This Uptown run (8/19-21) finds the band in excellent form. It's a little more than a month prior to the start of the Warfield Theater residency (9/25-10/14), which was followed by two nights at Saenger in NOLA (10/18-19) and the longer run at Radio City Music Hall (10/22-10/31). Those shows are of course fantastic and most heads know it. As for these, well, you know what's been said: there never was a bad show at the Uptown!

Notes to this SBD state the following: "Be warned...poor quality sbd of a great show." Re: the sound quality, I think that's a bit overstated. Point taken, but as erik65 adds: "Funky SBD, there's a slight hiss, but the mix is juicy, with good separation and high levels." In other words, and I agree, this SBD is better than suggested.

About 4 minutes into the Half Step opener, Phil's bass really becomes prominent. He sounds great. To date, this might just be the best show (and run) at the Uptown- and that includes 8 shows from '78 and 3 from '79. Hot summer '80 run! Love this opening sequence: halfstep->franklin's->minglewood. Row Jimmy sounds good and Brent is really settling in, especially on the new tunes from Go To Heaven. Those featured here include the final three songs of the first set: Althea, Easy to Love You, and Stranger. Stranger works, too, as first set closer - done four times in '80 and then no more - but nothing tops it as a show opener (or at least second slot-Bobby opener).

Rare Rooster to open the second set. Hey, it's Chicago. Followed by China-Rider->Estimated and then a speedy Eyes. So over 40 minutes of pre-drums/space jamming. Eyes is speedy and spacey on the outro leading into drums. On the other end of space, it goes into a really neat and sweet Playing-Comes a Time->Playing sandwich. Never heard it placed like that before. Also different, I like the Around and Around->Alabama Getaway to close. Johnny B Goode encore!

Four stars -- mostly on account of the audio that struggles. Otherwise, might've been a five. This second set does not let up! Great show.

wow.

High energy show from a great summer tour. The fact that I can hear Phil's meandering bass lines clearly on this SBD really adds to my enjoyment of the show. I can't help but wonder if more folks would like these early 80's shows if more SBDs from the period had better bass in the mix.

I wish wish wish that there were Matrix copies of the late summer 1980 shows....they are almost all killer shows (especially 8/30/1980), but the SBD copies makes Brent's ultra-annoying toy-like keyboards way too forward in the mix (the sound of the hall mitigates this problem), while all of the aud tapes, with few exceptions (Mississippi River Fest, for example)are way too boomy. Nevertheless, we have what we have, and this SBD stands tall among the others. 4 stars for performance, 4 for recording (both would get 5 stars if it weren't for Brent's incessent twinking).

Lesh: killin'! Phil's all over it from the get-go, I've never heard a Half-Step like this. High energy show with lots of spectacular moments; the band is totally on.

Funky SBD, there's a slight hiss, but the mix is juicy, with good separation and high levels. Phil and Jerry turned way up. Praise Dan Healy. And those who bring this music to us online.

this is the highest energy version of this tune that i've heard, and a real surprise coming after 'around & around', i expected another 'good lovin'

rating = 3 stars, 5 for the performance, 1 for the in & out, spotty sound quality. definitely worth a listen.

One of my favorite shows, particularly the China-Rider sequence, and one of my favorite versions of Comes A Time. Thanks, Charlie, for posting this board version...a huge improvement over the overly-clappy balcony audience recordings posted here.