favorite favorite favorite favorite

I had originally checked out the Charlie Miller board for the 'Maybe You Know' and yes that is a seriously bad as in NOT good moment for Brent.

However if we are talking about the show as a whole I think the sound is the 1st thing to take into account.

I find the sound pretty darn good during songs.



So let's see a Grateful Dead show in 1986 with good Soundboard. For me that is a 3 right out of the gate.

The show itself:

1/2 Step>El Paso-Pretty sweet, Great opening tunes and a good Geography lesson to boot.

Row Jimmy-As previously mentioned by reviewers this is very nice.

Although a mellow tune so easy to flow with when dancing.. Pretty cool so early in the set.

Jerry's voice was cracking on the Half Step but is better here for JIMMY.

Brother Essau- One of my favorite 80's dead tunes, Why did they drop it? The drummers have a nice groove in this tune. Brent slashes away as well.

Cumberland-Actually thought they were going for one of the more standard Cowboy tunes.

Desolation Row-Once Weir would get to sing this with Dylan it really helped energized Bob Weir's version of this tune. He would get edgier with it!

Ramble On Rose-really nice bop to it and lots of Phil

Let it Grow-Probably the best bet for a 1st closer in the 1980's. A good way for the band to raise the roof in preparation for the 2nd set. Good version lots of Brent on backing vocals, Phil pounding it.

Jerry off exploring!

2nd set

Touch-When this tune hit the MTV it spoiled the entire scene in a lot of ways but the tune itself was good live.

My preference was for it towards the end of the Second Set it seemed to shine best there.

This seems somewhat muddy compared to the way they closed the 1st set. No fear the Estimated >Eyes is just around the corner. Listen to Brent's backing vocals on TOUCH, If it was 1984 we would have gotten ' I DON"T NEED LOVE'

The Break did not sit well with Brent his backing vocals are way off. I can hear Jerry trying to sooth him a little with adding some more gentle oh's and ah's.

About half-way in I am getting Phil and Jerry playing their butts off. This kinda reminds me of when they would play with Ned Lagin and the band is going one way and old Ned was going 5 ways at once or no way at all with the a-tonal thing.

Having already listened to the "MAYBE' thru to the end of the show I would say calling this a 4 is probably fair and generous.

1st set way stronger than the train wreck that you can hear coming from a mile awhile this set.

Still being a musician involves playing through just about everything and anything.

Most bands are fortunate if there best moments get recorded with this band just about every moment is recorded. the good , bad and of course the trippy!

Chula Vista cruiser on the Estimated!

Nice jam in the Estimated-They sound as if they are almost ready to hit SPACE... Brent finding a groove on the Organ which opens some room for Jerry to head towards EYES. That is a pretty cool segue into EYES the way Garcia just lights into it. Very mellow. And then they pick-up the pace perhaps too much,,, like a forced march version of EYES.

Hey the little jam out of Eyes is really cool. There is some techno thing going "Jam it, Jam it, Jam it" Brent sounds better against the rhythm section.

Here is my take Brent wasted is still better than the whole 80's keyboard scene. It is a freaking Dead show!

Mydland wants to play his way thru it and that is what he intends to do. Sounds like he has been hitting the hard liquor. Awkward! Painful! When he got this channeled in the right direction he was incredible but that pain he never did seem to get free of that deep pain. A good reason to join Wharf Rats on the spot.

Drummers trying to get him back into some kinds flow.

I am not sure you can play anything but GDTRFB!

Jerry sounds refreshed. Had to be a tough night----. Most important thing at a show is the vibe.

They finish strong especially JERRY with the Dew and good heartfelt NFA!

This is an emotional roller coaster of a show.

- April 21, 2016Double twist when you hit the air...