NYE was the big party, but listening-wise, the show is the off-show of the run, with the challenge of following one of the best shows ever. Interestingly, it sounds exactly like a cross between a '77 and a '78. The first set is kind of short at under 1hr, to make room for the NYE countdown. Above-average for a NYE show, but not a standout for '77.
First Set. Solid opening songs with a long
Funiculi tuning going into
Me & My Uncle. Lyrics are duffed for
Loser before Jer lights fire with a weird effect. Phil is great on
Jack Straw - though (as with most of the show) earlier in the week it's better.
Friend of the Devil is the month's best. Not a bad set, but not the heights of the previous nights.
Second Set.
Sugar Magnolia>Scarlet>Fire is an unlikely pick for official release - average but not standout.
Truckin' is slop city until the jam, then the set starts to tighten up.
Wharf Rat has a terrific jam section and Jer stays in the zone into
Not Fade Away. The rest is off for '77 (or '78, in reality), with Bobby getting hoarse. Jer tries to expand the solo on
Casey Jones but the band isn't exactly ready. With a run this good, an average set of GOGD is the bottom set.
1st Set: B-
2nd Set: C
Overall = 3 Stars
Highlights:
Friend of the Devil - peak of 1st set
Wharf Rat>Not Fade Away - night's best jam/best Jer
SOURCES: The
tetzeli.fix-286 is the best transfer in terms of clarity and image. Lazy Lightning>Supplication, Sugar Mag, and Scarlet>Fire are bonus tracks on
The Closing of Winterland.