Spent the day outside the coliseum in the usual fashion..... weed and beer surrounded by a sea of fellow freaks waiting for the doors to open. Got inside, set up about 15 feet from the stage, and dropped a hit of red spaceship. At the time, felt like it was a solid show with a couple highlights... But that the "new guy" was still trying to find his place in the instrumental dialogue that made the Dead "the Dead". So Jerry, Bob, and Phil had to carry the improve end of the show. And I felt they handled it well in spots. Listening to the show a few weeks after getting back to Emory [someone in our group knew Joni Walker and got a copy from her], I decided that the show was pretty much as I remembered...... Silly Phil joke and all..... Great interplay between Jerry and Bobby on the final Big River jam. Great Stagger Lee. A Row Jimmy that lacked the "beauty" of 3/26/87 or some of the other later versions, but rocked out at the end. And the All Over Now was fun. Set ended with a fairly typical late 70's Deal. So while not a great 1st set, there were moments.... Then they came charging out of the break and Jerry absolutely shredded Samson. Still the best I saw live. Always enjoyed a 2nd set Tennessee Jed, and this one didn't disappoint. And always enjoyed Terrapin... And while there have been some "throw away" Playing's over the years, this one was pure space. And all about Jerry. Even at 18 minutes, it never digressed into senseless noodling. Used Drums to walk around a bit as things were still extra "strange" in the old coliseum- -visited some friends up in the seats, wandered in front of "stage left" where a bunch of Hell's Angels were dancing, and then back to my buddies just as the very short post-drum space began..... As a fan of the Garcia/Hunter "dirges" [as well as the non-Garcia/Hunter Death Don't Have No Mercy], Black Peter was just what the doctor ordered. I've heard better, but that is one tune that jerry never fails to deliver the emotion. For the time, a short but rather tight NFA. Loved the guitar chatter between Jerry and Bobby during the second instrumental. Then the transition into PITB "Reprise"...... To this tripping, bumbling idiot, sounded like Phil, Bobby, and Jerry were carrying on a conversation like the longtime buddies they were. A throw away Useless Blues, then off to the next show. Gone are the daze.....

Nothing really special here, the band is still celarly trying to figure the new guy out.

A very nice audience recording. by this point in time, the tapers had mastered the art and a good audience is often better than the SBD, particularly at outdoor venues.

This aud copy is better than the others. Download this copy!