This is a monster of a setlist, and it’s played with all the mysterious murky goodness that you’d hope to find in a Europe ‘90 classic. The big highlights for me are the soulful Mississippi Half-Step, a gorgeous, spontaneous Bruce-led jam bridging Let It Grow into Box of Rain, and one of the best damn Dark Stars this side of ‘73.

Europe ‘90 is always a treat. Kreutzmann’s snare drum had that extra snap, the brand new double-keys lineup added new layers to the band’s sound, and the unfamiliar venues, old-world influences, and pure adventure of touring across the pond brought a refreshing vibe to the performances.

This setlist flows very well. So well, in fact, that there are a good couple of improvised interludes floating around between the songs. They whipped up 10 of their best 1970’s originals, and their blues, Dylan, traditional, and rock covers for the evening were all right on the money.

Let me tell you about this Dark Star. If you listen closely, you can hear it gleaming faintly from behind the clouds hovering above Ship of Fools, and once the Ship has sailed, it starts to really unfurl itself out of thin air, swirling around and hinting at the possibilities, and eventually punching into those legendary opening notes to spine-chilling effect. This is a patient one; plenty spaced out. Eventually it goes into a complete meltdown, much like the ones they played in Germany back in 1972. Some Dark Stars are hypnotic, gentle, and spiraling. This one, however, turns into an insane, collapsing, startling hurricane of psychedelic winds, synchronized yet clashing, yawning yet biting, with Bob Weir opening trapdoors and Jerry threading dizzying lines through the middle of the chaos. It’s unyielding psychedelic madness, sandwiched around a thundering Drums segment that sounds like a herd of rhinos coming into the homestretch at Churchill Downs and a cosmic far-out Space.

This show was a great soundtrack for my drive through the rainy, grey and green Mohawk Valley a few weeks back, on my way out to see a weekend of music with Dead & Company at Saratoga Springs. This isn’t the first show I’d reach for to impress a rookie, but it’s a proper choice for any faithful vets who enjoy the gritty muck of the early 90’s!

Nice to know you were too lazy to try to hit the show, too bad you missed the best show of the tour while you were having a delicate and fragile feel over some communism. Aww poor little boy, point to the spot on your brain where the professor hurt you

I sang a little while and then flew on.

Probably one of the better shows on the Europe Tour but really their sound is not very good here.
I went to the previous night and decided to stay at the youth hostel in East Berlin this night. (The one with the Molotov Cocktails-on the roof) If any one tells you communism can work.
They are one of three things:
1) Lying
2) Exposed to Propaganda from U.S.College Professor
3) They have never been in a country
scourged by Marxism.
They had their moments this tour but musically it does not hold up the way even those years with Brent did.
Kinda sad, Not meaning to be bringing a Box of Rain.
I wonder what Hornsby was going to play? Valley Road easily the best tune he played with the GD.

Nice show. One of the better shows of the Europe tour. I personally think the night before was better. Perfect playing imo. This show has great peaks but has it's warts also. But I also think the Branford Nassau show which I saw isn't as great as people say. I think the next night was perfect.

Oh and saw Weir jogging past me with an entourage surrounding him that day. Thought it was very odd. Like he was the president with secret service protecting him. Read later that the German fans were the worst for trying to get stuff signed. I think according to Phil's book that Weir got into a scuffle with one of them at the airport I think.

Somehow I'd gotten a ticket in the tapers section....which was interesting but not a good place to be unless that's your thing. They were all together and there's all these microphones sticking out on poles. You wouldn't want to be behind them. Somehow I'd never seen the tapers section. Luckily, it was kind of free for all and you could just go anywhere, which I did. Black Throated Wind was the main thing here - I think a full minute went by before people stopped saying it was the first BTW in so many years and then listened to it. In general both the Berlin shows were a great time (and maybe the music was good too). But it must be said that these shows were unlike any shows seen in the States after the 80's because of the small venue sizes and the super small crowds. That's just not something you couldn't experience anymore and I was so glad to be able to.

I thought the most interesting part of this show was the Hornsby jam. It seems to have caught the band off guard and they appeared to be on their heals as if they had never really improvised before. Jerry does a bit of noodling but Bob and Phil lay out altogether. The drummers are seeking a tempo. I find the piano melody to be magical in it's simplicity but you can tell the audience is hanging on it's every note. I wore the tape out in 1990 listening to that jam alone.

I was excited to be at this show after traveling 10 hrs on the train, pleased that the person who took my hotel reservation said I was the only one of these deadheads who could speak a little Deutsch.

Certain nonmusical aspects stay with me: the incredible classical venue with immaculate blue carpeting, pathetic deadheads camping in Berliner Zoo (haven't they seen Christiane F?), the one head next to me who was doing Peace Corps in Poland, the German head who told me about his buddy who flies to the US to do summer tour every year (weiB nicht, wie er daB schafft!), and the threesome from Apple, in Moevenpick, who told me about the old days at the firm before relationships were banned.

I felt after this show like the Dead still kind of had it, was thrilled to see my first and only 'dark star.' However, I don't find the evidence here. As 'eagle' (remember him?) said about Garcia in the 1990s, 'he fades in and out like a weak AM signal,' sometimes right there, sometimes far away. I'm less enchanted with the eyes>samson transition knowing that setlists were mapped out in this era, and I notice there was nothing to it, as in 'dark star,' nothing much behind the name.

This many years later, who has time to lose on this show, or many others from this era? We all have our better periods. I see it on 9/20/90 and a handful of others, but lightning didn't strike much, not like it did in 68-74. Kept the tape for many years as a talisman of being there for something great, but I'm unburdened now and can let it go. Sorry guys.

this might be the best show i've listened to the past couple of months and stumbled upon it fortuitously. killer healy mix (esp 2nd set) makes the dark star and other jamming way out there. BT wind, let it grow, that cool 'jam', box of rain, eyes... all excellent with interesting twists and turns.

Highlights: The Jam

Show smoked and the venue was beyond compare as I posted on the other night. It was like listening to the board while you were in the show. No wonder these sound so good.

We stayed in a hotel near the Autobahn the 1st night. There was a guy there with a real A/C Cobra, and I could not think of a more perfect place for that ride to be.

The 2nd night we stayed in the former E. Germany in a hostel that felt like we were in Russia. Got the last train there after the show. There were still bullet holes everywhere, and the TP was those gas station wipes that have got red on one side and blue on the other. We partied with some other heads there smoking and listening to military radio on a crackly old box they had there into the night. We drank the best Budweiser I have ever had (brewed in Poland). Why anyone would buy that in Germany I don't know, but that's roughnecks for ya.

A strange contrast after being in the ICC amidst maximum modern technology.

This sounds clearly like a Bruce Hornsby show yet there is no mention of it in these reviews. Am I mistaken? It has to be.
I can't give the 5 stars, it's just not tight. The selection is amazing but Jerry's coming in late and this is when his voice isn't that strong. I love the show but it's not 5

This tour is one of the highlights of my life !
Sweden > Amsterdam > Germany > Amsterdam > Paris >London > Amsterdam > Egypt > Israel.
This show for me was undoubtably the best of the bunch by far! Rolling Trays infront of every seat . Are you kidding me ! I was freaked out even before the music started . I got on the Bus in Toronto 1984 and this was my first DarkStar. Tears of Joy were flowing. I can`t believe it was 18 years ago , Wow. Peace & Love my Brother`s & Sister`s ..... Tevan from Toronto.

Fantastic 2nd set. Not because there's a Dark Star, but because there's about as good of a Dark Star/drums/space as you can get this side of '72

Greatest dead show I ever saw. Interestingly, the night before was lackluster, just another rock show, and I wasn't the only one wondering what the hell I doing following the dead after it. This concert the next night, in the same venue, with the same people, was magic literallly from the first note. Seemed like everyone's consciousness merged with the music the whole night. Strangers hugging each other with tears streaming down their faces afterward. Speaks to the true randomness of the X-factor.
-J

Those famous words paid in homage to the bakers of Germany so long ago. I too, am "A jelly doughnut". Great show. Nice crisp recording.

-CT

some great moments in this one, and phil and bruce turn in excellent performances. jerry unfortunately not so much. let it grow will probably not be selected as filler on the next dp

I just wrote a ton of memories here and it didn't post. that sucks.

Ferkin'Fabo man

there is not a better quality recording out there. get it!

This was a great show to be at. Like most of this tour, small venue (4000 max). It was sort of a conference center, so each seat had a fold-down shelf in front of it (like in an airplane). Great for rolling and other important uses.

The show itself ... great song selection in the 1st set, though I found the Jerry vocal flubs kind of distracting. Interesting Hornsby solo between Let it Grow and Box, though not much participation by the rest of the band. The 2nd set is the real highlight, especially the first half. The transition from Eyes into Samson is very cool, and the Dark Star is indeed face-melting. Great show!

Very very good show. The digital soundboard recording makes it super nice. Excellent action in Jack Straw opener - they rock HARD, followed by a sweet Half-Step. The Let it Grow is decent (there are what seem to be a few Jerry-flubs) but then what follows with Bruce leading the way is so incredibly pretty; beautiful actually. Such an inspired jam out of Let it Grow, then following into a nice Box set closer. Second set starts out strong, with a SWEET Eyes opener. Bruce is again dominant throughout the tune and the boys have a very nice segue into Samson - without pause. The Dark Star is a wonderful second set highlight, long and jammed. Definitely worth the DL; you should also check out the previous night as well. Solid, solid run in Berlin.

big black throated wind and jack a roe fan but back to back?? jack straw half step - this is good stuff ... let it grow is really great and the only defect is row jimmy but the dark star makes up for it.... a must and what a wonderful find i never knew anything abt this before...

The Dark Star is the real gem of this show. My favorite of the post '73 period. Really high energy, freaky, and driving force behind the whole composition . The drums are spectacular and jerry re-assembles the whole thing at the end for a tight Throwing Stones - NFA. One caviat - you have to be in the mood for a transcendental experience, and you have to turn it up really loud!
PS
This soundboard is great, but hearing the aurdience go nuts is part of the experience of this Dark Star. Pick up the audience version if it becomes available.

I had a tape of this show in college and nearly wore it out listening the Hornsby solo-jam after Let It Grow that fed into Box of Rain. It's a DSBD that has a nice full sound. I always loved Hornsby's contributions, especially in this really "new" period with Vince on keys.

The 1st set, IMHO, is as good a song selection as one can have for the time period. The Jack Straw is solid; 1/2 step flows nicely as Jerry was in good voice; Jerry's solo in Walkin' Blues is tight and the organ playing is nice; remainder of this first set rocks with the Jack-A-Roe, Masterpiece and Let it Grow.

Second set is also very nice; highlights include Eyes and Dark Star. Though the last half of the second set on paper is pretty un-imaginative, the playing is really tight. I would give this show 4/5