This is the saddest review of a Grateful Dead live performance I have ever had to write. Thank god I wasn't in South Yarmouth that night to witness it in person.Loving Hunter Seamon's work, I naturally gravitate to his uploads. And tonight I was hoping for a rousing Half-Step > Franklin's beginning to this interesting looking show. Knowing Jerry's singing wasn't all that great in 1979, I prepared myself for a modicum of whensing in JG Cringe-O-Meter bouncing waiting to get to the Rio Grand-io River deep into the song. Things went pretty much as expected with the beautiful transition into Franklin's I always enjoy immensely. But 13:50 into Franklin's, Jerry completely loses his voice and his ability to carry any kind of tune and it is so painful for me to hear him straining to finish the song, I had to abort the stream to go to The Music Never Stopped for some inspiration. Jerry's vocal chords are shreaded and trashed after the show's second song and it is heartbreaking. And I am absolutely sick about it !!!After two songs, Jerry breaks down, crashes, and burns vocally in the most horrid display of overextended professionalism - or maybe in this case, unprofessionalism - I have ever experienced in my music-listening life. It is a travesty to have to hear him experience this in public on stage. I couldn't even attempt to listen to the rest of his songs knowing they were going to be complete disasters. Jerry constantly brightens my days with Peggy-O, High Time, They Love Each Other, Althea, Mississippi Half-Step, Franklin's Tower, etc. It's a damn shame this had to happen with such fantastic musicianship being totally overshadowed by his inability to perform vocally. Thankfully, Bobby's tunes were very well done and I immersed myself in those up-tempo tunes to drive away the blues about Jerry. The JG Cringe-O-Meter was off the scales tonight and the crystal is now cracked. The only reasons this show gets two stars is that Bobby's songs were very well played and the overall musicianship was inspired. Other than that... (see my Seamons' matrix ranting on the 27th for my other feelings about this).But five stars??? My frickin' ass five stars!!! What the hell are you listening to and what the hell are you thinking of, ms42466 ??? The corporation had to be feed again tonight and unfortunately, Jerry was the main course being chewed up, sucked dry, and spit out. And yes, I'm also mad at Jer for not taking better care of himself. And the band played on...

favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite

Reviewer:klaussmith - - January 11, 2013

Subject: Little Band Box

This is really a great show, often overshadowed by the A++ night before, the second of two shows in the little band box, (it is not a coliseum) rocks from start to end. One of many touring regrets was not going to the second night, I had been on the East Coast Fall Mini tour, 6 –shows in September and then the first three of the October tour, but after the first night I had to drive my girlfriend back to Vermont as she had to work Monday AM, tried to convince her that we could still go to the Sunday Cape Cod show, (we had tickets) and drive all night to make to work, but no and her argument that I was going to Nassau in a couple more days was hard to overcome. What a show I missed, and now there is a fairly new 2010 Hunter Seamon’s Matrix. The SBD that is here is what I have, mislabeled songs and all and it switches to the AUD source at the end of Ship, ( The tuning before Playing) so I will now listen to the Matrix source. TheProdigalSon you are correct, the 2 October shows are the only time the Grateful Dead played in the Cape Cod Coliseum. The JGB / Bobby and the Midnights tour, in June of 1982;



1982-06-16 Music Mountain, South Fallsburg, NY

1982-06-17 Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT

1982-06-18 Cape Cod Coliseum, South Yarmouth, MA

1982-06-20 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME



With Jerry and Bobby alternating who opened, if Bobby opened he would stick around for the JGB encore. The Cape Cod show had Jerry opening and I believe we left before the Bobby set to head back to Vermont. Back to the 1979-10-28 Cape Cod, Purple Gel description is right-on, top notch 1st versions as well as a great second set. These two nights in Cape Cod will someday be “Officially” released.





Reviewer:TheProdigalSon - - October 28, 2009

Subject: These were only Dead shows in Cape Cod Coliseum

Bob Weir warmed up for JGB later but pretty sure these were the only two night for Dead in sleepy Cape Cod.



Good quality hear and last nights as well.



Reviewer:Purple Gel - - February 3, 2009

Subject: Powerful. Dead!! WOW!! As good as the night before!!

After a show for the ages the night before, we wouldn't have been too surprised if the boys came out sluggish for this show, but the energy just spilled right over into this night. The Half Step is, IMHO, the best I have ever heard 14 minutes of ecstasy with Phil Stepping up to the task and pushing the jam. After being treated to an epic 21 minute Franklin's the night before, we got another powerful 18 minute Franklin's at the beginning of this one, over 30 minutes in the opening Jam alone.....Awesome!! Often it was dissapointing to see the same song 2 shows in a row, but both these versions were so awesome, there were no complaints. The rest of set 1 was stupendous as well, Althea was very sweet, the Passenger is one of the rawest and best ever and the Music Never Stopped, doesn't seem to ever stop the jam just keeps on going and going and......, and it is a show stopper, top 5 in my book, if not the best ever.



The second set does not let up either. This is as good as the 2nd set from the night before, with Phil bombing the arena with great power, and Brent coming into his own as a force to be reckoned with. Jerry, of course was in top form as well with some of the most memorable jams of the Brent era. The China Cat>Rider is top notch, the Playin In The Band is just what you expect from a Grateful dead anthem, long, and full of sweet jams, riffs and interplay. After drums just keeps going as well with a very nice, slow Stella topped off by a rocking Sugar Mag!!!This is one of those rare shows that shines from the very first note to the last with no let up in between. Good ol' Dead at their best!!! For me this was the best two show run I ever saw, every minute was ecstatic!!

The sound is almost flawless and the Jamming is A++.....Get these shows!!!



Reviewer:jakester76 - - September 2, 2008

Subject: Archive Rocks!!

I'm really diggin on this China-Rider, and the Althea sounds beautiful.



Reviewer:S Gamache..N.H. : ) - - December 9, 2006

Subject: Smokin Show!!!!

Jerry rips, Phils boomin The whole band was reelin and rockin. The small arena was pretty cool. This show, was off the hook! Try it..you will like it.



Reviewer:SomeDarkHollow - - December 7, 2006

Subject: I Second That

Just like Mr. Hender says "don't get much better than this." Yes, there are shows with superior "moments", but taken from beginning to end, this show just does not let up. Many folks focus on the previous night's explosion (you'd be hard pressed to find a better pre-Drums line-up anywhere), but this show should be viewed on its own. The Franklin's (maybe they had so much fun playing it the night before that they wanted to keep going)is gorgeous and the China trasition into Rider is a work of art. If you gave the first night 5 stars, you have to go with 5 again for this show, although for possibly different reasons.



Reviewer:jhender501 - - October 27, 2006

Subject: I'm not sure

..they get much better than this one. Of course we know they're out there, but this has to be on the list of the "best of the best" Beginning to end..not a throw away to be had.





Jim



Reviewer:lchange43 - - October 11, 2006

Subject: the best show i ever saw

thios show was 10 hotttttt i mean that litterly the place was freakin hockey rink we all packed in like sardeens i dont remember any dancing room in the front it was a hot box i remember sweat poruing off us after we rocked up front for the 1 set then they came back out after a short break it was like 10 min or something like that and rocked that place to ground people were climbing the eye beems and hanging out over head till some crazy kid fell into the audience and landed on a bunch of people "securety securety" it was great both nights



Reviewer:GoNorth - - December 15, 2005

Subject: Can't win for tryin'......

If anyone is looking for a definitive Stella Blue, this may be the one. Please give it a listen, and make sure you tweak your speakers using your EQ to get optimal sound. You will thank me for the reminder...



This Stella is truly beautiful.



Reviewer:Larry Bird - - November 13, 2005

Subject: Wicked Pissa!!!!!!!

What a weekend. Usually a weekend at the Cape is dangerous enough, throw in a couple of shows and its damn near lethal. Quoting and ad-libbing lines from Jaws added to the fun. The best was "I think we need a bigger dose" Thanks for evrything Archive



Reviewer:Cliffski - - April 3, 2005

Subject: First side's sound quality..

..is very good, with a fine Mexicali Blues (maybe one of the best?); I just keep playing this one over & over.



Reviewer:woodhead - - March 2, 2005

Subject: jerry-brent

Good show, you can really hear Jerry and Brent interacting in the 1st set. I agree, Passenger>Ramble on Rose>Music Never Stopped really shine, they are the prize in ths show. The transition to AUD source in the 2nd set was a little dissapointing, but it lets you feel the party energy.



Reviewer:sheikyerbouti - - October 8, 2004

Subject: great show

fraternity brothers went to this show before I arrived at school and raved abt this fav parts are the passenger>ramble>music is great and the china rider and playing from the second set are rockin... I always thought the '79's were some of the weakest shows and man is this a surprise

- January 11, 2013tasty matrix