My first show was 12/31/82, and when this one rolled around, my buddy who had to be in LA laid this and the next night on me (also spectacular) and I think this was also the first show I ever went to alone. Middle of the week, across the Bay.

I was so blown away. First time live for all the songs but four and the way that first set closed, we knew it was a special night. This was when Iko was a rarity.

Second set was H/S/F -> Sailor-Saint... and why isn't the band leaving the stage for drums? What is this Wharf Rat doing here? Why are they still not leaving? Did they forget drums?

Ba-da-da-dum.
No way. That sounds like "Gimme Some Lovin'. They don't even do that song.
No way. Phil's standing in front of Bob's mike. He's gonna SING IT!
No way - Bob and Jerry are sharing a mike for backup. Why aren't I on the floor getting this picture?

Casey Jonee encore? Take me now, god!

That's the best version of El Paso I have heard yet. Still is better than if I tried it myself. Even though there is a big slip-up in Slipknot, you can see how advanced they really are. Any other band, or even the GD earlier on in their career, would have been brought to a stop or an otherwise ugly end to that song. The timing is already super tough to nail it, but with it that close to the end, it should have just fallen apart but they powered through without issue.

thanks for this. nice loser. the unusual blues tunes in the first set are more interesting for their placement and rarity than great playing, but worth the listen. The iko is bouncy and fun. A great example of the kind of playing that, to my ear, is so uniquely JG.

As a poster below notes, there is a pretty jarring f***up on the way from slipknot to franklins, still it's about 15 seconds in the midst of some fine playing. The wharf rat explodes around 10 minutes, strong version. the bertha -good loving is spirited and a rocking good time. What are the words to casey jones again, jerry?

the sound is excellent throughout

complete Dope!

... but three stars is a stretch. I just don't get it, people. I'm not an anti-80s-Dead snob - I will listen to anything from 65-95 but this is just a weak show from start to finish. The performances range from ok (Sailor>Saint) to cringe-inducing (Slipknot and Possibly the worst Peggy-O ever). This is sloppy and not in a charming, GD kind of way. Jerry especially sounds downright haggard.
On the positive side, it's a crisp and beautiful recording, the set list is interesting (why I listened in the first place) and the Smokestack>Spoonful is a decent change-up from the usual 1st set Bobby-blues.
Off to greener pastures...

Obviously the Berkeley 84' run was a special change of pace for the boys. Toying around with their conventional setlists (like would continue to happen into 1985) and jazzing out their jam segues.

The first set is nice, but things really come alive during second set. Help>Slip is sloppy with some misfire cues from Jerry and the Drums, but they pull it together in kind of a jazzy funk that ends up justifying the near slop-fest. During Franklin's Jerry lets everybody have it. This is one of my three favorite Franklin's of the Brent years (1982.12.30, 1979.9 Buffalo) and it varies from the other powerhouse show-stopper versions. This one is poignant, delicate, and risky. I love it!

Sailor>Saint could also be one of the best-of-all-time versions. The thoughtful guitar phrasings along with Weir's finally matured lyrical story about a that drifter into his uncertain future really pulls together what initially was panned as a corny Grateful Dead song. The pair never received the recognition it deserved. Compare lyrics of more popular Barlow tunes to those of this pair. These seem to epitomize much of the band's lyrical essence rather than just be fun dance-hall numbers.

Wharf Rat has Jerry on fire yet again with an usual pre-drums>Jam placement of the song extending beautiful guitar work into the first ever Gimmie Some Lovin'. So yeah, they mess up a few times, but they take it in camp and have a ball with it.

Let's just say that the next night was more of a wild-card night while this was a risky business show. Somebody once said that the Dead was a band that took risks and had an audience that would gracefully accept there mishaps in the risk. That is this kind of a show with some balsy set progressions and true effort from each member of the show.

The sound from the new Charlie Miller master of the next night makes it a superior sounding source, but this show is just as well played.

5 for playing
4 for sound
Solid 5

last march philly iwas there

does anyone else detect the beginning notes of "it must have been the roses" at the outro of Frank's Tower? Just curious.

But, the final Lost Sailor was 3/24/86 in Philly, not this one. In fact, I think that the song got much better during '85 and '86.

Great 84 show. Whatever they smoked before they got onstage makes for an interesting first set. Jerry wakes up after some Peggy-mumbles and we are off! Kind of....The "Oh, No!!", I believe Jerry utters as Bob opts for the soon-to-be most utterly butchered and possibly most aimless versions of EL PASO ever played is priceless. The H>S>F is one of the greatest I know. Great, high show all the way through. Upper 4 stars.

This show kicks culo. I put my nalgas in the air like I just don't care on this one. I have been spending some time lately in 1984 and I like it. I'm thinking of putting on a sleeveless tie dye, some Bob Weir size cutoff's and growing a mullet. Seriously. I just love that bubbly high energy sound they had in in the early to mid 80's. Just rippin'.

The first step is about a half step slow. The second set is right on and crispy. Thanks CM, PB and TG!

P.S.
The last Lost Sailor was on 03-24-86 Spectrum not here as the info sheet suggests.