Love how you can plainly recognize Santana's solo starting at the 4:00 min mark!!!

It's weird that I never knew about that show before, since it's the first of the year and the 2nd thing that shows up when I browse the year on Archive.I'm really glad I got to listen to it.

This show is short but completely satisfying. It's a testament to the band that they continued playing long, 2-set shows for the rest of their career, because as this show indicates, they could have gotten away with much shorter concerts.

This is just great. Jerry hits a bad note in the first Jack Straw solo, but that doesn't stop the momentum from taking off. The whole thing smokes.

The highlights are, not surprisingly, the Playin', which gets pretty far out there, and what might be the last great, jammed out NFA, which clocks in at over 14 minutes. Other versions from this year and later are much shorter and don't explore as many different places.

The reviews here of the encores seem pretty mixed, but both songs work for me. They don't really sound like the Grateful Dead, although Jerry's guitar can be heard in Land of a Thousand Dances. Still, they're energetic and well-done.

really like atmosphere of this one-off show. like the playin' to effectively 'start' second set and gets very 1980 jammed out -- crystal clear ensemble mastery; amazing grace, surprisingly, not close to being as good as first encore tune, which features tasty jerry guitar work. oh, and a jackstraw show opener? wins me over every time.

Good outside the box uni-set.
Jerry has cool vocal prowess in Jack Straw.
Playin goes psychedelic in a hurry!

Humility before a Holy GOD is V. I.P.
Especially when Scripture says,
"There is none righteous,
No not one"
not a fan of da sista Baez
but the tune lights the narrow road ---
THE WAY to heaven.
Nothing in my hands do I bring
To the cross of Christ
do i cling!
NEVER GONNA MISS US...

So begins 1980 as I listen to the entire recorded history. I can't wait for the acoustic shows.

1980 has the most dates (86) since 1972 (also 86) and is the high water mark for the rest of the band's history.

Yeah, I agree, the last two songs looked better on the playlist than they sounded. Not a fan of religious crap anyhow and the land of 1000 dances was not all that musical. Historical only, otherwise, this ole dog's gonna pass.

I had never heard of this set until I stumbled across it here on the archive and I was beyond pleased to hear such a unique and deftly executed set.

As the band was sharing the stage for a charity event, they only play one set, but what a set it is! From a structural standpoint, it seems that the band is trying to combine elements from both sets of a full length show.

The opening Jack Straw>Franklin's is magical (talk about a rare transition) and the Minglewood is absolutely smoking with a slide-laden main riff and a funky beat that really brings out the best in a post-Shakedown Minglewood. Tennesee Jed is well paced and floats into a gorgeous LLR that ends into a nice, Brent-heavy Don't Ease.

Playin' launches what I would call the "second set" portion of the show, showing this undoubedly mixed-fanbase crowd juse how far the Dead can launch into space. Drums segues into the real highlight of the show when Carlos Santana joins the band for NFA>Sugar Mag. The interplay between Santana and Garcia does not disappoint as two of the most virtuosic players to ever pick up a guitar work together to weave some amazing textures into these two crowd-favorites. A hot U.S. Blues closes the Dead's set after an unbelievable night.

The last two tracks from this recording are interesting from a historical perspective but don't really do much for me musically. If you've never heard this show this is a must-listen, truly five fingers on a hand-type playing.

I would give four stars for only one set but the Santana appearance makes this an undeniable five.

I've had a tape of this show since the early 80's (compliments of my dear friend, RIP, Brother Tom.) The tape has suffered -- too much time in a hot car, funky tape players, etc. etc.

Soooooooo pleased to find this show here!

high average soundboard. I always wish Cipollina would let it rip a little more when he's jamming with the Dead. Joan can really summon up the energy, though, can't she. Amazing Grace!

into my frontal cortex burst into into fluffy crunchy corns during NFA.

I suggest you start there, then on to the rest if you like.

One of my most visited shows. This one has it all for me and has converted many to believe. The band is locked into a serious groove for this scorcher. Reminds me more of the heyday of fall 79 than the rest of 80 which seemed more homogenized and settled than the blistering fall 79 run.
Don't remember a hotter three song opener, seemed like they were trying to pack it into this shorter benefit show. Beautiful jack>franklins> minglewood. LL rain is as good as it gets, playin gets out there for one of the finer versions from any era. Nfa is long and improvised with help from the guests.

Yea I just really love this one, thanx. It's a nice way to break in my new audiophile headphones that got delivered today.

Peace

I agree with utopian, the band was tight and strong that night. Little or no wasted time in the abbreviated set format.

But what I remember most about that night was the Beach Boys' performance. Brian Wilson had finally ventured out on the road for the first time in years, and there he sat, a big hulking figure at the piano, while throughout the set, Mike Love pointedly teased and belittled him to the point of cruelty. The others just looked on, embarrassed. It was like watching a dysfunctional family.