As reviews below have stated (darryizer & Txlronman), it's an up and down show and not the best of the run – though this isn't one of the best runs of '71 anyway (see late April and Oct>Nov). They had new material, but some is not fully developed and there's some shaky playing. Mickey abruptly departed and this is known as the first Mickey-less show (not drastically felt on this night) and for the premieres of Bird Song & Deal. Imagine being suddenly alone on the drums riser. Billy has said that he played better when he didn't have to synch with Mickey, and that Jer took cues better, but that came after adjustment. It's a shorter show and more of a Bobby night. There are also solid highlights, and this was one of the "ESP shows", where the audience was part of an experiment in remote viewing. It seems like a strange pick for Three from the Vault, but they were carting around an 8-track machine for various shows in early '71 and had limited selection for a Vault multi-track. This had become such a huge market for the band. They came in Mar., Jun. & Nov. of '70, then this run, and in those four trips played 16 shows in less than a year.

First Set. It's funny to start with two tunings (The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down & Spring Song). The set slowly warms. Loser is the 2nd one; spry but still blooming. This ship takes off at a fine Cumberland. Bertha is also the 2nd one, and one of the best of the early, uptempo versions w/Pig organ. Playing in the Band is another 2nd one, but Bobby first has to remind everyone how Playing is played. Not quite there yet, but I dig this arrangement where the riff is played again @3:20. Dark Hollow is the 1st of only 2 in '71. It was played acoustically a bunch in '70 – and once electric, this being the 2nd electric that we have. It's great here, even though its OOT at first and has one Jer solo. Seamless blending maximizes Smokestack. It wasn't really played that much after '66/'67; we have just 5 from '70. Bobby is insane through China Cat>Rider.

Second Set. Greatest Story is another second-ever, and mostly a wash. There's no Abraham bridge/Monkeywrench in '71, but this was the night Moses went from guitar to bar car. What does Jer mean "this is for real"? It's always/never for real. The recovery happens with Bird Song. Though it's the 1st one, Bobby already plays smartly, Jer has a solo in his pocket, there's a good tempo and, well, perhaps the best Dead premiere. Pig's just fine in Easy Wind, but Jer/Bobby got a thang. The first Deal follows, solidly, but the rest of the set is below average for '71. The Other One has no end Cryptical, which was becoming common and would continue for much of '71. Wharf Rat is the 2nd one; OOT at first and then a challenge. There is no encore, like much of early '71, and Bobby was the player in this show.

1st Set:  B+
2nd Set: C
Overall = 3½ stars

Highlights:
Dark Hollow – electric version played neat
Smokestack Lightning – everybody circles the jam, together & independently
China Cat Sunflower>I Know You Rider – tight all around, but Bobby is insane
Bird Song – 1st one is still underdeveloped, but solid/charming
Easy Wind – even if not the best from '71, when Pig's on, he's on

SOURCES: The 151881_soundboard is a newer, better transfer (supposedly not the Betty Board, yet sounds the same). It's pitch corrected, though the 2nd set is slightly slow and needs +1% pitch correction from Bird Song. The orf_1029 is in mono and uses a filter, thus removing a whine that plagues some sources. It has a cut in Bird Song, has some slow wavers throughout, and runs too fast. On average it needs -1% correction, except -2.5% for Cumberland>Playing & GSET>Bird, and -1.5% for Deal>TOO. There's a decent matrix and the whole show is on Three from the Vault in clear, multitrack mixdown (but with the channels switched, tunings cut, and Loser needing -1% pitch correction).

Though 2/18 is a better show, the band holds things together very well this night, as I'm sure the loss of Hart was already weighing on them. The Capitol shows would only get worse from here, as the energy seems to dissipate as this run progresses - they wouldn't be back in form until mid-March imo.

Nevertheless, there are definitely some highlights in this show. Smokestack finds a relaxed groove with some sweet playing. Easy Wind is strong, though not as definitive as the best versions from 1970. China>Rider and Truckin are very nice. The Other One is quite good as well, though the band never really gels around a strong theme, rather skittering between moments of brief but inspired interplay. The highlight of the show may be the Good Lovin, which easily holds its own with the monster April 71 performances. Pigpen has a memorable rap while the band lays down an infectious R&B flavored groove, with excellent interplay; Bob is particularly inspired, with his typical funky, slashing fills, pushing Phil and Jerry to great heights.

Nice playing but there are too many lyrical flubs for me to rate this higher: Cumberland and Loser are a bit wobbly. Playing is tentative, doesn't have those great jams that came later. On the upside Dark Hollow and all the Pigpen sung songs are well done. The Smokestack Lightning is nice, a solid rendition. Following that is a excellent China Cat/Rider. Greatest Story is decent as is Johnny B. Goode. Unfortunately Bird Song has a big cut in the middle essentially erasing the jam, and it was a pretty good version for its debut. The real meat of this show happens at Cryptical thru the Good Lovin. The Other One is nice tho not very long, and the Wharf Rat that follows is fantastic. The Good Loving is a keeper too. Its a good show but the new songs are pretty shaky, add that to the big cut in Bird Song and I gotta give this one a three. Worth a listen to be sure but not mindblowing. BTW the recording is excellent.

For a 1st show without their super-rhythmic half of the percussion section they do a pretty damn good job. The 1st set sparkles as noted earlier with a China>Rider that smokes to close the set. The second set kicks off with energy overload and then the debut of Bird Song which is done rather well, especially for a first-timer. The Cryptical>Drums>Other One>Wharf Rat is excellent as well but the main highlight of this concert is PIGPEN! He totally seems to drive everyone forward with unbelievable versions of Smokestack, Easy Wind and a Lovelightesque Good Lovin'. Even the Casey Jones, which has been ruined for me by the years of commercial over-airplay, kicks total ass to close the evening.

To quickly sum it up, a top-notch performance with great sound quality...5 stars all the way.

Oh how I long to take my children to a GD show! They may never know what they're missing.

If 2/18 is the Classic, then 2/19 surely is its companion,
SmokeStack and Easy Wind are at there finest, This is Ripe 71 with a little 70 hangover.

Happy to share with good listeners, email me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com

Agreed - Awesome Easywind.

This rocks but equalizer help suggested. I listened to this show for years on tape before the internet came to town
--- thx archive.org/


so much fun itwas.

How often was Easy Wind done after this night in 71'?
From this point in 71' to the extreme later parts of August, were really the last of the more heavy concerts(that is a factually opinion).

This show has *the* definitive, most unbelievably tight version of Easy Wind, with Pigpen guiding the boys, chugging along like a pyrotechnic freight train through a completely cosmic, harmonically perfect jam. This bit of Grateful Dead history encompasses all of what they are to me and what I love about them, with the perfect synthesis of Jerry and Bob's psychedelia- and blues-tinged master guitar work, Phil's melodic bass, and a driving, rudiment-filled drum section provided by Bill and Mickey. And the *solos* they take - the astonishing, needlepoint interchange of Pigpen's harmonica, then Bobby, then Jerry - are the stuff of what makes the legend of the Grateful Dead, proves what incredibly competent, consummate musicians they were, and how important they are to American music's cultural history, just as important as jazz or folk art. Hearing the jazz-inflected interchange between the musicians in this song truly brings to mind a vision of ballin' that jack in the middle of Virginia's Shenendoah Valley of my childhood, making way for the great steaming dragons to come - then the boys just take us to Mars. It just doesn't get any better than this - all previous versions of this song live were just rehearsals for this night's Easy Wind, and hearing this version of the song never fails to send chills up my spine, make my hair stand on end, and bring tears to my eyes - thank you so very, very much all at www.archive.org for providing this important piece of music history to all of us lucky enough to hear it - it took me 30 years to find it online after listening to it on an ever-deteriorating cassette copy, and now I have it in digital MP3 for good! I can't express just how ecstatic I am now!!! Thank You, long live Pigpen and the Grateful Dead - you all will never be forgotten for your phenomenal, masterful contributions to great music.

Well I can't really add much to the praise Mr. C gives this show, except to say that I'm glad to know someone else out there loves this show as much as me. One of the first tapes Dr. Flashback traded for back in the 80's, and the first show I collected from this run (thanks Belinda). This show sneaks up behind you, taps you on the shoulder and then steals your face!
Sure, there are some "garage band moments" here and there, but overall, they play like they were recording it for an album (heh,heh ....they were actually) and with the passage of time, this night still stands out as well played, and also as having that ineffable X factor magic, not only with the songs, but also in the synergy of the band interaction with the crowd. Maybe it was because this was the first show without Mickey and they were trying harder. Or maybe it was the bomb scares they had during this run. Whatever the reason, Jerry chose tonight to debut Deal and Bird Song, say no more, wink wink, nudge nudge.

Tight and dynamic version of Truckin, Cumberland and a China>Rider that closes the set on a high note. The song selection also is a plus here for me, with nice rarities like Smokestack and Dark Hollow that are well worn in from 1970 and strong here. Hard to believe the Bird Song is the debut!! Although the rest of the band is learning it and lay back - it's more like a solo acoustic Jerry from 1980 and sweet, if short. Both Wharf Rat and Loser are 2nd timers here, and are already finding their groove.

There are 3 Other Ones in this 6 night run, and this is my favorite. It spins, tumbles and rumbles as the bus takes off, and what a roller coaster it is - with wailing leads from Jerry, thunder from Bill and a vibrant Pigpen organ presence in the mix! Easily as good as the version they released later on "Skull F*@#", if not quite as long. Also to top it off, a great Good Lovin from Pig brings the house down.

2/18 is an excellent show, hands down, but this one shines a little brighter for me. Download it first and compare, I think you'll agree. Get ready to boogie, slip, flip and then trip!
Enjoy,
Dr. Flashback ;-)

The Feb. 71 Port Chester run was the jewel in the crown of the Betty Boards. Thankfully, the copy of 2-19 has not been degraded as much as the other nights, and you can get a feel for how extraordinary the quality of these recordings were. This is a very clean recording.

The most popular show of the run from universal acclaim is 2-18, the first night. The reasons are several: set list, historical significance of last show with Mickey and first show for many tunes that became permanent fixtures in the repetoire (Bertha, Playing in the Band, Wharf Rat, etc. etc.), as well as the small fact that 2-18 contained some extraordinary beautiful musical moments, most notably the "beautiful" jam in Dark Star.

Having said that, 2-19 is probably the cleanest performance of the entire run. This show could have been released commercially with nary an edit. While the other nights are very sloppy in places--and recognizing that this is partly due to many of the songs being new--nonetheless 2-19 stands out as the tightest and cleanest show in the run, though it is not my favorite.

Also, 2-19 would be considered the "Pig-Pen night," as besides staples Good Lovin and It Hurts Me Too, we get Easy Wind and Smokestack Lightnin, which are rarer. Pig fans will undoubtedly prefer this show.

Overall the show is very strong. The Other One is about 11 minutes and though starting off powerfully, never steps out of the box. I prefer the 2-23 version. The Wharf Rat that follows is terrific. The end jam is excellent.

One of the unexpected highlights is Dark Hollow. This acoustic set tune was rarely performed electrically, and when so, did not have the same charm. This version is an exception. I could easliy see this Dark Hollow on a "director's cut" Skull Fuck. It is exceptional in every way.

But for me the highlight of the entire show is the Know You Rider. In this period (winter 70-71 through spring 71) the tune achieved its canonical form. It seems that with each performance, in the second and final solo, Jerry was having a musical converstion not just with the boys, but with himself.

Each solo is different, and each restates the Know-You-Rider musical statement in a new way, while acknowledging its antecedents. My very favorites, those that I have been listening to for maybe a quarter of a century by now, are 11-6-70, 11-23-70, 4-5-71, and 4-27-71.

This version from 2-19 belongs in this exalted company. At points, Garcia's bends are reminiscent of Clarence White, the late great guitarist from the Byrds. Jerry really outdoes himself in this one. The entire band sound like demi-Gods. And this is why I give this recording 5 stars.

If you are cherry picking your way through the archive, you MUST download the China Cat->Rider.

Sounds great, but this is not the best of this great run. Smokestack is nice and the 3rd disk flows very nicely but I preferred 2/18 and 2/24 instead.