I mentioned this before -- between the '69 and '71 Chicago visits -- but listening to the band on 7/25/74 and then on 6/26/76, you have to say it again: what a difference two years make! In the years between, the dead added the following songs to their repertoire: help->slip!->frank (6/17/75), sage & spirit, music never stopped (8/13/75), the wheel, might as well, lazy lightning->supplication, and samson (6/3/76). Dancin’ in the streets was radically rearranged, as was they love each other and friend of the devil, now, in new, slowed-down format. (This "Grateful Dead Guide" does a fine job charting song debuts from 66-77, http://deadessays.blogspot.com/2009/09/dead-song-debuts.html.) I gotta say: I just love this sound. The first night of the run opens with a strong version of promised land, followed by a sweet sugaree. Like cvenez says, in a review on a different archive stream of the same show, "This year may be my favorite for Sugaree." Of course it has something to do with the sound. Cvenez, again, re: June 76: "tight yet free flowing, laid back yet engaging." The rest of the first set fits this vibe, but the real highlights are found in the second set.The pitb->st stephen->wheel->pitb sandwich is delicious. Check out Bobby cracking up from 1:10-2:10, donna wailing 1:51-1:57, then popping off at 2:46. Double dose of Jerry (Crazy Fingers->Stella Blue) followed by double dose of Bobby (Around and Around->One More Saturday Night) to close.

favorite favorite favorite

First Set



Ill start by saying I have always enjoyed shows from ’76 and this is no exception. The boys have a pretty lackluster start with Promised Land, and I noticed that the mix seemed a little off to me. I think adjustments were made during the tune and by the start of Sugaree everything seemed to be just exactly perfect….Speaking of just exactly perfect, two of the main highlights of the show are right here….A beautiful Sugaree and Cassidy. Back to back these are really well done, and once again Jerry shows us how great his voice really was in ’76. He nails them both and goes right into a very good Row Jimmy. I though jimmy was good, but not as good as Sugaree and Cassidy.



Mama Tried, Tennessee and LLR were OK, but really not to much out of the ordinary….Scarlet was well done and I have to say was a little impressed with Donna and the way she has held back thus far in the show. Her contributions are good and not so over the top yet….LL>Supplication I simply cannot stand. I have hated this combo since the first day I laid ears on it…Its just me and my distaste for Discorock Bobby…Eww…On to Peggy-o and a phenomenal one at that..This is exactly how this tune should sound…AAhh ’76, the year of the Jerry ballad…This Peggy-O is a thing of beauty, definitely one for the ages….TMNS, kinda dogshit…Real uninspired way to close an otherwise pretty damn good set…



SET 1 Highlights: Sugaree, Cassidy, Peggy-O



Second Set



Playin' In The Band-> Stephen>Wheel>Playin reprise

The beginning of this jam sounds almost like Jerry is playing it in a different key or something, and as soon as I noticed that I heard the Bobby flub and then they dropped in about the 3 min mark…So, needless to say I was a little put off at the beginning of this one, but the ensuing jam(s) turned this one around almost right away..You get about 12 minutes of the the first Playin which is jammed out very space-like, and at the ten minute mark it almost sounds like they are doing haunted house noises or some shit, but it melt very nicely into a very heavy, drippy version of Stephen…I don’t think I have ever heard the tune done this way, but it is a great compliment to the spaced out Playin that preceded it…The crowd was also all over this one….The second Jerry played the Stephen riff ever so slowly, the crowd went nuts…Jammed very well with a nice little transition into Wheel. Again, Donna is not too over the top, which added to my enjoyment. Reprise was alittle lackluster but overall this was a good one…Very trippy indeed..



Samson was Samson, and then came the real highlight of this show, the Crazy Fingers> Stella….Man, where to begin with this super smooth heaviness..Give and take between Jerry and Kieth, Jerry’s vocals and the super mellow pace make this little combo a dynamic duo to be reckoned with…Just packed with emotion and as heavy as they come…If you listen to nothing else from this show, listen to this combo…Its sure to please.



Also, I have to mention this funked out Round and Round…Slow and funky, and really different. I enjoyed it and usually this song does nothing for me. Sounded like they were having a great time with it, and they turn it up about ten notches with a minute or two to go, and speed right to the end. Interesting. A pretty average OMSN and US Blues rounded out a show with some real moments of brilliance surrounded by otherwise average playing.



SET 2 Highlights: Playin Jam; Crazy>Stella combo



All in all a very good show with some really high points…I give this one a B to B-, but it had so much more potential. Good show.

- November 30, 2012Crazy Fingers>Stella!