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7
El Paso
Aug. 21, 1972
Berkeley Community Theater

Out of cold Dark Star space. Prankster jukes regardless this one serves itself well.
7
Black Peter
April 12, 1970
Fillmore West

Mellow and cool. This one follows one of those Dancin's that'll knock your teeth out. This peter cools off the flames. Ghostly coolness.
6
Turn On Your Love Light
March 24, 1970
Pirates World

This has it all. Pig on top, tight frantic lines, tension, build, and crowd back and forth. Serious sequence here starting with the High Time.
7
Eyes Of The World
Oct. 20, 1974
Winterland Arena

To think for a moment, this upon its completion, this Eyes, was to be the last ever. Think of the emotion, energy, power. One can only imagine.
10
Viola Lee Blues
March 20, 1970
Capitol Theater

Packs a hell of a punch. A later version, 70' but solos as it should.

Comments

Viola Lee Blues
April 26, 1969
The Electric Theatre

Hits critical mass, slows, halts, skids, and then once again driving, the gas is slammed over and over, again and again in a sonic loop, Lesh driving back in-front, behind, through, and under the ashes as Garcia's liquid tones rise and cascade in layers, dripping pockets of smoldering lava . Rhythmic, pulsing, and mean. This thing is a cruel, heavy madness that will knock the living shit out of you!
Playin' In The Band
June 29, 1973
Universal Amphitheatre

A month of epic proportions in context with the rest of the year. Fits right in with the flow and progression of the 73' sound, all seven shows are strong enough to make the month of June a strong contender for the best of the year. This Playin' has a bebop groove and a jazz feel. Unheralded performance, for the reason I see being that the first set is uncirculated. Moody and raging flow set this Playin' apart in a whole different category, a combination effort, and an impeccable deep speed crawl, boiling and snaking through the air. Keith holds this one aloft with some fine backing. Don't miss this.
Dark Star
June 10, 1973
RFK Stadium

Phil experiments lots during this Summer 73' period with especially inventive sounding rhythm times and such, these Dark Stars are ones not to be missed. This 6/10 Star provides one of the greatest full band interplay performances of the year. Spacey, melodic, moody, and transcendent. This is one of those you will certainly find in the pantheon. This version is covered by an intricate facade where the first layer provides a view of complex structures in which the guitar intertwines itself in spiral constellations and the space is mixed beneath. Phil however takes up the space behind the facade and basically makes this one, incredible work underlining the band's already excellent interplay.
Dark Star
June 24, 1973
Memorial Coliseum

Just as the first chords of Stella Blue are struck the band launches its ship through the troposphere, and continually heads north through the atmosphere before landing in the thermosphere just as the Dark Star riff rings out. Then light speed is hit, subtly and slowly the band morphs into a cosmic entity, slowly meandering and filling right through the very fabric of the firmament itself. Soon enough Lesh, Garcia, Weir, Keith, and Billy have found themselves somewhere else entirely, in a different galaxy all-together. Insects crawling through the cabin, focused buzzing of noise, and just as it begins it ends, slowly meandering back out with a flurry of bass and guitar picking, louder and louder before dissipating into a pool of abridged thirty minutes, a void in memory, and a trip through the continuum. Time goes on, all is forgotten, and a segue into Eyes...
Bertha
June 24, 1973
Memorial Coliseum

GSET>Bertha, only played four times before 1980! This combination is really rocking, especially on this night in Oregon. Very strong lead-ins to lyrics and drumming and bassing. Garcia's solo has a certain lightning quality, the type of feeling in which the guitar lines have escaped the general stratosphere of the main stage. This thing really impressed, no kidding here. Summer 73' is very strong.