Reviewer:
Dark Star 101
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favoritefavorite -
March 29, 2020
Subject:
I’m Sure it was a Blast at the Spaceship...
...and the energy was high (like a lot of the fans)...but this show does have more then a few very sketchy moments. While Stranger was generally very nice, the end was a mess, same pattern as the Bird Song. Phil embarrassingly butchers the words to Box. Bobby’s voice is completely blown out during Truckin’ - to the point of being painful to listen to. Not every show can be “just like a Swiss watch” - this certainly isn’t one of them.
Reviewer:
Mind Wondrin
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favoritefavorite -
January 11, 2018
Subject:
Surrounded
The other shows of the tour are better-recognized (especially 3/31), but this show is known for the unusually tasty Franklin's.
First Set. The Stranger is average but Jer's jam is big for an opener. They then dig right into the set peak with a big Franklin's. I love Jer here; so fluid with his leads. Jer teases Iko and Phil responds to a WWP chant in the negative, before relenting with a Box. He then teases the front rows by goofing on the lyrics. Otherwise, a pretty strong version. I saw Push Comes to Shove too many times in this era and it became a bathroom song. It was only after they stopped playing it that I understood all that Hunter was saying. Jer flubs the verses but the solo is great. The rest isn't very exciting until Bird Song, which is more out there than you'd expect. The band aren't always in it together, but it does form (unform) into one of the best jams of the tour.
Second Set. Not a real standout set for the era, but only a Dead audience would clap a Diddley beat during the end breakdown of Man Smart. Even a shaky Ship of Fools can have a pat solo and some Phil bombs. Bobby voice goes out by Truckin' but the end section ain't bad, and the Drums is a big, psychedelic stadium shaker. The Other One is fairly stormy but the rest is manqué. Bobby sounds reluctant to sing Throwing Stones. I was tired of this song by '88 but this was one of the songs my wife liked, so it made the shows more appreciably well-rounded for us. By Mighty Quinn they seem barely awake.
1st Set: C
2nd Set: C-
Overall = 2¼ stars
Highlights:
Franklin's Tower - probably best of '88
SOURCES: Go with miller_91233. The FM broadcast versions aren't very clean.
Reviewer:
East Coast Dave in WA
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 7, 2010
Subject:
Great show
This was a wonderful show. Yes, I was there, yes, I was high, yes, it was my birthday. However, listening to it stone sober 22 years later, I feel like I can honestly say, "That was badass", and it was. They're clearly having fun, on the last night of a Hampton run that just saw them put two great shows under their belt on the evenings before. Is it mistake free? No. However, cool jams abound (especially for an 88 show). This show has faint glimmers of the musical adventurousness that made the 69-72 era their finest (sorry, 77 fans, if it ain't got Pigpen, it ain't the Dead at their best). Highlights? Anything sung by Jerry, and Box of Rain. An underrated show from a great great Hampton run.
Reviewer:
Alex, Geddy, Neil, Jerry, Bobby, Phil, Brent, Mickey, Billy -
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
March 2, 2009
Subject:
get tired of traveling you wanna settle down
Box of Rain then Birdsong/Music Never Stopped to end the 1st set.
i remember bailing after that third night (was too spun) and ended up getting a ride up to NJ with two really sweet females that i just met (one of which was a masseuse and worked my neck from the back seat!)... lots of fun, smoked the dank and listened to some really good early 70s shows.
when i got back home a friend said, "you walked out of a QUINN encore??!"
had to, three consecutive nights of rampaging had taken its toll.
Spring '88 this band was in THE ZONE.
if you attended any of the Hampton shows then you know what i mean -- but i think it's pretty clear on these recordings too.
Reviewer:
GreggyD
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February 20, 2009
Subject:
What a fun train wreck!!
Check out Stranger - they get into it so deep, they end up getting lost at the end! Adventurous to say the least and it sounds like everyone was in on the fun! Regardless of the wreckage, they get back to it and everyone is having a blast. :)