Not one of the top shows of this tour (the night before at this venue and the next show in Canada are both better) but the playing is steady and consistent like the rest of the tour.

First Set. Strong start with Hell in a Bucket and a hot Bertha (is "ran into rain/dressed myself in green" ad lib or not?). We Can Run is a clunky miss and the derailer it often was but Jack-a-Roe kicks things back into the air. The rest is average '90.

Second Set. This is the only Box of Rain of the tour - good but not spectacular. Foolish Heart, however, struggles a bit. Jer forgets in a couple places then plays the ending twice. Playing in the Band is uptempo and has the night's best jam. Winter '90 was good for Playin'. Eyes seems cocaine-fed and, though the drummers are not always in the pocket this set, it's strong. Post-Space is above-average for '90 except for Gimme Some Lovin', when they can't find each other, and a lifeless Around & Around.

1st Set:  C
2nd Set: C
Overall = 2 ½ stars

Highlights:
Playing in the Band - the one that stands out from a tough-competition tour

SOURCES: Lots of us had a tape of this one because it was FM-simulcast. Though it has been released on Spring 1990, if I listened to it again I'd use the hansokolow matrix for the added life.

wow good sound, amazing performance. everyone is great in this . really fun listen.

Per my review on one of the other sources, was in second row on Jerry and Brent's side for this one. Watching the two of them interact, it was obvious Jerry had great love for Brent.

On to the musci... even though there were some lyric flubs, the instrumental on Foolish Heart was the best I'd heard. From the Jerry/Brent trade offs at the onset, to the tight jams, it was everything I loved about the Dead as a band- -was it Jerry's quickest or most searing lead? Hell no. But it was Jerry and Phil "talking" to each other like the old friends they were... andticipating each others every move, then one upping the other like boys around a campfire telling "fish stories".... till they they seque back to the vocals as smoothly as a fine Swiss watch keeps time. As for the rest of the show, great Hell in a Bucket, solid Bertha, never a bad Jack-A-Roe, fine Brown Eyed Women, tolerable Picasso Moon [not one of my favorites], nice Deal, excellent Box of Rain opener to the 2nd set, sweet Playing [I love the "shorter" versions vs. the over indulgent versions in '73 and '74], great Eyes, a hauntingly sweet China Doll, a very solid GDTRFB, a very cool/slightly differently styled Around and Around, and a Brokedown so sweet it brought tears to my eyes to send us off into the Hartford night.

At the end of the day, just a solid show from start to finish- -got two Phil songs [even if one was a cover of Gimme Some Loving]- -with plenty of highlights to put a smile on every Deadhead's face.

I agree with the other reviewer from today who says its the best Foolish ever. Phil is just monstrous, almost outdoing Jerry. This show contained one my favorite 2nd sets I was able to witness. There were some really tender moments (Box, China Doll, Brokedown) and some rockin' ones too. This had it all. It was overshadowed by some other nights on this tour, but all in all well played and solid. I remember walking out of the show into a torrential downpour, and 2 days later on to Canada ...

Listen up ya'll. This is THE BEST FOOLISH HEART I've ever heard, hands down. It's so good, I had to pause and write this review, and then go listen to it again. Great recording of course too.

One of the first tapes I had. Listening now I find that the archive has spoiled me. While still enjoyable, it's just too easy to fire up any number of classic shows and overlook ones like this. The standouts for me here are the excellent Eyes and my favourite late-era GDTRFB. Overall a good listen, thanks for posting!

What a show. I remember getting tickets the day of the show and they were in the fourth row right in front of Jerry. I remember racing up to Hartford (I lived in Providence), and when I walked into the lobby I bumped into one of my best friends completely by accident who I hadn't seen in a while....(Brian S...from Stowe Vermont if your out there or know him get a hold of me). Anyhow he hooked me up with some shrooms and I snuck him down to our seats since his were way way way car up. In the middle of the second song he asked for my stub and told me he would be right back. Almost immediately after he left security came and started checking ticket stubs. After begging and pleading I was allowed to stay where I was unless someone else "claimed the seat with a valid ticket". He didn't end up coming back till after box of rain. Ok enough with that.
This was not the best show I ever saw but it was definitely one of them. The boys rocked out right away. I remember my trip starting right at the end of hell in bucket. I also loved the box of rain ( always a treat to see Phil), and loved the eyes of the world. Very fitting ending to getting to hear brokedown. I'm only giving it three stars purely because I had seen better shows and also because I am a huge fan of 76, 77, and 78 (even though I was to young to have seen them during those years).

Over 20 years later, and this show still seems like it happened yesterday. Of the 86 shows I saw, this one stood out as pure magic. Many shows in the Spring '90 tour overshadow this one, but for those of us who were there, we know what happened. Right out of the gate, the Bucket was *crushing*, Jerry peeling off licks from another world....

The D/S China Doll was astonishing. That space stands alone... Find me another one that sounds remotely like it...

The Ball-Crushing Bucket elevated my expectations for the rest of the show...cool Drums/Space, but for the most part an average night from a slightly-above average tour that stands in the shadow of summer '89...As for _We Can Run_ I think that Deadheads, myself included, who wrapped themselves around the mantle of Earth Love were being rather hypocritical except for those who lived off of the grid and took public transportation to each and every show.

Good sound, good mix. 5 stars on the presentation and 3 on the performance.

Many shows from this famous spring tour over shadow this show, but honestly this is one of the best shows from start to finish. The band is firing on all cylinders for Bucket and when Jerry drops into Bertha we are off and running with wild abandonment. The playing by all is really top notch with Phil being right on.
This was the first time I heard We Can Run live and what a refreshing changeit was. I clearly remember the band bathed in green and the beautiful harmonies.The Dead taking a stand for Mother Earth is ok in my book.

Jerry then rips it up with a majestic Jack A Roe. Picasso Moon may be the loosest song of the night but they play it out nice and ofcoarse Bob cuts the end jam to soon. The end of the set is classic rock and roll GD style,AON is raging.BE Women, another Hartford standard, is breath taking.
Deal bust it open nicely.
Yeah baby!
Set two has Jerry teasing Foolish Heart but Phil would like to play something else and they deliver with a very warm reading of Box of Rain, which was the only one played on this tour. It has that extra special quality and passion from Phil that makes this one quite noteworthy.Well done boys!
Then we get THE Foolish Heart,it is a soaring version that has an extended ending inwhich Jerry sings the final verse twice and jams between them. Brent really shines on this version this flow nicely into a decent Playing that then chugs into a full out Eyes of the World. They played this combo here in '82 too. It is a dramatic version, slighty faster before they slowed it down in Albany six nights later.

What makes this one remarkable is the extended jam afterwards. Jerry has some really cool midi tones, including bells, and the rest of the band helps propels the jam into a soundscape that is unique and more ambient than a traditional jam. A must listen.
The D/S is excellent and hypnotic and very serene and arrives at a chilling China Doll with Jerry nailing it big time. Phil and Brent erupt in a smokin Gimmie Some Lovin' and Jerry, not wanting to be out done here, lays down a golden GDTRFB that seques into a cranking Around.
We get a bitter sweet Brokedown to send us off into the night.
Easily one of my favorite shows ever and this matrix is quite nice too.