Sturdy throughout, exquisite at times.

One of those fantastic, true dark horse sleeper shows from the 90’s. It’s got that MSG pep and energy, but with the comfortable composure of a midtour Rex Foundation benefit show. The second set isn’t stacked with jam vehicles like 9/13 or 9/16, and it’s not a famous best hits night like 9/22, but it could still hold up as perhaps the best show of the tour.

You’ve heard these songs before, but they’re shuffled within the setlist and performed in an entirely original fashion. Lyrically, every song tells a very different story, which keeps you thinking throughout. Perhaps the most captivating story is the one told in Brown-Eyed Women. This is the greatest version of the song I’ve ever heard. No, it doesn’t have the pace or shredding of the May ‘77 takes, but there’s a shockingly raw, seething resentment and remorseful reflection in Garcia’s vocal delivery and guitar licks. He truly feels every word, and it’s just spine-chilling, bitter backcountry reminiscence about mixed fortunes, farming, storms, women, liquor, sin, and the lost past. I’ve never heard a better Brown-Eyed Women.

The Uncle John’s Band > Corrina is definitely of note as well. UJB is the only pre-Drums Garcia original of the evening, and they do it right. The bright melodies shift into that moody closing instrumental bit, which gives way to a buoyant, jammed out Corrina. The post-Space half of the set is performed just as nicely as you’d hope from looking at the songs on paper.

This is a very balanced SBD; you can hear every instrument clearly and everyone plays really well. If you’re more of a cherry-picker/highlights type, 1993 was a great year for Half-Step, Brown-Eyed Women, Cassidy, The Wheel, Uncle John’s Band, and China Doll, and this show is a model demonstration of that trend. For those who enjoy listening to full shows, 9/18/93 has some real strength to it from start to finish and provides a few moments of shining greatness, while staying relatively punctual at around 2 and a half hours. This one is special!

I sang a little while and then flew on.

Okay, I know: it’s not as great as a show from, say, 1972, but this one delivers in a few unexpected ways. The encore is a nice surprise, performed very well. The two Bobby songs in the first half of the second set typically drive people away, but I think they’re done very well here. Also I like the opener.
Thanks again Charlie!

Band is definitely more on than the night before. No Highlights

Folkhippy, thanks for your comment about anything to do with the show or the recording. Your penis must be the size of DMT's brain. Still, that's bigger than your life experience.

I'd've had a great time at this show because they played my favorite NEW SOOOOONGS (ha ha nostalgia-nazi deadheads) and drums/space is pretty kickass. But this show is merely good compared to some other 93 shows...a very underrated year in general, I think. Jerry was killing this year, IMO.

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pretty spectacular!

DMT, thanks for your complete and detailed review of this show. Your brain must be the size of those periods you used.

Some truly outstanding performances on this night. The ones that really stand out for me are Loose Lucy, Brown Eyed Women, and most of all, China Doll. I've yet to hear one better. The solo is mind blowing and the jam into OMSN is tremendous.

This show absolutely rocked.



Chris Lawrence
Little York, NY