Wharf Rat
Oct. 7, 1977
University of New Mexico
I don't think this is as good as Feb 18 '71, or Apr 26 '71, or Dec 2 '73, or Jun 26 '74. So I disagree with the idea that it is only second in this poll because of this or that reason.
[added] I have listened to this another couple of times, and my opinion has hardened. I think it is poor. Wharf Rat was best 71-74, but if you want a post-74 version, try Feb 5 '78, which is better. In fact the whole show is better. IMO, Oct 7 '77 was an uninspired evening when the Muse was missing.
Yes, this Wharf Rat has two minutes of good guitar-work between 08:00 and 10:00, but that is not much for The Grateful Dead, and the last 3 minutes are emotionally flat techno-disco, totally unsuitable to the song.