headyversion

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

3
Sugaree
June 4, 1976
Paramount Theatre

Another example of how Sugaree thrived in 6/76: Garcia's sweet, mellow, bubbly silver thread guitar and group dynamics both jaunty & subtle. Primo.
4
Tennessee Jed
Nov. 23, 1973
County Coliseum

If possible, a very contemplative TJ. Everyone's in apex '73 form, esp. Godchaux who's mixed fairly high to good effect.
2
St. Stephen
Nov. 5, 1970
Capitol Theater

Of the heavenly 1970 Capitol Theater St. Stephens. Just a beautiful union between audience and group. Killer Stephen! CRUNCH!
4
Here Comes Sunshine
Sept. 26, 1973
War Memorial

Show opener - the perseverence is what really sells me on this one. A struggle, but a worthy one b/c the spoils are lush. Sneaky great.
9
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 18, 1972
Kongressaal, Deutsches Museum

Crazy overlooked: A noble, splendiferous C>R in full Europe 72-ness. Patient, exploratory, charming. Driving a distance? Pack this.
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Comments

Wharf Rat
July 8, 1978
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Garcia's entrance is the stuff of dreams. I've never been in love with this show (at least proportionately to its renown), but this take is niiiiiiiiiiice.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 30, 1972
Ford Auditorium

Hear it pulsate throughout the room. Thrilling audience tape and a super tight, muscular delivery system. By the mid-point of China Cat, a switch is tripped. First-rate Grateful Dead here. Warm and bountiful.
The Other One
Dec. 6, 1971
Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden

It just dawned on my that Garcia flirts with The Eleven for a little while near the beginning. Wicked!
Playin' In The Band
March 19, 1977
Winterland Arena

Initially nothing super special, but once the spaciness starts @ 2:45 things gradually get bewitching. At about 4:45, Garcia extracts a rich, warped, stew of a guitar sound that seals the hatch and dives. In a year with some really great Playins, this one has its own real-thing thing - and it's moving up my list pretty quickly. I don't actually keep a list.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Aug. 24, 1972
Berkeley Community Theatre

Swings super hard out of the gate and then cruises perfectly over the mountains - electric circuit controlling magnets. That's what this is all about. Classic show. Holy fuck! The peak of the transition levitates. What Godchaux is doing is avant garde. That of course leads to Garcia taking a Strat where it's never been before or since.
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