The day I graduated from Swampscott High School in the spring of 1977, I could not have told you which band Jerry Garcia played in. When I got to Harvard (where I later met Frank Streeter), Steve O'Leary of blessed memory lent me his copy of Europe '72, and asked me to figure out where China Cat Sunflower stopped, and I Know You Rider started. I listened to that cut a dozen times, and I was intrigued. There began my suspicion that these guys were on to something.

That suspicion was confirmed after I heard my first 15 seconds of the Half Step opener that night in Providence. By then I knew that the question about a Grateful Dead concert had forever changed for me, as Joanie Begonias always says, from "Are we going?" to "How are we getting there?"

I was sitting behind the stage, and at some point in the Half Step coda Garcia crouched into a peeling run, and the crowd visibly rippled in response, as if it was a single organism. (As I came to know, it was.) I remember Not Fade Away, particularly, as an unhurried, genuinely exploratory journey we all took together (this was before the time of the rote crowd participation in NFA).

I turned to poor unfortunate Doug, sitting next to me with his DIY nitrous dispenser, and said to him "Look, I know it's night time, but doesn't it seem like it's day time in here?" After I said that to him for the sixth or seventh time, he patiently said "Just listen to the music play." So I did. And I am still listening, and playing, and my life has been informed and transformed by the Music and the community that grew around it.

As it happens, my first show was a pretty good one. The recording is excellent (thanks Dan and Charley), and the songs are well played. I don't know whether memories are real or constructed, but when I listen to this show, I can hear and feel the playfulness of the band, and my unbridled astonishment, come down through the years.

This show - like the best from '78 - is full of fire. Working backwards from '95 (30 trips), this show is easily one of my favorites, already. Miss me some Keith! (And Donna!) Samson & Delilah set two opener featured on 30 trips definitive live story. It's all good, but definitely make sure to check out the set one closer, Let It Grow, and pre-drumz Estimated Prophet. Only complaint: No post- ballad.

Solid show from 78

I concur with Wineland (first review)
when timer says 17:00 + of Let it Grow
It is true and honest 17:00 minutes of LIG.
Jerry's Guitar has a tone that is scorching.
I don't know how else to describe it.
Easy to see why this made The Grateful Dead Clubhouse Projects list.

A lot of '78 shows were sloppy and/or sort of overexcited, like the band were enjoying themselves so much they didn't care whether they sounded good or not. This show may not be an exception to that, but it also happens to be a really awesome show. Donna's not caterwauling too bad either. A dirty jewel, but shiny nonetheless.

...Like I am now. Tell the Big Boss Man, that Ramble On Mike said it was more than OK. Cause he was right there with Jerry and company uplifting us right out of our right minds. And listening to this right now it sounds like you are, too! Must trust The Bus and leave the driving to Dus. Rave on, Dead on, brothers and sisters, and brave that ol' shit storm to come.

Quite possibly my all time favorite Let It Grow. This show sounds great in the matrix format. Well done dusborne.