Hell In A Bucket, Shakedown Street, Wang Dang Doodle, Friend Of The Devil, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Brown Foolish Heart, Looks Like Rain-> Jam-> Crazy Fingers-> Playin' In The Band-> Terrapin Station-> Drums-> Jam-> Dark Star Jam-> Playin' In The Band Reprise-> Black Peter-> One More Saturday Night, E: The Weight

a few pops on d2 fixed by 9/17; see declicking info

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Reviewer: grtflmark - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 22, 2016

Subject: A Stellar Show At Soldier Field This one gets 5 Stars from me. So MANY highlights........my first Wharf Rats meeting. Spectacular Brown Eyed Women, a whole New Reading of Foolish Heart that what was on "the radio".......Dark Star Jam that caressed the soul.....Playin' In The Band like the old days......Bruce Hornsby edges of genius.....one of Vince's best outings ever........I'm sure I'm missing something......the Show SMOKED from start to finish.....even FOD was special! - February 22, 2016A Stellar Show At Soldier Field

Reviewer: sandman71 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2015

Subject: The darkness never goes... GarciaGrateful- you are the dark side of the deadhead scene. I believe both Brent and Vince lost their lives in part because of people like you.



I never intended on placing any reviews, but I hope to offer you salvation in the hope you don't literally kill anyone else.



After 20+ years and an actual man's life lost, you are still beating the old dead horse about Vince? Were you at the show? Did you hear the Foolish Heart? What qualifies you to determine who "ruined" the song? Was that the consensus of the musicians on stage that the song was ruined by Vince Welnick?

I was at the show and I thought Foolish heart was a high point of an excellent concert.



But seriously, you got nothing better to do after twenty years than slander a man whose life was lost? Vince was a professional, very talented musician who was hired as a fill-in at what was probably known at the time to be the final years of a great band. He over achieved on his job description on later tunes like So Many Roads, Standing on the Moon and especially Days Between. I was never even a fan of Samba or LWTGH but if the band was playing it, who was I to judge? As Jerry sang they 'gave the best they had to give' how much you'll never know. Please try and see the light, there ain't no time to hate. - June 23, 2015The darkness never goes...

Reviewer: GarciaGrateful - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 17, 2015

Subject: A great Foolish Heart... ruined, once again, by Vince. GarciaGrateful -- February 17, 2015A great Foolish Heart...

Reviewer: peej.625 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 19, 2012

Subject: first show The bus came by and I got on.What else can I say - February 19, 2012first show

Reviewer: demora - favorite favorite favorite - July 23, 2011

Subject: OK show Not a bad show but for those who say this is a great Foolish Heart, I am left scratching my head. Check out Oxford Speedway's Foolish Heart -- 88-07-02. Blows this one away. - July 23, 2011OK show

Reviewer: Deadheadable - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 23, 2011

Subject: My Plates FINARIO.....have had them now for 18 years.............. - June 23, 2011My Plates

Reviewer: vadernader - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 20, 2011

Subject: an old favorite This was always one of my favorite shows I had on cassette back in the day, but it had the worst freakin cut of all time. On the Terrapin right before the kick ass jam. It was a real ball breaker.



I miss the Dead, but hooray for the archive! - June 20, 2011an old favorite

Reviewer: sonofsaf - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 26, 2011

Subject: yin yang Thursday, October 11, 2007

Grateful Dead - Chicago, Soldier Field 1991

This was my favorite dead show, hands down. I drove up with the infamous Lowe brothers and this other guy Rob Kohnfelder. A couple years later, I would grow to truly despise two of them. So much for the peace and love theory. We spent some time on the Southside of Chicago buying tons of beer at a distributor. Tom and John bought about a dozen cases which really weighed the car down. The suspension was bad enough on my little Charger 024 Omni. I miss that car - it was the original Saf mobile or as my father referred to it "the fucking jalopy and eyesore to the neighborhood." We arrived at the parking lot around noon and the place was filling up rapidly. I parked near these college kids who were dispensing 8 nitrous tanks. As the day wore on and the lines grew, I got to know them pretty well. They explained how they were from Cornell University, snagged a bunch of tanks and decided to hit the show. There were 4 of them - all business majors, go figure. They had given the security cops $100 a piece with a promise of another $100 each at the end of the night. Probably a good idea, since the lines were 20 people deep and the swooshing noise form the tanks was loud. At one time, they actually had two lines formed. This pissed off Tom at first since he was trying to sell imports and these guys were making a mint selling hippie crack. He eventually would sell all his beer anyway. The Cornell foursome probably netted about $16,000. Not bad for a days work. Not sure if they went into the show or not. I never even found out if they were Dead fans.

I had an interesting run-in with this Asian kid in the middle of the afternoon. We were standing by the car and we noticed this one hippie riding his bicycle while simultaneously hitting a nitrous balloon. I look to the Asian kid and said "that doesn't look like such a good idea." Before I could finish the sentence, the hippie slammed into a parked car and hit the pavement. The balloon went flying and he was pretty skinned up. Fortunately, he didn't crack his head. After a couple of minutes, the banged-up hippie managed to get to his feet and ride off. I started talking with the Asian kid - he told me his name was James. James and I started walking the lot talking about a variety of topics - where you from, you got a ticket for the show, the usual stuff. He then said that his band was playing tonight and told me "We should go check them out. I'm not going into the show tonight. I've got to play, but I wanted to come down here in the afternoon and check out the scene." I told him I was going to the concert and I doubted my traveling companions would be interested in seeing his show since we were heading to Kansas for another Dead show (that's another story). He mentioned that they were about to embark on a tour and said they'd be playing in Pittsburgh in a few weeks. I asked where and he said the Metropol. I was impressed and mentioned that the place holds almost 1,500. "Are you guys really that big?" He repsonded, "Oh yeah, there's about 4,000 people coming to our gig tonight. We're from Chicago and we're starting a tour to support our national release." I was a little blown away. We ended up hanging out for a couple hours. Right before we split to go into the show, I asked him, "Hey, what's the name of your band anyway?" He looked at me and quietly responded "The Smashing Pumpkins." A year or so later, it dawned on me that it was James Iha - guitarist of the Smashing Pumpkins. I always like that story.

Before the show, there was much speculation of the opener. Lots of people wanted to hear Shakedown Street which hadn't been played all tour. I explained that there's no way because it was Bob's night to open. They'll probably open the second set with it. On the way in, I noticed 2 great personalized license plates - one said "BUCKET", the other "SHKDWN." I wished I'd had my camera on me since I used to take pics of dead plates, but I had left it in the car. We walked by this group of crazed hippie/college kids and they were smashing beer bottles on the lot. Just for the hell of it, I guess. Laughing up a storm and probably tripping their brains out.

We made it into the stadium right after the opening act. The weather was crisp and really windy. The sky was filled with a ton of colors and constant lightning strikes, but it never rained. They hit the stage and the place went nuts. Bob opened with Hell in a Bucket and Jerry would follow with Shakedown Street. This would be my all-time favorite dead opener. I couldn't have written a better setlist. I loved this whole show. Just had a tremendous vibe. A one-night stand at Soldier Field. Now I get it. They closed out the second set with One More Saturday Night and encored with The Weight. Quite simply, my favorite dead show out of about 50. Like I said, now I get it. - March 26, 2011yin yang

Reviewer: Joshua_me - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 29, 2010

Subject: Shall we call it by name ? The *epic* midi-meltdown that starts around 8:45 into Let it Grow still amazes me. I remember reading an article with Bob Bralove after this show saying how he thought they had turned a real corner in terms of the midi technology. But, two things: One, the darned channels are reversed in this recording, and two: *somewhere* out there is a decent audience recording of this show. If you happen to have one, please email me at chinacat1@ myway.com - September 29, 2010Shall we call it by name ?

Reviewer: Star Struck Lunatic - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 19, 2009

Subject: Hornsby during Playin' One can really notice him teasing Dark Star during the jam of Playin'. I was there. I was told to look out for a DS, but I didn't notice it at the time it was happening. Surely it was the robo-trip that caused me to miss such a hint. However, being a Touch-Head technically, I consider myself lucky to have heard, in-person, a DS of any sort, albeit a jam. Anyway, I'm glad to have been at a

"good show". - July 19, 2009Hornsby during Playin'

Reviewer: OldSchoolJersey - favorite favorite favorite favorite - June 22, 2009

Subject: Well... I wasn't there, but this Foolish Heart is a thing of beauty. - June 22, 2009Well...

Reviewer: garquia - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 12, 2009

Subject: Nice show! What a great MIx and Recording is right! This board smokes! The show was a great one. The Bucket>Shakedown opener is power packed. One of my favorites shows attended for 91' - April 12, 2009Nice show!

Reviewer: verylazylightning - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 10, 2009

Subject: What a Mix! What a Recording! (Nice Show, too) Phil is exactly where he should be sonically.

What an ear-opener - easily the mix on Phil I

have ever heard on the archive. - April 10, 2009What a Mix! What a Recording! (Nice Show, too)

Reviewer: patkelleyPA - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 10, 2009

Subject: great foolish heart i love the song, and this is a great one - April 10, 2009great foolish heart

Reviewer: jcinco - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 19, 2009

Subject: Good, but not great This was a pretty average show during a completely stacked year of Dead shows. The opening to the show smokes with Hell>Shakedown, which is the only reason I'd give this show 4 instead of 3 stars.



I think this is like one of 7 or 8 shows in the archive where someone claims 'best Foolish Heart'. No way... Jerry cuts the jam short at the end. What people seem to forget is that Foolish Heart was almost always good and is far and away the best song in the 'In The Dark' era. Its a vocally demanding song, so there were always some rough moments for Jerry, but the jam offers a lot of space for beauty, and Jerry frequently took it to that kind of place. FWIW, the best Foolish Heart I've heard is 4/28/91. 7/12/90 is a really big version as well, and the 8/19/89 encore is an excellent early version. - February 19, 2009Good, but not great

Reviewer: Thad - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 15, 2009

Subject: Best of '91? Maybe my favorite show from this year. The Terrapin jam is so damn awesome . . . leaves me transfixed every time. - February 15, 2009Best of '91?

Reviewer: mgags - favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 15, 2008

Subject: Top 5 1991 Show For Sure Went to his show with my buddies & my dad and remembering ditching my dad when I began to see three of him. Of the 15 shows I saw this year, this ranks #1. Perhaps 1st day Vegas is close.



This Bucket>Shakedown opener is ridiculous. Jerry's dialed in for sure on Bucket and his use of the midi-sax on Shakedown had me looking on stage thinking Bradford had joined them. I've never heard him use the alto sax sound before or after.....it's usually the tenor or baritone. Wang-Dang and FOTD are solid as is Masterpeice and BE Women. However, shit hits the fan on the set closer, Let it Grow. Bobby doesn't miss a lyric, Jerry doesn't miss a note and this is as good a version I've seen. Again Jerry's use of the midi has completely changed the complex of the oldies but goodies (Eyes,Playin,Grow).



Second set is the goods........A GREAT Foolish Heart is followed by an adequate LL Rain>Crazy Fingers and then were off into a magical 30min segment that rages. Playin>Terrapin deliver and in a year where the Terrapin Jam has found a life of its own, this one wins hands down. The post-Terrapin jam weaves thru a couple spectrums and finally ends up in Drums. The Space>Dark Star is another winner as they toy around with the theme for about 8min until Playin is finished. The Black Peter>Sat Nite closer is also exceptional. Unfortunately they encore with Weight. 4 stars because 5 stars are reserved for pre 1978 shows only. - April 15, 2008Top 5 1991 Show For Sure

Reviewer: stoner mulholland - favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 26, 2008

Subject: VINCE TURNED AND AND SAID 'THANKS' I WAS AT THIS SHOW AND I;D LIKE TO SAY TO ALL THOSE VINCE HATERS...LEAVE THE GUY ALONE (R.I.P)...I LOVED BRENT JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYONE ELSE,BUT BRENT PASSED ON AND WE WHERE LEFT WITH VINCE..GET OVER IT!....AT THIS SHOW I WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE STAGE WITH THE BLOCKED VEIW..IT WAS THE ONLY SEATS LEFT..BUT I WAS SITTING NEXT TO TWO GUYS WHO WHERE GIVING VINCE A HARD TIME...WHEN THE 1ST SET WAS OVER VINCE WALKED OFF STAGE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US..AND I KNEW HE'D HEARD THOSE TWO GUYS DURING THE SET..SO I STOOD UP AND YELLED TO VINCE ''KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK VINCE,WE LOVE YAH!!''...HE STOPPED TURNED AROUND, SAW ME AND WAVED AND SAID THANK YOU....THE SHOW WAS GREAT ...THE DARK STAR TEASE THE WHOLE TOUR..BY BRUCE MAINLY...GREAT YEAR.... - January 26, 2008VINCE TURNED AND AND SAID 'THANKS'

Reviewer: Gdtrfb75 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 13, 2007

Subject: KOTESKY?



He was an old head with a purple-hand-woven South America vest on, with a DC-show-Lincoln-skull-head-steal your face shirt. He was giving away tickets "For a hug." The driver in our group (Anton's girlfriend) scored a ticket for a hug, and was allowed to pick another "deserving soul" to receive the next freebie.



Such kindness and serene personality I had never witnessed. I'm sure my 16 year old memory is faded, but I also remember him teaching us how to be careful with our first boomers experience.



The show was mind-blowing. I also remember an old couple swaying arm in arm singin' every word of Terrapin....of course fireworks too. I hopped in the bus and never fell off! I'm grateful for the "turn-on" and wonder what ever happened to those guys? I'm in NYC.....



If Alex or Justin read this....e-mail me at Gdtrfb75@

A. Rogers This was my first show. My buddy Alex and this bro Anton took me, complete with Leopold! I was in for a life changing event. The sold out First outdoor stadium show in Chi-town...(been to Soldier field 9 x's and never saw the Bears play). the most memorable part was witnessing the "Miracle-Man."He was an old head with a purple-hand-woven South America vest on, with a DC-show-Lincoln-skull-head-steal your face shirt. He was giving away tickets "For a hug." The driver in our group (Anton's girlfriend) scored a ticket for a hug, and was allowed to pick another "deserving soul" to receive the next freebie.Such kindness and serene personality I had never witnessed. I'm sure my 16 year old memory is faded, but I also remember him teaching us how to be careful with our first boomers experience.The show was mind-blowing. I also remember an old couple swaying arm in arm singin' every word of Terrapin....of course fireworks too. I hopped in the bus and never fell off! I'm grateful for the "turn-on" and wonder what ever happened to those guys? I'm in NYC.....If Alex or Justin read this....e-mail me at Gdtrfb75@ yahoo.com A. Rogers - November 13, 2007KOTESKY?

Reviewer: Mooding - - October 17, 2007

Subject: What ever happened to the lovely woman I met from Ontario? If only I knew. Post here if you read this. We spent much of the 2nd set dancing with one another. I went on to the Kansas shows, you went back to Canada. - October 17, 2007What ever happened to the lovely woman I met from Ontario?

Reviewer: Rishi Shah - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 19, 2007

Subject: 1600 miles for the Shakedown We had just finished our junior year of high school and we knew they were going to play Shakedown Street. And they did, and then some.



My all time hottest show!



Peace - August 19, 20071600 miles for the Shakedown

Reviewer: wharfrat72 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 29, 2007

Subject: My first show too!!.... ... and indeed, it rocked! - April 29, 2007My first show too!!....

Reviewer: mafeoc - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 26, 2007

Subject: My first show!! My first show and it rocked!! - April 26, 2007My first show!!

Reviewer: lobster12 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 31, 2006

Subject: very nice Shakedown in the 2 hole must have had the joint hopping. Really masterful. Only gripe is that the second set is very repetitive of the Vegas and Shoreline gigs that are equally as good. That's being an ass though,the performance is hot and I love the post space selections. - May 31, 2006very nice

Reviewer: spacecowboy - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 18, 2005

Subject: My oh My Looky what we have here Remember this show like it was yesterday. Wind blowing straight to the south end of the stadium with Garcia's long locks flying straight back as he leans into the great jam during Foolish Heart. Brings tears to me eyes. The sound was great at the show and so is this Board. The SICK Shakedown had Chi town in a frenzy. The Boys were clearly on this night. Gotta love Bruce H. He added some serious flavor to the music during this summer tour. - November 18, 2005My oh My Looky what we have here

Reviewer: REA04 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 2, 2005

Subject: Underappreciated gem from '91 This is a good recording of a very good show. 'Bucket', 'FOD', 'Shakedown', 'Let It Grow', 'Foolish' are all first rate. If you like the stuff with Hornsby, they were really in sync here. The first show at Soldier Field may have been the best. - August 2, 2005Underappreciated gem from '91

Reviewer: secret8476 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 8, 2005

Subject: First one This was the event that would forever change my life.

Yeah , im a youngster , and JUST missed seeing Brent in 1990 at Tinley (mebbe that was a good thing?) but the next year the Dead were comin to town - i was there. When i walked up from under McCormick Plaza and into the sea or tye-dies and VW's - i was in absolute awe.

Putting my culture shock aside and trying to blend was a neat trick ...lol. Ya didnt have to do a damn thing but put on a smile , and everyone greeted you happily with open arms....or shot of shnapps , or a toke ,....

But the show itself ...well lets see, its their first time playing Soldiers field , and its a shame no one realized until 1992 that 2 nights were better than one. Looking back on this show , im dumbfounded by what i heard at this show, and realize later in life what a treat i was really given.

Bucket opener - That became the Chicago standard for three years running at Soldiers - 91, 92 , and 93 openers with Bucket. I was so happy in 94 to get a picasso moon. But since this was my first , it rocked of course :)

But then Shakedown!!! I would jones for years to come before hearing another. Thankfully this one was pretty memorable. ALtho Wang Dang was you typical wang dang - theres something abvout having Bruce in the band that makes it stand out more. Friend of the Devil lends itself to be one of my all time favorite versions. The solos by vince and bruce , and later Jerry almost seemed as if it were the studio collaboration of how the song should have always sounded , embeded on an Album in time forever. Its just one of the most gorgeous versions i have heard. Brown eyed is a nice version as well , and later became a favored tune of mine to hear as well as Let it grow - this was a pretty powerful one too if you ask me. It just seemed epic ending the set with the last few fading notes of Let it grow , and watching the horizon behind Soldiers as the sun started to creep down behind the Skyscrapers.

The second set opens with a blazing Foolish that i love to go back and listen to. Yes there are many better versions of this song out there, but this one is nice and i am partial to it of course. Vince miscues the solo and jumps ahead of Jerry to drop back into the final verses - but Jerry just drags him thru another round until he builds the crescendo back up to where he wanted it , and then drops the notes . Its a great listen. Bobby belts out a very nice Looks Like Rain - again , while i know there are way better versions out there, espeically duets with Donna - this was still played very well on this evening and is pleasant to the ears. Now comes my favorite part of the trip. It was right about this time in the show that a guy calling himself Panama Jack handed me a stick of something i have never ever smelled or tasted before in my life , and have never seen since. I can tell you this - Crazy Fingers -> Playin' -> Terrapin - **drooool** .....*rubs eyes and looks again* Wowowowowow. This was the incredible highlight that whipped my perspective of life into a whole new realm. There were huge screens with wonderful animation taking place- a recall flying eyeballs - and a wizard with three shapes - a circle, a square and a triangle all floating above his hand and they would flash out - and flash back in as the wizard would fade out -

Looking back i cant imagine not having this moment in my life. It literally changed me. By the time Drums started , i looked at my friend in utter disbelief at this hidden secret he kept from me far too long. Why had he not told me sooner? He patted me on the back and said *Yeah , i know....*

Trying to keep my jaw off the floor to hear the last portions of this monumental show , i didn't realize until later that i was about to hear a very rare occurence - one that teased heads all tour long during the 91 shows - the ever elusive Dark Star Tease .

It was so prominant and there- ready to be played - i could tell by the look on other peoples faces that something big was about to go down. Alas , as the notes dropped off into the tinkling of the Playin reprise , a full fledged Dark Star was not to be born this night. But a dark star jam even , is a dark star nonetheless :)

PLayin' reprise (which i thought , jeez , they already played this ...LOL) followed up the jam , and moved languidly itnto the dire riffs of Black Peter. Never on the top of my Jerry Ballads list , im happy I heard this still , and it seemed to fit the ambiance for my evening.

The real treat for me believe it or not was One More Saturday Night , as this was the song i first heard ever by the Dead - and looked forward to hearing so much (since i was informed ahead of time i would most likely hear it , be it a saturday night..lol). It had the entire stadium dancing on their feet.

Finaly ending the show with The Weight was as appropriate as it could get imho. I love that song , and it is a shame it didnt stay in rotation. Wanna hear a sweet one? Here it is.

After wiping a tear from my eye - over the soundsystem comes Jimi !!! A recording of Jimi !!!! What are they doin blasting Jimi over the sound system for ??!! Omg !!! They are blasting off fireworks to Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Why o why didnt he tell me about this sooner?



The fireworks became a staple for the show closers at Soldiers. They happened every year after. Needless to say , i have never been the same since :) - July 8, 2005First one

Reviewer: early 80's meltdown - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 27, 2005

Subject: Yea Bro I posted that Vince shot, it was on one of the 90's Vegas Boyd Shows. I live in Chicago area by the way and seen all Soldier shows and lots after but Vince in my mind was the worst.I drove to Ohio for his first and lots after and like I mentioned in post he was refering to was his Keyboard playin and sound reminds me of lame Casio bubble gum pop. Cheesey to the max solos and on top of it his voice was horrible. Man, Brent was such a loss to the group and fans and of coarse family. Unfortunetly from what I read in Phil's book and others He didn't comprehend how much he was loved and was so insecure, wow he was dead wrong he was the best inmy opinion he deserved to be playing aside with Jerry Garcia definetly awesome counter part to Jerry and great blend with band. Huge Brent fan like many, The Hammond ,the wicked bells and buzzer freak sounds and his passionate sweet singing/preacher man bad ass.

The some good jams on Shakedown Bluesy. Jerry midi stuff is pretty cool. I remember being up in front rows at this shows and during Black Peter and watching him pretty close and trippin hard. He looked like he was partying again and from whats in print he relapsed heavy on persian again. pretty cool shows, lucky we had Bruce. Dark Star tease theme was trippy for me and spacey in that roman pillar collisem spaceship. early 80's meltdown -- May 27, 2005Yea Bro I posted that Vince shot,

Reviewer: ****eagle____ - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 12, 2005

Subject: First One Was A Good One This was my first show and was a graduation present to myself. I remember looking over at a dude wiggling to "Hey Mr. Spaceman" and grinning my ass off. I knew the tunes but did not have the nuances down yet...so the Dark Star teases and "goodie" and "jems" sort of went in one ear and out the other. I had a copy of it a long time ago..but it was D- in quality. I'm glad this was one of the first I decided to listen to. 14 yrs later I hear some choice licks...Shakedown is classic whaaaa whhaaaa whhaaaa...I agree on this being the best Soldier...Maybe the 92' w/ Steve Miller is close...but by 95' the scene was crappy...concrete..cops...and bunk ALL around....I'm just glad I was there for them all at the Field'...Especially since they turned it into the Mothership...All we have are the music and the memories.... - May 12, 2005First One Was A Good One

Reviewer: dmilks - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 25, 2005

Subject: Soldier Field 91 Summer was just glorious. What a great show in terms of song choice, and performance-wise. In my opinion, probably the best of all the Soldier shows over 91-95. From the moment Bucket starts up, it's a smoker, and might I dare say that the Shakedown (clockin in at well over 15 minutes) is probably one of the best EVER (notice I said ONE of the best, not THE best) performed. There, I said it. Give it a listen and tear me apart, if you so dare, but I have a feeling by about 8 minutes into Shakedown, your jaw will slowly start a'droppin'. dmilks -- February 25, 2005Soldier Field

Reviewer: Kilgore Trout - favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 10, 2004

Subject: Was there, yes indeed So I saw my 1st Dead show about 13 years earlier, was just about to get married (2nd time), and went with a buddy to see this show and the Sandstone Ampitheater shows that followed.



If I remember the warm up was none other than Roger McGuinn, which was killer. Warm up? Not too often. The real treat was the Dark Star teaser and the great Shakedown jam - pretty hard to pickout highlights as it was alot fun for me to be there. Overall, i really liekd this post-Brent show. I miss Brent to this day and his Hammond B3 and leslie - he had the sound.



Only gripe I have, and I give someone else out there in Deadland the credit for this statement, is Vince's $25 casio keyboard voicings. Yuck! I thought Bruce Hornsby was an amazing addition to the Dead, but Vince's skills were lost in his crappy choice of voicings.



BTW - I just saw Bruce (on a total whim) in Vegas and the show was beautiful. The guy is a true musician and deserves a great deal of credit on his own merits. - December 10, 2004Was there, yes indeed

Reviewer: borndead - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 27, 2004

Subject: Fireworks Nobody had any idea that after the show that the stadium would set of fireworks all over the outer rim of the place,what a sight to see.This was the first time at the Field.You could see the Sears tower inside behind the band,I kept telling this guy next to me that it was the Empire State building,Tour could mess up a perfectly good mind.I knew it was the Sears tower but all that would come out of my mouth was Empire,Empire.....BUCKETDOWNDOODLEDEVIL.....



Roger mCguinn opened - November 27, 2004Fireworks

Reviewer: Hippy Marty - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 2, 2004

Subject: Crisp Recording! What a great recording of the show, and terrapin is fantastic! - November 2, 2004Crisp Recording!

Reviewer: seth530 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 24, 2004

Subject: One for the ages This is one of my favorite Dead shows ever. A great example of how Hornsby pushed and prodded Garcia to really play outside himself. Bruce teases Dark Star a number of times through the pre-Drums portion of the second set. You can hear him trying to steer the band into it, but at every break Jerry kicks off a diffreent song - that great creative tension the Dead thrived on, the give-and-take, can-you-top-this kinda stuff. Then after Space, Jerry leads off into Dark Star, finally - you can almost hear the huge s**t-eating grin on his face! - May 24, 2004One for the ages