This show certainly stands out to me for no other reason other than Jerry's brilliance. Jerrys playing is crisp and sharp. His voice sounds fantastic. It does crack a bit during a most inspired Fire. Maybe a lot of the energy comes from playing in NY. I know the boys played with lots of it on the East coast. The shows from 81 right up to maybe late 83 are really before Jerry's bad habits started to show (other than his massive weight gain)and began to take him over, and boy does he make the most of it. Often overlooks by some of the bands glory years I think 81-83 are really worth a second look. Personally I think the boys are having a blast without Dirty Donna croaking out here old Hippie wales. In the 70's the boys were young and having fun. Jerry's face melting playing proves that. But I rarely find myself listening to anything during the Keith and Donna years. For me an absolute taint on an era that otherwise would have been the boy's best hands down. That's why I love the 80's so much. No Donna!!!! The 90's had some moments but for me 80-86 is the boys best years. Don't get me wrong, I love the 90's. That is when I started to go to shows and I am forever thankful to have seen the Dead about 35 times from 90 to 95. But just when I was getting into the band, their better days were clearly behind them.

Was there. A stand out amongst many at MSG. The set list, when compared to other early '80s, is an absolute wish list - a dream come true. But the recordings are a travesty. NAK is best of the bunch. Sometimes the lights all shining on me .. other times I can barely see. ...

Hey now, I had just graduated from college. 200 teachers were laid off. I took a job at some kinda youth camp with juvinile delinquents livin in teepee's. so wiith a backpack and $100 of borrowered money I was hitchhiking from Ohio to just over the Pa. line. I got a ride in a VW Beetle with an African driver who worked at the U.N. He had been busted with a pistol and weed in Ohio. Once the cops identified this diplomat, he was released and his small sack and pistol were returned. He was so excited he had to tell me the whole story. "I'm going to Midtown NY. I knew GD were at the garden the next night, so I blew off the teepees and went to NY. Bought a ticket at box office next day. Great show. Fans were so excited by the entire event,I was living a midwestguy dream; Grateful Dead at Madison Sq Garden.
At the end of the show all the fans on the floor were standing on their seats screaming for more. Encore was Touch of Grey, my first time to hear it. Oh what a time! When I got down to change, I hit the Holland Tunnel, hitched home,explaining about blowing off the $20,000 yr job, and how I'd repay that $100 I borrowed.


Ah those were times not soon forgotten. I know some might say REVEIW the show, song by song, Hey Dead shows were always more than a concert ticket. They were life changing events.

You can get the encore from the sbd...

The Touch of Grey encore is missing.