Just so happens I was dying on the operating table down the road from This show... A few years later I met Mr. Potter who turned me on to the Dead in 1979. This was one of the first shows I borrowed to copy. He had pretty much every show up to that point but he wasn't a taper, he just knew a lot of us and would trade blanks for making him copies of anything you just got. Love these early days Syracuse shows 71 & 73.

And for that reason, hard to be objective. Three buddies and I drove over from Griffins Air Force Base where we were stationed. Dropped on the way. A good time was had by all. Icing on the cake for this show was the opener - NRPS with Jerry on pedal steel. I’d been listening to them since their first album came out but this was the real start of my own long, strange trip. Still enjoy listening to it 50+ years later.

Why is this show so stellar for me? Although as a 17 year-old I had listened to the recordings of Live Dead, Working Man's Dead and American Beauty hundreds of times, this was my first experience Iive with this astonishing assemblage of Earthlings known there Dead, From a privileged position in the 5th row center, I was pleasantly prepped by NRPS with Jerry on pedal steel. But the rollicking opening of Casey Jones blew me away, especially with the sight of flames shooting up from behind BK and his drum set in the early pronouncements of "high on cocaine." Yes, I have witnessed this tune and many of the others performed dozens of times since, but there is indeed something special about the first time, especially when combined with love. I am eternally grateful that this wonderful recording has been preserved.

Becoming Dead ground zero for me - been going in the deep end during these Covid times. Was drawn to the period by a hometown show I got hooked on, Northrup, Keith's first, bunches of new material. I love that you can still hear a Dark Star once in a while, but get all these other songs. Eastown 2nd night has become another favorite, and really enjoy the primo audio of Dave's 3 and 22.

Going back the other way yields more treasure, more Pig Pen.

71 all the way!

To me it is best to be straight forward in reviewing.
We are pretty much more or less hard core fans here.
I will admit sometimes a stray review gets me riled..
But there are times when insights from reviews A+

i think you really have to take into account the time period. The Dead had spent most of 71 rebuilding after Mickey split. They had played practically every small liberal arts college on the East Coast. They were really starting to rock the newer tunes introduced early in 71.
Then they go out on this tour minus Pigpen and adding Keith on Piano. Folks that is a major shift in focus. I really like the recordings I have listened to from this tour. The Boys even have the balls to do FM Radio Station broadcasts along some of these tour stops.

Anyhow as far as this show, Remember many of these tunes are just getting familiarized to Keith. PITB is still clocking in at under 7 minutes. They don't have access to PIG rapping during their end show tunes. So they basically have to re-invent themselves yet again but before they can jam from tune to tune (going express) they have to get Keith comfortable with their repertoire.
I dig Jerry on Comes a Time, He really gets expressive on those vocals. Saturday night is great as a 1st set closer. In the later years it was such a relief to get that tune out of the way during 1st set on a Saturday Night!

I was thinking the FM broadcast might have limited the length of the 2nd set. They don't really go for any long extended jams during Set Two until the finale. But their sound is so pristine during this time period. Vocals are so vibrant and the band sounds just right.Keith is a very welcome addition on Piano & Keys.

Also another thing I believe the Dead were kinda burnt on some of the idiots coming to shows. In a way it is similar to the frat boys/ nitrous era of later years.
Some drunk guy yelling out tunes not even remotely going to get played and getting more hostile and aggressive as the night wears on. (Might even call it the death of 60's idealism)
Plus they seem really frustrated with some of the houses they were playing. They seem to have to fight for control of their own sound.
Be that as it may the return of Pig, The intro of Donna and the EUROPE 72 tour really help the band get refocused on the sweetness of the music.
I like this show. I just heard something a few gigs before that was 5 star , this i would call 4 star for the period. And 4 star in late 71 is equal to what 10.5 by the 80's?

One more factor the Dead playing these more remote arena's in 1971 is another reason why the Steal your Face was still being repainted on that rock going up the N.Y. State Thru-way for years."The circus is in town"..

Anyway, and anyhow you slice it. I can't think of any other band I would remotely even bother listening to entire tours and time periods of their material.
Example-You could pretty much listen to 1 or 2 shows a tour from the following bands and you will know exactly what the entire tour was like. Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath (and I really like both bands) plus for whatever reasons most recordings of rock and roll bands fail to capture their live power. So you are better off just buying the album (CD, Download, however bands are making coin now) Not so with the Dead. Most of the time you are way better off searching out a live performance of your favorite tune. Saving the LP for relatives visiting or reaching out to the Non-Heads in your universe.
So i stopped mid-show to put down my two bits, back to the music. and remember the vibe still exists even if it is now tucked away in a reviewers section for all of these very cool and historic recordings.
MORE DEAD!

never typical upstate until '82-western touch heads will never truly know
Playin' and Cumberland = atypical

i've only just listened to TJ but it's my new favorite- excellent groove- in fact, i'm gonna hear it again :). I'm optimistic about this show. Maybe "jackass" is a bit harsh but I won't take him very seriously next time. Enjoy!!!

Great Cumberland, Truckin, NFA/GDTRFB. Otherwise typical '71 show.

Before 'Me & My Uncle' Bobby actually introduces the song..... he tells the audience "this is called 'Me & My Uncle'." I can't think of any other instances where the audience is told the title of the song before it's played. That is one thing I wish they would have done, especially the new songs.

great show!

speaks for itself

Awesome show; and honored to be the first to rate it