the backwards part at the end of Terrapin Station was definitely not "flown in" to SBD copies or the DVD. This is what went down live at the concert. All you have to do is listen to an audience recording of this show. I did.

I sang a little while and then flew on.

Middle show of final of the three western Spring '90 runs (all 3 in Cal - Eugene was after the solstice). The first set is the best of the run and the best since the L.A. shows a month earlier, making a real Jekyll/Hyde show. There had been noise complaints in Palo Alto and a curfew had been set on Shoreline with residents wanting it either closed or afternoon shows only. The two bands cited were the Dead (due to the long-distance clarity of the digital sound) and AC/DC (sheer wattage). Note Mickey is (facetiously?) wearing the "No Noise!" t-shirt.

First Set. The entire set is above average to excellent. Truckin' is in an early slot for the first time since '85 and the jam is tighter than a pig's ass going uphill. Touch of Grey is good but the universal vector opens from Mama Tried on, particularly Friend of the Devil and one of the year's best versions of Cassidy. That kind of energy always explodes a Saturday Night as a set closer.

Second Set. The energy is gone but there is still some curious playing. China Cat is by-the-numbers until deep in the jam. We Can Run doesn't work in this slot. The skipped guns lyric seems intentional (though he does end up with "cringes in the sun like the sunshine", so maybe not). Either way, Barlow at his most maudlin (the clunky lyrics, not the message) divides the set in two - which is why Brent tried to compensate with melodrama. Estimated is a trainwreck, with Bobby not actually singing and shoes in the dryer.Terrapin is flat and rather loose with the beat but the jam-out is worth hearing - 16 minutes everybody-in through Drums (Jer stays out, ostensibly to make up for the last half hour). Jer sits on an ostinato 9 min in (but what it's from I can't remember - maybe Danse Macabre or a Tchaikovsky march). At 13:23 (on View 3) there's an overlay of backwards tape that was flown in to some of the SBD copies and not present during the performance; which makes me think it's a watermark (but since it's on the official DVD, that would make its provenance sketchy!). Though worth hearing once, the whole section is in the had-to-be-there camp. I prefer it goes somewhere al dente - especially with half an hour leeway - but, hey, some like it pasta. Bobby has no luck trying to avoid Drums and the rest is a bit below average for spring '90. Phil is missing until the jam on Sugar Mag. There's a shift to a different source 2min into Baby Blue that's noticeable on the DVD but less so on other sources.

1st Set:  A
2nd Set: D
Overall = 2 ½ stars

Highlights:
Truckin' - show is peaking early
Mama Tried - short sweet
Big River - exciting interplay
Friend of the Devil - just a technically solid version and show high mark
Cassidy - has the tightness the song needs
One More Saturday Night - makes use of the energy

SOURCES: The miller SBD and View from the Vault III. The great matrix for better energy

Sick solo in this FOTD - R.I.P!

Awesome source and performance. Has anyone noticed that there is a backwards portion in the jam after Terrapin? Listen to 13:25-13:35. I don't have the DVD unfortunately so I can't compare it with that but this source is definitely backwards. At first I thought it might be a reverse effect on Jerry's guitar but after a rewind and playback it is everyone. Weird! Sounds pretty cool actually. I just wanted to post this so people don't loose their mind. LISTEN WITH CAUTION! This is a real mind melter.

Thanks to CM for all the transfers.