Samson & Delilah isn’t always a song that I seek out, but sometimes it finds me. I really like the versions of this song where Jerry comes in with a squealing guitar right from the get-go. I believe he started doing that around 1977 (?) and I’ve always liked that approach.

This song was an old Reverend Gary Davis tune that was arranged by Bobby and the Dead. It originally appeared on 6/3/76 and made its way on to the Terrapin Station LP in 1977.

The Terrapin Station Limited release was originally supposed to help fund some type of entity in the Bay Area to be titled Terrapin Station. I think it was either an amusement park, or some type of museum with a bandshell or area for concerts. I’m sure someone more familiar with the project can chime in on the comments and provide a bit more context. Regardless, the project never came to fruition.

Nevertheless, this particular show was chosen, if I recall correctly, because it contained the song Terrapin Station (it was also Phil’s 50th birthday, and I think he was a bit more involved in the releases for a few years there than the other band members). Samson & Delilah is the only other song from the original album played at this show. If you like the spring 1990 tour this is a solid show for that tour.

The throbbing drums we’ve come to expect start this one off, as well as some screeching guitar from Jerry. He’s mixed a bit low in the mix here so you don’t get the full gusto of the screech, but it connotes a sense of urgency that I like. Brent is playing B3 on this tune and if you’ve read any of my previous posts you know how I feel about B3. Brent’s backing vocals blend very nicely with Bob’s too. Jerry’s solo takes the melody out for a stroll around the block before deviating from the beaten path. Bobby and Brent pick up their playing and Jerry follows suit. These guys are clearly very active listeners on stage. The next solo section Phil is going up and down the bass, touching down in all registers. Jerry is still soloing and Weir whips out a slide. It’s not terrible, not great either, but not terrible. Let’s say just say I noticed the slide but wasn’t bothered by it. The final “I would tear this old building down” sounds like it’s going to be the end, but it seems like at the last moment the band decides to repeat the line. They do, and the song ends.

Complete Setlist 3/15/90