Here we have the boys flying out of the gate to kick off 1989. The first 5 songs are packed with energy, as are the second set’s Cold Rain and Snow, Playin’, and Johnny B. Goode. You can pinpoint the moment they really pull down the lever for the powerful Morning Dew crescendo. Mickey Hart is slicing and dicing at all the right moments throughout this show.

Still, the ballads are given the graceful care they deserve. This is the first Standing on the Moon, and it’s one of the best I’ve heard. Very soulful and emotional. You can hear it completely flooring the entirely unprepared audience.

2/5/89 is high-energy and features musical debuts, and you can hear the instruments clicking back together after a month apart, like jagged jigsaw puzzle pieces. However, as much as it fits the bill of being the first show of the year and a fresh start, to me this also feels like one of the last shows of a certain era. The famous Summer ‘89 sound has a distinctive togetherness, and the Fall ‘89 sound is rife with MIDI and the return of old songs from the 60’s and 70’s playbook, but this show has the gritty edge of something from earlier in that decade; this is the classic Brent Mydland lineup playing in the Oakland winter, with Jerry shredding away on Tiger, ripping up a Touch of Grey > Stranger > Franklin’s > Rooster in the 5,000-seat Kaiser Center.

This one smokes.

I was at this show. I remember the Memphis Blues tune up, and someone off stage saying something to Bobby. He all of a sudden turned around, changed course, and went right into Desolation Row, which had not been played since September 1988 at MSG (25 shows) and just NAILS IT! Probably the best Desolation out of the 104 shows I had the privilege of attending. Thank God for the Charlie Miller remasters.

It's all opinion, no?

this sound is wonderful. always like getting new shows to listen to. desolation row, i need a miracle and the opening 3 songs are fantastic. great work.