I'm in the middle of the 5-star enthusiasts and doug_the_dude's dissenting 3-star rating. I like this show better than the first. Any night that opens with FLAS -- followed by West LA -- is bound to be a heater. Solid versions to kick things off. Another short, albeit vibrant and sweet, first set. Bobby's tunes really bounce. See the BIODTL. Nice singing and playing on Roses. I feel like we got Jerry-robbed (ha) with the following (to be fair, high energy) Bobby duo of The Last Time and Picasso Moon. Set two rightfully gets most of this show's praise and attention. Stand-out Scarlet-Fire (from So Many Roads) to start, followed by the last Believe It or Not to be played, ever. Too bad. Truckin' jam gets loopy around 8 mins, in a good way. Phil and co. offer us a prelude to post d/s Other One. Psychedelic Brent blues around 10 mins. I actually like this drums jam into space. No surprise as they transition with a midi-infused Jerry from space into the Other One -- nearly four minutes before Phil's bass and Bobby's vocals break through. Not a great Hey Jude, much better a few nights later (4/1) when it's just the reprise. Love Jer on the Baby Blue encore. They wouldn't be back for another two years (then never again). Next stop, The Knick!

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Can't share the same 5-star excitement as *so* many do here on the archives, but that's OK, there are enough enthusiasts for this show so I'll be a slight voice of dissent, while still giving it a solid recommendation...



Set 1 is where the majority of the trouble lies, and this one is tricky territory. Skipping over the obviousness of Easy to Love You, let me say that it's all mostly played well enough, but just doesn't *go* anywhere - the boys, after a great first set, usually have *earned* that Don't Ease Me In as a set-break alert. But when you're going to go with Picasso Moon following the four or five tunes they've selected here to precede it, you'd better bring your A-game, and they simply didn't have this tune figured out at this stage. And I really like Picasso Moon! I know there are lots of heads here who simply can't deal with that song, but I "get" what Bobby was going for - just check the 9/18 MSG performance later this same year with Bruce and Vince - now THAT'S amazin'-blazin'-mystifyin'! This thing really plods along - listen to Mickey *try* and pump some life, hilariously, into the "jam" - it's done for and the band knows it. So they throw in the towel and setbreak. This is why context is always very important with the Dead - one listen to, say, West L.A. and you may think, "damn, this has got to be a smokin' set!" But they've had far more coherence on the Spring '90 tour than they exhibit here - just check set 1 of the following night @ the Knick!



Set 2 - ah yes, now here's why the 5-star accolades pour in, and I'll chime in on that *heavy*-midi doused Scarlet > Fire - Jerry takes us through so many different sound collages and solos it's really a piece to listen to many, many times and pick apart section by section, while at the same time seeing the 'forest'...it really is a beauty.



And Believe it or Not is another one of those puzzlingly maligned tunes that I think deserves a fair day in court - it's harmless at worst, and at best a lovely ballad - he really sings it with enthusiasm here. Anyways, it's as *least* as good as Ship of Fools!



The jam that follows Truckin' is absolutely bizarre - just listen to Phil laying down all kinds of mathematic-guru lines and the boys dancing all around it - this energy continues through the Other One, which does have a pretty awesome peak - that whole section of music, including D>S, is around a half-hour and is absolutely as valuable as the opening S>F...



...but Brent sure blows Hey Jude. There is some talk as to how much of a train wreck, if at all, it is, but I can't really give it even a good effort seal - it's clear they should have stuck to the refrain, or leave it alone completely - this song really was a tough one for them to play live with all verses in tact (check Pigpen & co's endearingly sloppy attempt at it on 3/1/69).



So a mixed bag, IMHO. The good is very, very good, you definitely don't want to miss the fireworks of the second set. But to rate this a full five in the midst of so many other overall cohesive sets from this tour is something I'll leave for those that champion the show irrespective of overall cohesion, blah blah blah. Cheers -

- March 21, 2013--