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Welcome back to Today in Grateful Dead History. Our selection from the Archive is a high-energy show from Richmond VA on 11-2-1985. Set I gets going with Bertha opener and she’s always one of our favorites for a show opener! Dupree’s makes an appearance and it’s a romp – you can hear Jerry smiling during the opening notes – and the crowd responds in kind. Additional highlights include a bop-along Althea with a killer outro solo and a driving Let It Grow.

Set II kicks off with an Iko and a hush as we hear the opening to Estimated – clearly, CA is calling. As Estimated comes to a close Uncle Jerry hits that familiar G chord and kicking off an intro that moves like countryside molasses as he spins the yarn of Uncle Johns Band. Brent’s vocals really help call it out here and the band is rolling along the countryside and right into a side excursion of China Doll and back to UJB jam, although never quite ending the song… Our post soul-searching song is a dramatic Morning Des complete with Phil bombs, not to be missed. We wrap with a Bobby Lovelight.

Enough of the narrative and let’s get to the music…

Enjoy TGDH: Grateful Dead Live at Richmond Coliseum on 11-2-1985