favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite

Well for those who know their 1987, this show is another slam dunk pick. This was the last show before the run with Dylan, two shows which would become part of View From the Vault #4 (7/24 and 7/26).Needless to say, the band was well rehearsed and on a roll.I must however comment on this Matrix, Charlie did the best he could with this one, but to be honest, I think Healy was a little too baked when he mixed this one. It sounds way more like an AUD, albeit a great one, than a SBD. You hear almost no Phil, Brent is often low in the mix, and the vocals and drums have way too much reverb and distance.That said, the song selection and playing are both so over the top, that the sound quality (always a low priority factor for me in picking top shows, since so often newer upgrades are released, the sound quality factor is very changeable) does not deter one bit from enjoying this show. Look at the second set - again, as in 5/2/87, this could be a 1977 show, say 5/25/77 when they did the exact same sequence - Scarlet>Fire, Estimated>He's Gone>Drums. What a stacked deck!A thundering Bucket opens the show, followed by a fairly up tempo Sugaree, which is much better than some 80's versions where the song tends to drag slow. Jerry delivers a great vocal here. All Over Now is a good choice next, keeping the feeling of fun and beach balls in the air.Dupree's adds to the carnival atmosphere. Brent contributes some nice keys on this, not too toy piano sounding, just right. I could do withoutGood Times, but it could also be worse (Tons of Steel) and it's actually pretty good, Jerry throws down some tasty blues.Masterpiece, obviously invokes the spirit of Dylan's recent appearance and takes the show to the next level. And you can hear the band loosenup a bit and begin to jam more, especially Phil. A fine version, Bob handles the vocals nicely. RxR Blues is a perfect addition to set you upfor the end of the set. One of the songs brought back from the old days and it really has that 1971-72 feeling here. Did I say jam? Jerry reallyturns himself loose on this one for the first time in the set. Hot!No Let it Grow can top those of 1973 and 1974, but this one is no slouch. Lots of speed and power. Garcia hits all the notes and plays with a big confident sound. He growls, he sails high, he shoots sparks. The drummers keep a strong polyrhythmic platform going for the band to jam around. The ending is masterfully done, and the cosmic twinkle that the jams contain hint that what's to come in Set Two will be something special indeed.The drums really kick off Scarlet and don't let up. Garcia's solos are focused and lively. The ending jam is jazzy and on the mellow side and gently slides into Fire. At about 2:30 Jerry really gets serious and delivers some scorching leads, not to mention some great singing. Healy throws in some vocal delays here and there, just to mess with you. Jerry whips the audience into a frenzy and you can hear their roar of approval. This is NOT your Grandmother's Fire. Wow what a version. The urge to stop writing and get up and dance is overwhelming.Estimated keeps the beat going, with great ensemble playing by the group. The drums absolutely dominate, incredible playing by Bill and Mickey. Wait, what are those other sounds? Is that my brain melting? Infectious grooves abound. He's Gone is also well done and lightens the mood a bit. Smile, smile smile. Nice harmonies too. And they include the Gospel First Church of Funky ending with the call and response vocals. Who wouldn't be happy now?Even though the 70's will always be my favorite era, there's one thing that they did not have - SPACE. When you think about it, the Space segment is kinda like every show having a Dark Star in it. Jerry begins this jam with the wah and a minor mode mellow type of style, then moves to a more fuzzed tone with synth polytones, as Bob and Mickey add swirly sounds. A very laid back, yet trippy segment. The shift to Crazy Fingers is almost seamless. I never was thrilled with the Crazy Fingers of 1976, and it wasn't until I got into the 1980's shows that I discovered what they could do with this song as a jam vehicle, not tomention Brent's contributions to the song. Jerry's tone is clear as spring water as he fires off little waterfalls of notes. The harmonies arenice too. The last 2-3 minutes of jamming are gorgeous moments.Truckin picks up the pace perfectly. Bob remembers the words! What a event! So he has some fun with his "stutter rap" effect and the crowdloves it. This Truckin is just the strong cup of espresso you need to get your second wind and make it to the encore.Then another shift to the mellow side with a version of Comes a Time that brings the house down. I must admit, this matrix is nice to hearduring this song to experience the crowd reaction. They become part of the song. As a matter of fact, Garcia delivers such a passionate version, the whole universe becomes part of the song. Only love can fill. What a solo at the end!If you haven't noticed by now, this is a Jerry show hands down - he's playing all his favorite songs, Scarlet>Fire, He's Gone, Crazy Fingers,Comes a Time, RxR Blues.They race to the finish line and summon even more energy with a blazing Sugar Mag. The drums pound like thunder, and Jerry pushes the fire higher and higher. Wow. Black Muddy River is a much needed long cool drink and a big hug before going home. A perfect close to a classic 80's show, and a well deserved five stars. An essential show forany 1987 collection.cheers,Dr. Flashback