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Grateful DeadGrateful Dead Live at Jai-Alai Fronton on 1974-06-23 (June 23, 1974)

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Collection: : GratefulDead
Band/Artist: Grateful Dead
Date: June 23, 1974 (check for other copies)
Venue: Jai-Alai Fronton
Location: Miami, FL

Source: Soundboard
Lineage: MSR> DAT> CD w/ MAC> DAT patches
Keywords: Live concert

Description

Ramble On Rose, Black Throated Wind, Mississippi Half Step, Beat It On Down The Line, Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, Let It Rock, Cumberland Blues, El Paso, To Lay Me Down, Weather Report Suite Prelude-> Weather Report Suite Part 1-> Let It Grow-> China Doll Phil & Ned-> Ship of Fools, Big River, Black Peter, Around & Around, Dark Star-> Spanish Jam-> U.S. Blues, Uncle John's Band-> One More Saturday Night, E: Casey Jones

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Reviewer: xvgi - - July 24, 2009
Subject: What's the big deal?
Why is 6/22 so underrated and 6/23 so overrated? Is it something to do with Latavla’s comments about 6/23? I’ve listened to 6/23 twice now and I haven’t got a clue what people are hearing in this show. To me a lot of it sounds uninspired. Particularly if you compare it to the previous night – listen to GSET from 6/22 for example....I don’t hear anything approaching that level of excitement on 6/23. Listen to Scarlet Begonias on 6/22.

I don’t have any plans to listen to 6/23 again but 6/22 is a classic.

Admittedly things get interesting when DS kicks in, but I listened to this show again yesterday simply to give it another go and I still found the first set going by and barely registering with me at all.

(Note: I'm giving it one star simply because I don't want to bump up the ratings on this show. Of course there's no such thing as a one-star GD show.

Reviewer: skullsnroses - - November 18, 2008
Subject: Uncle Sam wants you!
To quit smoking, get a job and join the army. Me!?! No YOU! I want you to take your finger off the mouse and listen to Let It Rock! Why this didn't get more play I will never understand. A perfect match for the bebob belooha screech and scratchin that is the first half of the 70's. I guess it just takes a bit of shine off the oft played A & A or something...But you gota hear it. And since you're shopping try on the Dark Star, the 1/2 step (nice and slow now nothin funny), the WRS and a darn good Peter. Keith is all over this show... the real ivory jangler. How can you not love young Bobs voice? Yeah, maybe not quite enough Jerry, but just maybe. Classic! The WRS is hitting my brain extra hard as we are getting heavy flurries up here in VT today.

Reviewer: Evan S. Hunt - - June 24, 2007
Subject: A High Lie Front On
Many rave about this show. I can see why.

It's a great show despite the typical 1974 sound problems with the Wall of Sound.

A Jai-Alai Frontan, I'm told, is a wonderful place to hear music, but especially Grateful Dead music.

I yield.

Reviewer: craven714 - - June 24, 2007
Subject: PanamaFredd
TO Panama Fredd: If you want 9-11-74: Go buy dix pix 7 man. peace

Reviewer: XxRouninxx - - June 6, 2007
Subject: what about
let it rock.. the way that bassline kicks in then they just do a good ol dead jamout, this is the only time they played this song as the grateful dead, and i think its awesome

Reviewer: gharris5730 - - March 10, 2007
Subject: Great Show!
I attended this concert in 74 and must say that it was terrific! Sat in the 3rd row center stage and was hooked on the band forever! The Jai-Alai Fronton held about 4000+ people and it was a great place for a band like the Dead. I miss hearing their music!

Reviewer: boovay - - December 5, 2006
Subject: cds
how do i get these onto cds, if anyone knows, email me

Reviewer: PanamaFredd - - September 19, 2006
Subject: I'm on nitrous
phil and NED rules!! HEY wheres 9/11/74, ?
Seriously you cant even stream it any more.
Up and vanished.
This dark star seems huge, I'm standing on the 2:43 mark.

Reviewer: rollandfin - - April 10, 2006
Subject: yummy
This show is just the sweetest 74, it is just a ripe Mars Hotel, With Keith plugged in and the Band Light and Tight, the sound has added spring to it, Ship Of Fools At it's Finest and a DS sequence choosen 4 so many roads, this road lead to the U.S. blues, unexpected in the best of ways.

email me at fieldhouse11277@hotmail.com happy to share with good listeners.

Reviewer: jfk62 - - April 8, 2006
Subject: Grateful for gdlive.com
The very good sounding SBD is still ready for you to download - I did and am glad I found it. the sound is mellow, but still moves and grooves.

Reviewer: eyeprod - - April 7, 2006
Subject: love this show
yeah, it's a pretty slow show, but i absoultely love this tape. one of the first i aquired that i really loved. this is the laid back tape i throw on regularly.

Reviewer: gphishmon - - March 7, 2006
Subject: 1974 Overrated?
After listening to this whole show and also 3/23/74 (DP24), I'm beginning to think so. The first set is unimpressive except for the WRS>China Doll. The first 4 songs of the 2nd set are equally unimpressive. Worse, between sets, there's all that horrific, hideous noise (Phil & Ned, "Seastones")! What were they thinking to torture their fans like this?

On the other hand, the Dark Star>Spanish Jam is among the greatest jams of all time. All the hype already said here about this jam is true. Get this show, skip the Phil & Ned noise, crank up the Dark Star, and just listen. Your life will be changed for the better.

There are a couple of audience patches, but they don't hurt too much. There are none during the big jam. Outside of those patches, which don't sound that bad, it's a pristine board.

I can't give this show 5 stars, because it really has nothing that impressive outside of the Dark Star>Spanish Jam and maybe the WRS>China Doll. I can't give it any less than 4, because the DS>Spanish is that good all by itself. DS>Spanish SIX stars, rest of show 3, Phil & Ned minus 100,000.

Revised to say: Sorry if I offended some people who actually LIKE Phil & Ned, but it reminds me of some alley cats I've heard in late summer. In fact, if you play it really loud, you'll get some toms right outside your door.

Revised again: I hope people can see the humor behind the harsh-sounding words here.

Reviewer: Jock Phillips - - December 6, 2005
Subject: Come on everyone
From the first note of "Ramble On Rose" straight through, this show is beautiful. Delightfully strange sound quality--Jerry's voice way up in the mix. Prime Dead all around.

And in response to the Seastones hating that was going on--cool it down. Hideous noise? That's Phil you're talking about. Skip "One More Saturday Night" if anything. I, for one, love "Seastones" and I'm wearing this shirt to show it.

Reviewer: Cumberland56 - - October 21, 2005
Subject: Dark Star Jam---US BLUES
this jam is hot..I have listened to show after show after show.....THIS IS A TOP TEN JAM PERIOD...

Reviewer: psymon - - September 14, 2005
Subject: Overrated? Not!!
One of my long-time favorite shows. How anyone could think that Jerry's playing in To Lay Me Down is flat and lacks sparkle is completely baffling to me. Au contraire, I think his solo is one of his best short soloes ever, full of playfulness and passion. The whole show has a unique relaxed, effortless feel. I do prefer the audience recording however.

Reviewer: L. Rosley - - August 29, 2005
Subject: Not a highlight of 1974
I agree on the overrating of this show. There are so many great shows in late '73-to-'74, but this isn't one of them. Jerry isn't having his best night on guitar for most of the night. There's no sparkle. To Lay Me Down is flat, lacking the guitar work of other performances. Weather Report is competent, but there are many better ones. A few bright spots, as others pointed out. Three stars is average, and this show is average. But average for the Dead is a high bar.

Reviewer: Lewis/Klitschko - - August 29, 2005
Subject: There's no sparkle?!
There's no sparkle?! How about the jam into "Ship"? That is one of the most sparkling pieces of loveliness ever!

That said, this show is overrated, chiefly because of things Latvala said about it. I think he reviewed all of '74 basically comparing it all to 6/23. Oh that was '77 and 5/8, but still he talked up this show a bit much.

Reviewer: Darkstarlsd - - August 16, 2005
Subject: Being ---Darkstar .......
The darkstar here is ..............I cant summon the words gracious enough....In the 74 series of Darkstars..You have to remember the boys are not in the old school Dead but trying to come to new levels.......This Dark Star is proof that the DEAD were trying to go further in there explanations of how a song can teach you, just from being- vibes......(cornny huh?) but those that try to enhance there self awareness through music- can understand this... Sit still in your domane and crank this to the max...let it over take you and you will see . MUSIC CAN TAKE YOU PLACES. ENJOY -Peace-Daniel.....

Reviewer: Elvis The King - - July 25, 2005
Subject: Very Good Plus Plus
This review is based upon the following songs that fit into one CD. They are Mississippi, Jack S, Let it Rock, Cumberland, China, Big R., Black P., Around, Spanish Jam, U.S. Blues, Sat Night, and Casey. In my own personal rating system I have classified this as Very Good Plus Plus. Above this rating is "Almost Great," "Great," and "Awesome." If the concert had a great Morning Dew or Wharf Rat I might give it a 5 Star. Instead I am giving 4 Stars. It is still worth your time downloading but there are better out there IMHO if your time is limited. In particular, for this time frame, go to five days earlier to 6/18/74. I have given that an Almost Great. I have reviewed it here and have given it
a 5 Stars. Click on my name to see that review if you are so inclined. Also, not "officially" reviewed yet, but in my own personal rating I have given 5/17/74 a Great. (I believe I got htat from GD Live). Both 5/17/74 and 6/18/74 are highly recommended along with the TV show Rock Star INXS, Alice In Chains, and Nathan Hot Dogs.

What is great about this concert is Let It Rock. As most of you know that is an anomaly. I have not heard them play it in any other concert. Like others, I have heard it played by the Jerry Garcia Band. Keystone Berkeley, Palo Alto
something or other, good times, long ago. Also great are Around and Around and Spanish
Jam. I am not a big fan of U.S. Blues but I really like this one.

Very Good Plus Plus. 4 Plus Stars.

Reviewer: mustabeenthedoses - - July 23, 2005
Subject: Dark Star
This Dark Star visually takes you right to the birth of our solar system, with all the gaseous planets just staring to take form and sprial around in the complete darkness of cold outter space, the the Spainish Jam that slowly melts out of the Dark Star starts to bring you back to reality and gives you back a sense of sainity, the US. Blues that follows rocks out and lets you know that you have arrived back to Mother Earth safe and sound and in one piece! Get this one! it's a mind bender!

Reviewer: BigJDogg - - May 6, 2005
Subject: Get this show NOW
First, let's talk about the Dark Star->Spanish Jam->U.S. Blues. The Dark Star does what Dark Stars did back then, it just goes out there in the best way possible, then into an intense Spanish Jam with Phil just dropping BOMBS all over the Fronton, and then a flawless segue into a kickass U.S. Blues to bring us back to Earth. Some of my favorite Dead right here. It's on the box set for a reason.

And the rest of the show is no slouch either. Nice WRS, Cumberland Blues, and everything else is played nicely. Get this show. It's the Grateful Dead! Great audio quality, too.

Reviewer: BustedFlat - - April 12, 2005
Subject: Keith
I've never been the biggest fan of Keith, but his playing on many songs here, is downright beautiful. Some other highlights:
- Jerry crackles on the Jack Straw.
- The Ship O' and Black Pete are gorgeous.
- Big River sizzles with some very tight drumming.
- Dark Star>Spanish>U.S. is very deserving of its inclusion on So Many Roads.
Highly recommended show.

Reviewer: Joe Shlobotnick - - April 11, 2005
Subject: Its a shame
If not for the noise reduction and the lack of clarity on the drums, I would have chosen the AUD source over this one. (See how spoiled we are thanks the archive?!?)

The AUD source has much more power than this source... many 74 SBDs seem to suffer from a lack of, I don't know the technical term, but uh... a lack of "oomph". The AUD source for this show has more "oomph", but like I said, I am not a fan of noise reduction. Makes a show sound like you are listening to it from under a blanket.

Performance-wise, I figure most folks know what this show is about. I first heard a portion of it on the Grateful Dead Hour in the 80's, and have always wanted a nice copy. This one will do (not being snobby, again, the archive has simply spoiled me!)

Reviewer: ben-hur - - April 7, 2005
Subject: my mom has this show
The china doll on this show is perfect. WRS-Let it grow as well. Black Peter is pretty damn good to boot. Shit the whole damn show rocks.
The tico-tico, (beer-barrel polka etc) is one of those little numbers that make each live show so unique (that and the wacked-out ridiculous stuff that bobby says sometimes) and a great reason not to skip "tuning" tracks. .
my mom really dug the pre-ship of fools jam so i gave her my copy of this show.

Reviewer: augustwest - - April 4, 2005
Subject: thank ya thank ya thank ya
sound quality is great, and a great show. one of the best of 74 if ya ask me. id just like to take the time to thank the people behind the archive. without you i never would have heard this show, or half the other ones i have.THANk YOUS ALL!!!!! ps...get this show

Reviewer: SweetPea_Humbee - - April 2, 2005
Subject: sweey mellow dead
wow! this show is reealy sweet. very transitive and spacey, then pure and mellow, the whole way through guided with the flawless musicianship only the boys can provide. A good show to listen to reealy blitzed out,.. or blissed out rather. sound quality is golden, the boys are dead on, and i am always and forever grateful! Thanks Jerry... ( get it now )

Reviewer: gemsing777 - - February 8, 2005
Subject: Woke up this morning...
I woke up this morning and wanted a 74 to listen to...For the spacey, fluffed out, tinkling, sprinkly jams the boys were doing at this time...I clicked on the Providence show, then I noticed I had it as a Dick's Pick...So I went up a show to this one...noticing the Dark Star-> Espanol Jam is on my Box Set...Crispy sound here plus a super rare Let It Rock make this worthy of a DL...wish they kept LIR in the repertoire longer. JGB always rocked that song!...Check this show out!

Reviewer: Stagger_Lee_of_terrapin - - January 21, 2005
Subject: smoker
This is one of my favorite shows of all time. Great dakr star>spanish>us blue. Also the leti t rock is sweet to hear. I suggest u get this its got some tight playing through out

Reviewer: juanie - - November 4, 2004
Subject: download, joy will follow
There seems to be some confusion - this dark star ain't no jam - it has lyrics. The next one (7/25/74), though longer, doesn't.

But onto the show! A great companion to 6/26 and 6/28 (dick's 12). Wonderful interludes - Let it grow->China Doll (one of only two), Jam->ship, dark star (one of 6 in '74)->spanjam->usblues. get it!

PS - nice AUD patchwork by someone!

Reviewer: flashbackmagic - - October 14, 2004
Subject: darkstar spanish usblues
yes this is on the so many roads boxset.
The US Blues was a real treat for me, coming out of spanish jam. I actually listend to this on my way to work, and figured I'd give the rest of this show my attention.

Just DL'd...some of the tracks have iffy sound quality. not nearly as nice as the peices on the box set. Still a solid show.

Reviewer: dcain - - September 11, 2004
Subject: Sound quality fun
Ramble On Rose, Garcia sounds like he is standing right next to you, and singing in your ear. A great experience. And then he reels off a beautiful solo....Weir's nutty little fills in the background....Phil's thumping.....Keith's tinkling....What a band.

Reviewer: LL Cool Rain - - September 1, 2004
Subject:
Burn this show to disk. I think it's brilliant.

Reviewer: sid weiss - - August 25, 2004
Subject: sound quality is ok
at 1st the sound quality is terrable and then it gets better after 2 -3 songs

Reviewer: mickey622 - - July 17, 2004
Subject: In The Top 10
I can't help bringing this one out when I want to sit in the back yard with a rum&coke. Great Row Jimmy, Jack Straw, Let It Rock??? Hello!...
Cumberland, To Lay me Down... all right, it almost sounds too mellow (except for LIR) but they're all played to perfection. The WRP suite is perfect.
The Jam into Ship of Fools is awesome.
The whole band is shining, but Keith is GLOWING in this show. Had to put it on the MP3 player so there was no break from cd to cd.
I disagree with Big ... about 5/14 being better because this show is great from beginning to end where as Missoula is up and down (though there are great moments).

Reviewer: dr. flashback - - July 12, 2004
Subject: Top Ten!
I agree with Mr. L, this could easily be a top 5. But the incredible Playin>Scarlet>Playin from 8/6 just has to put that one over the top. This show is a very special show tho, where the "X" factor is there is abundance. Every song has that sweet flavor, and every note played with conviction. Jerry gives us a great Cumberland, Half Step and a Black Peter. Plus a rare-only time Let it Rock. The jam into Ship of Fools is a masterpiece in miniature. And I believe the Dark Star Jam was selected for the Many Roads box set, yes? Phil takes the lead on Spanish Jam and drives the band into the best? version of 1974 (see also 7/19 and 7/29). Great Wall of Sound, and a show you'll never get tired of. Recommended!
Dr. Flashback ;-)

Reviewer: chinacat72 - - July 8, 2004
Subject: I'm Chevy Chase, and you're not
Hey now, this show is way better than one star. The second set alone blows away many whole shows. The Jam > Ship of Fools is a VERY unique for the GD way to open a set. This reminds me of how the Phil Lesh Quintet opens a set.

The highlight? Dark Star Jam > Spanish Jam > US Blues. This is a Dark Star w/o words --more "jamband" foreshadowing. Check it: *the best Spanish Jam of ALL TIME!** Phil absolutely tears it up. The segue to US Blues is a one-of-a-kind, can't-buy-it-in-a-store freakish wonder. You gotta hear it! The kinda music that makes a non-deadhead go "OH!" with a figurative lightbulb over their head.

Reviewer: Big House - - June 28, 2004
Subject: Jane, you ignorant slut
I'll be the contrarian, and present the counterpoint here. I don't like this show. Yeah, on paper, the song selection looks good. Sure, the sound quality is nice. But the performances just sound strained. The usual uncanny sense of communication just isn't there. Listen to this, then listen to Missoula 5/14/74 -- light years apart in terms of musical telepathy between the boys.

Reviewer: Franchi$e - - May 11, 2004
Subject: Desert Island Show
There is nothing about this show that isn't phenomenal. Sound is great. So much sweet and mellow jamming (To Lay Me Down; China Doll; Jam-> Ship O'Fools;), and then some real intensity at the ends of Let it Grow, Dark Star, & Uncle John... This is a show that keeps on giving - Will it cure cancer? Maybe.

Reviewer: A.J.K. - - April 19, 2004
Subject: One of Dick's Favorites from '74
"The Miami Jai-Alai Fronton show of 6/23/74 is one of my favorite shows of the year. It almost could be the best of the year as a show unto itself. (I am aware that 7/19 and 8/6 present a fairly strong alternative to this)" -Dick Latvala

Notes

MSR>DAT>CD w/ MAC>DAT patches