Start of the first East tour since the hiatus (first east coast show since Jersey City 8/6/74). June '76 was hot hot hot. There's an official release but it's still worth hearing the matrix, if simply for the audience reaction to the first Stephen in 5 years. Bobby told the Wigan '72 audience that they'd forgotten how to play it, and Jer later axed the resurrection. Not his favorite - probably too constricting, with set-in-stone riffs for the song to hold together. Funny how repeating riffs is the bread and butter for most bands but the Dead survived on repeating only enough to make the underlying structure recognizable. High Time is also the first in 5 years.

First Set. They start just a bit cold (...rain and snow), but they sure warm up - even glowing, starting with Crazy Fingers - which has an ending (on the official, the first 35sec of CR&S are from 6/14). The next few are above average. There's another great Big River a few nights later, but this is truly one of the year's most exciting. They Love Each Other and Looks Like Rain are arrant perfection. Promised Land also surely ranks in this solid-either-way month. And if '76 wasn't such a stellar year it'd be easier to claim more of these as best-of-year versions.

Second Set. Not full of singular aces, but above average, GOGD all the way through, for a cohesive effect. Check the matrix for the exciting return of St. Stephen (last one was 10/31/71; the official fades-in after 45sec). Honestly it isn't one of the best of the era (those come later in the year), but it was great to have it back. Eyes is very brisk, and long - it's 8min before the first verse. It has some nice sections, and some vampy ones: good, but not 6/18 or 6/22 good. Let it Grow is likewise. Bobby is the one to watch on this oddly-placed Brown Eyed Women. Though we often focus on Supplication, here it's the Lazy Lightning that really sparkles. Dancin' was its own monster in '76/'77, so this one doesn't compete overall, but Phil does go for some wild, fast runs (SBDs have a 26sec cut @~6:12; the official is complete). The rest is average GOGD ... until: Franklin's as a major-length encore! And worth every single minute. Jer does things not part of his usual style.

1st Set:  A
2nd Set: B
Overall: 4½ stars

Highlights:
Crazy Fingers - delicate but exacting, '76 tone, has ending
Big River - start of a string of great '76 versions
They Love Each Other - best of year?
Looks Like Rain - shit that's some Jer, overwhelming the bogging tempo
Promised Land - descending triplets insane and more
Lazy Lightning - doesn't get any better
Samson & Delilah - avg Bob/Donna start dissolves when Jer grabs ahold, grins
Franklin's Tower - for encore, just an all time super version, with extra solos

SOURCES: Nearly the whole show is on Road Trips v4n5 (except a substituted CR&S and an excerpt of St. Stephen). Music Never Stopped and Crazy Fingers are on Spirit of '76 (which has the channels switched, more separation, less Bobby guitar). But try the chappell_29323 matrix for some vibe. SBDs have a cut in Dancing in the Street. Both the SBDs and the official run slightly fast (~1%) from Ship>Promised Land & LiG>Franklin's.

I’ll leave all the other folks to review the music. It’s a top 25 show, and it’s just...great. If 6/14 wasn’t less than a week later, it might be the best of the era. But....

What I’m writing this review for us the specific to this Matrix. In between Let It Grow (blistering) and Brown Eyed Women (weirdly places), there is about 3 minutes of the Boston crowd yelling song selections. It’s priceless. Comedy gold. Please enjoy this amazing show with that extra piece of goodness.

I love this Matrix even though it’s on Road Trips. It’s just really well separated and it’s delicious sounding. Great job.

So many tasty bits so just listen to it all. Another sick show from one of the greatest months.

Sound quality is outstanding edging the straight board by a nose.

Another hot, hot High Time. Probably better than the one I raved about recently from 5/26/77. Better is too hard, however, when the muse moves.

Really the same as others have stated. Crazy Fingers, eyes, Stephen, and perhaps the best TLEO.

Wow. I don't know what you'rea doin' gentlemen but, whatever it is, jussa keep ona doin' it. You got it right Funkmeister. '76 is it! This show is creamy, dreamy, and steamy! The SBD is wonderful. The balance is just right. The added crowd ambience is fabulous, and the shouts for tunes is funny. Not in my wildest and wettest dreams could I have imagined, twenty-five years ago, of getting a '76 show with this kind of "AUD" quality. "YOU AND YOU, let's go!" Precious.

It is everything you could ever want in a Grateful Dead live recording. This St. Stephen is so, so killer > 7:14 minute lead into Eyes > Let It Grow with an unusual Drumz solo in the middle of LIG. Man 'o man. The Dancin' is really hot...reminds me of late '75 JGB. Hey, and even Donna sounds good on Dancin'? That's a nice surprise.

I will never, ever get over the reeediculous five star ratings The Boyz get from these youngsters, raving about late '80s and '90s shows, when all they have to do is dial an AUD like this. It is truly a wonder. And Deadbase doesn't even have it in their top 999 list of favorite shows (last time I looked.) That will certainly have to be revised. Definitely in the top 100. It will become a certerpiece in my rotation, that's for sure. What made me chuckle before clicking this listing was seeing four listings for 6.9.76 and five listings for 6.10.76. Isn't life grand!?

Cold Rain, Scarlet, Crazy Fingers, Ship, Stephen, Eyes, High Time, Brown Eyed, Roses, Rat and Franklin's all in one show.

this is one of the only examples of EOTW post hiatus containing the minor-key jam (a la 1973-74) i have come across. it is particularly interesting since they turn the jam inside out, jamming into the song proper from the minor key rather than out from the song into it.

my favorite brown eyed women...

If this was a recording of the boys rehearing their best arm pit farts, the sound quality would still make it a 5 star performance. It is that good... and for what it's worth, they play a sick one here taboot.

Playing: 8.75/10
Sound: 10/10
Overall: 9.25/10

I enjoyed St. Stephen into Eyes of the world quite a bit. The Jam in the begining of eyes was epic....the longest i've ever heard them jam before going into the song. Let it grow was insane, I liked crazy fingers alot, promised land was hoppin',lazy>sup was sick, all in all, a great and unique setlist 5/5

I was unfamilar with 1976 shows until a few years ago, when I downloaded this gem. Since then it's been in heavy rotation on my iPod. What can I say about this show that hasn't been said before? Crowd goes nuts for St. Stephen breakout. Amazing and unique Eyes intro. Phil is a maniac on Dancin'. This show deserves its 5 star rating.

Here we go. Un-hide your temporary internet files folder (from My Computer, select C: drive, then go to Tools, Folder Options, select "View" tab, make sure "show hidden files and folders" is selected, and click "apply to all folders"), and then just stream the audio. Each audio file shows up as a separate MP3 file in your (C:\documents and settings\[your user name]\Local settings\temporary internet files folder. THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR XP, NOT VISTA. From there you just drag and drop them out to a new folder on your desktop. Then, burn away.

Please release me let me dl this show.

THis show completely rocks, but this matrix mix makes it pretty freakin' special. One of the best Eyes ever played, second only to 6/11/76, two days later.

This is fun show to listen to and what a great mix! I need to pick this one up for my own collection. Phil is in the "zone" throughout- the whole band is in the zone! This is a great era. I always knew '77 had great shows, but after listening to this one it makes me want to check out more from '76. Everything about this from the music to the quality is fantastic! Have fun!

does anyone have a cd or tape of this they would be willing to copy? outside of work i have no electricity, plumbing or the like. no way to tape it from a line out etc. I probably dont have anything to trade, but maybe we could works something out. personally i dont see why the copyright holders dont put all this material on a pay based site and donate all the money to charity.

amazing show. piece of history from a neglected year.

I can't download it so what the f*** is the use?

boycott boycott boycott

St. Stephen > Eyes > Let It Grow?! Great sound quality and the playing sounds equally as well.

Now I have to re-download this show, since this Matrix recording is simply one of the best sounding shows I have ever gotten my grubby little hands on. The sound quality sounds better than some offical releases from the DP series. Music-wide, I think that the HUGE enthusiastic response from the crowd gives the band extra gas to go the distance with this second set. As in the previous SBD release, the sound is all AUD until the lyrics to Steve kick in, and you hear the crowd really get into it (think Hard to Handle from Phil Zone) and of course the BAND gets into it and I think we can all see what happens from there. Get this show now or a bunny rabbit will cry!

What else can ya say but wow ??? Gotta say i don't usually go for AUD's but this has such a warm and fuzzy feel, makes a fella feel good, and the sound pretty stellar. It's all good D/L it and if your a SBD junkie like me... give it a bash. I think you'll like it!!

Peace:Skippy

Sick Aud-SBD matrix. I love how the aud lets you get a feel for the energy of the crowd then sucks you right in to the SBD. 76' is tops folks, I think alot of 76 is overshadowed by the next illustrious year and this show is a prime example of the silky smoothness and precision jamming of 76, Chronic.