Even as a Sound Board junkie
I really get fired up by a decent Aud.
mainly because it is the best representation
of being out in the middle of a show.
"Virginia Philly's start looking good!"
Many a tape in this quality range back in the day.
"TEA right here in Virginia where the little girls know what to do"
B.E. Women-Never ever get tired of this one.
Another in a long line of epic Robert Hunter lyrics.
Can't tell me Donna Jean wasn't sweet on this tune
I dig Brent but give me the sister moaning low..
"What you are,, and what your meant to be..."
One of the things I liked about Hunter's lyrics
was I could explore the song in my mind
as the band played it
and depending on my mood
the crowd, world events
things going down at the time
anyway, Cassidy seemed like one of those tunes
that the band actually jammed more on in the 80's
almost how they used Let it Grow as a launch pad.
There is a sweet compact jam here in the Cassidy
with even the rhythm section getting busy.
West LA always an under the radar tune
kinda like a bent low down shakedown
very much a leave it to your imagination dance tune
"I didn't feel good about it, didn't have one good thing to say"
Jerry shreds it here and there and the band dives right in.
West-LA got some love as 2nd set tune for 50th anniversary.
Bucket>Deal-Not sure how those work together
kinda a ying-yang thing I guess?
Bucket here is a better tune before it got the MTV makeover
and DEAL is DEAL --One of the best all out dance songs!
Brent gets some slashing in on the keys..
Don't mess with DAY JOB
Still say Garcia enjoyed the tune
and therefore we should have left well enough freakin' alone.
(My preference slot for this tune would be 1st set closer)
Playing>Fingers-two songs that really flow very well together.
(Solid Playin with decent Fingers transition)
then they head for Drumz sooner rather than later.
This is one of the last tours before things got really crazy
so less pressure on the band to 'move those refrigerators '
Tight Truckin>Bluesy Spoonful
Garcia in sweet voice for Wharf Rat
Brent very active cutting across the grain
Band taking it to a nice crescendo
Sugar Mag Jam >Good Lovin' -
(somebodies setlist on their ticket got perplexing)
Either tune would have worked to close
Good Lovin' is a little more call and response.
Bobby's rap about the world, "We are fu@ked"
That is why I put all my hope in JESUS.
"all other ground is sinking sand"
e) U.S. Blues for the J Edgar's in Richmond!!!

First set is fairly good by '83 standards. Stranger cooks pretty nicely; after that, everything is solid but nothing spectacular and they crank it up a notch for "Deal". The second set started with an almost obligatory (at the time) "Day Job", and then the boys settled down to business And just for the record, while "Day Job" might not have been among the Dead's best songs, it was by no means bad enough to warrant all the abuse it got. It's certainly better than "Easy Answers", "Samba In the Rain" and some of the other utter shit the band was introducing the last couple of years. Anyway, the second set really takes off during the "Playin'" jam and holds at an above average level for the rest of the evening. Great "Sugar Mag" tease before "Good Lovin'". Solid audience recording that holds up to repeated listenings, but nothing essential. I'd recommend this one primarily to fans of early 80s Dead. PS- I have never seen a soundboard of this show.

Check out Bobby's James Bond jam during Playing In The Band...cm

I give this show 3.5 stars overall, rounding up to 4 because Richmond was one of my favorite places to see shows. It was a cool venue with excellent acoustics, and the free-for-all open floor. This show was on my birthday, which was always fun. Energetic Stranger opener, good first set through Cassidy, after that it peters out a little. Second set Playin', Crazy Fingers, Spoonful are all excellent.