This show is right before one of the big ones (Tuscaloosa), but is known in it's own right for having the first Iko Iko, the first Passenger, and the first Estimated>Eyes pairing. Like all spring '77s the highlights are big, and the second set is so entertaining. This was their only time at The Barn.

First Set. The show starts rough and gets rocky (Good Lovin', Row Jimmy) before it gets better. Hang in there. Jer just sorta goes for it on Minglewood and then the results are interesting. The rest varies from middling (Tennessee) to brilliant (Brown-Eyed Women). Jack-a-Roe is only the 2nd one, with the original arrangement. You can hear, "Passenger?", "Why the fuck not?"; and then you get the first one. Way uptempo, it has squiggly Keith synth. It's not tight yet, but a fun listen, and they assess in situ: Bobby – "I wanna get into that hook longer". Jer – "Let's do it one more time, Weir. I wanna see if I can hang there a long time". "I can't hold it," says Weir. While they decide the next one Jer doodles a High Time tease (cut from the OFF), so Bobby calls it a go, but somebody nixes, so Jer does a Funiculi Funicula while waiting. The capper is a stellar Dancing in the Street (the lead-in 10secs are not on the OFF). Of the 9 on the tour, it's up there with 5/19 & 5/22.

Second Set. Coming back from the half, they are ready to blow doors with the first-ever Estimated>Eyes. They tease Eyes first before deciding to try starting with Estimated. It's just brilliant, with a really nice jam section interplay where Bobby tests a Truckin' figure. Jer sort of abruptly (yet smoothly) trannys, and the band just falls in perfectly into a crazy-good Eyes. Drums comes early, into a top-notch Samson. Ship of Fools is a marching version and technically perfect (if without the flair of 5/9). St. Stephen starts tentatively, then has wondrous sections. Instead of the "did he doubt/another man spills" verse, and then into Not Fade Away, as with 4 others on this tour, they do the "St. Stephen will remain" verse into NFA ... except it becomes an Iko Iko! The first ever, it's more of an NFA until Jer drops the "Hey now iko an dei", and then everyone drops right to the B chord. It's one verse, and another chorus, until the tranny into the "real" NFA (on the A chord, which they all pick up on and glide away). Use the right equipment, so you can hear what Phil does @6:20-6:40. Jer then plays a bunch of wild pinch harmonics. The rest of the set is more back-to-Earth.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: A-
Overall = 4¼ stars

Highlights:
New Minglewood Blues – interesting
Brown Eyed Women – brilliant
Dancing in the Street – one of the best of the tour
Estimated Prophet>Eyes of the World – the first pairing is classic Dead
Samson & Delilah – like a '77
Ship of Fools – marching version
St. Stephen – crazy good
Not Fade Away – coming from an impromptu Iko

SOURCES: The whole show is on May 1977. The 28916_sbeok SBD is better than the OFF release in some places. There's a great matrix and good AUDs (for a '77).

My first Dead concert, at the age of 15. Been a fan ever since!

Yes indeed..I was 21 and had heard the Jerry Band in my hometown of K.C. March 1976... This was my first live listen to the varsity...Still remember Estimated echoing through that old hockey arena (aka The Barn) on that steaming hot St. Louis evening...Drove home that night back to K.C. with two cans of Coke, plenty of jazz on the cassette player and the band playing over and over in my head...

I was 14 and happened into 4th row center tickets and Jerry was right in front of us! It was the first great band I had seen live and my love for music and the Dead changed that night. My 3 life long friends that went to the show with me have seen many shows since, but this was the one for us. It was the only time I caught the band with this line up. By my next show Brent was in the band. I love all versions of the Dead from beginning to now and will be catching Dead and Company this summer with those same friends but the sound of the band in 1977 touches my heart and mind. I still think about this show, watching Jerry doing his magic and feeling like he was looking right at us...what a night! Thanks for sharing.

I feel complelled to respond to LoveLoveJerry69's review or not the review but statement as if they are absolute without any question written by Moses himself. I don't know if this comes from feeling as if he/ she is the only person alive who has seen a show from 1969 or if he/ she has developed some kind of algorithm them can measure one song against another or if after telling oneself while looking in the mirror "I am the greatest DeadHead in all the land" that delusions of grandure has set in. Anyway, word to the wise: each and every show holds something wonderful and grand. Each show is someones first show, someones show where they may have meet the love of their life. so on and so on. You get it......Dark Star, Stephen The Eleven are better songs than any the Dead have ever done being fact. I'' agree with you if you tell me "By How" you can make that claim and what distinguishes those songs from the 400 or so other songs from the Dead catalog? You must be a master musician composer and such to be able to make such claims. Just writing to you is such an honor, it gives me goose bump up and down my spine and you know where else, you do don't you? Well I think the greatest Dark Star is from Watts Acid Test from Los Angeles. I was there, I even have my card to prove it. I must go now LoveLoveJerry69 as it's time to play the real to real from Magoo's Pizzeria, you were there, I saw you. Peace my brother

I've been listening to a few of these songs on the Unofficial Dead Fantasy podcast #028; it must be the smokinest Samson & Delilah ever! Bobby is giving it 110%. Like someone else said, Jerry's exclamation after 'he killed a man paws' OH! is fucking awesome!

This was around my third show. It wasn't until recently when I listened to this, that I realized it was also my first Stephen show. For years, I thought the 81 Garden show was the first and only time that I'd seen it played. Guess that goes to relative ignorance about their repertoire at the time I attended.

............well spring tour 1969 blows away spring tour 77 for many reasons.......spring tour 69 has ST. STEPHEN.....DARK STAR.....THAT'S IT FOR THE OTHER ONE.....NEW POTATO CABOOSE.....TURN ON YOUR LOVELIGHT......CAUTION.....THE ELEVEN......WHICH ARE THE DEAD'S BEST SONGS not opinion but factually.....

DARK STAR WHICH WAS created from LSD EXPERIENCES is surely their best song!!!!

.....Phil thunders in 69.....he PLAYED MUCH HEAVIER!!!!......in 77 Phil rocks but in no way thunders.....JERRY WAS WILDER/MORE EXPERIMENTAL IN 69 OFFERING RIPPING LEAD GUITAR riffs,,,in 77 he wails but to a lesser degree.........BOBBY POSSIBLY plays better in 77,,,,,but not really........BILL was wilder and better in 69,,,,but in 77 he was similar...........

NO PIG PEN IN 77,,,WHICH with that reason only makes 69 better.........the REAL DEAD IS WITH THE PIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......CONSTANTEN IS A CLASSICAL GENIUS,,,,,,,BLOWING AWAY ALL future keyboard players..........

..............unless you were there in 69.....you can't say 77 was the best year.........or 5/8/77 as the best DEAD show of all time.................THE DEAD were the best from 1967 thru 1970.............with spring tour 69 as their highest peak...........

the first several albums and first several years of most rock groups have always been the best,,,,,,,,,once you make a best first several albums it is hard to continue to put out stuff as great as the first attempts......

yes in 77 they were more polished.....possibly more tight.....but the tightness in DARK STAR FOR example... 1968 THRU 1970,,,,(BEST YEARS FOR DARK STAR) is psychedelic/cosmic/acid drenched and thus maybe tighter than 77...not in a "polished technical sense".......in a wilder/fresh/hippie like sense which is more in tune to what the DEAD stand for....AND.....what the DEAD is about...

ONE can say that the DEAD IN 1977...DO NOT EVEN sound LIKE the REAL DEAD WITH THE PIG.....77 IS A TONED DOWN version of the DEAD...........CANNOT get any better than 1967 thru 1970....

but nonetheless SPRING TOUR 1977 SMOKES........AND MOST SHOWS deserve 4 to 5 stars,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but 1967 thru 1970 is on another HALLUCINOGENIC LSD DIMENSION....THAT NO OTHER YEAR CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO................

BUT LET'S ASK PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE BACK IN THE DAY.........THEY will tell you............some old timers stopped seeing the DEAD AFTER PIG died stating it was never the same without PIG...............

Wow hearing it takes me back when I was there with my favorite cousin who has since passed away. I was 17.. Hearing the music and the crowd takes me back.... was anyone there at the arena in 1977?

the iko into nfa just makes me go poopy in my pants, it is absolutely nfa but jerry decides to sing iko instead, just rockin' stuff: first iko too!

After listening to this whole tour, if I only had one show -- er, three discs -- on a deserted island, this second set, with the first set Dancin' thrown in for good measure, would make the cut. The other half would be the first set (plus second set Scarlet/Fire opener) from 5/25. My personal Spring '77 hybrid show -- absolutely raging from start to finish.

i have been couch touring "on this day" for a few a while and the spring tours are so incredible, the best they give (imho.) dnlwding and streaming like this is a great way to systematically stock your library and it offers a perspective that sheds light on patterns of their touring.
as for rating this show, the date says it all and the Charlie Miller stamp of approval almost guarantee the best production, 5 stars all around...i just wish people that uploaded would keep songs together that are partnered like "China/Rider, Scarlet/Fire"...and date when they uploaded so its easier to find the upgraded versions.
oh BTW they just released the May shows for '77 in a box set, and they actually have the whole shows, not just a chopped up version, but of course its gonna cost you, i think $130...better stream these shows before they take them down

The whole show is played at a 4-star level, but without anything really transcendant, I find it hard to give a show 5 stars. But wait, there's that jam out of Not Fade and transition into Sugar Mag, that did get me going. Plus the Estimated is awesome. So is the Dancin'. OK, I'll give it 5. But 5/8 is still better.

I will take this second set over Richmond any day. All nine tunes are amazing. Samson and Ship will fully satisfy...
The first set is far from dull. Jack-A-Roe is up there.

Ive listened to this show I dont even know how many times and I never grow tired of it. Besides Cornell, this is hands down my favorite Dancin in Dead history. Jerry just busts it up in all dimensions there. Also, the Estimated-Eyes is very special. I think is says something about music when you never really grow tired of it...I hope and pray this will be around for the rest of my lifetime. Peace Heads...

DeadGoose

their playing is so loose
the set list is expressive of time
IMHO.......... they would never have a period as wondrous as this one.

Cornell is an Ball-Crushing Awesome show, no doubt about that. This one is just as strong, but for different reasons. It is more subtle and nuanced. The segues are great, the set selection is great, the sound is great.

Don't ignore this one, it is totally work the time to download and save it.

5 stars for performance and sound quality.

This was one of the first tapes I ever got. I got a quality audience tape from older head who had followed the GD on this tour. Cornell is great, but IMHO, this is the #1 concert of 1977. As my group of like-minded friends expanded back in the mid-80s, I made this tape for everybody and no one was disappointed. The 2nd Set is really where it's at from start to finish. It's a shame that this concert is never mentioned in favorites voting or the like, but maybe that's sometimes a good thing. I suggested to the current GD Vault Manager that this show be released as a Dave's Picks.

I've been listening to a lot of May '77 recently. And this show lives up with the rest of the month.

The second set is rockin', especially that Saint Stephen > Iko Iko > NFA.

The first set was pretty good. Great start but it lost me a bit by the ending ofTennessee Jed. The LL>S was alright but it could be way better. The 25th has killer one that knocks this one in it's place.

The latter half of the month is full of those amazingly played shows with unique, "experimental" setlists. This one, the 17th, and the 25th all share that.

The transitions from St. Stephen > Iko > NFA are off the rails! Play this for someone who doesn't know the band, and he/she would think it was one song. The Eyes is on point as well.

...__[8]o

This one took a couple of tunes before it got off the ground for me but once it got going... wow!
All the highlights have been covered below but that St. Stephen>Iko> NFA is an extra special performance.

Listen closely at about the 11 min. mark of Eyes and you'll hear Bobby playing Mexicali.

I found this show, searching for the first pairing of Estimated > Eyes. Here it is - and neatly wrapped in such a nice package of great tunes! Also, Thanks CM!

Very good show. High quality recording. Plenty of Phil in the mix.

I would have joined a few months ago but my screen name was already taken.

Anyway, at first I really dug anything from 77-78 but I spent the last few months thinking 73-74 was may fav but now im back to 77-78!

Cornell 1977 was By far one of the greatest shows. Terrapin Station was a great album which open a lot of doors to have great performances of Estimated Prophet, and crowds Have fun With Dancin in The Streets. The 1977 Cornell show feats one of the best Minglewood Blues, and Scarlet>Fire is a master piece.

I am in the minority here but I can only listen to '77 shows once in awhile. They tend to be very similar and redundant and not as creative in jamming as say 1976.This second set is an exception to that. Mid first set on is very strong too. The 1st time Passenger is nailed and rocks. The Dancin is long and they rage on it big time.As noted in other post Keith has some of his finest playing of the year too. Set II starts with a typical Estimated but the Eyes is one of the best of this year. It has a long intro with fluid solos from Jerry and Phil has a real bass solo in it. The end is incredible with Jerry peaking runs against Phil & Keith's swirling notes. Then you get a short drum solo into a ripping Samson. The second high light of the set is the beautiful reading of Ship of Fools, this is one of the best versions by far, Phil's playing behind Jerry's great vocals is incredible. You get a really good Stephen into the first Aiko which is a blast and then a perfect change in a ripping NFA. You dont' get the final verse of Stephen but instead a joyous Sugar Magnolia which is absolutly heaven.The UJB is more than you can ask for and Phil knew it too as he thanks the audience and wishes them good nite.

Great Show. Just about every show in 77 was great especially May. In the player on the site if you right click the song then scroll down to download this song it will work. At least it does on Windows XP

I'd love to get a good copy of this. I snagged a bunch of shows off here back when the SBD's were still available, but not this one. Will gladly trade if I've got anything you want. Anybody able to swing me this? email me: dead.20.bodieman@spamgourmet.com

Mighty fine show,I'll give it 4.5 all day long !! I'm rounding up to a five, but I feel its a solid 4.5.

Da Boys Of 77!!!
Highly recomended. I enjoyed the spacey vibe Jerry had during this period.
This Recording Will Blow Your Mind Monnnnn.
Thanks Archives...And thanks to ya all who contributed So Many Tastey Recordings.
PEACE

I've been up and down and in and out of setlist.net, and this archive, and no matter where I go in this great treasure trove, I keep coming back to this silky smooth May run. Absolutely superb soundboard quality from all of these shows. Highlights for me from this night: Jack-a-roe and the hyper-sonic Eyes that follows a slow drip and deliberate Estimated. Man! I just love how they can just turn on a dime! This is one terrific listen. I cannot express enough gratitude to all who have contributed to creating and maintaining this archive.

Review shows that is, ...and especially of May 77, but... I just listened to This and it just flat out floored me! First note to last this is the good stuff! Lazy Lightning>Supplication>Jack a Roe... to die and know you went to heaven for. And then there is the second set ;) Overall, this was very well played, the recording, the sound and mix all top notch...And I just needed to hear something like this today! 11 stars...

I know maybe some off the quality may not perfect like this sight is but for the most the shows are the same just go to sugarmegs.org and download away you just have split the conerts as they all together 2hrs long but you can still get them evry single show this show is amazing i could get in trouble with bob for telling you this info but i guess his kids are allready in collage and paid for Jerry would have flipped out over that peace and love to all

Yeahhh.

I have only listened to the samson and dancin' and both are top shelf versions. Check out Jerry's vocal exclamation point at the end of "...man with his paws" verse. Still, I bet there was someone at the show bitching because they were hearing Samson almost every night. I think a little credit for this high caliber tour should go to the guy who produced the Terrapin Station album(Keith Olsen?). Read somewhere that he had the band practice long and hard while recording the album in early '77. Hats off to the folk(s) who made these great recordings also.(too bad we can't download them anymore, damnit!)

YES!

awesome stuff!!! first ever iko..... everybody's on, and the whole band is playing real tight..... good sound, and keith is actually awake.... nice eyes, and the dancing is good.... BUT...... to the previous reviewer.... it's good, but you can't call it the best ever.... better than a 68,69, or 70???? i don't think so...... listen to the version off of the phil zone and tell me that you can find something better.... anyway.... nice show.... 4 and a half stars

OK, so it established that this is another all-time classic, even for this great year. The version of Dancin' here is an exceptional 20 minutes of pure gold. The Eyes jam energetic and punchy with loads of Phil filling. Bobby and Jerry tear it up with some great solo work. Epic Samson, even with Donna so close to the mic. It's hard not to give this 5 stars, so I will. One of the best versions of Iko I have heard - great seque into Not Fade Away.

This show is a hot one. Lots to explore here. As others have pointed out the setlist doesn't have the heavy hitters as does many of the other 77 shows but, this one is pure energy. The entire band is on -even Keith who shows here he has chops. If you listen closely there is some humerous stage banter between numbers. The Dancin' is one of the best versions out there. I would put it up to just about any other. So if you don't have it get it NOW!!!!!!!

Est>Eyes on is one of the most rippin parts of a show this band has ever played.

Rest of the show is 5 on it's own but this is top 5 stuff. Always a favorite from the time I got this tape in 1982 till it broke.

Everything's great in this show. Other reviewers have said it. I don't think the other recording of this date is all that bad, but this one is certainly better.

Regarding happy birthday: there are various other shows in '76 and '77 where Bob wishes various band members a happy birthday. It must have been some kind of running joke.

Great show, terrific sound... but don't understand why Bob wishes Mickey a happy b-day between "Samson & Delilah" and "Ship of Fools." Mickey was born on Sept. 11, 1942.

wow, Im impressed, there is a great amount of raw energy from this night. the first passenger? second Jack-a-Roe, techno-Keith, thank you very much O Mr KGodchaux, it's fun when he's pluged in, isnt it, great on Fire too from late april. I hope when he was press'en down the key's, his tounge was hangin out his mouth. seem appropriate.

However, there isn't a Scarlet-Fire, no Terripan no Help-Slip-Frank?, the only very77 tunes here are Estimated and the revisited Minglewood and G lovin, yae on the first, nay on the last. From my seat, thats just fine, I like variety and I can easly scroll back a few nights. But I wonder what the crowd thought. was spring 77 tour as be-loved as it is now? worth the listen for sure, to break from the norm.

My personal favorite of May 77. So happy to find this cleaned up version. The other copy is almost unbearable. A show this good deserves has to be listenened to in excellent quality. Interesting that the 3 best shows of the month, in my opinion, all happened on the same days of the week: Cornell, this show and the Pembroke Pines.
Jerry and Phil shine on this show. The first set soars with the Lazy Lightning>Supplication, an excellent Jack-a-Roe, Brown Eyed Women and Jerry shredding the wah on Dancin. I love the May 77 Dancins. You can't help but groove.
As always, the second set is where the meat of the show is. The Estimated>Eyes is my favorite. They jam it hard for about 3 minutes before they get into the lyrics. This one rivals the Boston Eyes from early in the month.
A lot of people rave about Cornell St. Stephen>Not Fade Away, which certainly rocks. But the jamming on this St. Stephen just does it for me. A rollicking, bouncy little jam that fades perfectly into the first Iko Iko. Jerry and Phil drive this little ditty, Phil dropping bouncy little notes that blend perfectly with Jerry's playing. Hell, even Donna sounds good on the vocals in this.
Finally, they don't ruin the show with an encore like Saturday night, but instead close things out beautifully with Uncle John's.
A stellar show, right up there with Cornell as the best of the month.

Another very special show. Bertha starting it up is superb.

It feels good....sounds good...even looks good!!
Thanks!!!

UNBELIEVABLE UPGRADE, Thanks!

First time Iko was played - its short , stacatto-like and of course, new....but definitly sweet. As far as the rest of the show , I will stand by what others here have said :)
Get it !
Now!
Dont wait!

I really like the sound. Great Quality and an amazing year. Awesome sound. The jamming is nice and crisp. I love the Grateful Dead!!!!!!!!! A++++++++++ !!!!!!!!!!!

This version surpasses all previous versions by far. Possibly a bit lacking on the higher end of the audio spectrum? Not much though, just not as sparkly as 5/5 through 5/9. Don't let that put you off, the mix is superb and the sound is very full and there's no tape warble like on every other version I've heard! A very solid well-played May 1977 show.

I really like this one. I'm sure that we are all rackin' up the shows, but I really think you should make room for this one.
There is some dead space during Eyes. Lob it off before burning.

The sound in particular on this upgrade is so full and robust, add a great show and you have a must download. Thanks CM.

This new seed sounds lovely. The Dancin', as with pretty much every May '77 version, kicks butt big time. Good stuff all the way through.

A welcome addition to the singular and spectacular run of May '77. An excellent Phil intro. to the Eyes opening . The vocals have that same particular reverb that's so unique and present throughout all of this run. Love the straight from the board quality. A sonic gem.