Have a nice day 😊

I'm not as enraptured by this show as others. It's listed third as 1984's "favorite tapes" (DeadBase XI), just behind 7/13 and 7/15. I think October '84 has some great shows, I'm just not convinced this one ranks there with the rest of them. 

I'm up to Loser at this point (of review) and I really like this version. It's the first song that stands out, so far. Well, at least in a good way. The El Paso just prior is basically lyrics-less, not sure what was going on there. After Loser comes the 10-minute highlight of the first set: Smokestack Lightning->Spoonful. To make up, perhaps, for that El Paso. Yikes. Longer second set to come, making up for the very short first.    Slipknot!   These '84 Slipknot! are really something. But, again, I'm not as taken in by this one as others from the prior October. Seems a little shaky, if tentative, to me, and the transitions struggle somewhat.     Really like the LS -> St., which was by then - at least the former of the pairing - becoming more rare. (Lost Sailor only played 5x in '83, 5x in '84, 7x in 85, then twice and done in '86. After 3/24/86, Saint returned 20 shows later on 6/21, alone, and from then on out.)

At any rate, the SBD qual is excellent. It's high energy, to be sure, and for me serves as a sort of bridge to '85. Unique setlist and marking the end of an era. 20-year anniversary on the horizon with the Touch era (somewhat) in sight. My show highlights are the LS -> St. -> Wharf Rat, then D/S -> PITB -> Bertha. *Show is also known for the debut of Gimme Some Lovin - certainly not their finest cover, by any stretch - and a Casey Jones encore bust-out. (The latter only played twice in '84, then after 11/2 not again until 6/20/92, 549 shows later.)

I could be wrong, but I think I hear Phil singing on Gimme Some Lovin'. If my ear is right, that's the first time I recall that since 1973. It will be another year or so until he busts out with Box of Rain, putting to rest all of the rumors regarding why he quit singing.

As of now this is the best source. Some kind of delay weirdness on the other Miller board almost like happens on some matrices (which that is not). You can hear it in the vocals on Wharf Rat best. This is a big improvement.

Great show. Not totally perfect but really nice spacey playing and good set list. I don't find the HSF all that flawed. Whatever flubs the jamming makes up for it in spades.

Fall '84 just has so many gems it is hard to go brutally wrong with any show. The next night is as close to that as you get IMO.

I listened to this based on the review below mine.

I stopped listening at Saint of Circumstance.

The vast majority of the music played here is a mess. And even when it starts to come together it quickly falls back apart.

Everyone has their own ears when it comes to this band, so you never know, you might enjoy this one.

For me it reminds me why its best to stick with 68-74.

I had the second set of this show back in the day, it is nice to hear it as a board and Charlie has once again done an excellent job. Set one starts off with a fast paced Jack Straw that goes immediately into a wonderful Peggi-O. It is one of the best songs of the night. Brent plays some nice choral effects that deepen this version. Jerry's solo is clear and majestic. El Paso, which I saw in Hartford on the fall tour, suffers from miscues from Bob starting at the first verse and continues throughout the song. Musically Jerry makes it shine and then Jerry follows by playing Loser. A slight pun there for Bob? Jerry's screams at times and his voice is at it's worse maybe of his entire career, but his playing is intense. The end of the set is unique although Bob may be alittle too forceful with his vocals during Smokestack, but the band really gets into it and pushes on to a very good Spoonful. Aiko is played with exurberance and Jerry one agains shines on this version with a great solo.Phil is also very predominate in the mix this entire set.
Set two starts off with a fast paced Help with some minor vocal flubs from Garcia but clearly the band is up for some jamming and races to Slipknot! This is really where the night takes off and the band propels it self into that majestic space that over flows with intensity. The second half of the jam is very good. After a slight miscue at the end, they launch into a jubilant Franklin's inwhich Jerry really lays down some very sweet licks. Thre ending jam is a highlite of the night. The Sailor> Saint is epic as it had reached it full potential by this year. Once again Brent's playing adds great emotional depth to Bob's final pleadings in Lost Sailor, I would recommend 6/15/85, for an even more powerful example of this. They rock out Saint and the peaking jam has Phil playing these ascending and descending notes simultaneously, which resulting in an amazing moment. The energy is so high it is no surprise, although it is, that they drift into Wharf Rat, Jerry delivers this version with passion and force and Brent's sweet harmonies are a nice touch. The ending jam is off the charts.We get yet another break out surprise,Gimme Some lovin which explodes and cements the bond between and Brent and Phil, that started the previous summer in Merriweather, and even though it is a rough version you have to give it to them for pulling it off only like the Dead could only do. The Space is quite good and then you get a rock solid second half,finishing the Playin from 10/28, and then totally going old school with a stellar Bertha> Good Lovin. One more surprise is in store and you get a great Casey Jones. Jerry voice is the best on this last song too, enjoy!