favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite

Well the accidental acoustic set in New Orleans bares fruit as Garcia plays pedal steel on the first three tracks.

This show opens with GREEN GRASS which is for lack of a better term a 'Ghost tune' meaning the song is written from the perspective of a person who has already died.

Probably the most famous ghost tune the Dead played was EL PASO because the guy in that song is telling the story after he has already died.

So it is with GREEN GRASS the singer is relating a story from when he was alive.

One could argue that the story of both El PASO and GREEN GRASS are from the perspective of someone dying but it seems to me when the tune gets sung it makes it a done deal by the time the song concludes.

Either way you slice it songs like this are loaded with irony when performed by a band called the GRATEFUL DEAD

If you want to hear the full uncut SAWMILL and SEASONS refer to the NEW ORLEANS show a week before. (Worth a listen for sure)

China > Rider- perhaps a bit speeded up

High Time-Wow! This tune should have been in the Jerry Ballad slot in the later years it is so freak-in mellow.

I was going to give this a 4 because of sound issues but really I wouldn't be caught DEAD without this so it is another 5 spot.

Big Boss Man

Me And My Uncle

Hard To Handle

Cold Rain And Snow ->

Uncle John's Band -> This a nice very laid back U.J.B. The vocals are incredible. Plus the pacing of the tune is just like a slow dance with just the slightest up-tempo.

I wonder if ROBERT HUNTER wrote ROW JIMMY watching folks dance to this song.

Also I think it is Phil and perhaps PIG singing that make the U.J.B vocals so distinct in 1970.

> Black Peter-I love this time period for it's very mellow tunes.

Good Lovin' ->

Drums ->

Good Lovin'

This show is not going to jam you to the outer limits but if you like BEAR'S CHOICE you should really dig on this show,

Perhaps the only big difference is this is not completely acoustic and PIGPEN is not playing any slow tunes here.

- February 7, 2015The old town still looks the same...