Mississippi Half Step, Little Red Rooster*, West L.A. Fadeaway*, Me & My Uncle-> Big River, Ramble On Rose, Gentlemen Start Your Engines, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song Hell In A Bucket-> Foolish Heart-> Women Are Smarter-> Terrapin Station-> I Will Take You Home-> Drums-> Space-> The Other One-> I Need A Miracle-> Morning Dew, E: Midnight Hour

SBD > MR > DAT @48Khz; Transfer: TCD-D8 > Delta DiO 2496 > Samplitude 2496 > CDWAV > SHN3 (seekable); via John D'Auria; d2 tracked for 80 min; small glitch in Bucket, no other flaws

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Reviewer: workingfromhome - - August 1, 2020

Subject: David Hidalgo



Sunday shows are typically less popular. The Friday night show of this Laguna Seca run ranks 96 (of 2,000+ dates) and is the most popular show of 1988 on



Many weekend runs follow a similar pattern. David Hidalgo appears on Rooster and WestLA and tears up the latter.Sunday shows are typically less popular. The Friday night show of this Laguna Seca run ranks 96 (of 2,000+ dates) and is the most popular show of 1988 on archive.org . In contrast this show is a lazy Sunday afternoon matinee that probably never sought to attain such heights. I found it as enjoyable as any other; it ranks in the middle, as does the night before.Many weekend runs follow a similar pattern. - August 1, 2020David Hidalgo

Reviewer: meechnewsome - favorite favorite favorite - July 31, 2020

Subject: Monterey Shows Made the drive down from hot Sacramento. Love the coastal weather. Caught Sat and Sun shows. It was just a wonderful seeing the Dead again kind of weekend. My thanks to the Deadhead in Salinas for letting us spend the night in his yard.

Musically not a whole lot stood out. Saturday Eyes of the World was enjoyable. Sunday Terrapin scared my friends girl really bad; she was not having a good day. Morning Dew was well played also.

Just the experience of seeing the boys in Monterey for a few days was well worth the trip. Completely enjoyed following this band. - July 31, 2020Monterey Shows

Reviewer: JamsOnly - favorite favorite favorite - June 8, 2018

Subject: Good Listin Worth the Spin - June 8, 2018Good Listin

Reviewer: prustygunn - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 1, 2018

Subject: My 43rd Show Listening back to much of 1988, the band is inconsistent, at times unfocused, and often sounding tired/burnt out, and even at times uninterested. This show is exceptional. There’s a lot of good energy here, certainly sparked by Los Lobos opening. David‘s solo on West LA is excellent, and and I think inspiring to Jerry. There are a lot of strong performances here: Uncle>Big River, Birdsong, Women, Dew. I missed the Friday show with the epic Playin’, but to me The Other One here is kind of a bookend to that - lots of cool exploration. For an “off” year, I like this show a lot. - March 1, 2018My 43rd Show

Reviewer: kbmill - - December 7, 2017

Subject: bread crumb I sang a little while and then flew on. - December 7, 2017bread crumb

Reviewer: livingrateful88 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 9, 2014

Subject: birthday show i was born the day of this show...pretty epic setlist....quality of this show is pretty good as well - February 9, 2014birthday show

Reviewer: msatzy - favorite favorite favorite - July 31, 2011

Subject: very average Have to agree this is not a hi-lite of 1988. i happened upon the Sirius/XM broadcast of this show on its anniversary the other day and heard a few songs that really didnt sound very inspired and i had liked day 1 of this run so i came back on here to give it a good listen. For me, this is weakest show of the 3.....Jerry's voice is awfull and his playing is generally downbeat other than a few moments wherein Brent seems to get him goin a bit. Day 1 remains the hi-lite of the run to me with its China-Crazy-Rider.....at least that is something different and interesting while this show is really dominated by lackluster playing and poor vocals from Jer - July 31, 2011very average

Reviewer: snojon - favorite favorite - August 17, 2009

Subject: I don't understand I listened to a few songs on this set but i don't understand the great reviews. The intruments and vocals cut "in and out"

It may have been a great show musically but I have a hard time listening to this version.

The most notable thing about this show, is Dave Hidalgo on Rooster and West LA. Perhaps this is a great show. When I find a little patience, I'll try to listen again, and see if I was missing something these other revieer's found. - August 17, 2009I don't understand

Reviewer: kochman - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 9, 2009

Subject: Monterey shows This is my fav of the 5 they did at Laguna Seca.

The LRR solo not on slide isn't Bobby, but it is the guitarist from Los Lobos.



Epic Dew!!!



Probably my favorite show of the year. - May 9, 2009Monterey shows

Reviewer: stoner mulholland - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 18, 2008

Subject: jerrys b-day was the next day...... i was the first let in and was front row center for this one...jerrys b-day was the next day..so after tunning for halfstep...jerry turns around and everyone around who was giving a rose throws them on stage!!! it was a great day..had tixs for all three shows but had no money...so thanks to that person who gave me there sandwich duing the setbreak..on sunday..and thanks to the bagel girl!!..she kicked down some free bagels....and to the fatty egg roll people....life was great that summer of 88''.............. - January 18, 2008jerrys b-day was the next day......

Reviewer: stylero - favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 12, 2007

Subject: great year! I am a fan of most of the shows in 88'. Sure its got its flaws, but no more than average. I pesonally like the bird/Hell/Foolish trio. Good encore as well. Sound quality is nice also. - December 12, 2007great year!

Reviewer: Spaced - favorite favorite favorite - January 11, 2007

Subject: Aoxomoxoa? Was this the day that was foggy? It was still very cool until the Dead went on after noon when the sun was over the stage when looking from the hill.



The warmth parted the clouds for the Dead, and it stayed clear until the Dead finished and the clouds closed back up. This was my trippiest Dead/weather experience. Spaced -- January 11, 2007Aoxomoxoa?

Reviewer: keysareme - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 29, 2006

Subject: Bobby!!!!



Bobby on Rooster!! what a soulful solo!!! from Great show from 88!Bobby on Rooster!! what a soulful solo!!! from 2:20 - 2:58. first time i've ever heard him take a non-slide solo!! soo cool! - May 29, 2006Bobby!!!!

Reviewer: jboyaquar - favorite favorite favorite - January 17, 2006

Subject: Jerry's voice is out of commission, but there are enough treats to give this a mild recommendation 1st Set: A muted veiling appears to be covering the speakers making the sound less than thrilling. A mildly passive but smooth "Mississippi" opens up the final night somewhere near the beach?! I'm digging the sly drumming during "Rooster." Jerry's soloing in the late 2's is convincing Chicago/BB King Blues...it's earthy and gritty instead of ethereal - a nice change of pace. oopsy, that's actually David Hidalgo. Too bad he's not worthy of an introduction. That slide sounds atrociously offputting and tacky considering the modesty of Jerry's contributions. "West LA" is fine, but won't be lighting up anyone's 'best of' lists. "Uncle" picks up the sluggish pace a bit, and "River's" a decent foot-tapper. Goofy sounds 'when she gets to Memphis' "Ramble" featires some nice Q-bertian wah-wah's. Hmmm..I smell a "Gentleman" coming...uh huh, it's got a mean drive and a point. We stand in solidarity hoping to carve our own "Masterpiece." Now I smell a "Bird." Hmmm...nice - it's magical and soars into intense places during the early 7's. Unfortunately, you can always count on Bobby's guitar to provide some discord. However, it's lovely, if it doesn't end with a solid flourish.



2nd Set: Time to get the crowd moving with a standard "Hell" that ventures into no new territory. "Foolish" is sluggish and would be forgettable if it wasn;t for Brent's occasional inspiring flourish. BTW, on a down night, the song brings out the worst in Jerry's whining tendencies. "Man Smart" is lively but not spectacular. Jerry's croaking through "Terrapin" but hits some lovely notes nonetheless. The jam gets awfully quiet to make room for "I Will Take." It's a scratchy-standard thing. The tones stay ominous and dark during "Drums/Space" I'm enjoying the demented scrapes provided during the ten and eleven's. "Space" and "TOO" are one ten minute spiraling concoction filled with varying demons possessing Bobby. After that imposing yet fluid 20 minutes of music, ('Drums/Space/TOO all together on this tape) why not get hedonistically raucous with "Miracle?" It's good, but not great. "Morning" is a generous selection, but if only Jerry's voice could be so giving. Thankfully, his true instrument - fingers plus guitar - more than suffice. They pull off the standard getting real quiet during the late 8's early 9's so the level of noise astounds as they build to a sufficient climax.



The final song of the three night stand is - whoa, "Midnight Hour." It's a loosely-solid give and take version featuring Bobby and Brent. not much there



3 stars - January 17, 2006Jerry's voice is out of commission, but there are enough treats to give this a mild recommendation

Reviewer: GDTrey - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 13, 2005

Subject: Brent Smokes!! Very nice Brent showw. One of two Start your Engines played. Wonder why they stopped playing it, not a bad tune. Take you Home is good too. Some people hated hearing Brent sing but he was pretty powerful. - April 13, 2005Brent Smokes!!

Reviewer: icecreamjay - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 29, 2004

Subject: laguna seca set 2 I found a small glitch at the end of Hell in a Bucket, the last 4 seconds or so repeat right before Foolish Heart. It was an easy fix to just chop it off with sound forge, but I figured I'd mention it.



I had set 2 on cassette and It's always been one of my favorite shows from '88. The sound on this show is nice and crisp with loads of Phil. I like this whole set, even though some of the songs aren't really favorites, they're well played with energy. An excellent terrapin highlights the pre drums segment. This is one of my favorite drums > space. In fact this why I loved this tape so much. I listen to it LOUD. So loud my speakers groan and crackle in pain, but the space is so strange and deeply psychedelic that it's worth it. Lots of huge deep bending noise,( I don't know what any of those drums are called) followed by this intermittent super low vibration/bass? that is more like anti-sound. There is a little bit of crackling here which is mentioned in the text file. There is also a a slight pause at the tape flip. There is really no distinction between the space and the Other One. The Other One just rolls out of space like the tide. Waves of sound dripping with distortion slowly twist into the spaciest Other One I've encounted. Bobby follows up with a rockin Miracle thats finishes with a nice smooth transition into an amazing Morning Dew. I also like the Midnight Hour encore. I'm giving four stars because of the minor recording flaws and the tape cut. I would have to say four and a half because the glitches are small and the sound and performance otherwise are excellent.



I definitely recommend downloading this one, if just to hear the space > Other One. Set two is a monster that should delight for years to come. - July 29, 2004laguna seca set 2

Reviewer: HARRY60 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 22, 2004

Subject: LAGUNA SECA I ALSO HAD THE CALMARI . IT WAS FRESH FROM THE PACIFIC. DAVID LINDLEY OPENED UP FOR LOS LOBOS THEN THE DEAD. BRENT HAD ME CRYIN` - July 22, 2004LAGUNA SECA

Reviewer: Matthew Xavier - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 8, 2004

Subject: Great show to end the run Another hi energy show from 1988 spurred by the presence of Los Lobos. Jerry played on two songs with the Lobes for their encore. This show was well played throughout. At the end of Dew there is a hint of lovelight from Jerry which Bobby quickly aborted.



Laguna Seca was probably the best venue for the Dead to play in California given it's isolation from the real world and the camping available. I remember eating the fried calamari for lunch everyday while the boys played on. It is a beautiful spot which brought out the best in the Dead. This run surpassed the 1987 run in my view; more consistent performances. - July 8, 2004Great show to end the run