headyversion

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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3668


Submissions

4
Ship of Fools
Oct. 18, 1978
Winterland Arena

An especially sharp and spirited specimen - expressive vocals, the rhythm section is precise, and Garcia's guitar break is masterful. A still life.
6
Tennessee Jed
Oct. 1, 1977
Paramount Theatre

Energetic, serene AND Garcia's break is pure ragtime gold. In a good TJ, the guitar is a character. Here: a little insolent. Quality.
2
The Wheel
June 28, 1976
Auditorium Theatre

That spacious, unadorned June 1976 sound is so perfect for The Wheel. This one's dynamic and delivered with feeling. Cool show.
2
Cumberland Blues
March 20, 1971
University of Iowa

Oh man: LISTEN! Vocals are mixed a bit high, but this Cumberland has all the important "little" details. Notes the quotes. B'AM!!!!
1
Tennessee Jed
July 12, 1976
Orpheum Theater

1976: Your standard issue tipsy, warm-hearted TJ of the period. The guitar break is more conversation than guitar solo. Standard but special.
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Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Sept. 26, 1973
War Memorial

Kreutzmann alone moves this up the list - the snare is whistling. Garcia responds patiently to the puzzle - at some point he stretches the guitar to somewhere beyond and yr reminded of the Absolute Master Garcia was by this point. Even the Feelin' Groovy part of the transition - which I don't totally love - is treated a little differently; it emerges from controlled chaos. Gives it a different and more interesting role.
Sugaree
Sept. 23, 1972
Palace Theater

Totally - the clarity really brings out Weir's arpeggiating. Every guy steps up to the fucking plate. These two shows are goldmines.
Bird Song
Sept. 24, 1972
Palace Theatre

It's so difficult to choose just one Bird Song from this crazy fertile time, but you can do far worse than this bouquet. Intense, perfectly paced, and, at one point, sideways [in a really good way] and the group steers the craft right back into the into the jet stream. Yahz-ee!
Shakedown Street
Dec. 11, 1979
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall

A lovely lift-off into Set 2. Lesh is so rock solid and weird - great electric bass playing! The group is in Cruise Control [tm] all the way - crackin'! Garcia picks lightly to smear out the envelope and then digs in. BWAP! Genius shit. Note: volume on Brent is, as often, too high in the mix. Healy was a hack sometimes.
The Other One
Oct. 26, 1971
The Palestra, U. of Rochester

Typically great Fall '71 Other One - graceful, fiery, and potent! Garcia's work is, of course, scorching and drives the whole attack. That said, the entire group had so mastered the dynamics and space of this song, it's sorta difficult to single any performance out. Sorta difficult: Garcia's the boss.
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