"." Nonintuitive

Overall: a nearly perfect audience recording in my opinion. I'll take this over a perfect, but lifeless, SBD anyday. Solid show, well played, no standouts. This was the next concert after they broke out Ripple. At this point, some people were speculating as to whether they'd be breaking out some other old tunes (we'd have to wait just a year for that!). That might have made for some too-high expectations for this show and the next. In my memory, the 9/3 show was the best of the run, but listening now, I'd say this show is just as strong as 9/3 (but without a Ripple, of course).

The scene: I really loved the camping/parking at these shows. We were in that huge grass/dirt/gravel area behind the venue and things were really nice. Some good "neighbors" and just an all around good vibe at these shows. Back when camping was allowed, the four show runs were so great. You'd be camped out for nearly a week in the same place with the same neighbors and you'd know exactly where all your friends were camped and where to get your favorite veggie burrito, etc and the community really had time to emerge during such prolonged times in one place.

The music: Energy right out of the gate with a powerful Aiko. Brent lays it out in Walkin Blues. In Ramble, "goodbye momma and poppa" is sung with enough gusto to make the hair on my neck stand up. Partway through Memphis, Bobby seems to get a boost of energy. Excellent Music Never Stopped. China>Rider is good, but no better than many other China>Riders of 87 and 88. Same for Playin>UJB>Playin. Post-space is all good, but nothing particular noteworthy. Since this show was on Labor Day, US Blues is definitely an appropriate encore ("summertime done come and gone my oh my").

I think it is well played.Jerry seemed to be in good spirits ,and his vocals were pretty good.Playin in the band is sort of short,but IMO has a good jam without all the midi- that was to come next year.Quality on this audience is quite good too.

1st Set: A day off to refresh... Not me, then again...it's not exactly pulling equal duty. Loud crisp sounds... we're getting pumped for??
Right-o, "Iko." Boy, do they sound stronger, or what? Undeniable celebratin! "Walkin" is snake-y. Oh yea, even ridiculous "Ramble"'s got might to spare. Weird, I just heard the three taps that open up 'Harry Hood' at 7:09. "Mama" came at the right time for me as a woman online began confessing some indiscretions. Thankfully, tonight's segue into "Mexicali" is smoothly handled. "Row" is delightful...steady and smooth. Ahhh, "Memphis Blues" is the perfect call. Hot, excitable drumming. At four minutes, it appears as if they're going to blow their load. Oh oh, it's so hot, Bobby can barely control himself. Even "Push" sounds brisk though it's almost too fast, as if the tape is playing a little too quickly. Rushed. Oh, "Music" had the opportunity to have the ideal arrangement, it misses. Nice harmonizing during the two's...They jam it out a long while but besides being energetic, it's not very good.

2nd Set: Jerry's fuckin with the audience during tuning, over and over the opening chords to "China." Get on with it...Total simple sing-along-style and smile..sexy dancin too. Again, jamming is far from There...but it's a solid effort. Thoughtfully time segue. Oh yea, our good friend "Playin" is guided nicely by Phil. The pieces are in place, but not phenomenally interesting. Well, that's unfair...it's all so eerily aligned and yet the wells aren't struck that deep. "UJB" is, of course, brisk. Oh yes, there's some heavy duty clapping at mid 6's. "Playin Reprise" is short on excavation and Long on successful Arena Rock. Yea Baby! I'm totally with "Drums," but from a sober vantage point, and I'm pretty not. "Space", in the fives, is booming and in your face. Those farts in the late 6/7 are hilarious. There's an undefinable quality to the sound that brings out the good cheer during an otherwise too-treble high? "Gimme." Talk about rumbling and woozy, you've got sir "Black Peter." It's headbangingly delicious at the end. Frankly, they should lay it all out and make "Around" a classic '78 barnstormer - be it as it may, it's enthusiastically performed. "Lovelite" is a brief blast of 32 valve horsepower. Hot, but deserved a false ending.

Keeping things perky and celebratory with those "US Blues."

3.49 stars

Best show of the run. Labor Day Dead. Highlights = Garcia backup vocals on Lovelight. Good blue chipper show. The boys punched in on the time clock, put in a solid days work and punched out.

on a northbound traiiinnnnnnn!!!
1st time catching china/rider and a good one! i remember some lame loser dude was yelling not china/rider again ..like why even go to the shows..

very good sounding aud and the band is on !
solid show ..nothin' really off the charts but very solid. second set just flows !!!check out jerry rippin the transition from china cat into rider 3x ..killer...playin>ujb>playin' oh yeah!~gotta love them sandwiches!!!

this may not be the best of Fall 88, but is sure isn't the worst either. The sound is quite good for an AUD. Jerry's voice is strong ('88 strong, that is) and his playing sounds creative and inspired.
Listening to the show now brings back some of the feelings from the large puddles of liquid coursing through my brain during the whole 88 tour. This, of course makes it tough to be totally objective, but I think it's pretty safe to give this show 3 stars for sound 4 stars for the music, and 5 stars for that magical feeling that I still get while listening to any solid show.