There are some parts of this show that measure up just fine against years that everyone would consider to be stronger than '86. Great set 1. Not sure what lobster12 is talking about below - I think this is a great setlist, particularly set 1. Stranger, WLAF and Let It Grow are all good - funky Brent keys and rocking Jerry guitar.

Overall great sound and nice first set - but second set is a bit wobbly. While I love Keep on Growing this version is discombobulated, Lost Sailor doesn’t gel very well and Terrapin has some issues. Some chinks in the armory following the set break for sure, but still love the band! 5 for sound + 3 for performance = 4.

That Keep On Growing is a gem. This is a great ‘86 show, and that’s an awesome thing to say.
Keep on growing. We need more positive loving, compassionate, empathetic, and progress oriented people affecting tangible change and forward motion of society, politics, work, love, life. Spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically. By alchemical means of full comprehension of Logic > Grammar > Rhetoric, With able Sight/Sound/Smell/Taste/Touch and proper education in Arthimatic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy that is the WAY of opening to genius. And boy does the ‘Dead make a great soundtrack! I like this show a lot and I appreciate the setlist and how good everyone is performing considering the contexts of the times in 1986. I really think that Keep On Growing is something special.

Much love, NFA (~);} 2404

great show. I wasnt there and just went to listen today for valentine's day.....of course it is a Charlie Miller......which nmakes me wonder will Charlie Miller be in Chicago???:)

Most of us know due to jerry's physical condition alot of 86 shows find him struggling. This isn't one of those shows. A great performance and incredible C Miller sound quality.

Frightening weather, one of the ten or so best shows I saw, although only saw about 85. Fraught with peril for me as I came from work, still in a tie, one of the Oakland brothers remarking to me outside, "Man you one of the cleanest Deadheads I ever seen." The peril comes in with respect to no less than 20 trips around the Kaiser in search of my girlfriend Caroline in fearsome weather. Finally after hearing the music start I figured she had stayed at our home in SF and I gave up the ticket and headed in. Remember this was Valentines Day. Turns out she was there and I had some small hell to pay when I got home, the show was so good front to back that it assuaged my Caroline fears during the set. Also remember how funny it was after Kaiser shows to see the Heads riding the Bart sitting cross legged in the aisles like "experiencing the ride man."

according to deadbase, this is the second to last "lost sailor" ever played. for me, the only part of set 2 that sags is "lady with a fan", where jerry forgets the words. the wharf rat>throwin stones segue feels a little rough, but the songs themselves are excellent.

Proof that even the most dismal of years can have strong performances. Plus excellent sound quality. Worth a listen.

86 shows tend to be stronger in the 1st set than the 2nd. However, this set 2 features an incredible Wharf Rat, top notch GSL and strong Throwing Stones. The weakest moment is Terrapin, with Mumbles Garcia coughing up some unintelligible lyrics for half the song.

One of the highest quality recordings on the Live music archive.

I have been searching for this complete show for almost 10 years but could only come up with the 1st set.

This was during the floods of '86 and a bunch of us who had tickets to the show were all hanging at a friend's house in Woodacre getting ready to head over early due to the ferocity of the storms. We were listening to KFOG on the radio which was giving out periodic annoucements on the situation. The last thing we heard was that both the Golden gate and the Richmond/San Rafael bridges were closed down to high winds, Hwy. 37 was closed due to flooding and the City of Oakland (as well as everywhere else) was experiencing severe power outages.

Then the power went out! We were bummed at the prospect of being stuck and the venue being out of power and were debating the issue and assuaging our mental anguish when the power came back on momentarily. We of course forgot to turn everything off and KFOG came in loud and clear.

"The Richmond/San Rafael bridge is now open. The Grateful Dead has brought in back up generators and the show is going on as scheduled."

Needless to say we were already out the door and in the car trying to hit the bridge before it closed again.

As for the show, the Kaiser was my playground as a kid and still a favorite. The place seemed like it was half empty. I know of many people who opted not to make the journey, and of course what taper in their right mind would bring out their E.Q. in the downpour. The lights went down, Stranger started up and then something happened that I can't explain (doesn't it always;-)).

All that water/moisture and the wet soggy people heating up making things steamy. During the second set there were actually clouds forming and water falling like rain from the vibration of the notes inside the hall.

Most amazing!

one of those set lists that makes you scatch your head and wonder why people are so high on it. Don't be fooled. well played and fun to listen to. i bust it out from time to time and enjoy it.

very, very, very hot show. outstanding sailor>saint

An excellent show... I've had a bootleg Italian CD of it for 14 years & its good to see it here in the archives for everyone.
-chuckleberry52@netscape.net

I love this show! I wore out my tape many years ago and would love to have it again. I sure hope someone can track this down and set it up here again...???...I'm giving it 5 stars based on my old cassette - very large show!

After a week of holiday shows the boys really had fun with this one. After I flew back home I decided to quit my job and tour. That lasted until of coarse Jerry went into the coma right before Ventura then Shoreline.

I was in my usual 1/3 back from the stage to the board, slightly to the left, at all these shows; were Chinese New Year's, Mardi Gras, and St. Valentine's Day all fell together in one week.
Most of it is good, but of course Phil conducting by waving his bass up and down to get the tempo for the last if I'm not mistaken, Keep on Growin', which was even better than the one I saw at the Greek !
I recommend this highly. I'll write more later.