Alabama Getaway-> Promised Land, Dire Wolf, Minglewood Blues, Row Jimmy, Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Althea, My Brother Esau, Big Railroad Blues-> The Music Never Stopped Playin' In The Band-> China Doll-> High Time-> Women Are Smarter-> Drums-> The Wheel-> Wharf Rat-> Around & Around-> Johnny B. Goode, E: Touch Of Gray
mixed source: 1st set - Neumann > D6 > DAT > CDR > EAC > WAV > SHN, 2nd set - MSbd> Cass > DAT > CDR > EAC > WAV > SHN; to abgd.hs by PJ
Reviewer:
c-freedom
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 27, 2020
Subject:
Whistle through your teeth and spit
The show is a 5 but the first set is sound challenged at points.
but overall they rock and ballad in a bi-polar dream.
Perhaps you saw me in Providence RI.
I was the kid playing the bongo's
sitting atop the VW bus
hypnotizing the police horses
to just hang loose.
Reviewer:
Niass200
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 29, 2015
Subject:
Wheres the SBD? Where's the Release????
This show is one of the best,. at least the china doll high time is. I think this show is hiding in here. That's that. I was there, but that isn't why. I have read enough criticisms of 1984, and I look and see the entire spring tour as no boards. Well, the 1984 sucks crowd is completely wrong. Listen to this and tell me 1985 is better. Not. Anyways that's the way it is. See what's on archive for this tour, and wonder why.
Reviewer:
St. of Circumstance -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
September 4, 2014
Subject:
Don't skip this one
I don't write many reviews. I listen to a LOT of shows. I do not listen to hardly any audience recordings. I listened to this first set just waiting for the Sbd to come in. It does for second set (as mentioned), but this show is unstoppable. It caught my attention from the opening Alabama G (which is rarely a standout).Jerry is up to some crazy stuff, and as you listen, the whole band actually sounds just a little different than 'usual'. As noted, P>CD>High Time is pretty phenomenal and truly a sequence and song selection for the ages.
Enjoy. Thank you Archive and uploaders.
Reviewer:
njpg
-
-
April 27, 2012
Subject:
Very grainy for a SBD.
Sounds like an AUD without the crowd. Garcia's guitar is buried.
Reviewer:
utopian
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 28, 2011
Subject:
Nice show
Very well played yet somewhat standard setlist.
Nice neuman aud for set one. Clean sbd for set 2
Phil had a very different take on the end of row Jimmy, nice surprise.
Playin gets out there
Wharf is nice as is the rest of post drums
Reviewer:
eaglessoar
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 28, 2011
Subject:
great mix of songs
awesome alabama opener, row jimmy sounded great too and nice to hear althea and brother esau
second set was great too, real spacey playing in the band and then a great run to drums
love the post drums set up, the wheel > wharf is great and awesome touch encore
Reviewer:
Stellablu122
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 3, 2008
Subject:
"No one to find, I came to you"
This show is easily in my top 5 for the 80's. I saw both nights and after amazing end to the show the night before things just kept getting better. A strong and ripping Alabama> Promised followed by a sing along Dire Wolf was a fab start. This first set is long, 11 songs, and it all is excellent. Row Jimmy mid set was wonderous and the Althea, still a show stopper in those days, is awesome. The Big RR is smokin' too and the end of Music really sets apart from other versions from this period. It is a good sounded audience, the same copy I had back in the day, which is slightly shallow on bass.We have a good sounding board for set II. Playing is one of the better of the 80's with great playing by all, it is clear Jerry and Phil are on the same wave link, and it has a sound reminiscent of '72/'73 nice and spacy. The transition into China Doll was great and you get a beautiful version, the ending is remarkable with Bob pushing it ever so slightly. Jerry almost drops into Crazy Fingers, we had to wait till next year for that, but then goes into a heartfelt and totally unexpected High Time, which had not been played since 1982. It is a stand out version with passionate crooning by Jerry and Bob.Phil is also amazing in this version, as he is the entire show, he drops a bomb big time.The pairing of these two songs I believe may be the only time it ever occured and easliy was an historic moment live. We all knew it too. We next get a real fun Women,Bob is fully animated and ready to deleiver the goods with the ending jam being the highlight. The drums are quite good too, with Mickey doing some cerebal playing on the beam, which is very interesting. I have to say that the short space into the Wheel is one of my favorite live moments. The interplay between Jerry and Phil, specifically what Phil is playing, is very progressive and unique. I clearly remember a guy screaming " lighin' Phil" on the audience tape. As Phil plays these cool runs of notes, Jerry is building up the intensity with echoing notes cascading over and over and they all meet perfectly at the 1st verse, it is quite powerful and sounds great. Wharf Rat has more echo on Garcia's guitar and voice and you get a very good version. Bob literally must have spray the first front rows when he spits out the "When the police knocked verse' during Around, totally hilarious and a great reflection of how much fun he and the band were having that night.They pair it with a rockin JBG and a great Touch as an encore with Phil again playing some monsterous notes.Jerry played both encores at this run so you know he was in great spirits, as were we all.
Reviewer:
LarryBird33
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 11, 2008
Subject:
Twenty tunes.!!!!
Great time. Rocking show right out of the gate. Good aud version up for download. Tex Garcia rips it up on Big River, making the man in black proud. Interesting year for the Dead all around. Best part of the Civic was the bar directly opposite the stage at the other side of the arena. The mad dash at the end of the 1st set was always comical. 25 years ago. Providence cops were tough, thats for sure.
Reviewer:
CosmoJonny
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 30, 2008
Subject:
Divine Providence Indeed
Providence to me was the highlight of the tour, though the whole tour was one of my favorites. I think what did it was when the band played "The Music Never Stopped". The band seemed to take an interesting turn and Jerry and the band attempted to extend longer than usual. The psychological aspect of this, along with the drumming during the jam section of TMNS did something to me that had never happened to me before: I finally lost sense of time and for a moment thought I understood infinity, or at least became aware of being without the concept or constaints of time. In this case there was just something about the dual drumming.
This was a tour where opium was around, though not quite as pevasive as in Philadelphia. Anyone remember? The month hadnt been too good, as Marvin Gaye had recently been killed.
The Rhode Island Police were mounted on their horses, INSIDE the center. The circular walk area inside the Center was full of people and there was something special about that night.
I stayed with friends at a hotel outside of town where somebody had his Firebird or Camaro stolen. The car was souped up and worth like 16K at the time.
This was the second night of two shows. In many ways, I thought the band was at their finest one some ways, seemed a little more refined, elegant, cool, yet still upbeat. Definitely worth downloading.
Although it seems like the band had gotten much more popular and mainstream by '87, '88, and '89, I really think this phase of the dead (81-84) is really a time for collecting, and it was this era that caused them to move forward so well-the shows were just SO great!!~
Reviewer:
73vw
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 9, 2007
Subject:
divine providence
saw the boys here 83-4 and 86; great
n.e. venue, always good energy, dew(s)!, some truly great moments at providence-this show and nite bfore hot! saw billy get hit in head w/ bottle in 86! ouch...check out llr from 83 + bertha, cool early esau...great china doll/high time...great jg 2nd set in 84...2nd nite 86 very hot up until bottle strike...too bad...trippy stranger/great pre-drums gdtr/sick dark star esque jam! la salle delite...green gels in 83
Reviewer:
Greg Ag
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 11, 2007
Subject:
Setlist Prediction Confirmed
Front Row was I for the very beginning of Playin' due to astonished humor to say the least. I made my way down to the front row during set change and met a very tall and druck man asking me for my ticket. There i am at the Front Row finally after talkin' and gettin' aquainted with the local kind along the way. My brother rob gets right in...(to the front row center) with no problem. Why... i'll always be grateful for but still to this day be amazed at. the guy talkin' tickets askes my brother for his ticket, which is for sec 214. He hands it to the guy and presto he's in. Me, I have lost ticket stub (at the front row with the house lights on...still) "No ticket no front row." But, but i lost mine." "OK then show me something and you can pass too." "I lost it man please!" "Show me anything.Here's my drivers licence","see it really is me. "OK!!!!!!!!!!" Now i'm sittin' on top of the world. Front Row for an astonishing Playin'>China Doll>(and my prediction for the night High Time>Man Smart Woman Smarter>drumz...
Reviewer:
lobster12
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 4, 2006
Subject:
nifty
nifty gig. i checked it out because one reviewer pointed out that the Oct Hartford is the only other time they played high time this year. Good stuff- nice song selection. Anyone know why Jerry opened up again this night since he opened with shakedown the night before?
Reviewer:
bizzap
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 26, 2006
Subject:
First High Time
I will never forget the circular hal walls of the Providence Civic Center. This was the first of 3 years that I saw the dead there. This show stands out to me because in between sets, I saw someone I didnt really want to see and I was tripping my face off. I fell into a maze of thoughts through Playin and China Doll. The trip I was on was about to do me in. Then I heard the first notes of High Time and the crowd cheered. Suddenly all the confusion went away and I felt my mind calm down and start almost a healing process. By the time the show ended I had a a great big smile on my face. Ill remember the close call though. Thank you Jerry!
Reviewer:
early 80's meltdown -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 5, 2006
Subject:
Herion Jerry Art imitating life or life imitating art?
One of my many favorite Althea's what a hot show. I love this version "You know place is getting hot." Big Daddy High Time 84.
Music Never Stopped is hot and Jerry shredds Big RR. Love that Playin>High Time>China>Women>Drums.
On paper alone it looks right Spring 1984 in Rhode Island at the civic. Sick, Sick
My favorite stuff right here.
Hard core solid Dead, jamming and solos all over the place.
5* sound killer aud. recording and sbd
5* playin',show, energy everything.
Very big on 4-26-84 Shakedown St. Brent crushes it along with rest.
ps Capn Double you were lucky Ive noticed you went to alot of killer 84 shows and I think 83. I would of died to see those. A couple years to young.
Reviewer:
capn doubledose
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 27, 2005
Subject:
I was there and it was a rowdy NE pre&post party
The night after stands out in my mind as the pick of the litter however, after listening to this I am not so sure.... This is a ripping first set with an incandescent Minglewood and Big River. It is classic well played rock and roll, no bells and whistles just Jer channeling Chuck Berry - Sound quality 4 minus, songs and relative to the year 4.5/5.0. We had a blast at this show and almost died with 4 crammed in an alfa romeo convertible on the way home checking out Ho Chi Minhs beard on the tanks south of Boston at 70 mph totally dosed... Yippee
This is (was) a great show and wonderful walk down memory lane...
Reviewer:
Worcester Matt
-
favoritefavoritefavorite -
March 10, 2005
Subject:
Providence scene
I, too, loved this event, which, unfortunately does little to evaluate the resulting document. Anyway, some friends and I rented a bus from Worcester and I took about eight tabs.
Funny story. Outside the venue, relatively new to me then (my third show), I heard Touch of Grey for the first time - by some guys on acoustics, singing "We will get a ticket." It then occurred to me, deep in the zone, that I didn't even have a ticket myself. I turned to a friend and said, "Man, I don't have a ticket," to which a girl behind me responded, "Here, take this one. It's my friend's but she couldn't make it." She wouldn't accept money for it, and I was greatly obliged. In fact, I swore that I'd repay the scene, and tried always to have homemade silk screens and tye-dyes to give away whenever I attended a show therafter. Ironically, they played Touch that night.
As for a musical review, I recall that during Space the entire stage became a human heart, which I controlled with my lighter. You probably won't notice this on the tape.
Reviewer:
Rich66
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 5, 2005
Subject:
Providence before '86
Great feeling...Although there were people dosing the horses that the police were riding around on.
Reviewer:
drkstr22
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 3, 2005
Subject:
My First Show
At the tender age of 16 this was my first of what would become a long obsession with me......Although I knew very little of the music at this show I was blown away by the family atmosphere and the life of its own the music took on. I look at the set list and would give just about anything to go back to that front row seat I had for this show.......memories never fade away.
Reviewer:
jackaroeRI
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 17, 2004
Subject:
Great Show
How can noone mention the beauty of this second set? It is gorgeous
Playin>CHINADOLL>HIGH TIMES!!!!>mansmart>drumz is spectsacular alone .
The boucy first set rules as well.
Second set sounds better quality than first IMHO.