 - this one from December 19th, 1969 at the Fillmore in San Francisco CA. This show starts off with a rare acoustic 'set' of sorts with just Jerry and Bob, due, we hear, to Phil being late to arrive. His tardiness gives a nice treat -  the first four songs are a great treat to hear, Once everyone is back in the fold, the band moves effortlessly into a great electric set, which I decided to bring to you in its entirety. To me, its a great treat to listen to listen to the boys on songs like "Mason's Children' and 'Cumberland Blues'. As with most great '69 shows Pigpen is in great form on Good Lovin' and a 30 minute long Lovelight to close out the show.. I hope you find this one a fine way to spend a couple hours during this post-Thanksgiving weekend..  Grateful Dead 12/19/69 - Friday Fillmore Auditorium - San Francisco, CA Introduction The Monkey And The Engineer  Little Sadie Long Black Limousine  All Around This World  Mason's Children  Black Peter  Hard To Handle  Cumberland Blues ; Casey Jones Good Lovin' > Drums > Good Lovin' ; Cryptical Envelopment > Drums > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > Uncle John's Band > Turn On Your Lovelight You can listen to the Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod112312.mp3 My thanks to all of you for listening to and supporting the Deadpod.. Its a joy to know that so many fine folks are enjoying these tunes and I am so grateful to be allowed the privilege of sharing the tunes.  PS - I know this wasn't a true 'acoustic' show - those are fairly rare and I've played quite a few of them already. I hope those of you who love the acoustic shows aren't too disappointed. I plan on more acoustic music for my annual Christmas show... 

This week we will finish the Dead's 9/29/89 concert at Shoreline Ampitheater. As you can see below this is a fine second set. As a Terrapin fan, I would've been pretty darn happy with everything up through drums, and content when Bob broke out the Miracle that I'd gotten a full measure of the price of admission.. however that's when they broke out 'Death Don't Have No Mercy...' this was the first time since 1970 that this classic had been played. It always brings chills to my neck to hear Garcia and Weir sing this..and they'd only play it three more times........  This is a fine concert all around but that is what makes it special for me..  I do hope you enjoy this week's Deadpod........  Deadshow#142 Grateful Dead 9/29/89 - Friday Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA Two: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider Blow Away Playing In The Band > Terrapin Station > Drums Space > I Need A Miracle > Death Don't Have No Mercy > Sugar Magnolia Encore: The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo) You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod111612.mp3 Thank you for supporting the Deadpod. I could not do this without you, my friends and partners in this journey.. Have a great Thanksgiving..

This week's show was the result of a request made over on the Deadpod's facebook page for a great version of Brent doing 'We Can Run'.. While this may not be the very best version of that song its plenty good.. and it is a part of a pretty good show from a great Fall tour. Highlights for me on this first set include the off-tempo Franklin's Tower, and a great Bird Song and Promised Land.. Set 2 follows next week, with a foreshadowing of the Hampton shows that came later in this tour.. Grateful Dead Date:9/29/89 - Friday Location:Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA One: Good Times ; 04:03 Feel Like A Stranger ; 07:17 Franklin's Tower ; 09:17 Wang Dang Doodle ; 05:59 Jack-A-Roe ; 04:37 Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again % 08:59 We Can Run ; 06:01 Bird Song ; 12:38 The Promised Land ; 04:22 You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod110912.mp3 Thank you so much for your support of the Deadpod!!

This week we get to listen to the second set from a nice performance from the fall of 1972 - 10/28/72 Cleveland Ohio.. The Dark Star is clearly the crown jewel of this performance and I encourage you to read the description of that piece given by Robert Goetz in the Grateful Dead Tapers Compendium. It is far from the only thing worthwhile in the set to be sure. While some of the sound is not pristine (my apologies for that), still I really enjoyed the rest of the set, especially the Attics.. and hope you do as well.  The Dark Star should be *studied* :)  Grateful Dead Cleveland Public Hall 10/28/72 - Saturday Set Two: He's Gone El Paso Don't Ease Me In Greatest Story Ever Told Brown Eyed Women Beat It On Down The Line Attics Of My Life Big River Dark Star Sugar Magnolia Casey Jones E: Johnny B. Goode You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod110212.mp3 Thank you so much for your kind support of the Deadpod. I very much appreciate your donations, that keep us running.

I know that I may have featured too many shows this year from 1972 (is that possible?) but being that its the 40th anniversary of these shows I'm naturally led to take a look at them and often I'm drawn by their quality. 1972 was a wonderful year.. this week I decided to feature this show from the weekend before Halloween due principle to the fact that I really really want to play the Dark Star from set 2.. sometimes this desire to feature a particular segment or song from a show might cause me to feature some music that might not quite measure up.. I suppose that is the completest in me that prefers to feature whole shows rather than 'parts'. This week I'm playing set 1 of this show despite some sound issues with the mix - the vocals are often too low in the mix. Nevertheless the playing is first rate, as is the typically superb song selection. I hope you'll overlook the issues with the mix as I do, in anticipation of the wonderful Dark Star that awaits next week - besides this is a first rate set... :) Grateful Dead Cleveland Public Hall 10/28/72 - Saturday SetOne: The Promised Land ; Friend Of The Devil ; Jack Straw ; China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider ; Mexicali Blues ; Box Of Rain ; Me And Bobby McGee ; Candyman ; Me And My Uncle ; Sugaree ; Playing In The Band ;   I really hope that you enjoy this one, in my mind, (and I'm probably biased as I  grew up near Cleveland)  the band really played some fine music here...    You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod102612.mp3   thank you so much for your support of the Deadpod..  I really couldn't do the show without you!!!   

Those of you who are regular listeners of the Deadpod know that I generally can only go so long between regular doses of the Jerry Band..something told me the time was up this week so I went looking for a rocking JGB set to bring you and came across this recommendation. Although advertised as an audience tape, I suspect this could be a matrix. While I'm not completely happy with how distant some of the vocals sound, I'm quite pleased with the sonic quality of the music - I hope you will be as well. As for the preformance, the After Midnight->Eleanor Rigby->After Midnight, while perhaps not quite up to Keane College standards, is still very worth listening to. Jerry Garcia Band 3-8-80 The Stone, San Francisco, CA (set 1) Sugaree That's What Love Will Make You Do Simple Twist Of Fate Tore Up Over You (set 2) I'll Take A Melody How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You After Midnight > Eleanor Rigby Jam > After Midnight When I Paint My Masterpiece > Midnight Moonlight    I hope you enjoy this my friends, you can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod101912.mp3     Thanks so much for your support - I couldn't imagine a better group of people than  everyone who listens to the Deadpod!   

This is a fine second set from the Fall of 1976 - enjoy this one along with the fine Fall weather.. I especially recommend that you savor the wonderful Slipknot..  as well as the Franklin's Tower that follows.. this is really an under appreciated gem.  The Dancin'->Drums->Wheel->Ship is not only unusual but very nicely done,  especially the Ship of Fool.. this one makes a truly wierd but wonderful transition  back into the Dancin' reprise..  There's no point in describing the GDTRFB.. listen to it..  You'll love the rockin' end to this show..      ACK - I just noticed that I introduced the show saying it was for October 1, 2012..  of course its not.. today is October 12!! Don't let that throw you off.. it is the correct show.      Grateful Dead - October 1, 1976Market Square Arena - Indianapolis, IN Two: Might As Well ; Samson And Delilah Help On The Way; Slipknot!  Franklin's Tower ; Dancing In The Street Drums; The Wheel ; Ship Of Fools;  Dancing In The Street ; Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad; One More Saturday Night  Encore: U.S. Blues    You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod101212.mp3   I hope that you might consider making a donation to support the Deadpod..  You can do so by clicking on the 'Donate' button on the right side of the page,  or by dropping me a note and sending a check. I very much appreciate your support!!  

Fall of 1976 was an excellent period for the band and this week's show is a nod to the upcoming release of 'Dave's Picks' 4' as well as a great representation of this tour, as  we travel to Indianapolis for a show that took place on October 1st, 1976.  We will hear the first set this week, and while it does take a song or two for the band to really rev up, I think by the time Deal arrives we know we're in for a good show.  My personal highlights include the Brown Eyed women and of course, the rare first-set Scarlet Begonias.  This is a really interesting time for the group as they are moving from the slower more jazzy improvisational pieces and developing the tighter rhythmic structures that we know and love in 1977.  I hope you enjoy this week's Deadpod..     Grateful Dead - October 1, 1976 Market Square Arena - Indianapolis, IN Set 1: 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/deadpod100512.mp3  I hope that you might consider making a donation to support the Deadpod.. You can do so by clicking on the 'Donate' button on the right side of the page, or by dropping me a note and sending a check. I very much appreciate your support!!

This week's Deadpod allows us to enjoy the second set of the band's wonderful performance from Sept. 18th, 1987 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. If you caught the first set last week you know the band was firing on all cylinders here and they come out with a smokin' hot Shakedown Street, followed by a nice Man Smart, Woman Smarter, then an excellent Terrapin Station.. not a bad part 1! They come out of space with a rollin' Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad, which flows into Bobby doing an early version of Watchtower. The Morning Dew that follows is for me the highlight of the show.. Jerry is ON IT.. and has everyone enthralled with this one.. Bobby follows with a nice Good Lovin' but Jerry is not through having fun and comes in with a couple verses of La Bamba! This is a real treat and we know Garcia is having a great time on this night.. Clearly this is one of the classic Dead performances and I can only wish I had been in attendance this night.. I hope you enjoy it.. 9/18/87 - Grateful Dead Madison Square Garden, New York, NY  Set 2: Shakedown Street->  Man Smart, Woman Smarter->  Terrapin Station->  Drums->  Space->  GDTRFB->  All Along The Watchtower->  Morning Dew->  Good Lovin'->  La Bamba->  Good Lovin'  E: Heaven's Door You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod092812.mp3  I could not bring the Deadpod to you each week without the kind support of my listeners. thank you so much!