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FreedomHaul

Grateful Novice

+17689


Submissions

7
Friend of the Devil
Jan. 11, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Nice and slow! It's like Garcia can't play a wrong note tonight! Some nice support from the full band at the climax (esp. Keith).
3
Cassidy
Jan. 11, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

A bit faster than I usually prefer it, but this is probably one of the last versions with Donna that’s decent, if you prefer her harmonies to Brent’s.
7
Pretty Peggy O
Jan. 11, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Nice reading with extended solos from Garcia. His voice is a bit rough, but he's singing emotively.
9
Sugaree
Jan. 11, 1979
Nassau Coliseum

Solid show opener (I can leave Weir's slide parts, though). Jerry's clearly having a good night.
3
Looks Like Rain
June 4, 1978
Campus Stadium - University Of California

Part of me wishes they tried this hard all the time. Very nice version.

Comments

St. Stephen
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Stand alone version with NFA/Iko Iko style first jam. Nice 6/8 section towards end, with "Truckin'" tease (even more than a tease, since they seem to be going there pretty full on), then Bobby enters early on outro vocal material and > Sugar Mag. I don't hear the Morning Dew tease. Or of highlights of a lackluster second set.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

This one left me pretty indifferent. Garcia struggles some with the lyrics a couple of times, and while there's a lot of coked out bouncing around on the main "Fire" progression (a la 05-08), the tempo's a bit slower and I don't think it works as well. Might need to give it another listen.
Estimated Prophet
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

coherent playing from Garcia, you can tell he's getting more comfortable with this material. At first I was irked that Bobby resented with the vocals when he did, but it actually presaged a nice studio-like fade out.
Bertha
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Slow moving but with soaring leads from Garcia (a la 05-17 "Scarlet").
The Music Never Stopped
May 5, 1977
New Haven Coliseum

Phil comes through the Betty Board to spank your ears with funkadelic goodness. Also, love how this seemed to emerge from the tuning before hand (one of my key markers for a stellar version).