Before its OFF release, this show was lost in the jumble of a landmark tour, mainly known for having the first Tomorrow Is Forever. It's hard for a show to stand out when it's between 9/17 & 9/27! Yet it's almost as good overall. This was their only time in Waterbury [2 shows], but they played next door in Hartford, Middletown and New Haven many times. Note that six songs in the first set were from the two solo albums released that year. In Dead tradition, to those who had bought the two albums commonly stocked at the time (Skull Fuck, American Beauty), the band played a mystery set. I still remember, when I first became curious about seeing the Dead, older Heads telling me "when you see them they don't play the songs you expect". Nineteen songs are repeats from the first night, though this is perhaps the better show. In the end, this month is an overflowing trunk of jewels

First Set. Turbo opener Big Railroad sets a hell of a bar. The next few are solid, but this Cumberland is a winded version, with lots of detail for close listening. Sugaree is kind of perfect? There just aren't any sparks and solos in the '72s like those beginning in '77. Jer starts a Yellow Rose of Texas tuning but Bobby launches El Paso. Keith is great and it soon perks. Tennessee Jed is just like all the other '72 greats, starting with little inkling of what comes. On the OFF, the first 4½mins are from 9/17/72. Beat it on Down the Line-12 = simply superb sample. Bird Song is cooler than an arctic jet stream in January – with a lot of detail. All players are really coppin' a choogle by Big River, and Brown Eyed Women is full, vibrant. Playing in the Band is the usual solid '72 (even if the middle isn't inspired). There is a cut@15:31, patched on some sources. On the OFF, 15:31>16:24 is from 9/27/72.

Second Set. Though Greatest Story is good, the sudden seg into Bertha is particularly cool. After a shortened Promised Land, Friend of the Devil spirals back to X factor. Bobby is the lead engine here. Tech squeals and small flubs streak Jack Straw (one that's not too apparent on SBDs is boosted on the OFF). This was the first time Donna/Jer covered Dolly/Wagoner duet Tomorrow is Forever (the original single was just a couple years old at the time). There are nine in '72 and one in '74, but this may be the best. After a solid bottle/jaw Me & My Uncle comes a polarizing Dark Star. As much as I revere this tour, late '72 Dark Stars do not match my faves from earlier in the year. This one functions more like a Space. It has a couple interesting sections and some long not-so-interesting sections. But if you like a Phil takeover, this is a must-hear-once. Dark Star into China Cat was common in '68, but this is the first in '72 – and the final. It's also a late China Cat, and a nice one, as is the fine Rider. The latter is cut during the final solo and ending on most sources (patched on 130758_MrBill). The OFF switches to 9/21/72 @5:37, including the bum chords. Sugar Mag is the generic '72 but it's a banging ending with this One More Saturday. It's wholly sweet, but check Phil and Keith

1st Set:  A
2nd Set: B-
Overall = 4½ stars

Highlights:
First Set - really the whole thing plays high
Tomorrow is Forever - best version (even if many would rather pass)
One More Saturday Night - check Phil and Keith, for one thing

SOURCES: No one source completely covers well. Luckily there is an AUD for patches (berger_99860) and it has Tennessee Jed, though it runs slow, needing +2½% pitch correction. The 130758_MrBill is the SBD patched with the AUD: the end of Brown Eyed Women is clipped, the tunings have been faded, and the patch in Playing needs +1% pitch. The cribbs_25282 is the best-sounding SBD, but runs slightly fast and has a 48sec cut in Playing. The jeffm_2202 is a copy. 30 Trips has the whole show, in good quality, except edited versions of Tennessee, Playing, and Rider. Definitive Live has Tomorrow is Forever.

Smoking hot from September '72. Some are partial to the first Waterbury show on 9/23 or to the preceding show at The Philly Spectrum on 9/21 (Dick's 36). Others more partial to a couple nights before on 9/17 (Dick's 23) from Baltimore, or a few nights later from Jersey City, 9/27 (Dick's 11). At any rate, you get the picture.

Unquestionable highlight of the show is near its end, the 45+ minutes of Dark Star->Jam->China Cat->Rider. Four stars mainly on account of some audio and editing issues, as many have noted in this stream's reviews (and others). Still, I think this one is the best we get in the archive. This show's debut version of Tomorrow is Forever is featured on the 30 trips definitive live story.

Another GREAT September 72 show. I have (high) hopes that one day these 2 Palace shows will be released as a Road Trip. The Dead were true beasts of the east in 1972. These September/October 72 Dark Stars are long, hypnotic & trippy. A musical palate for the ear. This Dark Star is my second all time favorite. In fact my top 6 favorite Dark Stars are from Sept '72 to December '72. Isn't cool to be a Deadhead.

This was my first Dead show. I found this recording a few years ago and was not surprised why I became such a DeadHead. I remember sitting in the balcony thinking it might not stand the bouncing. I saw Zappa there and Old And In The Way just before the Dead and the Allmans played at RFK. Jerry was wearin pigtails that night and sported them again in Washington. That Washington show was my second Dead show and it was a cultural event. After that it was Watkins Glen and a countless string of shows.

Nice show in a nice era.; sound=4; show=4; sound edits=1.... I saw some shows at the Palace (not the Dead though)....It was a nice small place for a show, but one heck of a fire trap...like the Orpheum in Boston. I think I also show Bob Weir band there in like '79 or '80 too. This is a rather odd recording...the songs are jumbled, and some are partially missing.

no info on this show-the palace theater in waterbury CT. Set 1: Big Railroad Blues, Mexicali Blues, Loser, Black Throated Wind, Cumberland Blues, Sugaree, El Paso, Tennessee Jed, Beat It On Down The Line, Bird Song, Big River, Brown Eyed Women, Playing In The Band

Set 2: Greatest Story Ever Told > Bertha > Promised Land, Friend Of The Devil, Jack Straw, Tomorrow Is Forever, Me & My Uncle, Dark Star > Drums > China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Sugar Magnolia, E: One More Saturday Night

High energy show, a 4 on sound. Dark star>Drumz>china>rider, are you kidding me?