Many heads wonder why so many of love the 1980's era of the Grateful Dead? This show from start to finish will demonstrate that in glorious fashion.

First it not always what they play but how they play it, and when Jerry is truly singing from his instrument, it is simply one of life's greatest audible pleasure. For me this show is very similar in the energy of Iowa City from just over a month earlier.

Jerry plays every sweet lick he wants and makes it sound effortless. Bobby is also quite dialed in and he still has that wonderful organic tone too.

Yes-and don't worry, the rest of the band is is in tip top form too, with Phil hitting some great notes throughout the night.

The first set start off very tight and confident with a very strong Jack Straw. Jerry digs alittle deeper with a wonderful Peggy-O and Bobby continues straight on with a rousing C.C. Rider. There are no crazy Bob screams during this entire performance- you just get classic old school Bob Weir. Next Jerry drops an welcomed Big RR Blues, which often was played this year and is very well received. This one is abound with great licks too.

Next up is a rare El Paso that is very sweetly played, sorry? Am I over playing that adjective?

Next is nearly a 28 minutes stroll through the Grateful Dead garden to the set break. The Bird Song may be the weakest link of the three, as it is tad short for this era and never fully gets out there, but still quite enjoyable.

It is clearly the Lazy Lightning and the proceeding Supplication that really is the highlight of this set. The Supplication gets a full work out and is really quite psychedelic and possibly one of the longest-clocking in at over 13 minutes. Bobby and Jerry are in perfect sync together and it is really refreshing to hear such wonderful interplay.

Jerry closes out the set with a barn burning Deal, with Phil extenuating the high points.

Set II is full of plenty strong moments but nothing boiling completely over the top. Some times controlled ecstasy is the best medicine. This set is more about the tantric natures of our dead head musical pursuits and the band rewards us greatly for our collective discipline.

The first China> Rider of this 11 stop fall tour is extraordinary, as the transition into I Know You Rider is blooming with detail and vibrancy. The vocals are spot on too and as was often the case during the early 1980's the start of set second often was magical.

The band continues on with a rockin' Samson and then a rare second set High Time, which is truly poetic in execution.

Then they go back 5 years to play out a wonderful Estimated> He's Gone- again it is all hands on deck and the band does no wrong playing wonderfully.

The post drumz segment is quite good as well with a rare Aiko into a strong Truckin' followed by a wonderful Black Peter, which comes to a rare complete stop. Bobby is toying at something unusual- maybe Midnight Hour?

He then begins to strut the familiar chords of Miracle and the band races off to the finish followed by a rare one off Bertha to close the second set. Jerry just continues to lavish out the musical gravy for the faithful on this one.

They send the kids on their way rocking out to Johnny B. Goode.

This show deserves top ten status for the best of the year... granted that is a tall order but maybe this one would come in at number 11 or 12?

Thank you...for a very good time.

Happy trails.

So this is a hot show for 82 I give it four stars but this is without a doubt the best copy of the auds available...GET THIS ONE!

Good quality audience tape for 1982, You get the rarely played "High Time" and the unusually located "Aiko Aiko".(post-drums here, more commonly done back like that in the 70s). A good "He's Gone". Decent "Birdsong".. Can't go wrong with Bob ballad-eering "El Paso".

Hey GD fans,

I spot listened this version of the show but I've listened to the second set for years. It had been one of my favorites from 1982. I really like the fresh transfer and sound of the master tapes. A really nice sound field for usually a less satisfactory mic , the Beyer's. Certainly, a high quality mic but wasn't always the best mic for recording concerts off a PA system in large rooms or arenas BUT this one is a exception. I noticed the ride cymbals were not squashed out and the stereo image was rather correct with on phase issues. Kudos to Healy on the PA FOH mixing and the monitor mixes must have been good because the GD just keep playing!

As for the show performance ; it's a solid LONG show for the era and some post space song choices to keep on rocking! There is a soundboard of the second set which isn't bad but as we all know sometimes they can be dry; as they should be really. Do yourself a favor and check this one out ... also is worthy of commercial release from the vault .