great two night performances, branford really adds another level to the shows.

Branford !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a great show !!!!!!!!!!

I had great time at this show it was like the old days.This show was good but can't wait for furthur. Saw the Dead in meadowlands with new riders. 9/2 /78 and havent heard better since. I think furthur will be great

I'm 15. and I am pretty much obsessed with the Grateful Dead... I listen to dead shows where Jerry is present, meaning 67-'95; Recently, I got into Ratdog, and for the past few years saw Phil and Friends once. and saw the dead once, and planning on going to Further.
Now listen, I am a dead head, but i am also a huge Railroad Earth hobo, Cheese Head, Phish Phan, Umphan, Bone head, and recently, if possible Further head. Haha.
Getting to see this show in 2009 was INSANE. My first time ever seeing everone except for Phil. Saw Phil and Friends... I'm a active member on Ratdog's .org message board, but haven't even gotten to see jay, robin, kenny, MK, cause I saw Bobby and Jeff with the Dead on this date... 4/28/09 Izod Center.
It was INSANE. Nothing like being at a real shakedown. And believe me it was a shakedown. Got hectic in there, but pleasant vibe the whole time. A few tanks. Not anything TO hardcore. Of the expected.
And the playing was insane! Threw out the whole show I was bugging out at its beauty and intensity. Thanks so much tapers, I could of gone forever.
-Tyler

I was born in 1993, way too late to have been able to actually see the Grateful Dead in concert, but this show showed me that not only do these guys still have the spirit in them that they had 40 years ago, but it also showed me the sense of community which could be created through music, the kind of community that made the Grateful Dead continue to thrive for 30 years. Thank you Bob, Phil, Warren, Mickey, Bill, Jeff, and Branford for changing my life.

BEAUTIFUL I was there and it was a beautiful experience which I will treasure forever. The culmination of 40+ years playing together. THESE ARE THE DAYS OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD. LONG LIVE THE DEAD!!!!!

I've been looking for the box to check to give the show six stars!! Well, I guess I'll just have to do it right here ****** Why six stars??
Well a show can only earn 5 stars. The extra star was earned cause i was sober at the show and will remember it!! 5 1/2 years and going!!
I've seen several 5 star shows, 9/10/90, comes to mind the hornsby/vince shows, the spectrum unbrokenchain show and the vegas dead shows i saw had some gems too. I can see this show making it into a top 25 all times best shows, along with 9/10/90. IMHO, I think Branford knew the Dead music better this time than the other times he played with the band. 4/29/2009 ranks a little below this show, mostly because of set list. The msg show only issue was the lack of Branford!!! And I do hope Hornsby appears at a show or two. But, my real dream would be a 10 show run at msg, with Branford every night!!!

First saw them in 1989. 35-40 shows including Phil and Friends. I'll see them 5/10 and so have been listening to every show on this tour in anticipation.

When Jerry died I knew a particular and unique form of human happiness was passing from the earth for me. It still makes me grieve. Stupid drug addict genius, may you rest in peace.

Nevertheless, and in spite of Bob's blatant and obvious flaws (just sing from the heart subtly, you showboating ding-dong), this new music is bringing me great joy. There truly will never be another band like this. We are lucky to see and hear them live again.

Yes, I get very annoyed by 5 star ratings for every show, when it is clear that many shows are less than such. Believe me, I saw some seriously boring shows in my time. But I also saw shows that were better than the best worship services I've ever been to - when "lovers come and go but the river roll, roll, roll" was a hymn, Scripture. I tell you - and I'd give my leg, even my Johnson, to return just for 10 minutes, to the perfect, utterly perfect and timeless, perfect and timeless care-free happiness of 1990, high as I could get get, with good friends nearby, job gleefully abandoned, enough money for the next month or two and no more, and then suddenly they were playing Wharf Rat just when you prayed they would. "I'll get up and fly away!" Hell, yeah, I will! By God, we still might just get up and fly away.

I'm convinced that 100/200/500 years from now people will look back on this band and say, that's when a new form of musical consciousness was born. Sure, Jazz is better at improv. Yes, Classical is more sophisticated in its formal structure. Yes, the Smashing Pumpkins in 1993 would have blown them off the stage like a bunch of tired drunk old ladies. Yes, Bob is Bob, may he be forgiven. But no one ever, ever has taken risks that these fucked-up goombas. And there is no Jazz or Classical combo on earth that could play "King Solomon's Marbles" and "Smokestack Lightning" with equal integrity and intensity. Or this "Bird Song" and "Lovelight."

The Grateful Dead are Dead. Long live the Grateful Dead!

So a thousand bows to you, tapers! May you receive the karmic rewards you deserve. I am forever Grateful for your efforts! Thank you archive.org.

Love and Peace to all!

Rev. Chris Bell
uusantarosa.org

I wish I was there -- I've been following the whole tour on LMA and anxiously awaiting each new show to get posted. My little brother was at this show and had backstage access. He tried to open a curtain (to the stage!) and as the security guard was stopping him and my brother was asking "why can't I go there," a guy walks by and high-fives him and says "just 'cuz" -- it was Phil, headed out on stage.

Anyway, this show ROCKS. Definitely one of the best of the tour so far, IMHO.

I'm looking forward to The Gorge -- only show I can get to on this tour. But meantime, I'm lovin' the tapers for bringing all this to us so quickly and with such high quality. THANK YOU!!

Robert--yes, great recording of a great show. For my experiences/pics that night as well as 10 other shows, catch my tour journal at www.trixter-fox.livejournal.com. It's about The Dead, and a whole lot more.

I was at the show and enjoyed it but founded a bit too jazzy and spacey for my tastes. The artistry was great, the whole band was in a good groove and lots of great moments however. Listening to this recording and hearing the tunes again gave me another perspective and more enjoyment from the show. Thanks for the recording, got me through the work day. THE DEAD RULE!! NOTHIN LIKE A DEAD SHOW!!!

thanks for another one Mr Krall, great job on this tour.
you know......I think I'll leave critiques of the band to all you really smart guys. Since they've been doing this for forty four years and I've only been watching them for thirty of those I'll gladly just soak up whatever they do however they do it and consider myself extremely lucky.

Loved the show and the recording. I'm psyched to see them live for my first time in Chicago...

What a great show, a great recording. Listen to the run from Milestones to Mr. Fantasy, they swing hard, drive the drums out into space and come back to rock out.

In the past, the drums didn't always work for me, but this run of shows has delivered a great drum sequence every night. And these two shows with Branford are killer. Who else is going to show up in the dates ahead? Cobham? Joan O? Carlos? It seems that they are rediscovering themselves by re-discovering the breadth and depth of their songs so some more historic sidemen(women) should be showing up too. If this is really all a run up to going back into the studio to record some new music, I'm actually starting to get excited about the idea. Bring it on!!!

This is the best show from any dead combo that I have heard since I don't know when.... a long time ago. Wowzers... Don't think twice. Do it!

The boys are LISTENING and jamming! :)

Come on people! I have read so many critcs of the band now that their touring agian and it's really getting strange. Especialy these folk talking about Bobby's singing sounding more 'leader' like! Are you kidding me?! What do you expect people the band has changed. I would highly suggest to sit back and enjoy it for what it is and that's an oportunity to enjoy great music from an aging band still belting out great tunes we all love. And if Bob Weir is going to stand up and be the "leader" well why the hell wouldn't he? Grief; it's like some folks think.."hum I heard a better China Cat in 79 well shit it's '09 sit back and chill...IT IS 09.

My brother won tickets from Q104.3 and they turned out to be great seats in my lucky section number 234.
Starting out with US Blues, then Scarlet Bagonias followed by Fire on the Mountain was a sick start to the concert.
The Band was totally into it as well as the crowd (except for the fact that the show was NOT sold out!).
The show was amazing, great vibes, and great jamming!
The Dead ROCKS!

I was there front and center. Vibe was out of control. My first GD concert live, and I pray that it isnt my last. To hear that music performed live was a real trip. Even though Jerry a"h wasn't there, his presence was definitely felt. Aside for Bob forgetting some lyrics and a few portions of the jams getting out of sync, they were stellar. I am blessed to have been a part of it. BTW- best live recording that I have heard. I've listened to the whole concert about 3 times since, and am still amazed at how beautifully they sang. WH singing High Time was just beautiful- I felt the same energy and spirituality that Jerry brought to that song in his version.

My First trip with the dead. ive seen phil and bobby play both awsome. Nothing compares to what went on that night in the IZOD the fire with Brandford and the Estiamted was amazing as well. i enjoyed the whole show including the drumz, everyone looked like they were having fun along with the crowd. MAGIC!!!!!!!!!

can't wait to go tonight in Philly.

Killer recording gents - thanks as always!! IMO Branford makes this show my fav so far of the tour. Love the Estimated > Milestones.

To all the pain in the asses out there, get off the computer stop writing reviews and get to a show.

If all you self appointed critics and greyheads spent as much time actually listining to this show instead of spending time thinking about who, what and where to compare it to, you just might realize that it could be the new Barton Hall.
GREAT job taping and mixing, sounds like you guys hacked into the soundboard. Thanks.

I was at the 4/28/09 show at the Izod. I have to say that I have seen the boys many times in my 52 years. This show while not as driving as some that I have seen, was nothing short of awesome. This was truly a sit back, spark up, mellow out and jam type of Dead show. We all need one now and then and this one flowed nicely. On a final note having Branford back on stage with the boys was a nice touch. Chill out and enjoy this one, I just wish I could give it more stars.

Now, I have always sort of liked the "subdued" kinds of shows that happen once in awhile. Where the impetus is not to see how fast, hard and loud they can play everything. Ya' know? This is one of those. Branford Marsalis is a joy to hear with these guys, always.

As for the negative critiques: You're entitled to your opinions and when a show is a stinker (trust me, there have been many since 1966) it should be noted. However, my opinion is that this is a fine show and worthy of 4 stars easy.

I'm "marking it an eight, Dude" just to counter the bullshit 2 that drug this fine show down. I'll download it and listen to it many times, I'm sure. You're entering a world of pain, Negative Nellies. Run along now, y'er Maypo is gettin' cold.

I'm one of the "Old Guys" and have mellowed with age, thank God. There's no reason for the Peanut Gallery to call for the 86ing of Phil's singing or for Bob to do things "their way" instead of how it was tossed around by the boys in the rehearsal rooms before the show. It's THEIR BAND, not yours. And, yea, like Phil's gonna' quit singing now anyway. I even like it.

You want something different? Ya' shoulda' spent 40 years playing and come up with whatever plunked your magic twanger, Froggy. These guys have earned everything they've got. Period. Dues paid in full. Rock on.

I'm with WHN on this one...Ungrateful Puppies.

I'm kinda pissed that they did Scarlet/fire without me....the band is playing great....Phil makes the band move and always will.........lovely recording and thank you.......the tapers get me through the hard times

This is an issue I have had sence Jerry died. and that is how Bob W. sings now. His yelling & screaming nvr bothered just like Donna's off nites or Jerry forgetting the lyrics. But i can't get passed how he put this strange inflection on every song he sings. Sometimes it takes me a minute or so to even follow him.

Before someone signs on to blast the previous reviewer for the negative review, I have to admit that I agree. I haven't listened to this show yet but from what I've heard of the tour so far has been very painful. In fact, I haven't made it through a whole show yet.
--ONE DAY LATER--
OK, after listening to the show I'm back on the bus. Even with Jerry they had their off nights too. The show is very listenable and Bradford is always a treat!

But enjoyable in its own right. Obviously that other date influenced the set list.

The sound on this recording is fabulous. And there's some pretty fine playing in here as well. I will listen to this again. Maybe right after I listen to 4/29.

Hey big Al did'nt your mother ever teach you that "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all".I've been following the boys for thirty years and never looked back.I caught the last two shows at the meadowlands from the floor and seeing 4 out of the 6 original members with 3 world class musicians playing songs that Jerry gave up playing in the sixties was something I could'nt beat with a stick,and being 45 years old and being one of the younger heads in the crowd tells me that I'm not the only one that still tours no matter who's playing with the core four.
I may be biased since I was at this show(as well as several this tour) but I've got to give this download 4 stars for sound quality and another four for the bands energy.P.S. anyone who says I suck for liking this music and would like to back it up I am Beach Haven Harry and I'll Be under the Spectrum sign after Friday and Saturday nights shows just like the last 30 Dead shows I saw there.

I was there in 90 when Branford played with the boys for the first time and it was life experience like no other!!! He fits in perfectly with the Dead and he raises the bar for the rest of the band. I can't wait for tomorrow night at the Spectrum!!!

Right from the get go -this show SMOKES! Branford! Yes! Where MSG was the most epic show of the tour to date, this show trumps it. Can't wait to hear them blow the roof off the old Spectrum in Philly (I am calling an Unbroken Chain for that night, btw - anyone remember that show in 95'?)

The boys are on fire, and I can't believe it.... Branford!! In my opinion whenever Phil sings Jerry's parts, be it Darkstar, Franklin's, Scarlet, etc. It gives me goosebumps. This is Phil's band, he truly steers the ship of inspiration and new generation vibrations. Thanks for the recording so soon, yesterday when I saw the setlist and Branford played on it I had to hear it A.S.A.P. THANK YOU!

Okay Kids - here's the deal - my buddy tooled in this morning with the 3 disc set from this show. I'll admit right up front when first I heard "The Dead" were going out on tour, and how, and with who, my very very first thought was: "Gad - not another Hi, I'm Bobby And I'm The Leader Now tour from hell." "Thanks", thought I, "but I'll pass. I've seen the real deal and in the very best and worst of times - I don't need to add more regurgitated mayhem, 'sides, there's so many tasty boards on the web."

I now in all sincere honesty have to have the stones to admit how splufastically wrong me and a bevy of like minded souls were about the commitment the Lads have brought to bear on this here caravan.

Listening to the show in glorious digitalis I am floored by how true, how grand, how emotionally these guys are playing. Yes, there are warts on a few spots. GOOD! It's not Britney Fucking Spears! When you play with Magic you will sometimes go, "Oops! That's wasn't quite it just there."

So. To cases.

First - To The Tapers - you are doing an AMAZING job! The quality of the Aud tapes on the board would rival any production "Live" Lp only a few years back and are better than some of the older boards. Your gifts freely shared must be acknowledged as the best quality auds heard in a very very long time. Kudos!

Second - No matter how long The Lads now practice they are NEVER going to go back to '74, ( Bobby's choice to bust old school on the ES 335 not withstanding ). These are MEN in their 50's and Phil at least in his 60's and they are NOT going to stroll out on a stage in 2009 with a skin full of acid and do 35 minutes of feedback. Thank God! We are hearing the BAND play better this tour than they played at least going back to later '89 early '90. which brings us to…

Third - This now, finally, joyfully, blissfully, a BAND. This isn't Mother Love's Travelling Medicine Ball Carny Freak Show of late years past with three guitar players, various keyboards, a girl singer or two, and Methuselah only know what for a vibe. Take a trip back, with Father Tyresius, to December of '73 when DG was out on some type leave or anther, grab an earful of 12-18-73, just for starters: 1 Lead guitar, 1 Rhythm guitar, 1 Bass, 1 Drummer, 1 keyboard. EPIC sound and traversing the tightest of the tight to the loosest of loose. And it only took seven years of touring to get there!

Warren Haynes isn't a hired hand on this tour. This IS THE BAND and let's all hope and pray to the Magic Gods that we are seeing the permanent line up. In the space of a single not yet over tour this band has made such an amazing sojourn of progress that to complain is to literally anoint one's self as the Lord Poohbah of All Knowing and drop your shorts at the same time. I know how to play this stuff and they're really playing the snot out of it. And they're only going to get Better at it! Wheeeeee!!

Fourth - It's typical - TYPICAL - that if you give a Dead Head everything he can possibly imagine he'll complain that it didn't come wrapped up in free-range hemp fabric grown on a organically sustainable collective in Oregon next to a hydroponics weed plot and "where's my miracle ticket, bra?" I've long been astounded that so many overly whiney, smelly, unkempt, thoughtless yahoos seem to delight in going to shows, stand on chairs incessantly yerfling their Wahibi Estrus Yawp while screeching "GRATEFUL" at the top of their lungs and know so very little including nothing at all about what the word "Grateful" actually means.

Kids, this - as much to the amazement of everyone as it can get - is the tour we have ALL longed and hoped for. It just keeps getting better, and better, and the end will be here soon enough. What possible good is served by hastening it along?

Therefore, I herewith present to all the whiners, the snivellers, ( the squeaky yipping pooch faced patchouli pups out there wanderign lost and letting everyone know about it ), your very own TAFKAP Get The Hell Over Yourself Award for Preposterous Toadying. You know who you are. And the next time you're at a show, we'll all be able to get a glimpse of your gob when in the middle of a tender soft moment you stand up and let loose - yerfling your Wahibi Estrus Yawp.

For myself, I can't wait to see what happens next! With so much magic, gotta be an Allgator out there somewhere...

I will be stoked if they play sets like this in Chicago-can't wait. A good thing to remember is you get out of a show what you put into it. The music that I have heard so far has been great, but just as important has always been the vibe from the kind people that you get to interact with during the festivities. This is the last bastion of peace and love, where smiles and hugs abound-mix that with the music and you have no one to blame but yourself if you go away unfulfilled.

I went to the 4/29 show with my 18 year old son and was blown away by the music. It was the first time my son saw the Dead and he is now hooked. However, the point I want to make is that Phil's message, made right after Eyes of the World, was incredibly important and should be repeated at every show. It was very poignant that Phil would talk about his experience as a liver transplant survivor and the courage, nobility and generosity of spirit displayed by the young man that was his donor. Phil correctly pointed out that he was there Tuesday only because that young man told his mother that if anything happened to him he wanted to be an organ donor. This was especially gratifying to my son who received a heart transplant 15 years ago this March. Much like Phil, my son is alive today due to the same type of courage, nobility and generosity of spirit displayed by a family in Wisconsin when their 9 year old boy was declared brain dead. Phil's comments made my son feel that he is not so different then the rest of us and that he can do anything in life.


While the entire band should be applauded for a great show, Phil deserves special mention for bringing this important issue to light. I hope that many people at the show follow Phil's advice and tell the person they love the most that if anything happens to them they want to donate their organs. Remember you can't use them in heaven. Thanks Phil.

Thanks again tapers for an excellent job. I was gonna buy the sbd download from the Dead's site, but with all the trouble folks are having, and considering the quality of this recording, I figured, why?

Here's what I did to break the show into 3 audio CDs:

CD I
FIRST SET:
01.US Blues
02.Scarlet Begonias
03.Fire on the Mountain*
04.Bird Song*
05.Stranger*

CD II
06.High Time
07.Lovelight*
SECOND SET:
01.New Potato caboose* >
02.Estimated Prophet* >
03.Milestones* >
04.drums > space* >

CD III
05.Dear Mr. fantasy* >
06.Dark Star* (second verse)
07.Eyes of the world*
08.Franklin's Tower*

All I'm saying is, if anyone who is being negative towards the shows on this tourr, and the band itself, obviously doesn't know much about the GD. You can claim to know, but just seeing them in the GD hayday does not make you an end-all-tell-all on the spirit of the band. If you read about the GD, jerry said that the band has always been a revolving door, always being open to new sounds and musicians, which is much of the same way that Phil feels. For jerry it was always about the music and this would make him proud of what he helped create. Jerry would never have wanted the music to stop, simply b/c he lived for the stuff. He would never have wanted the guys to stop being a band, plain and simple. If it pains you that much to listen to these recordings, then stick with what you once knew and listen to those of yesteryear. But i feel honored to be able to see these guys as a working unit again, as i was never able to be in that moment of the GD hayday.

My dad saw his first show in 78' and forever was he a deadhead. I grew up to the sounds of jerry and brent. I LOVE 80'S DEAD!! I grew up with the wonderful sounds of the grateful dead, and out of 82 shows that my dad saw i didnt see a single show when jerry was alive. But no matter what i have always listen. Now that im older Ive come to learn that the grateful dead was a band that kept on changing, and there is nothing wrong with that. But on easter sunday of 2009 i saw the dead come back to life. for the first time ever i saw the dead. and yes it was tough not being able to see the big guy on stage. but the music still is the same thing it was 10, 20, 30 years ago. Out on the edge of a cliff just trying to not let go. and thats what it has been and always be about.



These shows get better than ever everytime i listen. So to all the nay sayers...Its still the grateful dead. its just a new decade its just changed a little. be humble that us young kids get to even see a portion of what you saw. and feel that grove that they want to share with us so bad.

hahahah , that's perfect man ,.,,,,go back to Panic shows !!

the vaccum is between yer ears there Al buddy. give deaf taste to ole 12/16/78 if'n you're in need some spicing of that ScarletFire but leave the other suckers a lone.
Peace ow't

I read some of these reviews and find it hard to believe that half of these whiners ever even "got it" when Jerry was still around.If this version of the band bugs you so terribly then quit bitching and go back to Panic shows, you'll fit in better there with all that pent-up anger.

Lets see... BORING!!!! NO MAGIC as Phil Says... This is crap, and the only people who are digging this have never been to a Dead Show... Have the boys throw back like 10 REDBULLS each and maybe they can get an energy boost... you guys who are "Really into this" Suck!!

from us blues to franklins this show was out of control. bradford marsales was playing like hehas been in the band since the beginning. the milestones was epic. what im reallt trying to say u need to download this without even thinking about.

I'd write a review but mikedamone has already said everything succinctly and perfectly. Refer to his review for my thoughts exactly. ;)

FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST...WHY DID EVERYONE HAVE TO START YELLING FOR THE BAND TO LET PHIL SING? IT'S PAINFUL WHEN HE OPENS THAT YAPPER!!! I RIPPED MY EARDRUMS OUT WHEN THE FIRST WORDS TO THE ENCORE OF THIS SHOW STARTED!!!

In all seriousness, though (and in spite of how serious I actually was), the Greensboro show tapes got me pretty amped up but then there was a real tentative pullback in subsequent gigs as the band seemed to attempt to gel, musically reacquaint and pull it all together. There have, however, been major glimmers of brilliance in the jams. Warren is an unbelievable heir to the honor of playing and singing Jerry's notes (and has touches of the Brent rasp in that voice), Bob has been just downright nasty, Phil has been dropping bombs, the drums sound like they never stopped playing and Chimenti has been stellar. It all started ramping up right around the Worcester shows and then really took off the other night in NY. This show sounds like the full circle culmination of all of the tentativeness. Heavy on the jams. Jerry is smiling. Would love to hear Hornsby sit in for a gig or two for vocal chops alone, but Chimenti's making it really difficult to complain about the key work.

If you're going to pick a show to download in time for the weather to get warm, make it this one. If the jams bore you...steer clear...but if you're feeling nostalgic for hearing the tunes you love played like you loved hearing/seeing them, this is the real deal.

Jerry's gone and boy does that suck because this new tour has prompted me to dig deep into the gems of my collection and it has sure rustled up some memories of days and times long gone. Many naysayers consider a tour of this nature blasphemy due to the obvious omission of a man who can never be replaced. But people said the same thing when Pigpen passed and look what the band did after that. I consider this new project something which has amazing potential and should be allowed to evolve without being dismissed out of hand. It could become a beautiful thing. I'm keeping an open mind.

The recording gets a 5 star rating from me. The band? they'll only get four stars as long as Phil is singing more than Unbroken Chain and Box of Rain ;-)

nuff said download take a chill pill & ENJOY

many many splendid moments in this show

tnx U tapers !!!!!!!!!

I'm not attempting to blast anyone, but it seems to me that Dead fans are both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because of their discerning ears, attention to detail and unmatched love for "their boys;" a curse because it seems nothing is ever good enough.

My .02 is that this tour may not be wild and adventurous, but to describe it as "painful" because the boys aren't putting out 1973-esque craziness is simply being picky. Get over it.

BTW, I say this before listening to this recording; therefore, I won't offer a rating on this PARTICULAR recording. I'm speaking about the tour as a whole.

Wish I was there for 2nd night of Branford - apparently he's playing both nights? Branford was awesome, Warren's playing/voice really reminded me of g-d

Thanks for posting so quickly. I'm really enjoying hearing it again, though it seemed louder / more intense in person - no surprise :)

Yes, it is a relief after the 14th year since
Jerry departed to (finally) hear some stuff approaching serious respectability, yet.......
and even though I know they are NOT the Grateful
Dead and its important not to draw direct comparisons....still...even acknowledging they're
fun, lively shows worth attending....there is yet
nothing about this that "breaks through to the
other side".
There's just too much "Beach Boys' Reunion"
ambience to all this. It would be better if they
were trying really hard, and fell on their faces
in the attempt. Instead, we get very safe, competent, undemanding stuff - highly listenable,
nonetheless.
My guess is, eventually, when all the euphoria
wears off and a certain objective distance is
attained, the serious analysts among us will provide less giddy and more factual reviews.
There's nothing here that will withstand the
test of time, regrettably.

Thank tapers, this recording is great; cant wait to listen to the rest of the show. See you all in Philly!

After Saturday's timeless performance, it would be tough to have higher expectations but this delivers and more. Estimated>Milestones...DarkStar2, just mindblowing sick Stranger etc.

Inspired choice for the opener after Monday's Morning's F-U from Washington DC

nothing better than being caught in "the dead" flux. getting lost in jams that take you to another times forgotten space. but i will tell you where the four winds dwell. first, these are obviously the way songs were originally written- with drolling coureses and failing solos. but then came in a producer. second, this tour was seriously well planned to a T'.samson on sunday, morning dew is only for philly! smokestack. and truckin' encore in buffalo. [ everyone is leaving that town.] one of these shows will probably play exactly with dark side of the moon. third. you may have already noticed this government security thing. well take a wild guess folks??? you are all on video, and have been for years. four, don't expect a nitrous filled parking lot next tour. the unforgiving quest to be high, has lead to a mass of delinquent, money pirates, sequenced to the sound of the thousand stamping feet of the drowls. lastly, the time is now, not before. but i sure can't wait until tour is over------ so i can go back and listen to those songs the way they were produced in the studio. and most of all++++++ JERRY++++++. thank you-[bow]

Holy Cow! Coming together with an incredible set, and a good amount of noodle/space without freaking a brother out. Thank you to the tapers, the venue and of course the good 'ol grateful dead! oh my goodness.

branford sounds like he alwasys belongs. simply fantastic. i am a big fan of jazz=thank god the dead play a lot a jazz.
is JERRY still alive or what????????!!!!!!!
love what/how you guys are still playing after all these years.
couldn't have picked a better set list.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE/HEAR PHILLY SAT NITE.
GOD BLESS THE GRATEFUL DEAD

killer. a branford show. thankyou.

They wasted no time bringing him out and he just rocked this place - We were talking to Branford and egging him on and he pointed at us right before he started wailing in Fire.

Everyone was smiling especially Mickey and Billy, and our seats were off the hook. You could have gotten in for free and security was non existent to this, the parking lot had every good imaginable and the day was beautiful. Expectations were high after Sat which was one of the best shows I have seen by ANYONE let alone the dead but this just sizzled.

Play this with headphones on pushing this into your ears it is so hot. Hard to pick a favorite song, maybe lovelight or estimated I have no idea, Franklins encore?

I gave 5 to Wilkes Barre because I thought it was a really great show and much better than Albany but this will stand alone for a very long time - Have to scoot as I am on my way back to the floor for tonight.

An exceptional show, but I signed up just to say that the recording is AWESOME. I don't know what you guys are doing and what your rig is, but keep doing it. This is the best live non-board/matrix recording I've heard in a long time

Well done.

words cannot express how grateful I am to the tapers and the BAND. thank you doesn't say enough.

GOD BLESS THE GRATEFUL DEAD

I hope the heavens are alive with the music here on Earth

I downloaded this early this morning from the bt site... couldn't wait for it to show up here. Been listening all day and it is stellar. Great show, great recording!

Thank you!

The show looks smokin' by the set list.. Downloading now.. I expect it to sound smokin' too! I'll get back once I listened to it tonight! Thanks tapers!!!

WOW! First, simply the best quality recording of the tour imho. Excellent. Sounds like a matrix.

Second, having only listened to Est.Proph and jam, can only state that the gel is workin, the old musical muscles are HOT! BranMar is keynot.

(I will officially stop complaining to my friends that they need to pick up the pace)

(Now really bummed to have to miss and dump my Chi tix, it happens...)

-grr8fuldahg

Download this right now. Don't think about it. Just do it.