Download this gem (at least the 1st set & the encore) as quickly as you can; there are two very good (and sonically very different) AUD sources to be mined here and a nice, warm SDBD for streaming. The Glassberg recording captures the show in fine style and is the one I'm reviewing. I can't wait to hear Steve's effort....gonna play it right after I finish this review!


MY SINCEREST THANKS to our beloved tapers & brothers, Barry & Steve: you guys Rule The Land!!



The excellent 2nd set notwithstanding, it is the 1st set here that will FLOOR you. Please don't yawn at the setlist: every number is special, an amazing transcendence washing over the stage. I find myself focusing on different players each & every time I listen to this. This band has Come To Play!

"Sugaree" to open is absolutely BLAZING. Indeed, Weir DID learn to play slide guitar onstage, but his playing here is quite tasteful, with no meandering squall that Our Kid could often wring out during this period. :-)

Following a SERIOUS 1st jam from Garcia, during the 2nd jam (around the 7min > 7min15sec mark), Bob hands his slide lead off to a ready-able-and-willing Garcia, who lets it RIP and rip for quite some time. Aaahhhhhh.....spine-tingling stuff, to be sure....perhaps the best I've heard from 1978, one of my favorite vintages.

"Peggy-O" again finds the band in total synch; Garcia takes a go-round or two to warm up the jam and then NAILS it to the burning wall, his bandmates exploding with joy & enthusiasm, all ears WIDE open. WOWWOWWOW.

Gotta tell ya....."Looks Like Rain" is a stellar version, Garcia's leads glistening like diamonds throughout, Bobby very patient, with a killer middle lead by Garcia and a pounding closing jam. Jerry begins to play (& play & play & play) a shimmering circular pattern over the closing vocals that is just beautiful. Donna (God love 'er!) goes over-the-top during the close but it's a weirdly perfect cap to a SUPERB version. Again, The Dead Are Peaking!

The set-closing "Deal" deserves special attention, too.....and once you hear it, You'll Know Why: THROTTLING, SEARING work from Garcia during the middle jam, taking several go-rounds to satisfy himself, the drummers off in a Galaxy Of Greatness. As in "LLRain", Donna's over-the-top/off-key vocals actually WORK during the closing refrain. Just just incredible incredible. Oh, to have been in the gym that night!


The 2nd set, while not as effortlessly played as the 1st, delivers The Goods during a jazzy "Playin' In The Band" and the KILLER "One More Saturday Night" encore. Garcia's lead during the jam of "Sat Nite" is ON FIRE. The pounding climax sends us all smiling back into the real world.....



I just discovered this one after reading the "Taping Compendium" review and was NOT disappointed.....and neither will you be.

5 stars, based on the blazing 1st set alone!

...Beginning in Big River and not letting up.

Excellent AUD Recording. BIG sound. Every song is good -- turn it UP! You will distinguish every special nuance of that captured place in time.

There may be just a gnat's whisper of distortion in certain places, but it is in the house mix, and frankly, it's no distraction to other than, perhaps, the extreme audiophile.

Like me, you'll forget all about the particulars of discerning sound in the Second Set when the astounding bass mix comes through. Donna does Sunrise beautifully and there's a terrific Terrapin and likewise a powerful Playing.

The overall ambience inherent in this recording is breath taking.

Thank you Jerry Moore, Intrepid Trouper.