These were the shows Fey billed as the 15th anniversary. The band and Graham (who later did his own 15th spectacular at the Warfield, eclipsing Fey) didn't see it that way, having become the Dead in Dec. '65, not June [they did play their Silver Anniversary in Colorado]. Conventional wisdom has been that the second Folsom show was better. It just has the more curious setlist on paper (starting with a UJB>Playin' sandwich, and a sans-Sailor Saint). It's also been popular due to the crazy-good 2nd Set, but the previous day has the better 1st Set (both shows were traded BitD, though copies I found were always low qual). Both shows have great highlights and, though five songs are repeated, play as a pair. Together they are considered one of the best runs overall of the 22 trips to Colorado.

The region had become such a Dead stronghold by '80, but they hadn't played in Boulder since the famed '72 show. They'd played in Denver 9 months earlier (and would come back there a year later). That's likely why, rather than one show, they played up against one end of the stadium for two shows. You needed a separate ticket to get down in the horseshoe in front of the stage. In '72, baggies were slung from above onto Folsom Field. In an update (bigger band now, higher tech), a helicopter flew over and dropped the gifties. A token effort by the band was made at promotion in this era, with 4 songs from the then-new album repeated the 2nd day (plus Deal). The shows started at noon - ostensibly to take advantage of an afternoon sound ordinance/allowance. In perfect Dead synchronicity it was Parent's Day on campus. Had to keep them on their toes in those days. "A circus? Oh no, not unusual at all, Mrs. Johnson. The campus is like this EVERY DAY!"

First Set. '80 was a good year for Uncle John's. It's crazy to start with this sandwich. And check Phil. Me & My Uncle is a sign that this is going to be a way uptempo show. Mexicali has Bobby's "everybody polka!". The rest of the set smokes. The solo for Tennessee is a jaw-dropper. Samson scales heights around the second solo in, at speed. Ophelia's fate is a little slumbery in the midst of the uptempo madness but the final Althea solo is magic. When Jer's on, he's ON; and Bobby is on too for Looks Like Rain. Deal was great throughout '80.

Second Set. Though there are no A+ highlights the whole set is consistent, above-average and uptempo. Eyes is blistering, and usually when the rhythm section does this Jer pulls back. Not this time - it's serious blaze. The jam into Drums is unique. The drummers stay out so there isn't a true Space. Saint doesn't benefit from this tempo and is the low point (though it IS before Bobby did the "goin on a FEEEE, maybe goin on a FEEEE, goin on a FEEEE"). This is the 3rd Saint without Sailor [5/7, 5/12]. Black Peter is great and Jer is more angular than usual for Sugar Mag. Alabama is about perfect - Jer roars in tone. There are better AUDs available now, belatedly revealing this show, but this would make a nice SBD or official release.

1st Set:  B
2nd Set: A-
Overall = 4½ Stars

Highlights:
Tennessee Jed - 2nd solo is Garcia magic
Samson & Delilah - uptempo, Jer sprays again for 2nd solo
Althea - the show's only not-way-uptempo highlight
Looks Like Rain - everybody is on, apparent even on Bobby-heavy AUDs
Estimated>Eyes of the World - uptempo w/ Jer a blur and unique jam-out to Drums
Sugar Magnolia - Jer more angular than usual
Alabama Getaway - straightforward, steady version

SOURCES: Only AUDs, but there's been a full upgrade with the nak700_severson_miller_clugston. It has richer Freqs, more clarity and a better image than the rest. It does have a correctable balance issue and runs slightly fast until Tennesse Jed, needing -1% pitch correction. There's a Joani Walker AUD: the walker-scotton_miller_88452 version of it is the brightest and has the most depth (just a bit over the Eaton). The naks_mason has deep bass but poor clarity. The beckwith_miller_clugston is a little clearer but is very swimmy and Set 2-only. The clugston_7563 has a pitch error and is boomy. It has some of Zevon and an interview tacked on. I harbor no ill will against Zevon but his were some of the dullest concerts I ever saw. He should have known by these shows that the crowd were repeats, with his canned patter (though it delineates the uniqueness of the Dead). The interview sounds like a 16 yr old's first, pestering Weir with the same question 10 different ways and never understanding the answers. The patient Bobby not once says "I just answered that 5 times" - though you can still tell he'd like to strangle the idiot.

Hey guys, just dropped in to add a few words to my review about repeats as reading these reviews I see it is a topic here. T just dawned on me after almost 40 years of listening to the Grateful Dead that every Time since 1967 that they've written a new album, they have plated it onstage night after night until call the kinks are worked out, it becomes what they think it can be live, and probably most importantly, they're entire audievpnce is exposed to it live a few times.

As for the show, I too flew in from CT after the high expectations of Spring tour sparking thoughts of breakouts like... Dark Star? St Stephen?

The previous day, the highlight was a lost Sailor > Saint jam that to my memory, hinted at the possibility of Dark Star or St. Stephen - oh, to be a newbie & naive!

Today, the opening was just fantastic, leaving me thinking we might be in for either of those songs in set II, as the rest of the first set was no slouch either, with the aforementioned Samson being more 2nd set material in set I.
Does anyone recall the great Looks Like Rain where folks were throwing small amounts of the free water coming out of the hoses up in the air?

The thing that killed this (and many other shows) was the Saint of Circumstanstance out of the drums. Talk about an out of place energy killer.

I do recall Eyes & moreso Sugar Mag being great that day, but the unshakable feeling that things just didn't stand up expectations after that great opening.

Oh well, for us back East, great things were waiting starting on 8/29.......

BTW: Warren Zevon even introduced the band exactly, word for word:

"The jaguar on lead guitar, Joe Smith (whoever)."

Too funny by day 2.......

Wow. Phil is really inspired in this UJB. He starts it himself and plays a while before the rest of the band joins him. Then, during the song, he bass jams it very interestingly.

Sounds good, and this was a great day. Launching into Uncle John's Playin' first set made it feel like the previous day had never ended. And I think this was the third day with Warren Zevon, bless his soul, opening with the same set, same banter, same jokes, and the audience barking the punch lines! Guess he didn't know we would all be out there day after day. The band was on about the ten yard line playing into the horseshoe and using only a fraction of the stadium to make it like a Greek theater. 15 down and 15 to go!

Te show has a unique opener and stays great all the way through- a true sleeper of a show. You should check it out.

I too travelled from Vermont (UVM) to see these shows and was not disappointed in the least. Over the years I came to realize it is not what they play but how they play it that matters. 1st set opens UJB/Playin....Sampson in the MIDDLE OF THE 1ST SET!!!!! Nothing wrong with those selections...but like I say the band was hot so it really did not matter what they played. Tenn Jed on fire...Uncle mexicali great vocals. Easy to love you awesome. 2 Encores with a Smokin Alabama (the only 4/4 rocker Garcia ever wrote). Yeah there were some repeats....they were promoting an album!!!! I think we got a little spoiled at times. I saw about 75 shows between 78 and 91 and this was one of the finest.

In general these shows were somewhat dissapointing. I had travelled all the way from Vermont for these shows and to see the boys repeat so many songs in the two nights was a let down. The highlight was, of course, the Uncle john's >Playin>Uncle John's openeer. Phil was booming the whole show. Does anyone else remembeer the Helicopter flying over the stadium and dropping down some baggies and joints? it was either at this show or the day before.

How many shows on this whole site have opened with Uncle Johns? Let alone UJB>plyn>UJB the answer is none. This show is great and worth it for Tenn Jed or Sampson alone. Great Est>Eyes but fades a notch after that...

is in the year Boulder passed an ordinance on DB max..The Dead as part of their 15th anniv run broke that DB limit the previous day during deal..on this day it was Parent Day...prospective students and their families were everywhere...needless to say the scene freaked out the folks and encouraged the kids..Zevon was right on both days..a lot of repeats from the privious day...grab the streams from both...

I rememeber this one - it was actually held in the Horseshoe, which is when they close off the south end of Folsom Field. So, you have just the infield, and then rows of seats up.

Warren Zevon was the opening act, and the first day, it was cool. Well, the first day was like a pregnant yak - no one really got off, everything was waiting. But, Warren was cool.

The next day, we had Qualudes for breakfast, and head up to the show. This little dude, looked like Gimli from the Lord of the Rings, he was selling Sorcerer Micky Mouse blotter, and it was the real deal. Zevon came out, and did the same exact show, down to the jokes. Well, we were booing and cussing at him - I guess no one warned him. But, you know, he was a consumate professional - came back, did his encore, and split the stage.

Well, I am on the middle right, about maybe fifteen "rows" back, and I see Garcia coming out, laughing his ass off. He set his Heinikin on his amp, and Uncle John's Band starts. I have not yet listened to this recording, but the day? It was magic.