The set starts out great; the Iko is where everybody seems to lose energy rather than gain it.

amazing show...although some of the comments ive been seeing about dead shows is a little crazy. stop being so judgmental of the bands performance and just listen to the music play!

I went alone. Nobody wanted to see the Dead in the winter for some reason. My real hippy friend Ed (RIP) Younger, told me the whole appeal of the Dead was the gathering and camps.
I get there and Bob says Jerry can't be here tonight. I was new to the Dead and IF it was a joke and Jerry appeared I do not remember and could not tell him from anyone else if he came on as a surprise I would think it was a dead head thing. You tell me. I can't hear Jerry in two of the songs, but I am not a Dead Head. I like a few songs here and there...

Yes the Shakedown is good but the Iko Iko> Black Peter> Round & Round does IT for me. A 5 star 2nd set.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with the reviewer below when I say that this is one of the best Shakedowns I've ever heard. Jerry's soloing is funky as all get-out. Out-of-this world.

Overall a very decent show, with Shakedown and Terrapin being clear highlights at least for me.

Playin>Drums>Space was also a lot of fun.

I remember paying a buck to park in the Dane County Coliseum lot in early February it was cold. I sat in the nosebleed seats with some high school friends who were freshman at UW, and some of the chicks from the floor at the dorm. Had a great time but had to keep asking the DH in front of us what song they were playing! Too late I realize what a show I didn't really pay attention to at the time. My loss. Oh well young and foolish. But hip enough to know to be at the Dead when they came to town. Glad I got to see Keith and Donna. I don't get tired of listening to this show. I did recognize Black Peter. Must have been listening to Workingmans a lot at the time. My last show was Soldier field in 1993. RIP Pig, Keith, Brent, & Jer. This was quite a cultural eye opener for a 19 year old from Green Bay I have to say!

The front end of this set sounded pretty good to me, sound & show, this one is more exploratory and the (saturday) night before in Indy is more rockin. someone's clapping right next to the mic a lot.....I'm into Keith & Donna's last tour so I'm into it.

2nd Set: Again, the 1st set is missing from the archives.. yet a "Shakedown" should remove the 'miss' I'm feeling due to 80 minutes of music missing from achiveing the full spirit of 2/4/79.
Unfortunately, this 'shakes' has a bit of mud on its heel preventing it from fully taking flight. It's sad when a crowd feels compelled to clap even on a jam like this one that goes Nowhere. "Samson" is halfway decent. Not a must hear, but harmlessly floats in and out of your headspace. One of the prettier, lilting versions of "From the Heart of Me" follows. "Terrapin" is pleasingly standard and closes strongly which ties into an only decent (song) "Playin." The time alloted for a soul-searching jam is generous, but the music fails to stick despite an 'Eyes' tease halfway through. "Drums" is notable for its late 'procession' in a distant jungle imagery. "Space" is too innocuous for my liking. "Iko," and this show, is becoming awfully stiff. "Black" trudges as if it was cement. Surprisingly, after the egg that most of this set was, "Around" picks up some steam, and at least leaves us with a smile.
Our encore is your standard "US Blues."

A 2 1/4 gig... Not impressive