This is one of those 5 star shows that's really more of a 5.75/6 star. Folks can and do quibble about songs in the setlist (I’m not a big fan of Loser for example), but there’s no doubt the boys are having one heaping, ginormous, filled-to-the-top, spillin’-over-the-edge ton of fun. On the upside of a tumultuous year who can blame them? The scene outside the show totally sucked with lots of non-heads showing up just to buy drugs, get wasted, and cause trouble, didn’t care about the music and culture and no intention of finding a legit ticket. Riot cops in full battle gear on the last night of the Omni shows, literally beating Heads with billy clubs. I cut my foot on a sharp piece of metal sticking out of the sidewalk, I asked a cop where I could find a store to buy bandages and he told me to leave immediately or get arrested (fortunately I went into the show early and a wonderfully nice nurse at a first aid station bandaged me up and gave extras for later). Gate crashers overwhelming and attacking event staff, tearing down fences and over-stuffing an already over-crowded World Amphitheater in scorching mid-west summer heat. That must have been a factor pushing an already struggling Brent over the edge (you are missed brother, may you find the comfort you deserve). Vince’s first shows in Richfield were average, nothing special or spectacular, but it helped so many, including this hippy, to move the grieving process along so the livin’ can keep on livin’. By the time the MSG shows rolled around, the band was totally re-energized and getting lots of ideas and inspiration from Vince and Bruce. Just listen to Jerry’s vocals, not always his strong suit, in Halfstep, TLMD, Eyes, metaphorically screaming “WE ARE BACK, THE BUS IS TUNED UP, TIRES INFLATED, TANK FULL, AND TRUCKIN’ ON”. Foolish Heart is listed as 18:51, but it’s really about 8 mins of FH, 3 mins of transition jam, and 7 mins of full on The Other One. It seems like they were having so much fun, they forgot that TOO was supposed to come out of space instead of wrapped around drums/space, more reminiscent of the old, full That’s It For The Other One that almost always included drums.

I just do not understand how the powers that be decided to chop up these 3 shows (18-20) for official release adding a hard to get bonus disc for some key tunes .... which is now way overpriced now on ebay. These 3 shows are stellar as is ... thank the Good Lord that we have Charlie Miller and archive!!!!!
Alas, what a sweet mini-box these 3 nights would have made.
We all were missing Brent back then, but the energy was electric from fall '90 through Fall '91. I saw a lot of those shows and (other than that damn accordion) Bruce was a lively addition and especially the Bruce and Jerry jams that steamed into summer '91 were satisfying to watch live.
You could tell Jerry was happy having Bruce up there ... However, I am glad Bruce never became the official keyboardist so that he could keep breathing!!! that job was cursed from the start. Only Bruce and Tim got out alive.
Hugs, D*ugs, & Persian Rugs!!!!

So much to say about this show and the recording. As per what we all have grown to love and expect of Charlie Miller, the sound couldn't be better. Enough audience background to sense the excitement and great separation of the band so that every nuance can be focused on and appreciated.
Not sure why, but these fall 1990 shows find the band at a high point. Perhaps the existential threat to all of them with the loss of Brent, the inspiration of Bruce Hornsby who debuts with this MSG run or the need to prove that they can survive and continue to be meaningful.
9/18 has a great set list and highlights include the haunting To Lay Me Down, a Promised Land never played with such intensity, a Row Jimmy where Jerry takes flight with his flute and of course the pre-drums second set.
To close with the joy of Sugar Mag and then to encore with Heaven's Door while so many of us are mourning Brent and feeling his absence while trying to get by.
I get it when people rave about the primacy of 1969-1971, the incredible energy through the 70's and all of the new material that came out then. I was there at the Fillmore and upstate New York.
This show and this run were very special - don't overlook it!!!!

Very strong show and the To Lay me Down>Promised 1st set closer just smokes.

Easy 5 stars for those two tunes and 4 stars for balance of show. I Like the Picasso Moon, and the jam out of Foolish is interesting.

...is to die for.

whole show = magnificent.

32 out of 5 stars.

There are so many incarnations and eras of the dead that all are great in their own right. This is a very short incarnation that sparkled with energy and joy despite the recent events of Brents death. The color of the music in this run of shows in New York jumps out at you in a carnival of sound that is unlike any that preceeded it or followed it. If you were there you know the music sparkled with energy in an unhurried kind of way. This recording captures the moment perfectly. NYC in all its glory.