Cold Rain & Snow, Picasso Moon, Good Time Blues, Stagger Lee, Cassidy, Truckin'-> Smokestack Lightning Victim Or The Crime-> Foolish Heart-> Women Are Smarter-> Terrapin Station, Drums-> Jam-> All Along The Watchtower-> Standing On the Moon-> Around & Around-> Good Lovin', E: The Weight

sbd>dat>cd>shn; via Ed O'Connor

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Reviewer: grateful phishmon - favorite favorite favorite - September 7, 2020

Subject: A few things 1. Everyone says the venue sucked, but I had a good time there (except for getting sick off a veggie burrito in the lot, but that's not the venue's fault) and probably wouldn't have made it to Alpine. So I got 3 shows I wouldn't have otherwise.



2. The show has its moments (Cassidy, Truckin>Smokestack, Watchtower, Foolish) but overall is not that good. Jerry tries to get the band going on Victim, but keeps starting his runs on the wrong note, throwing the others into confusion (Bob simply drops out at points). Admittedly, soloing over the chromatic passages in that song is not easy, but check out 7/12/90 for example of how it's done. Then Jerry has to repeat his solo in Terrapin because he screws up the finish. A torrid Watchtower comes out of space but is followed by Yawning on the Lawn. That song was perhaps the only one that improved in 1995 as Jerry reliably played with intensity, but here, it's just a drag, a slow 3-chord song that takes forever to get to a so-so solo. The rest is just standard.

Either of the previous two nights was much better. Especially 7/21.



3. I don't think anyone, except maybe Brent himself, if it really was a suicide and not an accidental OD, had any idea what was about to happen. - September 7, 2020A few things

Reviewer: mike-etree archive - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 3, 2018

Subject: Thank you Dead Love Brent.

Miss Brent.

Sometimes it's better to burn out than fade away. - August 3, 2018Thank you Dead

Reviewer: Bucketed1Sevices - favorite favorite favorite - July 22, 2017

Subject: Brent & Healy Did Anyone Else See Brent Come Straight Through The Crowd At The Break With A Very Young,Very Whacked Out Young Lady.Hopping Up On The Soundboard And Getting Into A Heated Discussion With Healy (Who Appeared Equally Whacked). Don't Know If It Was Mix Issues Or Needing A Bump But Healy Acted Like He Didn't Know Him.When Brent & Fiend (Friend) Left, Healy Was Looking Around Nervously. Knowing What We Know Now. It's All I Ever Think About When I Hear This Show.Morale Of The Story. Powders And Pills Are Bad.Right Mr. Mackey. Bless 'em Both And Jerry To. For Always Grateful - July 22, 2017Brent & Healy

Reviewer: Roach9433 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 20, 2017

Subject: Wish was there.. happy 4/20 Wow.. with a setlist like that you knew something was going to happen post concert! Cant wait to see brent and jerry when i get to heaven! - April 20, 2017Wish was there.. happy 4/20

Reviewer: kilt - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 4, 2017

Subject: The Highest Man in Town I still remember that night. Thinking that Brent was the highest man in the house. It was a crazy dry summer for weed and most everything. Mostly drunkards that night. But not Brent. Brent was in the sky. I still remember seeing close ups on the big screens and thinking, man oh man, is Brent just the highest man in town? Best thing is, he played a great show. Who knew? - February 4, 2017The Highest Man in Town

Reviewer: miok23 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 17, 2012

Subject: oh stop it... brent was great. they all were/are. the idea that they somehow knew this was going to be brents last show, like the guy below says is silly. drug addicts and alcoholics die before their time. thats sad but thats all there is to it. .... the guy who said they shipped him home in the speaker case grateful dead style? thats the funniest thing ive ever heard. lighten guys, he had to be kidding. and john belushi and gilda radner on SNL taught us years ago that EVERYTHING is funny....watchtower just came on..gotta go....peace - December 17, 2012oh stop it...

Reviewer: JamsOnly - favorite favorite favorite - November 10, 2012

Subject: 7/23/90 Highlights: Nobody's Fault But Mine Jam, Victim Or The Crime, Foolish Heart, The Weight - November 10, 20127/23/90

Reviewer: Longshank13 - favorite favorite favorite - November 5, 2012

Subject: Thank You Brent! Could not agree more with etrain below. In the late 70's Jerry, and (if you read Phil's book,) Phil too was about ready to fall down the hole that swallowed Keith. Brent came along and gave Jerry another 10 years. Sure Jerry was never the same as he was before his near-death experience in 1986, but then a half dead Garcia is still better than 99 other guitar players out there. Brent turned on his love light, some one should have made sure he was getting some love in return, instead of this constant refrain of “ His music is too much like radio pop.”

Oh the show? Well not the best by any means but I am still glad that I can listen to it and remember the summer of 1990, cause I sure as hell could be in that hole with the rest of them that burned up the night. - November 5, 2012Thank You Brent!

Reviewer: Kiddumph - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 4, 2012

Subject: Miss him! No matter how high I got, he always kept my feet planted in this realm. I miss him as much today as I did 22 years ago. - September 4, 2012Miss him!

Reviewer: ehfan4life - - July 23, 2011

Subject: 21 years ago today (~);} miss ya brent R.I.P. - July 23, 201121 years ago today (~);}

Reviewer: Leee14 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - April 27, 2010

Subject: Thank you WanderingMonk It's so nice to hear that other Deadheads loved Brent as much as I did. No wonder he never felt truly at home within the band, I wonder how much "hate mail" he got from Deadheads basically telling him that he sucked and didn't fit in. The poor guy already had self-esteem issues and the constant criticism from the "the dead sucked after 1980" crowd must have really done a number on him.



Even Jerry admitted that he was the best singer in the band, while he and Bob "just croaked along".



I still don't understand how people could say his musical style didn't fit in with the band's style.

WTF? The band played everything from Country and Western tunes all the way to quasi-disco, with blues, jazz, rock (both hard and soft) in between.

Brent wrote from his heart, what more could we have asked from him. I'll stop short of saying that the negative vibes from fans killed him because I know he had personal problems as well, but only if he could have felt at home SOMEWHERE!



Thanks WanderingMonk for telling it like it is. - April 27, 2010Thank you WanderingMonk

Reviewer: UnclePete - favorite favorite favorite - November 8, 2009

Subject: Whoa! Is it way too smoky in here, or is it just me? - November 8, 2009Whoa!

Reviewer: WanderingMunk - favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 6, 2009

Subject: Brent's last tour First, to the reviewer 'paintforbrains' or whatever way down below, Brent was most certainly NOT dead right after the show and "Shipped Home With the Speakers." What an ass. I have photos of Brent boarding a helicopter both arriving and leaving that show - by himself - as he did on most if not all of the shows on that tour. That was a sad and brutal tourfor many reasons - those of us who followed what was going on with the band members were aware that Brent was going through some really rough times with his wife and child, and that he'd benn inpatient in a clinic for depression until time came to leave for the tour - he was not one to let us down. The songs that he broke out for that tour, a number of which he hadn't played in quite a while, made it pretty plain where his head was at, and those of us that truly loved him so for giving every last bit of himself - holding NOTHING back - seemed to be getting the message. I and at least 25 people who had done the entire tour gave away our tickets that night. I didn't know why at the time. I traveled basically non-stop from Chicago to my personal place of healing - a private island in a bay on the North Shore of Lake Huron, so it was almost a week before I found out he'd gone (which was his right in my opinion,) and suddenly it made sense. We gave away those tickets because we did not want to be a part of Brent's last show - maybe we knew somehow - and we just could not bear to say goodbye. not that way, in that huge concrete monstrosity. Most of us had seen him hundreds of times, and we wanted to remember the Man at the height of his, um, 'thing'. I think Brent's oft-played version of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" was such a strong statement by Brent to show where he was at, and the band's adding a "Hey Jude" refrain to it was their way of sending him strength, love and power the best way they knew how - thru music.



The other reason that was a brutal tour was the one city - one travel day - one city format that went from Kenucky, to Pittsburgh, to Raleigh N.C., to D.C., to Freakin' Foxboro, to um someplace in New York state - ONE SHOW PER TOWN - I mean a LOT of folks ended up wrecking thier cars just trying to keep up, and they were not all like those fools in the Saab Turbo who'd made a fortune selling baloons in Foxboro, only to end up upside down next to the road late that night with the nitrous tank in the car with an oxygen mask attached...



I guess what I'm trying to say is that, in my opinion, Brent was one of the top and most innovative Keyboard players and singers of his - or any - generation, Like Jerry, I continue to love his playing and singing, I view it as an unfathomably gracious, beautiful, and wisdom-filled gift - and I always will. I feel blessed to have had him sheare so much of himself with me. If Brent did anything wrong in his professional life it was that he gave us all of himself - so much that there was just nothing left to live on. Sure, he had flaws - but let he/she among us who has none cast the first stone, eh?



Thought I heard a young man moan this morning...





Oh that was me. my knees are old. - November 6, 2009Brent's last tour

Reviewer: head o dead - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 22, 2009

Subject: 2 tease or not 2tease? Rueben tease? sounds like Built to last to me...Brent, gone to soon. Bruce and Vince combined couldnt fill his shoes. Anybody feel like climbing a fence? Over the top, who needs a ticket! Not sure if any1 remembers jumpin over the fence b4 the cops brought the dogs out. Any1 who delt with the set up of the place deserves a free show! - October 22, 20092 tease or not 2tease?

Reviewer: FrankFoster - - October 21, 2009

Subject: Surreal announcement Hearing the news 3 days after this show was bizzarre. What a loss. The heavy junk years may have taken a toll on his legacy with some, but the 80s overall were great, 79 was the peak that no one ever told us about, and 89 and 90 were just fantastic. Its too bad because I think the boys were really putting everything together after the successes of the spring and summer tours.



This setlist looks good - Truckin/SS end the 1st set - cool. FrankFoster -- October 21, 2009Surreal announcement

Reviewer: Seamones - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 10, 2009

Subject: 5 Jerry songs that is kinda weird and extremely rare. I think Jerry was not happy this show.



I'm watching the video of this show, and there is none of the trade mark beaming over at Brent.



Brent was the MAN. Only saw him for 5 of my 50 shows, but he was my man on the keys.



But yes, Jerry strums the first few chords of Ruben and Cherise before Stagger Lee. - July 10, 20095 Jerry songs

Reviewer: etrain - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 19, 2008

Subject: Brent went out on top Brent saved the band during a time when Jerry was at his unhealthiest and from day to day no one knew if Garcia would make it to the next show. During the 80's rumours would circulate that JERRY was dead and for days on end the band members themselves didnt even know if it was true or not. Brent carried the band during their last days. The 5 years that followed his passing were simply a brief "wind down" that ended with Garcias passing as u all know. But they would not have made it to 1995, or probably to 1985, without Brent. Even Bobby admitted when interviewd about BRENTS FOUR SONGS on Built to Last, the final Dead album, "Brents songs were ready to go and we didnt care it took up half the record, we were happy to have them." Brent did all he could to save the dead. he carried them for a third of their run and his spirit carried them beyond.



also lots of props for harmonizing all of Jerry and Bobbys songs of course (eyes, playin...) but how bout the "duet" w Lesh on Gimmie some lovin??? - November 19, 2008Brent went out on top

Reviewer: Grib - favorite favorite - November 16, 2008

Subject: Worst Venue Ever I saw 50 shows and this was one of my bottom five purely because of the venue. Terribly organized traffic routes made for absolute chaos; my friend and I actually ditched our tix for the second show (unthinkable for me before the sheer frustration of trying to get to that show) and listened from the parking lot. The last night we left several hours early so we could get in. The creepy venue and the band's obvious internal dissension made for a really terrible vibe. Once inside, we all made the best of it, and the show had a few highlights, most notably a sweet "Weight" to close it out. Brent's death days after the show completed the terrible trip that was the Grateful Dead at Tinley Park. - November 16, 2008Worst Venue Ever

Reviewer: taemacho - - September 3, 2008

Subject: mono Check out the other two versions of this show here. They're in stereo. This one isn't. I wish someone could get a stereo post of this show up on the peer to peer site. You know the one. What happened to it? There used to be so many shows shared. They used to have this show up there but it was this mono version. Almost everyone downloaded the mono one. I found the stereo version here after checking back for it for many months but it was too late to download it. Anyway, this is a great show. This tour was very nice. Brent lives on through his music. They all do. Thanks to everyone at the archive. At least we can listen to it here. - September 3, 2008mono

Reviewer: cosmicloyed - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 17, 2008

Subject: They took a group photo before the show I was hiding from the FEDS in Chi-town and my buddy had to leave town, so I took the tickets and headed to mud land. Healey had blocked row w or something for tapers who didn't care about having a special section, so I went early both days ( remaining shows ) The band was posing for a group photo way before showtime everything looked ok Take a load off me. Never liked Hornsby as a dead member like a scab breaking a union line. I was dissappointed with the band filling his place so fast. It never was the same again - May 17, 2008They took a group photo before the show

Reviewer: Drumheadz - favorite favorite favorite - March 20, 2008

Subject: Brent's last show I was at Tinley Park for all three shows. The venue was awful. We were used to a beautiful place like Alpine but the boys were banned at that point. A friend of mine was backstage this night and she told me all about it. This is all heresay from 18 years ago. But this is what she told me. Jerry was pissed at Brent and was heard telling him that he would never play with the Dead again. They were not in good spirits on this night. With the recent Dark Star outings I think they were planning on breaking it out. They hadn't played it in Chicago yet. But with the band members not in tune it wasn't meant to happen. Then 2 days later we heard the news.

I loved Brent's energy. He definitely had the chops. It's just too bad that the dragon ruled! - March 20, 2008Brent's last show

Reviewer: jlav - favorite favorite favorite favorite - August 13, 2007

Subject: brent this was a crazy show, i miracled a ticket. it was a okay show. glad to hear weight but this was mine and brents last show. i did the east coast summer tour and was supose to hitch a ride with a friend, he blew me off i had call home to front me money to get home. i hitch to the airport bye a guy that was tripping his ass off,we were hitting both sides of the gard rail. i prayed that i get to the airport. when i got home and heard that brent had died i thought about that great alpine show were he changed teripin and saga when i was at a warfrat meeting and meet his wife. i wish he had found recovery like so many waftrats. to me this will be a special show and my last ever - August 13, 2007brent

Reviewer: AlpineHead - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 30, 2007

Subject: Irony ?, or Fate ? It was like it was bound to go from bad to worse here... Traffic, the worst facility ever built, Sound bouncing off 10ft diameter pilars... Yes!, it was a Dead Show.. And yes, that's the only thing that truly mattered... But this being what was My 75th show it was without question the worst sounding of them all... It just had a negative aura about the whole thing.. Like something worse was inevitable... And it was... Irony is that the last song Brent ever sang in public has lyrics that reflect a story about suicide... Was it suicide, or a mistake ?... We really don't need to flip that coin... But we do know that it was never to be as good as it was... In this DeadHeads mind ?,,, BRENT was the Keyboardist... A Hammond B3 has never been pushed around with so much passionate soul... I will give this show 5 stars for only one reason... To honor My Keyboard Player... His sound will always linger... Thank you Brent ! - May 30, 2007Irony ?, or Fate ?

Reviewer: Chris Freedom - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 24, 2007

Subject: I need some good times I headed off to a Rainbow gathering after these shows and shared the loss of Brent with a bunch of Deadheads many of whom headed off to California upon hearing the news.



I really felt Brent went out on fire, He had drug problems -yes, but if you listen to his playing and also take note of how much he had become the third man in the rotation. This guy had learned a lot from his time under Garcia wing.



One memory of these shows was looking up at the big screne during the truckin>smokestack and being blown away at Brent's buldging eyes.



Brent won me over. RIP-BROTHER! - March 24, 2007I need some good times

Reviewer: deadhead1991 - favorite favorite favorite - July 16, 2006

Subject: And smile I did Brent was by far the best keyboardist the Dead had period. It saddens me to see all this talent go to waste at such a young age. Yes, it was wierd that his last words were "I gotta go, but my friend can stick around". I'm suprised nobody else mentioned this, but the date of this concert was the tenth aniversary of Keith Godchaux's death.

We miss you Brent, may the four winds blow you safely home.



As for the show, it wasn't terrific, but it wasn't bad. The spring and summer tour of 1990 were, in my opinion, the strongest tours since 1977, despite Brent's vocal and musical decline during the summer tour. - July 16, 2006And smile I did

Reviewer: achiappanza - favorite favorite favorite favorite - July 7, 2006

Subject: Brent tribute Fellow Brent-lovers,

Just wanted to share a story that might make you smile. I was living in Concord in the late 80's and I used to go down to Devil Mountain Brewery, a place with live blues bands. One night I saw Brent there alone, leaning against a post. You think after seeing him for hundreds of hours I would have no doubt it was him, but even though I recognized him immediately, he had that "everyman" quality (the opposite of star power) that made me think, "Maybe it's just some guy that looks like Brent."

I caught up to him and said he was a dead ringer for Brent Mydland and we had a laugh. We chatted for a while, and he was always kind of looking around nervously. But I got to tell him that it seemed like he took a lot of flak from Deadheads, yet everyone I actually knew thought he was terrific. That's when he looked me in the eye and said, "Thanks very much man, I really appreciate that."

Brent was my favorite GD keyboardist by far and he got his due on occasion. Know that. - July 7, 2006Brent tribute

Reviewer: chuck m - favorite favorite favorite - June 3, 2006

Subject: old loser That's what old paint should call himself. How pathetic this piece of trash is to spread rumors like that. GET A FREAKING LIFE ASSHOLE. Brent was the best keyboard player the Dead ever had hands down. He deserves better memories than the rumors of some loser w/ nothing better to do. Would have been nice if his last show was a little better, but the last shows of the tours were usually not the best played. Rigors of the road I guess. Have to agree w/ the others on the irony of Brent's last lyrics. RIP Brent. Always in this head's heart. - June 3, 2006old loser

Reviewer: flashbackmagic - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 8, 2006

Subject: to Old Paint To say Brent Died Immediately following this performance...you are either just plain clueless, or someone who loves to tell tales like they were really there. just like EVERYONE was 2nd row center at such and such show.



Brent Mydland died in Lafayette CA, not even remotely close to World Music Theater. He died a day before, and the night of Stevie Ray Vaughan's last performance at Alpine Valley. Another hero taken too early, by a fatal helicopter crash.



Brent will be greately missed always, nice ending run of the Brent Era, D.Creek>World. My corner of the world. And yes, World Theater, now known as the Tweeter Center, has, and always will suck in terms of sound. - May 8, 2006to Old Paint

Reviewer: marcsmall - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 2, 2006

Subject: Lisa Mydland I blame her for a good amount of what Brent was dealing with...............Devil with a blue dress.......Listen, all you stupid fu**ing bitches who think it's funny to play with a man's mind and heart, This is what can happen - February 2, 2006Lisa Mydland

Reviewer: GDTrey - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - November 16, 2005

Subject: We miss you Brent!! I often feel Brent did not get the credit he deserved in the 10 1/2 years he was in the Dead. Brent was awesome and I bet half of the deadheads did not realize this until Vince arrived. Sure he sang alot of songs about love, women and relationships, but he still kicked ass. Listen to the Blow Away from 4/15/89 or 3/26/90 and you'll know what I mean. The Far From Me from 7/12/89 is pretty intense as well. The 80's are one of my favorite decades of the Dead because of Brent!!

In terms of the show, it was a great way to end the summer tour. I love the Nobody's Fault tease in the middle of Truckin and Smokestack. The Foolish Heart is one of my favorites, along with the overplayed Women are Smarter. Nice way to end Summer tour '90. Weird how Brent's last words with the band (during The Weight) were "I've got to go, but my friends can stick around." - November 16, 2005We miss you Brent!!

Reviewer: Dead_Phish24 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 12, 2005

Subject: A great end of so much Not only was this Brents last show, It was the last of what I knew the Dead as. This was My Uncles last show too, Who turned me to the dead at the young age of 13 back in 1983. He is now up their with Brent, Jerry, Pig....Tinley Park did not do much for me..especially after all those good times at Alpine Valley...The shows were Hot..very sweet good show here. Great summer tour, great spring tour.....The last show I knew the dead as...it was a great ending, RIP Brent.........Peace..john - October 12, 2005A great end of so much

Reviewer: drgnw/mtchs - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2005

Subject: Brent was soooo under rated, and unappreciated. - September 8, 2005Brent was soooo under rated, and unappreciated.

Reviewer: deadtothecore - favorite favorite favorite - July 23, 2005

Subject: Ribcage_Jailcell Get the Buffalo. Its the gem of the summer bar none. Maybe Deer Creek.



Terrible venue. Nice song lists.



They had a groove going, that cannot be refuted.



P.S. Brent, thanks for 3/16/90 and many others. - July 23, 2005Ribcage_Jailcell

Reviewer: cdw - favorite favorite favorite - July 10, 2005

Subject: dumb shit the post about brent bieng put in a speaker case and shipped back to s.f . in an equipment truck!?! listen bro are you outside of your fuckin mind get a grip you fool. i wish i had the chance to see more brent shows beautiful music the boys made during his tenure - July 10, 2005dumb shit

Reviewer: woogie - favorite favorite favorite - June 21, 2005

Subject: missin' Brent... Great tour ends with more great Brent. Brent really, really came to life on this tour. How ironic.

That bullsh*t listed below in regards to his death is ridiculous. Brent died days AFTER the tour in his home in California...not on the road in Chicago. Don't listen to that a-hole...just listen to these great tunes and remember...

Too bad this show isn't better for Brent's last, but go back and get the Rich Stadium. - June 21, 2005missin' Brent...

Reviewer: bigboypeete - favorite favorite favorite - June 16, 2005

Subject: brent where hath thou gone classic voice classic organ sound, i go see these ratdog and phil shows nowadays cuss i was born to late and im never satisfied having heard brent jerry and pigpen and knowning ill never hear that live,they were the soul of this band and without them i never feel like my 40 buck ticket has been justified,i dont usually write reivews that have jack shit to do with the show but so many people do to the point where ive been influenced by there ways sound sucks all u basterds should be grateful u were around at the time to see them - June 16, 2005brent where hath thou gone

Reviewer: MindBender65 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 25, 2005

Subject: Ruben and cherise tease? Yup I hear it at the 9.30 mark. Very soft and brief, but it is there. Too sad Brent couldn't have stuck around longer, but it was his time to go. He will always be remembered. Right Mr. Fantasy? - May 25, 2005Ruben and cherise tease?

Reviewer: ajmasko - favorite favorite favorite - April 23, 2005

Subject: reuben and cerise tease? "Reubin and Cherise tease after Never Trust....

Hear it?"



Nope...but I do hear a Built to Last tease... - April 23, 2005reuben and cerise tease?

Reviewer: Shambles - favorite favorite - April 5, 2005

Subject: Don't spread b.s. It's not nice to lie, or spread Bullsh*t rumours. Grow up! As far as far as Brents last show goes, it was so so. Too bad he couldn't have wound it up with a stronger show. - April 5, 2005Don't spread b.s.

Reviewer: old paint - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 26, 2005

Subject: brents death I watched the folks load brents body like it was a fucking speaker.BASTARDS!!!!! Brent overdosed shortly or immeditedly following this performance. if anyone remembers seeing the look on his face on the big screen or watching him grind his fucking teeth, he collapsed backstage and his dead body was shipped back to Marin County with the fucking speakers..............GRATEFUL DEAD STYLE.

New Speedball Boogie. It was a death in the family pre notioned Jerry NEXT - March 26, 2005brents death

Reviewer: wisdead - favorite favorite favorite - March 9, 2005

Subject: well worth the download good sound quality. the first 2 minutes of cold rain sound like shit, then clears up. you can fit it on 2 discs if you break it betweet women smarter and terrapin. good sound, decent show. - March 9, 2005well worth the download

Reviewer: gemsing777 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 16, 2005

Subject: Reubin and Cherise tease after Never Trust.... Hear it? That review below me by Reef 1214 about the Weight lyrics gave me chills reading it for 5 minutes...You can tell by the end of this HOT summer 1990 tour the boys were sounding a bit burnt...Which I just realized, reaarange the letters and substitute an "e" for the "u" and burnt spells brent... - February 16, 2005Reubin and Cherise tease after Never Trust....

Reviewer: DeadtotheHead - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 13, 2005

Subject: Brent Mydland Brent was the best. I can't say how much I appreciated his music in this one post alone but what I can say is that he contributed a whole lot to the dead and their career. His vocals and playing style was so unique. I loved listening to him sing and play, especially in "Blow Away". Brent put so much heart and soul into the music. You will be missed forever Brent. I hope wherever you are, you are happy and are playing your music once again. - February 13, 2005Brent Mydland

Reviewer: reef_1214 - favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 13, 2005

Subject: "I gotta go but my friend can stick around..." Ahh the magic of the Dead, this show is good, but not great. The only thing that could make it great is the sentimental value of course, its Brent's last show and if it weren't for Brent, the 80s Dead wouldn't of been the same, but he brought the energy up and he brought Jerry up as well. Brent's my favorite keyboardist without a doubt and Jerry LOVED him, he will always be missed, so long as there are deadheads to listen to the music. - February 13, 2005"I gotta go but my friend can stick around..."

Reviewer: Cigarsam - favorite favorite favorite - February 13, 2005

Subject: Tinley blows I have to agree with anothr reviewer, this venue TOTALLY sucked! On the way in we asked cops what was up with the traffic, they said the only show they had before this was Janet Jackson. lol Little did they know! And don't forget the flooded bathrooms. But since it was Brents last and ther was some good bobby, I give it a 3 - February 13, 2005Tinley blows

Reviewer: lazy_lightning - favorite favorite favorite - January 28, 2005

Subject: Brent's Last The slope of Tinley Park's lawn makes it difficult to see over everyone's heads. I'm convinced Jerry lost his voice during Stagger Lee. Hence the Cassidy, Truckin, Smokestack, Victim before the next Jerry tune.



The huge video screens (with legions of marching turtles during Terrapin) provided a bit of foreshadowing during the encore. Brent was looking squarely at Jerry as he sang his last solo words ever: "I gotta go, but my friend he can stick around"



Ratings may reflect the historical significance of the show. - January 28, 2005Brent's Last

Reviewer: dmilks - favorite favorite - January 14, 2005

Subject: In retrospect The Foolish Heart is pretty rippin'. dmilks -- January 14, 2005In retrospect

Reviewer: RedWingDeadHead - favorite favorite - January 4, 2005

Subject: Brent's Last Show This was sadly Brent's last show and it was not a great one. This venue sucked! I was nice to hear Good Times Blues one last time. It was the first one I heard since Alpine 1988. The board is clean, but this was not the best effort for the boys in 1990 - January 4, 2005Brent's Last Show

Reviewer: coltrane74 - favorite favorite favorite - December 28, 2004

Subject: my 1st, brent's last too! ok, fair show. i do have a video of this one and i have to say it "looks" better than it sounds. simply put watching the show made it seem less sucky than it sounds on tape (havent upgraded to these cds yet)



this was a competent show, the end of an era though. it has sentimental value for me as it was my 1st show.



the lawn was way too crowded. the traffic getting in sucked. i bought my ticket in a traffic standstill on I-80 (me in blue bug convertable).



this is where it all started to me - thanks for the music archive i can get all the shows i saw the boys play!



jamie - December 28, 2004my 1st, brent's last too!

Reviewer: born_crosseyed - favorite - December 13, 2004

Subject: Over-rated I can't believe the high ratings this show is getting. I was at this show and it wasn't very good. The reason wasn't the band, but the venue. Tinley Park sucked. There was a balcony built in to the amphitheatre building which acted like a sound baffle, causing the sound inside the building to bounce around all over the place. It sounded awful. The lawn sounded much better but was SO overcrowded that I could barely breathe, let alone move around.

The band, Jerry in particular, did not seem to be having a good time at this venue, particularly on this, the final night. Jerry looked miserable and to me it sounded like they all just wanted to get the show over with and go home.

The best evidence for this was the choice of Victim or the Crime to open the second set. I saw this entire tour and Bobby opened with this one one too many times. I think Jerry had no interest and so it was left to Bobby, and he didn't show much enthusiasm either. The Man Smart was competent but definitely the most uninspired version I have ever seen. It sounded like I was listening to the record. I'm not saying the Dead played poorly this night, just that the venue had finally got the best of them and their hearts just weren't in it. I would recommend either of the other two nights over this one. Better yet, get both the Deer Creeks shows, which were the high point of the tour for me. It's a shame that an otherwise brillian tour had to end this way, and that this was Brent's last show. It was no accident that the Dead never played Tinley again. - December 13, 2004Over-rated

Reviewer: Oregonglen - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 12, 2004

Subject: My first, Brents last Never did I expect the GD experience to be what it became for me. This show blew me away! Lost my friend in the lot, met many new ones that day. I recall hearing Brent better than anyone that night. It was my first, so I can't be critical at all, even though many others have been of this show. Beautiful crowd, beautiful show! Brents passing left me feeling something I never would have had I not been there. Sorry to see you go buddy. Would have loved to have had you there for the other 25 I made it to. - December 12, 2004My first, Brents last

Reviewer: Alpine7784 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 21, 2004

Subject: Boy, I miss Brent I couldn't make the first two shows of this run because of work, so I was happy to get up to Chicago to catch the last show of the tour.



This show gave me my best Grateful Dead memory. I had just broken up with my girlfriend at the time and had a bad attitude over it. My pals and I were 15th row center (the best seats I ever had at a Dead show). I really wanted to hear "Good Times Blues" (AKA "Never Trust A Woman") due to my mood. When Brent started the opening riff to the tune on the Hammond B-3, I was SO happy. I jumped up and screamed, "AW, YEAH!!!" and bounced around in sheer ecstacy. Brent looked right at me...I mean RIGHT AT ME. Nobody else in my area was making that much of a commotion, so I know it had to have been me. I screamed, "THANK YOU!," and he looked at me for a second or two, then bent his head back down and just played the song to death. I felt like he was playing it just for me. Little did we know just how much pain he was in.



The other thing I remember about this show was a guy in the row right behind us in a 3-piece suit. He just stood there the whole time. Didn't move, didn't smile, nothing. He wasn't bothering anybody, and nobody was bothered by him, but it was just...odd.



Two days later, Brent was dead of an overdose.



Get this show. It's tight, well-played, and is an historic evening.



Brent, you were the sh*t. I miss you.



Sean K. - October 21, 2004Boy, I miss Brent

Reviewer: Grateful - favorite favorite favorite favorite - October 9, 2004

Subject: Brent I'm glad throughout the archive to see a lot of love for Brent. His voice truly filled out Jerry's and Bobby's on choruses and his playing was always exceptional. After almost 70 shows in 6 years, this was it for me. I felt that 89-90 was as good as it was every going to get and left feeling elated at what I had seen and heard. This show isn't the greatest, but it is a solid performance and an important one - the end of an era. - October 9, 2004Brent

Reviewer: aikani - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2004

Subject: smoking show from stagger lee to smokestack lightening to end the first set, this show smoked. Smokestack left everyone dazed and smiling through the set break. The second set was just a jam and a gem. nothing but smiles after this show. Still have a large crystal I found laying on the ground right inside the fence. Carried it in my car for years and it always seemed like the good vibes that crystal picked up from this show helped keep my old beaters running - September 8, 2004smoking show