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Ernie5

No cholesterol.

+3673


Submissions

2
Candyman
July 12, 1976
Orpheum Theater

Spare, almost vulnerable take on this classic. Godchaux brings the church and Garcia brings the stained glass. An American beauty.
5
Estimated Prophet
Jan. 30, 1978
Uptown Theater

You can hear the swagger in their mutterings before they play. And the performance bears that out. Sure, smooth, and effortless.
1
It Must Have Been The Roses
Aug. 4, 1974
Philadelphia Civic Center

Letter perfect - the Godchauxs take this to a loftier level. Beautiful dynamic push-and-pull by the whole group.
3
Tennessee Jed
May 25, 1972
Strand Lyceum

Planting the Flag of Civilization on this tight scorcher. New from factory - Inspector #9. Under penalty of law, this tag may not be YEAH GARCIA!
5
Candyman
Jan. 31, 1978
Uptown Theater

Dreamy, motionless rendition on a sea of individual human reactions [audience tape]. A wonderful time for this gem.

Comments

China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
April 24, 1972
Rheinhalle

One of the great underrateds, the 6:00 point alone is absolute classic Dead. The argument can be (and is) made that this was the real gold standard Dead. One of the great bands at their height: casual perfection.
Playin' In The Band
Dec. 31, 1976
Cow Palace

Lesh's chocolatey bass is the first stand-out. On the CD set, recorded by Mathews & Cantor-Jackson, the sound field is so rich and 3D, you can take in and take apart the subtle, intricate interaction. Garcia's floating on a cloud much of the time - just etching small phrases and asides into a coherent narrative. By the 7-minute checkpoint, Godchaux is fully engaged, tossing off Tynerisms and other bon mots while Garcia alternates between exploratory and assertive. I like the stand-alones, the butchered up versions - this version is elite because it's soooooo smooooooooth. Two drummer magic before it got out of joint - really shows what a creative bunch of people can do with two drums sets. Serious, but not humorless.
The Other One
June 18, 1974
Freedom Hall

Love this show and this is a warped machine of an Other One. Not at the primo '72 level for me, but very exploratory, patient, intimate, and focused. Godchaux's electric piano sets much of the mood here. One of the tighter '74 Other Ones to these ears. But still way out there.
Tennessee Jed
Sept. 28, 1976
Onondaga County War Memorial

Searing hot Garcia guitar break - whole groop is pulsating. Struggling to hear the Terrapin preview, but that just means I need to listen again. Altogether, a good result.
Tennessee Jed
March 19, 1977
Winterland Arena

Agreed re Seamons matrix - fleshes the whole thing out beautifully.