headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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sylvanriv

90s expert

+1262


Submissions

1
Playin' In The Band
Dec. 8, 1993
Sports Arena

Nice Playin'. Jerry finds a few good riffs. Not usually a fan of late era playins, as Jerry's speedy playing is so integral. He plays pretty well here
3
Cassidy
Oct. 30, 1984
Berkeley Community Theater

Picture perfect. Soaring leads from Jerry and crashes exquistely back into the verse
2
Playin' In The Band
Oct. 28, 1984
Berkeley Community Theatre

Hot Playin>China Doll>Playin. Long and exploratory on both ends, especially for 84.
2
Jack Straw
Nov. 29, 1994
McNichols Sports Arena

Very hot tour opener. Jerry's playing is excellent. This show is the only good one from this weird little run in Colorado.
5
Ramble On Rose
Sept. 29, 1994
Boston Garden

Shockingly good. Only good things to say about the Boston Garden run from this tour. These first few nights allayed fears after awful summer tour.

Comments

Jack Straw
Oct. 14, 1994
Madison Square Garden

This one's heady. Jerry nails the fast runs he used to play all the time on stuff like this years prior but generally wasn't able to by 94. I think this show has sort of a reputation for being mediocre besides the S/F, but honestly all of it is at least good if not excellent, and this is a prime example.
Cassidy
June 17, 1991
Giants Stadium

Love this one. Bruce's Dark Star teases in the intro theme around 2 minutes are perfect.
All Along the Watchtower
Oct. 17, 1994
Madison Square Garden

As far as shred, this is as good as it got in 94. Jerry tries really hard for those fast runs he used to nail in the late 80s and early 90s but just can't quite make it. I assume he was energized, especially for this particular song, by Dylan's presence backstage.
Candyman
June 2, 1995
Shoreline Amphitheatre

The solo slaps. Great and surprising runs from 95 Jerry - I think this is better than the Memphis version, but I appreciate that one's significance
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Oct. 14, 1994
Madison Square Garden

The Scarlet is not incredible (good vox, though), and most of Fire is just good, although it's 94, so good is already impressive. Where this version really shines is the final solo - Jerry takes off and his intense playing lights up the crowd. Worth it just for the crescendo in the last five minutes. UPDATE: Changed my opinion. The Scarlet solo is great - Jer extends it over and over again. Not peaking as hard as Scarlet solos like those from 6/18/83, 3/22/90 or even 4/20/84, but excellent and as creative as a Scarlet solo could get in these years. Jerry clearly doesn't want to stop playing.