The China Rider starting the show is very weird but it is spectacular and at the end of it you feel like you just listened to an entire concert and this is the end of the encore. No, really. I've read some cynical reviews of this show and I tend to shy away from cynical people - they can be fun, but they have baggage you haven't even begun to unpack. Neither have they. Don't listen to them. Listen to this show. It will make you smile in many places. It's Jerry being really upbeat and being a showman. They miss Jerry's northbound train but come back to it and make it shine. Who knew Alabama could be good but it is and the take off into GSET is expected and not expected at the same time. Great show for '79 or any year.

Did I once say i loved all of Vince's shit?no I said I enjoyed listening to the shows with Hornsby. My favorite era is late fall 73. So learn to read a little more before you start bashing someone for liking something you don't... You're the type of person I stay away from and I would probably bunk your old custy ass on lot

dustiizzle

No clue. When Vince joined the band had to start writing out the setlist for the 2nd set. Vince had no clue how to intuit what song was coming next. So they planned it before each 2nd set. His playing was just adequate and his singing and songs were awful. Keep listening to post brent shows. Its where you belong. And don't forget to not listen to the longest Ship of fools ever from this show.

this is review of the show, not the recording:

Honestly, yes there are some cool moments, but is this a great show? no. It's ok, but there's a lot of Garcia lapsing into forgetfulness and often (but not always) the x-factor is missing; they're just not sparking like they do in so many other truly great shows and some parts are just falling apart. Great moments here and there but some of us are going to feel that the 5 star ratings are a bit of a letdown.

What a great way to start of the morning Bright..bouncy Philicious China Cat Rider ! Turn it up !

China>rider is a very beautiful version....the bass is so thick.

Terrapin is outstanding

one of my favorite shows from one of my favorite tours. Fall 79 is hot, not many slow nights during november.

check it out

One of my best recordings I ever made but since a board came out, Oh well, I recorded over it for the board!
What is particularly notable about this great show is its' similarity to its' peers, for example 1979/12/28 and one of those east coast shows at Nassau or Spectrum, I can't remember which? The first set is consistent but the second is outrageous! The opener, "Alabama Getaway"->"Greatest Story Ever Told" is the best I've ever heard by far, like its' peer on 1979/12/28, even better than 1979/12/28 with the classic blues tag "9th" chord ending on Weir's part, (not done on 1979/12/28)! The "Terrapin Station" in not quite as good as 1979/12/28, but definitely up there!
However in between, is a very rare rendition of "Ship of Fools", why is it rare? (They did a similar thing in Alaska the next year but not nearly as good! That is, instead of singing again liking normal after the instrumental solo, Garcia continues soloing over the part of the chord progression, (a sort of "bridge"), where he doesn't normally solo over instrumentally until it comes around again through the part over which he does normally solo over a second time, thus sort of having an extra solo and a 1/2. The 1/2 being the middle part, not normally instrumental, rather normally sung over, and finishing up where he normally does again after proceeding for the second time through the normal instrumental after the bonus section!
Moreover, Brent does some great jammin' with Bob and the drummers, or just the drummers after "Playin' in the Band"!

Augy
San Diego

Attended both of these San Diego shows and they were a great treat. Bleacher-type seating...you could buy and bring cocktails back to your seat...and the boys were definately having a great time. Jerry was rockin' back-n-forth and overall very animated, especially during this rockin' opener. I kind of thought we'd see them on the beach, but no luck. ;)~ I was very happy to replace my older audience copy with a soundboard. You can't go wrong here!

for 1979, this one is unique. It's got a China>Rider, and a unique setup for the second set (Alabama>GSET, Space>Sailor>Saint). The boys sound a bit tired, though, and the energy seems a bit low. Jams aren't really extended into new territory. Good, but not great. 3.5 stars

traks 6-12 were brand new to me. all amazing to listen to.

Sublime China>Rider definately one of the best of the Brent era as an opener? Not typically done then which scores high in my book. Whole first set is great Cassidy, Althea, PeggyO. Greatest Story is one of the best I have ever heard and sad they stopped doing Set II versions of this as it rocked...

China->Rider is so different...I have never heard it jamed the way it was this night. Phil just goes crazy...in fact the whole show is just really THICK Phil. Awesome Cassidy. Passenger is just haywire...bobby and brent go to outer limmits...it is so rockin everytime I hear it I have to start dancing. Alabama->Greatest Story is sick...no doubt about it Phil just kill the transition into GSET. The beginning of Playin is a little rough...Bobby is singing too fast and then there is an audio glitch for about 10 seconds...after that it slows down and gets extremely SPACEY for 14 minutes of pure Playin delight. Bobby and Phil really tear up Lost>Saint...Phil thumps so hard in Saint that it will shake your walls. Brent goes insane at the end of this show...the last minute of Wharf Rat is awesome. He carries it into a fat show closer. Sugar Mag...HUGE Brent and Phil. This is an awesome show you MUST download if you are a Phil fan.

Did a search for all versions of Alabama>Greatest, having Loved the 12-28 for some time, and this version, as well as the whole show, smokes! Gets a little rough in the transition and the ending flub makes it a little less than perfect, but the energy is There. And as mentioned by others, this China/Rider is amazing. Best post '74 I've heard. Any self respecting Dead Head will be unable not to smile and bob the head, and I challenge any male to Not to play air-bass during the "northbound train" segment. Same goes for the bass hits and drums during a rippin' Passenger. (I've never seen a female play air drums or bass, but its never too late to start) Terrapin is gorgeous and Playing is impressively out there.
Amazing how Brent was FAR better in a matter of months than Bruce and Vince, Combined, ever were.

Short but o so sweet. Undeniably my favirote China>Rider of the Brent era. Phil is a strong show in the mix producing a really rich, full bodied sound. First, there are several unique segments to the china>rider transition jam that really work well. Second, the additional jam between bob and jerry verses of IKYR during the late 79 tour add some extra muscle. Finally, the jam at the conclusion of rider is just fantastic. The band is really letting it fly. Bill and Mickey's rolling drums really sweeten the whole deal. If you could not tell, I LOVE this China>Rider. Another personal favorite for me is the Alabama>Greatest. The Greatest jam just seems to go on forever. With all the beautiful late 79 shows out there, don't forget to give this one a good listen.