@ RubinRubin. to my ear this Promised Land is better.......https://archive.org/details/gd1985-10-28.sbd.walker-scotton.miller.105882.flac16/gd85-10-28d1t08.flac Even though I do like the energy of this '91 show, the playing on this '85 one is more nuanced which is not surprising given that Vince and Bruce had not been playing with the Dead as long as Brent had been by '85.

Ten song first set capped off by one of the most insane Promised Lands....ever. Other than 8-27-72, I’ve never heard one hotter. If you have, let me know, I’d like to hear it. The Scarlet -Fire is a post Keith-Donna top 10. It absolutely smokes from the first note to the last. It’s also the ONLY time I ever saw Jerry walk away from his between song smoke to take a bow. Even HE knew they’d nailed it. If you listen to the audience tapes, that secondary roar you hear is the crowd responding to Jerry walking up to the front of the stage and tipping his cap, if he’d been wearing one. Anyone who poo-poos this Scarlet-Fire is just being silly. The rest of the show was outstanding as well with enough energy to lift the roof off Richfield. Remember, this was the tour opener, so the boys were rested and ready and it shows. Also, Bruce spent the entire night kicking Jerry in his ass. Listen to it with an open mind and open ears. It’s all there.

These shows were an absolute blast! I had just moved out of my home town into a cool party house with great friends and our buddy just got a new VW van and we took it to the shows and partied down. Lots of first time tunes for us and I remember the Scarlet-Fire well. It just seemed to go on forever and I thought Jerry was going to sing something different besides the regular lyrics because the jam was so out there. I thought he was going to lay down some mystical rap about life, the universe and everything, which he did through the lyrics of Fire on the Mountain. Blew my mind...

Scarlet> Fire is easily the highlight of this big Richfield show, the first of the fall 1991 tour. Take a look at the video from the second set if you can get your hands on it. Jerry's having a good time.

Hilarious review here from Jinglebell Rainbow, who hasn't heard a Phil and Friends show he won't apply five stars to, but sees fit to give this one only two. Kids..

The song with the most energy is Jack Straw, this one really cooked. Other than that this show just seems to lay there, run of the mill average at best. Being a huge fan of Scarlet>Fire after reading the reviews I was ready to really enjoy this one. But it lacks Jerry energy his solos are weak with no real emotion. So many other great versions are out there. No Jam after He's Gone makes this a lazy end to post drums. China Doll is always good but this one lacks real depth in the solo section and the transistion into Wheel is not smooth; more start and stop than flowing. The sound quality is great but the music is not, over blown hype. Not a badly played show just rather weak and average at best

On the way to this show we saw some folks at a rest stop, and of course we all realized we were headed to the same place. When they left, they wished us a "good show". That's the first time that'd ever happened, and I saw it as a good omen. We were not disappointed.

But we were so high up on the side of that coliseum that we thought we could almost fall vertically if we slipped. Though daring, the dancing was still great.

This was one of those "most beautiful shows". I recall nothing sonically or musically that wasn't pure bliss. And, yeah, Bob's guitar was right out front, and that's so much fun. And I'm confident that the band brought back Brent or Pigpen or Keith with "He's Gone". Maybe all three.

From on high the people down on the floor of the arena looked like a sea of old southern Blacks down by the river for baptism. It was a profoundly spiritual show. I remember the Drums came right up out of the Ganges, very Indian.

I've only recently discovered this website and these collections, and am starting to troll for shows I went to. This is a wonderful archive. Thank you.

First set starts off REAL strong...the Jack Straw is great, as is the Jack-A-Roe. Walkin' Blues is way too fast and muddy. Possibly one of the worst versions of the song I've ever heard. Tennessee Jed & Black Throated Wind are also kinda fast & clunky (those songs never had the same impact on me post-Brent). I think the band pulls some control back together with Cold Rain & Promised Land. When they come back for Set 2, it's much better. Scarlet > Fire is pretty sick. The rest of the show is pretty good, too. Always love He's Gone. My biggest rave about this show is Bob's guitar volume - LOVE it when he's loud. Also, I did get to sit 10th row on the floor right between Jerry & Bruce. Pretty cool.

We were hanging out in the upper "ring" of the coliseum, which was at the top directly back from the stage. Kinda' far away, but it was flat and there was space. I took some blotter before the show, and topped it off with a J during set break, which really got things kicking. My mind was racing, I couldn't talk, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was freakin'. And then the lights went down. :) I never danced so hard in my life. This Scarlet>Fire was just exactly what I needed. It was great. When it was all over, I was cheering and whooping and so loud. :) :) :) :) :) :)

Man, I miss GD shows. Probably a bit too responsible & old to get crazy like I did on the night of Sept 4th, 1991. But, oh, to have the opportunity...

solid show, great sound not a 5 star... 5 star shows are only meant for absolutely mind-blowing shows, begining to end, dont get me wong a god show but it's not worth 5 stars

since reports that jer was pissed at the dead during this time and the shows before boston garden(when Hornsby talked sense to him) were sub par I stayed away from these Ohio gigs. this is very nice. First set is long and strong and I like the second set song selection. Wish jer didn't take half the fall tour off.

These richfield shows were where I got off the bus. 6 years with the dead and i was only 20 years old... great memories, but i don't know... it just felt like it was time to move on. I saw many, many amazing shows and had some beautiful times with the dead. I'm glad I went out on a high and didnt have to witness the horrid decline of the rest of their career. Thank god for the Archive, which has reawakened my LOVE of this band after all these years!

I wish Bruce would have stayed with them for the duration. He gave the band the juice like it was nobody's business! Post Brent-post Bruce, not to put too fine a point on it, falls back into a really straight ahead formulaic style. Though I love those Albany 93 shows. Whatever...

This show is insane. Its just excellent, and whoever mentioned Bobby's playing, right on man. Bobby was on.

Put on the headphones and "rock on out" BIODTL style.

Scarlet Fucking Fire!!!!!!!!!!

Richfield was the first venue the boys played back in '90 after Brent died. One can only imagine the memories it brought back being there again. Inspiration, dedication, whatever, Brent was on their minds. The mix of this show is nearly, if not perfect making it a pleasure to listen to over and over...loud. The boys were on fire. Their timing was right on, Jerry's leads were ripping pulling off high high peaks. Bobby's rhythm and Bruce's keys fill your ears with harmony. In my opinion it is the best Scarlet->Fire ever. You think ah, come on but what about...but I remember it clear as day. That show moved everyone there. This show should be the next View from the Vault. Forget Dick's picks, I have the board. Let's see the magic.

These shows @ Richfield for the 91 fall opener were my 3rd - 5th shows. The setlist for this 1st set is so bitchin. All kinds of songs in strange places... And long, too. There are many many strong points to this show. However, my absolute favorite part is how loud Bobby is. I got the board on cassette shortly after the show, and it's exact. Bobby is turned UP. I like it b/c you get a feeling for how sweet he is at rhythm guitar. Plus, you have Hornsby on the piano. Surely a welcomed sound. Very full. Bruce on Walkin Blues makes the whole tune. Bobby on Jack Straw and Jack-A-Row is so strong. Not to mention him during the 2nd set. This show is sweet on many levels. I think this show should be a Dick's Picks.

...to 1991. It seems that I can't get into an era until some major upheaval has taken place. Couldn't really get into post-'82 until after Brent had died and hated post-Brent until recently. Fall '91 is very solid and I haven't heard a duff Richfield show yet. The mix for this show is very good, some folks are more out front than others. Jerry alternates between nice'n'loud and not there, but that has more to do with what he is doing than the mix itself. The playing is excellent, not super-solid throughout but Jerry is 'on' and 'there' which makes for an anything-can-happen type of show. Phil seems interested for the most part with infrequent periods of plodding around. The Scarlet>Fire is a highlight. Check out the Promised Land, seriously. The whole band is just *screaming*, really leaning into it and giving it everything they've had, never heard one like it. Everyone is pounding away and clanging and crashing and ripping chords and notes like mad, it is total musical chaos, but everyone is in tune and in time. Nice. It's a great board, and I'm also checking out all the newly posted auds from this period too. Sound: 4 / Show: 4. A few years ago I'd have called this the best board I'd ever heard but not everything can be a 5...

Man, The Dead always rocked the Richfield, this night is no exception. To boot, a ten song first set after 1989 was highly unusual. They musta loved playin' this venue, b/c with the exception of maybe the 1990 run when they should have spent more time recuperating and reorganizing after Brent passed, the 91, 92, 93, and 94 runs were all pretty darn amazing. I do remember the venue sounded pretty awesome and the crowd would get WAY into it...Good ol' Midwest Dead shows. In terms of sound quality and performance, this is a solid 5 stars for sound and a 5- for performance.

I had half this show and I'm so glad I found the other half on here. AWESOME SET LIST AND AMAZING QUALITY!!!!!!!!!!!! A+++++

One of my most memorable GD experiences happened at the conclusion of the Scar>Fire: as the crowd errupted in appreciation and awe at what had just transpired over the last 25 minutes, Jerry gave a wave to the audience in recognition. The ovation went on for another couple of minutes: even on the SBD copy of the show you can make out the crowd.

Other highlights: just before the first verse of Wheel, Bill dropped his drumstick and it fell forward towards Bobby. Without missing a beat, Bob picked it up and tossed back and then made it back to the microphone just in time . . .

Bob mucks up one of the verses of Throwing, so he decides to go back and re-sing it. They pull it off so well that it seems like that's how the song was written . . .

The first set might go down as my favourite of the post-Brent era. Ya maybe I'm biased because I was there, but I've heard most of the 90's shows and this one rocks. Do not even hesitate downloading this show.

im streaming this show at work, and it goes from scarlet right into Estimated....skips FOTM...>WHY WHY WHY ahhhhhhhhh

I had been in college in Buffalo for about a day when me and buddy jumped on an Amtrak train to Cleveland. Hung out outside the big old rusted stadium on the water, and then took a bus to the coliseum. Met up with friends, the scene was totally cool. First night was on the floor. Listen well to the Drums/Space this night, it will blow you away.

Then we ended up staying in a suite in a nearby Hilton. The hotel was overrun by Deadheads. Awesome 3 night run, and this is the best of the 3, in my opinion.

I did all of these Richfield shows. This first night was my favorite. The first set is solid and the set list is great. I loved the pair of Jacks. Scarlet/Fire is the best since 3/22/1990.

Got to see 29 shows and this was my first and by far the best. The entire night the band is on fire. Scarlet > Fire has been talked about in other reviews, but how about that first set? 10 songs all solid and played to perfection. This is a must have show.

An amazingly high energy show. Set 1 looks mundane but is played with a super charged intensity. The band sounded really psyched for the fall tour. One of the best Scarlet > Fire's ever.

This show rocks!

1st set is a smokin especially the Cold Rain>Promised Land closer. The Jack Straw, Jack A Roe, Tenn Jed, & BTW are also very well played.

This is a great Scarlet>Fire. Scarlet is Jammed out and Bruce really pushes Jerry during the transition. But don't forget about the post drums segment, the segue from China Doll into The Wheel is smooth and they really rock out NFA.

Mickey's exgirlfriend Jerry Lee Bradeleis was in town promoting her book and was on the local radio after this show just raving. She said she had not seen energy like this from these guys in a while and that they were very tired after the show. It showed the next night.

Of the 45 shows I had the privilege of attending, this is my personal #1. Scarlet>Fire was a religious experience (and I wasn't even high), best of the 90's, and perhaps the 2nd half of the 80's too.

Other highlights:
The 1st set closing "Promised Land" was on fire.
I have always felt that the best versions of "China Doll" were the ones that materialized out of Space. This one is chilling.

Absolutely Sick!!

Best of the 90's IMO

This was a great run indeed! One of the last times the band really scared me they were so good. Bruce and Jerry really locked by this point in the line-up. Really can't say enough about how much fun I had those 3 nights. Thanks for sharing! Nice sounding SBD for the run is great too!

This Fall '91 Richfield run was spectacular...and this first show was my favorite show of the three. All three have something to offer...but this has a long (10 song) first set, and the second starts with one of the most energetic Scarlet > Fires I ever had the privilege of dancing like a complete idiot to...

Fun, fun, fun...unless you were stuck in the parking lot...