This was my second show I could not believe how small the place was. It seemed like a high school gym. The show was great and even though Brent was sick you would never had known it. I remember Phil had some kind of submarine oscillator behind him that looked really cool.. Very enjoyable show and only 20 mins down the road from where I lived.Great memories and a decent Aud recording. Thanks!!

i would just like to point out that this band played Winterland, Giants Stadium, The Great Pyramids and the Billerica Forum all within a few months of each other.

Junior year HS, ran away from home and the anti-dead parental regime for this show and hot dang tamale if wasn't worth the price of the Amtrak ticket and my virginity. 39 years later Im still getting goose bumps from that Esti/Eyes and visions of whats her name.
The world needs a new band beyond description now more than ever! xoxo

Saw DSO 7-8-13 at Veterans Park-Springfield, Ohio They recreated this set, with all the breaks and re-tunings between songs. This is a really good audience recording, bookmarked as a favorite for sure.

I was not a big dead fan but senior year of high school heard they were playing in Billerica. I worked at the local greenhouse/nursery, asked the boss for time off to go see the show. He said if you don't show up for work you don't got a job. I said fuck it, went to the show. Can't remember much except all the songs were really long. I didn't appreciate the jam thing much then. Looking forward to hearing it again 31 years later...

good sound (don't be dissuaded by the clappers, they mellow out--although they do return in Bertha).

yeah, '79 is great. louder and picking up a head of steam, but still able to deliver some of the laid back goods that we love from the '70's. Black Peter is a very mellow, but heart felt dirge this night. Shakedown is good, but chill. Passenger, rips. Jerry nails it (which he was not always able to do with this song) and eyes has some fantastic fast jazz noodling. this is a super nice listen. worth the dl, i think.

This show started my live Dead love affair. I couldn't believe we got the Dead to come to our school to play in a dingy hockey rink. I joined Stage Crew and we got treated to a nice long sound check jam on top of a fun show. Plus we met some super friendly Hell's Angels. Fun times.

'nuff said.

now that you have to pick through the audience sources...you actually find a gem....sound is pretty good..and when they hit the 7 minute mark on Franklins Tower, you know you've got a hot show here..vocals a bit low in the mix, but the jams are here, and the band just marchs on...and SMILE as another 79 show becomes part of your regular play list...download and enjoy...and if ou're looking for any of the tasty sbd's that are verboten for now...send me an e.mail...i went on a tear a bout 4 months ago and recorded about 500 shows....merry christmas and happy new year..thanks to the archive and all it's hard working sponsors that allow us to enjoy the tunes forever...:)

Thursday, the day before the concert, WBCN announces a Dead show at the Billerica Forum...say WHAT?????
I had seen high school hockey games there, but a Dead show? Tix were available at the University of Lowell,I was working in Tewksbury(about 5 miles away), I was on my way. Took my first wife,who wasn't "on the bus" and who had recently given birth to my first son(who was born "on the bus" and hasn't gotten off). Anyhow, show was very interesting. Sound inside was echoey, sightlines were good, ran into some UMass buddies(2 years removed from the Zoo) and was having a good time. BUT after drums and space the wife starts a scene to go home. 26 years later I have finally heard the end of Black Peter and the final 3 songs. I guess that I can forgive her now. I certainly didn't then. My son, Stephen, turned me on to this sight and I'm addicted. Replacing all my 'legs and sharing them with my 21-26 year old kids who have continued the tradition. By the way, second wife is "on the bus"....loves good music...we go to many and varied rock shows together. Oh, I love her.

Pretty good/interesting AUD recording. Garcia's first solo is a bit tentative, and he has a little trouble with the vocals. You can hear Phil's notes, but then he disappears quickly. Second solo is also quiet. 4:50 microphone feedback.

Jam starts at 5, also quiet and somewhat tentative. They had played this a week before, but that one was their first in three months. Rio Grande verse at 6:34. Vocals seem a bit out of tune. 8:09 Garcia solos, but not much to speak of. Try the 9-1-79 version instead.

I have no 79, and never saw them till rfk on july 6, 86. there is a dead for every mood, this is so chill, great sound, great jams ie, brent and jerry in shakedown. fantastic shakedown. 5 stars for alot of reasons, the most important is that i will listen to this and never be over it.

Oh my...What a great Aud Recording!!!!!Cant believe no one has reviewed this!!This is the Last show that you were able to Record "front of board"Healy got socked in the head w/some guys setup.Guy lost his balance and BOOM.Hit Dan in the face.He went nuts!From here on out,Fob was hard to do.Not that it wasnt done,just this is when Ramrod and Healy really cracked down on FOB.
as for the show....Welcome Brent!I usally dont give 5 stars,but this one is the LOST GEM OF THE ARCHIVE!!!!