Levon Helm is in fact not dead, the man is alive and kicking and fresh off the release of his new album ‘Electric Dirt’ featuring a soulful cover of the Grateful Dead’s classic ‘Tennessee Jed’. Levon’s band is led by himself on drums and vocals and Larry ‘The Master’ Campbell on lead guitar and backup vocals – a fantastic duo if I ever saw one.
Check out this video of Levon and his Band performing Tennessee Jed on the Letterman show:
Let’s go way back in time for the earliest Dead recording yet to be seen here on Welcome To Now – The Grateful Dead in their infancy at the Filmore in San Fran in the summer of 66′. This is pure, early Dead, still filled with the influences of Bluegrass, Jug Music, and Americana. These influences would later be blended into the ether with Rock and Roll, Psychedelia, Classic Rock, and 80’s short shorts. This summer set consists of mostly early covers and traditional numbers only featuring one Dead original, ‘Cream Puff War’. While part of Boss Man and Dancin’ are cut, this is a pristine recording – both the download and the stream. Groovy.
The Dead in 66'
The Grateful Dead
7-17-66
Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, CA
Big Boss Man
Cold Rain & Snow
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
Cream Puff War
King Bee
Stealin’
Dancin’ In The Streets
It’s that time again to dust off the ol’ Grateful Dead history books. Class, please turn your books to 19 years ago for a mid-summer’s meltdown at the University of Oregon in 1990. Only 1 month before Brent Mydland’s death, this was one of the keyboardist’s final shows with the band and his playing still comes through crisp and clear. Jerry’s voice may be a bit strained during the show but his playing is on point and this show really has some great moments – it’ll crawl up and down your sleeve and leave a smile on your face when it’s over, enjoy!
The Dead - Summer 1990
The Grateful Dead
6/24/1990
Autzen Stadium at the Univ. of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Set 1: Help On The Way-> Slipknot!-> Franklin’s Tower, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Loose Lucy, A Little Light, Picasso Moon, Candyman, Let It Grow
Set 2: Foolish Heart, Women Are Smarter, Standing On the Moon, Box Of Rain*, Estimated Prophet-> He’s Gone-> Drums-> Jam-> The Other One-> Wharf Rat-> Sugar Magnolia,
Encore: Brokedown Palace
The Grateful Dead with Branford Marsalis
9/10/91
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY
Jerry and Branford in 94'
1991, Madison Square Garden, the Dead and jazz legend Branford Marsalis get together for a beautiful night of music. Turn to the ‘Help on the Way’, the interplay between Phil’s crisp bass sound and Branford’s deep, in-the-pocket grooves is testament to what this combo can bring. The 13 minute ‘Shakedown’ opener is also a great indication of what this gem has in store. Give it a listen – I reccomdend the SBD stream to get a nice mix of all the parts – but the AUD really captures the energy of the Garden. Hell, listen to em’both, you won’t be dissapointed!
Set 1
Shakedown Street
C C Rider ->
It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry
Black Throated Wind
High Time
Cassidy
Deal
Set 2
Help On The Way ->
Slipknot! ->
Franklin’s Tower
Estimated Prophet ->
Dark Star ->
Drums ->
Space ->
Dark Star ->
I Need A Miracle ->
Standing On The Moon ->
Lovelight
Encore
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
Last Saturday at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Grateful Dead Jedi-Knights Dark Star Orchestra went to intergalactic war with a classic early 80’s Dead show – 10/15/83 from the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, CT and what a treat it was.
DSO
Rarely heard gems like ‘Wang Dang Doodle’ and ‘Keep Your Day Job’ were intermingled with classic rockers ‘I Know You Rider’, ‘Throwing Stones’, and a ‘One More Saturday Night’ that almost tore that ol’ building down. Other highlights included a lightning speed ‘Let It Grow’, a Phil-Bombtastic ‘Minglewood Blues’, and a ‘Playing In The Band’ that went to the depths and beyond. As if that wasn’t enough, the band finished off the show at 1:00 AM and then capped things off with a with a complimentary ‘filler’ of ‘Midnight Hour’, ‘Easy Wind’, and the famous Blues For Allah Medley ‘Help/Slip!/Franklin’s Tower’. Check out the setlist and original Grateful Dead bootleg from the show below.
DSO
Dark Star Orchestra performing:
The Grateful Dead
10/15/83
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford, CT
Set 1
Feel Like A Stranger
Dire Wolf
New Minglewood Blues
Brown Eyed Women
Wang Dang Doodle
Big Railroad Blues
Let It Grow ->
Keep Your Day Job
Set 2
China Cat Sunflower ->
I Know You Rider
Playing In The Band ->
China Doll ->
Drums ->
Space ->
Throwing Stones ->
One More Saturday Night
Encore
Brokedown Palace
Filler
Midnight Hour
Easy Wind
Help On The Way ->
Slipknot! ->
Franklin’s Tower
Check this straight fire Dead show from spring of 85′. This AUD recording really captures the energy of the show and preserves it in its true form. Highlights include one of the best Rooster’s I’ve ever heard, a surprisingly tasty Bird Song, a beautiful Looks Like Rain, and a smokin’ Other One. Jerry’s guitar playing is in the zone – totally honed in, and Bobby’s rhythm playing in this show is some of the best I’ve heard from the man.
Jerry in the zone
Set 1: Bertha, Greatest Story Ever Told, West L.A. Fadeaway, Little Red Rooster, Bird Song, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues, Looks Like Rain-> Might As Well
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider, Estimated Prophet-> Eyes Of The World-> Drums-> The Other One-> Stella Blue-> Around & Around-> Not Fade Away,
Encore: It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
Bobby gettin' down
In celebration of Memorial Day weekend, dig on this old school show from Labor Day weekend, almost half a century ago (!) in 1968 – our first post from guest blogger drums-space Brad.
Today we bring you a tasty nugget from The Greatful Dead. Headin’ back in time for some primal dead. This is a great show, good quality, and the Dark Star is just amazing. Sit back and relax to the juicy raspberry psychedelic explosion that is 1968 primal Dead.
The Grateful Dead
9/02/68
Betty Nelson’s Organic Raspberry Farm
Sultan, WA
Dark Star
St. Stephen>
The Eleven>
Death Don’t Have No Mercy
Cryptical Envelopment>
Drumz>
The Other One>
Cryptical Envelopment
Alligator>
Caution (Do Not Stop On The Tracks)>
Feedback
It’s been a while since we dusted off our ‘this day in GD history’ textbooks, so let’s get to it! This day in GD history finds the Dead in Portland, Oregon in 1974. Play close attention to Keith’s keyboard work – still new to the band, he’s playing crisp, clear, and like he’s got something to prove. Donna’s also letting it all hang out, even if she’s definitely not as polished as in 76/77. Bobby’s growling, Phil’s bombing, and Jerry’s in the zone, what more could you want? Stream the sound board recording here.
The Grateful Dead
5/19/74
Portland Memorial Coliseum
Portland,OR
Set 1: Mississippi Half Step, Mexicali Blues, Big Railroad Blues, Black Throated Wind, Scarlet Begonias, Beat It On Down The Line, Loose Lucy, Money Money, China Cat Sunflower-> I Know You Rider
Set 2: Promised Land, Bertha-> Greatest Story Ever Told, Weather Report Suite Prelude-> Weather Report Suite Part 1-> Let It Grow-> Wharf Rat, Big River, Peggy-O, Truckin’-> Mind Left Body Jam-> Not Fade Away-> Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad-> One More Saturday Night
Encore: U.S. Blues
In June of 73′, the Dead and the Allman Brothers teamed up at RFK Stadium in the nation’s capital for what is widely regarded as one of the top Dead shows ever. The Dead delivered a monster 3 set show, with the third set featuring Merl Saunders, Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks. This show is truly a blast from the past, a looking glass into a past time when the Dead, the Brothers, and 30,000 fans could get together on a Sunday and enjoy a sunshine daydream freakout like it was still 1968.
Dig it:
The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band
6/10/73 ~ RFK Stadium ~ Washington, DC
Set 1:
Morning Dew
Beat It On Down The Line
Ramble On Rose
Jack Straw
Wave That Flag
Looks Like Rain
Box Of Rain
They Love Each Other
The Race Is On
Row Jimmy
El Paso
Bird Song
Playing In The Band
Set 2:
Eyes Of The World ->
Stella Blue
Big River
Here Comes Sunshine
Around And Around
Dark Star ->
He’s Gone ->
Wharf Rat ->
Truckin’
Sugar Magnolia
Set 3:
It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry
That’s All Right, Mama
The Promised Land
Not Fade Away ->
Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad ->
Drums ->
Not Fade Away
Johnny B. Goode
Stream 6/10/73 SBD
Download 6/10/73 AUD
The Dead at RFK
Back up a few years to 1970 – The Filmore East – where we find The Dead and the New Riders of the Purple Sage playing two shows (early and late show) with an intimate Dead Acoustic Set -> New Riders set -> Dead electric set format for both shows. This is A LOT of music. This is early, stripped-down, raw Dead, not to be messed with. Exhibit A: Phil’s bombing entrance into The Other followed by a break-neck rendition. Exhibit B: Bobby’s growls and yells in Minglewood – this is good shit:
The Grateful Dead and the New Riders of the Purple Sage
5/15/70 ~ The Filmore East ~ New York, NY
Early Show – Dead Acoustic Set
Don’t Ease Me In
I Know You Rider
The Rub
Friend Of The Devil
Long Black Limousine
Candyman/Equipment problems
Cumberland Blues
New Speedway Boogie
Cold Jordan
Early Show – New Riders of the Purple Sage
Bill Graham Introduction/Six Days On The Road
Whatcha Gonna Do?
I Don’t Know You
Henry
Portland Woman
Fair Chance To Know
Last Lonely Eagle
Early Show – The Grateful Dead (Electric)
Casey Jones
Easy Wind
Attics Of My Life
St. Stephen >
Cryptical Envelopment >
Drums >
The Other One >
Cryptical Reprise >
Cosmic Charlie
New Minglewood Blues
The Dead @ Filmore East 1970
Late Show – Dead Acoustic Set
Ballad Of Casey Jones
Silver Threads And Golden Needles
Black Peter
Friend Of The Devil
Uncle John’s Band
Candyman
She’s Mine
Katie Mae
I Hear A Voice Callin’
Late Show – New Riders of the Purple Sage
Bill Graham Introduction/Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
Louisiana Lady
Can’t Pay The Price
Truck Drivin’ Man
All I Ever Wanted
Workin’ Man Blues
Henry/Broken String
I Don’t Know You
Lodi
Last Lonely Eagle
Mama Tried
Sawmill
Me And My Uncle
Connection
Late Show – The Grateful Dead (Electric)
Here Comes The Sun/Stage Preparations
The Sun King/Stage Preparations/Marines’ Hymn
Bill Graham Introduction/China Cat Sunflower >
I Know You Rider
Cumberland Blues
Hard To Handle/Broken String
Beat It On Down The Line
Morning Dew
Good Lovin’
Dire Wolf
Next Time You See Me
Dark Star >
St Stephen >
Not Fade Away >
Turn On Your Lovelight
Cold Jordan
The Dead @ Filmore East 1970
In anticipation of Phish’s triumphant return to Red Rocks this summer, let’s look back on some of the classic runs that helped give this historic venue its name.
First, the Dead hit Red Rocks for two nights in July of 78′ – their first of two two-night stands at Red Rocks that summer. These are two great shows, each with monster 2nd set jam sequences and amazing song selection. The band had really hit a groove with Keith and were settling into their new found fame and arena sellouts nicely in the summer of 78′ and it shows on these bootlegs.
7-07-78 ~ Red Rocks Amphitheater ~ Morrison, CO
Set 1: Jack Straw, Candyman, Me & My Uncle->Big River, FOTD, Cassidy, Tennessee Jed,Passenger,Fenario, Music Never Stopped
Set 2: Cold Rain & Snow, BIODTL, Scarlet Begonias->Fire on the Mountain, Dancin in the Streets->Family Drums->Not Fade Away->Black Peter->Around & Around
Encore: US Blues, Johnny B Goode
7-08-78 ~ Red Rocks Amphitheater ~ Morrison, CO
Set 1: Bertha->Good Lovin, Dire Wolf, El Paso, The Roses, Minglewood Blues, Ramble on Rose, Promised Land, Deal
Set 2: Samson & Delilah, Ship of Fools, Estimated Prophet->The Other One->Eyes of the World->Family Drums->Wharf Rat->Franklins Tower->Sugar Magnolia
Encore: Terrapin Station->One More Saturday Night, Werewolves of London
Download 7/7 AUD recording
Download 7/8 AUD recording
Strem 7/7 SBD
Stream 7/8 SBD
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