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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+47945


Submissions

3
Mississippi Halfstep Uptown Toodeloo
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

A solid, sweet rocker. Seems like MHUT had matured in '72 by this point to the stand-alone anchor that it remained until the end.
2
Candyman
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

The total package, with everything this song was meant to have: Sadness, menace, self-consciousness, braggadocio, regret. A beautiful performance.
3
Truckin'
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Hot steam. Starting around 5:30 Jerry blisters the world with fire.
3
Box of Rain
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Levels all a bit off, AUD a bit murky, but damned if this isn't the most glorious ensemble yowp this song can be. Joyous and loving: It's all there.
5
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Brilliant, crisp ideas and tight ensemble playing on a warm Bear AUD. Just exactly perfect.
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Comments

Cryptical Envelopment
Jan. 26, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

All about the reprise. This one cooks.
Caution
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Powerful doesn't begin to describe it. This is the Dangerous Dead, though pretty short for the era. This is the era when the Avalon would hold them to one-hour sets and the night before they cut off the electricity, so perhaps they were reigning it in.
Alligator
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

Starts a little unfocused, but comes out of the drum solo and transitions into Caution with blow-your-hair-back force.
Cosmic Charlie
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

One of the best I know: They're having a blast. The growling grinding combination of Jerry and the keys (Pigpen? TC? both?) gives it an energetic tight swinging sound during the verses, and an unexpected almost punk-rock blown-amp sounding bridge to the "calling you" section. Cosmic Charlie is so legendary and mythic: People held banners at shows with the number of days past since it was last performed and annual set-lists would say Cosmic Charlie: 0 with a sad-face next to it. Hear it here in a uniquely tight and fun version.
Dark Star
Jan. 25, 1969
Avalon Ballroom

TC is too high in the mix, but so what? In most recordings of the era it's almost impossible to hear any indication of what he brought, so this is an interesting document if nothing else. It's also musically a whirligig of fun, even if a bit scattered in places. Deduct points for the mix if you must.
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