Instead of singular songs, I’m going to go with complete shows. Tapes are available upon request, just drop me an email.
My all-time favorite, bar-none:
Merriweather Post Pavillion, June 20, 1983.
My first show and the one where I definitely got on the bus. It was a most surreal experience on so many different levels. The atmosphere was charged (both metaphorically and figuratively speaking - I’ve never seen a more impressive thunder storm. The fact that I was standing outside in it may have helped make an impression), and the band was incredibly hot. Phil, in particular, seemed to take the thunder as a personal affront and got into a contest with God Almighty to see just who could produce the lowest, loudest, and most internal organ compressing sound waves.
Some highlights:
Weir introducing “Hell in A Bucket” and “West L.A. Fadeaway” by saying “For all of you folks who are following us around, we’re gonna badger you with some new tunes until we get them right.” They proceed to play the hell out of both. Too bad “Hell” became such a concert staple that I once gave serious thought to trying to bribe Bob never to play it again.
A first set closer of “The Music Never Stopped” that is too beautful for words. The long jam at the end is so well played, and so intricate, that I would have sworn they had all of the parts written out beforehand and were reading the music as they went. It builds and builds and builds and builds until it achieves Super Nova status.
A second set including Truckin’>Drums>Bob Star>Other One>Wharf Rat>Sugar Magnolia. The Bob Star was a treat: “As long as we are, and as long as we gotta be…I just one of be one of them little stars. One of them little stars, that’d just be fine. With nothing left to do but hang out there and shine…just hang out there and shine…” into The Other One. During Wharf Rat Phil uncorked the most incredible roar from his bass (“I’ll get up and fly away!” BOOM!!!) but God finally put The Professor in his place by striking the Pavillion with a lightning bolt. Take that, puny Earthling.
The best Sugar Magnolia ever. What is usually a galloping, fun song of summer was played at a breakneck speed with complete and total abandoned. Weir was a bug-eyed, screaming banshee at the end, with Phil trying to drown him out. Complete and utter identity breakdown. I love it.
To quote Robert Hunter, “When the Dead are playing their best, blood drips from the ceiling in great, rich, drops. Together, we do kind of a suicide in music.” This was one of those nights.
Harpur College, 5/2/70
An East Coast Acid Test, long after the formal Acid Tests had been abandoned. An acoustic set to open, and then the weirdness sets in. Crazy, crazy playing, with big, steaming helpings of Pigpen to keep things at least semi-grounded in this dimension.
Miami Jai Lai Fronton, 6/23/74
Equipment troubles lead Phil to ask “Say, aren’t we pretty close to the Bermuda Triangle around here?” and Weir to follow up with “I think this microphone has water in it. We’re gonna have to iron it out.”
A terrific first set, including the only “Let It Rock.” The second set is where it is at, however. Dark Star>Spanish Jam>into the best US Blues ever. It just cooks. Too wonderful for words.
How I miss them.
I saw that whole Nassau set, but 3/29/90 was by far the best show. In addition to the previously mentioned “Eyes Of The World” (available on Without A Net), the first set “Bird Song” was oustanding.