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Carrion_Crow

Stealth Head

+49707


Submissions

4
The Eleven
March 30, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

The China Cat>The Eleven sequence was always very cool and this one burns hot and fast. Don't wanna just put all of 'em up here, but this is a cooker.
5
Dark Star
March 30, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

A short little gem: Nice clear solo ideas and tight ensemble playing with that bursting-at-the-seams energy from the Anthem era.
2
The Other One
March 30, 1968
Carousel Ballroom

It's '68 and the boys are on fire. This one pins you to the wall all its the sharp turns and jagged explosiveness. Hard pschedelic rock.
7
The Eleven
April 21, 1969
The Ark

So blisteringly hot. All three Ark '69 shows are brilliant, but this is the clearest example of their brilliance on Eleven.
4
Playin' In The Band
Dec. 15, 1971
Hill Auditorium

Just listened to it 4x in a row, something I never do. The whole intense Playin' universe packed into under 7min. Could be my favourite '71.
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Comments

Dupree's Diamond Blues
Feb. 11, 1969
Fillmore East

The banter alone is worth an upvote, with Bill Graham is gifted a cowbell and inducted into the band.... Then the late show starts with this sweet, simple version. That's presumably TC on the steam calliope and who but the Dead would even try such a thing?!?
Dark Star
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

Back here for more. It's really that good. After nearly 40 minutes of creating whole cosmos out of the air it almost sounds like they might land back into Playin' then maybe back into Dark Star melody for the second chorus, then into that beautiful Wharf Rat. Like a spinning twenty-sided die it could have landed anywhere, perfectly. G'damn, but this one deserves its spot on the front page.
Truckin'
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

When they open a show like this you just know you're in for something special. They are so tight from the jump, everyone in perfect sync, Jerry and Phil in perfect co-soloing mind-meld with Keith a bright comet overhead. Even the vocals are beautiful. Honest here, we chronically overlook Truckin' as heads, but I think it's ALWAYS (1970-1995) the best measure of how on they were for any given show. This one is just exactly perfect.
Dark Star
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

A long twisting story filled with beautiful forking paths. Jerry is an inspired lyricist, fluttering just out of reach like a thousand moths in moonlight.
Playin' In The Band
Sept. 27, 1972
Stanley Theatre

Agreed that this is pretty mellow next to the sustained firepower of the colossal August - November Playin' marathon after Europe. It's honestly an embarrassment of riches, (shout out to the August Berkeley shows for being chronically under appreciated), but I find something special in this one because it has elements that almost sound more like the electric Miles Davis-infused 1974 sound.
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