NFA>Jam>NFA
Good Matrix!

One of the surprising things about this recording and the board is that the SBD is so soft? I have had the board recording for years, and I can't tell the difference between it and this matrix? There is enough crowd in the board where you can get a feel for the evening's ambience. Either one will do in this circumstance.

As one will note right off with Promised Land, it isn't worth keeping as AUD only. So I ditched it and had some fun custom mixing a decent Half Step > Minglewood, Sugaree in Soundforge which starts off the festivities with a bang. This Sugaree has some nice, quiet noodling that is a bit different than the usual straight ahead, down and dirty playing.

I'm always amused with this rating system, trying to figure out what I want to give this show? It certainly isn't average (being 1977), and I can't say it's an X-Factor blowout. But four stars simply doesn't do it justice compared to anything rated after Jerry's voice goes south in the mid '80s. As far as I'm concerned, an average three stars is five stars after 1983. And four stars at this time blows away anything in '84 and onward. Oh well.

This is a wonderful matrix that brings out the pop in a show that somehow manages to hide in plain sight. First Scarlet>Fire combo, outrageously good second set with a monster 20 minute NFA that starts out with a laid back ultra groovy intro and gets into some serious Garcia nastiness in the middle section before a short but sweet Stephen and the raucous Chuck Berry rocker close. Nicely jammed UJB as well. Thanks HS for bringing out the best sound I've heard yet to frame this underrated gem.