The better Hartford, and Jersey City (a best of '74) shows happened the week after, shading this night. But there's good stuff every night of this tour. This was the 1st of 29 shows in DC's then-new Cap Centre, which was built to hold a then-whopping 20,000. One of the strongest markets for the band, they played nearby RFK Stadium 15 times and the Merriweather Post, just a few miles north, 6 times.

First Set. Starts about average (going out of tune by Must Have Been Roses) until the stand-alone Scarlet. Its jam out is where the ship begins to float and the rest of the set flies. The Wall of Sound didn't play well with recording equipment but Jer's tone on Deal is incredible. Every part is in place, every musician's adding to El Paso, all the way through the hot Weather Report Suite.

Second Set. After a Seastones set, Jer takes a little different approach to a He's Gone that's just sparkling. Bobby flubs Truckin' (and??) but Jer is very active and starts a big, loose 26-min jam with a brief TOO. Nobody's Fault starts as a Spoonful riff. The Other One happens - but just one verse, then it dissolves back into a crazy jam, into a tight Wharf Rat. The rest is average but for a hot U.S. Blues (which makes sense at the time in the Columbia District). Sugar Magnolia gets better and better as the jam develops, though there are better ones from summer '74. Sounds like they don't leave the stage, so Casey Jones isn't an encore per se.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: B-
Overall = 3½ stars

Highlights:
El Paso - nailed
Weather Report Suite - entire suite sweet
He's Gone - sparkling
The Other One - fever jam
Wharf Rat - smooth as it gets
U.S. Blues - check Billy, especially

SOURCES: The miller_107756 is the best SBD. The seamons matrix (107990), however is particularly good/lively. The Dave's Picks 2 Bonus has Sugaree, WRS, and He's Gone through Wharf. It runs 1% fast - probably tolerable to most listeners.

Probably my all time fave Weather Report Suite

smoking Let it Grow and Truckin'
underrated because of '72 and '73...

I didn't start going to shows until the 80s, so I never really listened to older stuff, except live albums. This is so beautiful. Right now I'm listening to the beginning of Weather Report Suite, sounds like acoustics. I never heard this side of them, really. They were more driving and powerful later, but sweeter here. Oh, and Sugaree and Black Throated Wind are beautiful and powerful. A near perfect show. Thanks for this treat!

gr8 show

I just love 74 shows; it was such a fantastic year overall for the band that excellent shows like this seemingly slip through the cracks. Don't miss this one!
It's almost fair to pick from this show but that WRS>Let it Grow is an absolute beauty. A special mention to georgeous versions of Jerry's ballads (TLMD, Roses) as well.
I swear that jam in Wharf Rat was going to veer off into New Potato Caboose at any moment!

After Sandy's wrath this past week a show and song came to mind... WRS from Cap Cntr in 74. Not a song that lasted much in rotation maybe couple years. This is a sweet sweet version from Weir I sit. So nice to see Bobby continue to play with Ratdog. Season Change Wind And Rain...

Nice well balanced recording....almost like you are sitting on the stage...great songlist...great cool vibe...

so this isn't one of the heavy hitters like 5/19 or 6/23, but more people outta know about this sweet little show. there are lots of highlights, but i won't go into too much detail here...if you listen to one thing besides the great 2nd set jams, listen to the Weather Report Suite. after many repeated listenings, i honestly think it gives 6/18 and 7/19 a pretty solid run for their money. Jerry is absolutely ON FIRE during this very energetic, fluid LIG jam, a definite must hear moment...

diggin this 74 here and the others from july, though few, first set is littered with great tunes second set has a lovely run of songs, awesome all the way through

Great show. Nice sounding upgrade by Mr. Charlie Miller.

I lived at the Cap. Centre just about in the 70S, saw some real great shows there. They always jammed there, Nice recording !