Flashes of brilliance in the middle of blander spots, halfway through a run that got better each day. This is early in the dualing-keys era, when Vince was new and Hornsby was slumming it alongside (in his 3rd show as a touring member). This date is particularly heavy on the Vince - Jer follows him for much of the show. It's also something of a Phil show. If you like that focus, he adds a lot. The show is best known, however, for the long Foolish Heart jam. Hmm, a 6-day run at MSG. W31st & Penn Station must've seemed a bit w~e~i~r~d for a week.

First Set. Mississippi is a solid enough opener, but the boys really warm up when Hornsby digs right in to Minglewood - the first of three flashes of brilliance in the set. Picasso is decent, but there are better examples from the tour. Loser has way too much Phantom of the Opera from Vince. Although he also dominates Row Jimmy, here Jer plays off of him and throws out a great version. Jer tries the same on To Lay Me Down, following Vince but also trying to leave it all onstage. Promised Land is one of the best of the year because there's great Bruce, Phil goes crazy, and with extra band members it takes longer for everyone to get theirs in. A set that hints how the run is going to improve.

Second Set. The top half is shaky, but interesting to those examining Vince's development (especially on Eyes where he heavily stylizes and the boys roll it out to an 18-minute palate-cleanser) and because Phil is in hyperdrive. The most interesting part is the jam that ends a 19min Foolish Heart (and overshadows the shaky verses). It's a sorta-unique one-off, perhaps more of an historical tick-lister than a true highlight. Drums is one of the best of the tour. The last half of Other One is spot-on with a full-stop on the Wheel segue. After a concise version of that song, Hornsby revs a unique Sugar Mag jam away from Bobby ... and hands it to Jer. Hornsby gets the accordion out for the encore.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: C
Overall = 3 stars

Highlights:
New Minglewood Blues - energized by Hornsby, the band warms up
Row Jimmy - tour's best; better tempo
Promised Land - great Bruce, Phil goes crazy, check the ending
Sugar Magnolia - great jam section to end a fine sequence

SOURCES: The miller_12885 runs slightly fast for the First Set (needing -0.5% pitch correction), but runs way fast for the Second Set, needing -2% correction. Otherwise, it sounds better than the official release in many places, and has smoother trannies than the otherwise equivalent Richey-11811 (which has the best presence but more noticeable hum in the 1st Set). There's a great MTX (hansokolow_96156). The miller-tetzeli_fix source has been too EQd, apparently. Road Trips v2n1 has: Mississippi, Picasso, To Lay, Eyes, Estimated, Foolish & Knockin' (mostly bonus tracks). It isn't necessarily the better source for these but it is pitched correctly. It misses most of the highlights in order to place the Foolish Heart jam in context (which is also on So Many Roads, in edited form).

I sang a little while and then flew on.

This was my first show.

Minglewood is awesome, some great Jerry & Bruce moments.

Picasso Moon is the best ever played.

To Lay Me Down is special.

Promise Land is intense. This was the first and last time I saw Jerry dance in person. He stopped his feet and banged his head.

Eyes is incredible here. I'm guessing that's hornsby

Highlights: To Lay Me Down, Foolish Heart

Really good show, amazing, wonderful sound quality, Have to agree with other reviewers ....sure sounds like a matrix. Couldn’t figure it out till I saw at the end of the reviews, “Via Charlie Miller,”....Usually a good thing. Have to agree with the reviews concerning Minglewood, Row Jimmy and Promised Land....better than average... And oh yea...” Best Picasso Moon Ever,” Don't usually go for the best ever stuff...but in this case....I might have to. Jam out of Foolish Heart very interesting, as one review stated, “Era-relevant jam,” would be appropriate. Actually the whole show I would call very representative of the best of the 90's Dead, a little light on the Jerry, heavy on the other stuff, like 2 keyboards...Like Phil all over the place,( In a really, really good way)....Like Bruce on the accordion on Knockin' on Heavens Door. A really good 90's show cause the Jerry that's there is as powerful as ever. Don't of course know if it really was a Brent memorial show, but if it was they did it up good... The To Lay Me Down, And Knockin' On Heavens Door are obvious and deeply stirring...but what about Foolish Heart? Brent was by all accounts; insecure, afraid of love, and had no clue as to how many deeply loved him, and would have done anything to help him....Does that qualify as a “Foolish Heart?” And oh yea...Eyes starts out sorta slow and well...boring....and before I realizing it, it turns into this amazing piece of improvisation....Funny how the Dead can do that. Thanks for reading my review.

Good enough to be used on the SMR box set. Not that it's a definitive representation of all dead music, but this is a definitive jam of that era. I dig the OtherOne tease in this jam that resolves after drums/space with a pretty satisfying version. The whole band gets quiet and let's Phil blow the doors open at 01:26 or so (stream timer), then Dan Healy takes a dump on Bob's vocals...that's the kind of sh*t that could get a guy fired. Oh right, it did.

Update: Ok, so 9-10-91 IS the best post brent first set. But this one does not start off slowly. Nothing to complain about the Halfstep, although nothing to particularly rave about. Minglewoods are perhaps a dime a dozen, but this one rocks. As i said earlier best Picasso Moon, best To Lay Me Down; top 3 Promised Land's.



There I said it. Best ever Picasso Moon. Amazing To Lay Me Down. There is even something special about Promised. The Foolish Heart Jam is unique and fantastic.

Some really great tracks on this one, Hornsby is definitely the real deal. You can hear him quote Keith Jarret's famous "Koln Concert" in the beginning of the jam after Foolish Heart, fantastic.

This run is a very strong one, and perhaps the strongest post-Brent. The setlist here is a lot of fun, with a lot of surprises, as was the norm for the 90s. The first set is a little rusty - Jerry's playing well but the singing is pretty poor and the band seems to be a bit out of sync. They pull everything together for a fantastic To Lay Me Down - one of the best of the post 1980 versions - and get ready for the second set. The second set is very good. Energy is high and things seem to gel a lot more. The eyes>estimated>foolish>jam is a very tasty treat, and the Sugar Magnolia does not disappoint. The sound here is strong and well-balanced, and at times sounds like a Matrix.
1st set = 2.5 stars
2nd set = 4.5 stars
Sound = 5 stars
overall = 4 stars

This was a beautiful tribute to Brent. Jerry laid it out for our dear brother, who went to an early rest. I sought out this song, because my dear friend died this past week and I wanted to pay him tribute. As I listened to the band play this heartfelt version, I felt how much a wonderful friend impacts your life. Live on Brent... and Steve!

I stumbled unto this show about a year after it was played. Definely lost in the MSG mix with 9-20-90 etc. etc. But listen to it, it is sweet and the boys are oh so tight, with hornsby blastin through the such standards as 1/2 step,minglewood, lay me down, eyes etc. etc.
check it out you won't be let down.

Four stars, no show is ever perfect...that's what makes it so perfect.

Cheers.

Where do I click to stream ? ?
I thought that this stuff was available for streaming and yet the only options seem to be "batting average" and "help with downloads". Am I missing something? (other than the spectacular music)

BH is all over the place for the entire run except here. Strange. Great show though. Obviously gets lost in the shuffle from the othe nights, but i love the Eyes>estimated>foolish placement.

Revise: Played this on better speakers and I'm getting Hornsby. Also of note, an amazing post Foolish jam before drums. have had that on a loop for a week.

Another awesome sounding MSG 90 show. 4+ stars.

Sure sounds like a matrix mix to me..??..

To Lobster12, I am hearing lots of Hornsby on this night. He takes solos on 1/2 Step & Minglewood. 3:45 into Minglewood he has the crowd in the palm of his hand.

the entire run at the garden was amazing. the band clearly steps up after brent's passing. 90-91 were such great years for the band musically and these 6 shows were some of the best. it is so great to hear these again. thank you archive.

This show gets the least pub of the MSG run, but is full of extended jamming and treats. Eyes runs near 20 min here, and it is the superior Other One of the two played at MSG. Foolish Heart is also played in a lengthy, experimental version. Like all of the 90 MSG run, the band is relaxed and aiming to explore new territory.

This whole show is pretty solid - very nice Eyes > Foolish Heart. To Lay Me Down, though, is the real reason to get it. Very powerful stuff. As I write this review, it is the 9th anniversary of Jerry's passing into the cosmos. I am listening to To Lay Me Down and thinking of the old man - still missing him.

I have always cherished this show due to the upbeat version of foolish heart. the recording is good, little hiss present but the levels are a little muddy, especially during 'eyes'. hornsby seems to be turned down in the mix as not to hurt vince's feelings. ;)

first of the 3 shows i saw at msg.....some how it seemed like a farwell to brent show....first to lay me down since he passed....very heartfelt and emotional singing by jerry....promised land to close.....knocking on heavens door pretty muched capped the evening....great quality....9/20/90 was the best of the 3 nights, but there where moments during this show that made me weep and jump for joy at the same time...funny how the dead always had that effect on people.....peace shmev