After the first couple songs, I’ll admit I was thinking 3 stars. Early on, the recording has your usual ‘83-’85 complaints - the mix is squirrely and slippery, with too much kick drum and not enough Phil. You can’t really blame the sound crew. It was the first night of the run. Luckily, they adjust the balance, and the soundboard evens out just as the performance really picks up. Sugaree features some brilliant, lightning fast jamming from Jerry and the drummers. You can tell a lot about a show from its Row Jimmy, and this is a damn good one. Wistful, creative, and mildly psychedelic. Weir’s vocals on Let It Grow have some kind of spacey echoing effect, which gives way into an overflowing, tripped out instrumental jam that waves dreamily through several seasons and soundscapes. It’s a truly exceptional Let It Grow.

The second set begins with an ingenious China Cat Sunflower > Cumberland Blues. China Cat purrs along briskly, and from what I can hear, it seems like the segue was improvised on the spot. Brent is leaning towards the standard China > Rider bridge, when Jerry suddenly serves up the Cumberland lick out of nowhere. Kreutzmann and Phil catch on first, and then the rest of the boys joyfully pile on once they get wise to the prank. The shift from Miracle into Eyes is of note as well. These are two songs with considerably different key signatures, tones, and tempos, but the band rolls from one to the other beautifully. This Eyes of the World is more of a late 80’s version than an early 80’s version. It’s unhurried and loose, with lots of room for Jerry’s solos to sail around. Drums doesn’t get too intense or primitive. It’s pretty tame and watery. Space, on the other hand, is moody and spooky, with a wide variety of effects at play. The Other One drags a good bit of Space along with it. The Wheel is warm and friendly, the Sugar Magnolia jam is packed with fun, and Baby Blue is gripping.

The SBD recording itself isn’t great, but the performance sure is. They kept it relatively short, but refused to just go through the motions. Jerry had recently cleaned up, and he leads Tiger through all kinds of very original solos and licks in songs where he could’ve just as easily gotten away with phoning it in. For the most part, these moments aren’t necessarily bold, daring risks so much as subtle, crafty ventures off the beaten path, and they simply just work and elevate the tunes. The Wake of the Flood numbers are amazing, and certain moves like slotting OMSN as the second song of the night and branching China Cat into Cumberland make this one really entertaining. Let It Grow is the show highlight for me; it’s a fabulous version. Even with the subpar recording, this nets 5 stars. 3/9/85 is lots of fun.

Sounds like Jerry to me! What's up with this show? A 40 minute 1st set & then a 60 minute 2nd set??? I mean, I realize this is a "Rex Foundation Benefit Concert" but Idk. Maybe they had stuff to do after the show. Ya never can tell.

I'm with Dylan M. on the three stars. Short sets and show. A lot are keen on all of '85 but I'm more partial to its summer and fall. Unique list and song selection, especially the opening Bertha->OMSN->Sugaree and the second set opening China Cat->Cumberland Blues->Miracle. Fun stuff. I'd mainly revisit this show - if at all - for the Merl Sauders guest appearance. Hop in midway through the Eyes, then stay for the drums->space->Other One (all with Merl). Twilight Zone!

In 1985, There was No practical way for me to do West Coast shows so nice to have access to these recordings.
Bertha is a serious dance tune. I know some of these shows are brief compared to the early years but they were still rockin'
OMSN- Yeah, now that is good song selection. The Only issue I had with this tune was as a throw-away in encore slot.
Those are two scorching tunes to open. If they did this opener combo on the East Coast people would be coming unglued.-- I kid you NOT.
So you got West Coast mellow meeting hard driving slash and burn 85 GD.
>>>Sugaree-Yeah, that is way more of the West Coast flavor. Jerry sounds real good here vocally, If I remember there were a few points in 85 that his voice was very road weary.
Nice Jerry runs in Sugaree jam/ Brent as well.
Used to Love Her- When they did this at Brendan Byrne, Healy messed with the reverb and it really freaked me out.
This is a good tune for the boys. You almost got 10 minutes here unless there is some Dead Air at the end of this one.( NONE- SOLID and well played)
It seems sometimes that 2 drummers kinda changes the dynamics of the Phil Zone. It could also be that Brent is super aggressive in the jam. He jumps in and takes leads and solo's all the time. I think that was good for Garcia it kinds spurs him on.
A really nice jam inside the Used to Love Her.
Row Jimmy- This recording is tough on this gentle song. Hard to pick up the all important bass lines here
In the days of Cassette Tapes this show presents a dilemma. You could fit the 1st set on one side of 120 but the Second Set is a little more challenging to navigate.
Let it Grow-Always a strong way to close out a set.
Oh Healy is playing with Weir's vocals on LIG. Very hard when and if trippin!!!
A WASTE IS A TERRIBLE THING
TO MIND...
Good jam inside the Let IT Grow. If the sound was a little fuller this show would get much more recognition.
I went to a Sacramento Show and to look at the list -no biggie but wow by late 2nd set I was dancing in perfect time with hundreds of folks, with not a knee or elbow out of place. It was like one giant single celled amoeba or paramecia. Yet it was so laid back, the perfect vibe. Too me this 3/9/85 is a rare Cali show that is more frantic then chill.

And speaking of Second Set
China>Cumberland- Yeah 85 was also the year of the 1/2 Step>Rider @ Byrne-Fall tour.
Always liked when they challenged the routine. But I did get what Garcia meant about even going outside the box too much could become routine.
China Cat- trying to discern if this was something they had planned to go into Cumberland? I really liked the Dead's outro jams (out of songs) in 1985. They really were good at connecting up tunes (Conjunction Junction)
Wow, interesting transition, absolutely had to blow some minds right there. The trick to stuff like that was to smile and just keep dancing because if you don't stay with the jam. It almost sounded like RIDER until the vocals.
CUMBERLAND is a wicked HOT dance tune.
Especially in the 2nd set.
"Take your shift at the mine" really really good jam here!
(they never went back to that combo again)
>MIRACLE- 85 a great year for this tune Weir put it up and down some very intense 2nd sets.
Garcia's vocals inside Miracle always so cool.
[I have this fascination with trying to put certain Dead tunes into Old Testament or New Testament context.
Even though Jesus did much in the realm of the miraculous (Boy that is an understatement)
----------Nice transition into EYES,,
Point being in the Old Testament TORAH-
We are 'Waiting for a Miracle' {Great Jerry tune}
where as with JESUS the Miracle becomes common. Maybe so common that people take it for granted.
Don't know what we got until He's Gone]
Nice EYES, Pace of show is absolutely break neck speed. Nobody to sing with Garcia on the SES and then BHT,, Bob comes in , I miss DJG right there.
A nice mellower jam after the lyrics.
Wow, A little time space distortion- I assume this is Headed into drums right about now. (Very compact)
Merle on with the drummers, We saw him on the BLUES FOR THE RAINFOREST tour. Somewhere up by Wrigley after one of the Chicago Soldier Field shows.
Ever get the chance you tube 'Sunrise over Haleakala'

NOTE: THE SPACE IS REALLY SPACED. LIKE THE FIRST TIME I TRIED TO GET MY HEAD AROUND U.S. BLUES AT THE G.D.-'MIDNIGHT' MOVIE DOWN IN THE VILLAGE.
You know Merle could have easily stayed on and jammed some Dead tunes but I am assuming he didn't have any of his own gear this particular night.
Other1>Wheel>Sugar Magnolia
(It would be interesting to count but I think they have also done Wheel>Other One a few times as well.)
They don't spend much time in either TOO or Wheel but they do get over ten minutes of Sugar Magnolia.
Note on this Wheel: Excellent tune selection. The rhythm section was overheating probably from MERLE encounter. ( WHEEL almost a ballad for this night.)
If you had any doubts that this is a dance your 'donkey' off night, here comes that Sugar Magnolia bringing this show full circle.

e) Baby Blue (Not worth getting into the encore discussion)

Good mostly tight show, probably a 4.
(As long as you kept dancing!)
If you told me you were at this show and it was a 5
I would have no problem shaking your hand.

p.s. I wouldn't be surprised if Merle was noodling keyboard on that encore.

pretty Row Jimmy and a nice Let it Grow to end a short first set.

Okay so we all know that 85' wasn't the year of longest shows for the Dead, but two hours..... a little weak. It seems as if they forgot to jam in the second set until Jerry remembers in post Miracle. Then we get a nice quality transition into Eyes, and the energy seems to pick up a bit.

Better sound than many, however it sounds too trebley at times and I feel like Jerry's lead vocals could be louder. Just knit-picky complaints.

Pick up Miller's source for the last night of this run. More creative setlist, longer playing, and higher energy.

PS- Merl Saunders sits in for Drumz and Other 1. That alone makes this show atleast noteable and perhaps worth your download.

Many a deadhead owes you many a gratitude Charlie Miller!
Thanks for hooking up this great show!!!

China Cat>Cumberland baby!!!