The other reviews discuss details of versions and so forth, but for most of us there this was a hell of a lot more than just another show to rate. I would guess half the crowd (like me) had been holding tickets to the Ventura show the previous summer which was cancelled when Jerry went into a diabetic coma. There as no internet then, we were all hanging on rumours and vague media reports about whether he would live or die, and even after he was out of danger there were months of uncertainty about whether the Dead would ever play live again. They finally came back in December, but this show was the first time they came to Southern California after they restarted. So to the people in the crowd there was just this incredible feeling of relief and release to hear them launch into Cold Rain and Snow, and when they started the second set with Touch of Grey there wasn't a dry eye in the entire place when Jerry sang out "I will survive". So for me this will always be a great show, as we felt a bullet had been dodged and that the Dead would play for many years to come (we thought that Jerry would have to clean up his act, which he did, but sadly it didn't last). So ok, you can criticize me for rating it too highly (although that Stella Blue has got to be worth a star on its own), but to me it is not just a tape, it is a bit of my history I will remember 'til the end.

Anyone else remember the Chipwiches that were available? Did not have time to eat anything after work and was hungry and parched. The chipwich man came around right as the show was starting and all was well after that.

While the performance at this show was a solid, and sometimes dang hot, example of '87 Dead the recording itself gets very high marks.

I listened to this stream with a nice (but not incredible) pair of Sennheiser headphones using no EQ or digital processing of any kind. The sound is fantastic, with crisp highs, clear bass and a lack of honky mids between 250Hz and 1kHz. The stereo separation is fantastic, with Bobby a little left, Brent a little right and Jerry right in the middle. The drums span the field. As it should be, drums and space are an excellent use of the entire stereo field.
This recording really _really_ makes me wish we could still download soundboards from this site.

I remember it as if it were yesterday... or the day before... One or the other. Living in Southern California that year, we were excited and mail ordered right away!! Everyting that night seemed to click, from the pre party, to "Bobby's" Desolation Row. I had heard rumors on that tour of another intersting cover "Mighty Quinn", so on the way down had the feeling it would show and called it. Called a number of others throught the show's and as a young deadhead, that elevated my reputation as having a strong Dead acummen . My friends and I had an incredible time, and ended up meeting a taper who provided phenominal tapes of thoes nights played over and over for years! Hope to see the second show posted!!!

1st Set: I hope this was an appropriate call because Southern California is rarely cold, and hardly has any precipitation whatsoever, especially snow. Anyways, this version blahs me. Bobby's got himself a "Little Red" which he wants to unveil one of three shows on Spring '87. Brent's Hammond solo saves this from obscurity. Bobby's slide solo is akin to nails clawing a blackboard, the screech is that bad. Jerry's croaking a storm making "FOTD" less than gorgeous. Additionally, Brent's Very high on this mix, which causes those plunking fingers to undesirably stand out. "All Over Now" is the first keeper of the evening; it's a spitfire. There's some quality intricate Bobby and Jerry strumming. "Push..." yay! :\ Apparently Bobby has found his new 1st set showpiece as this makes two in a row for the lengthy "Desolation Row." With each version, the band approaches the song with increased vigor and confidence. (Notice the drummers who relish slamming the rims when the verse extends itself to the chorus.) Boy, I love Jerry. He adjusts his playing to match Bobby's tone/mood, verse by verse. The effort/intent makes me bat my eyes. "Deal" closes out this 1st set in standard fashion.

2nd Set: Before the music, Bill Graham offers up the generous number of dates will be playing in Cali during the next few months. Then we get everyone's new favorite overplayed selection, "Touch." It gets strong @ the end which segues nicely into a Shabbaterrific "Samson." (Actually, it's only decent.) Anyways, "Ship" is carefully belted out by Jerry, seemingly exhausting his voice for the evening. "Estimated" is a semi-blast but at the moment the outro jam reaches its desired crescending apex, Jerry allows himself to get flummoxed by an off-putting note from Mr. (Un)Reliable Weir which sends Jerry, then the whole band into a careening tailspin that causes a too fast/botched "Eyes." It's funny because as Jerry introduces the 1st verse, there's an unfortunate grin on his delivery, insinuating he wasn't the least bit happy how the segue went. "Drums" is decent, "Space" is uneventful as is a blah "the Wheel." It awkwardly segues into a mellow "Truckin," even though Jane's still cussin up a storm while on crack. The "Stella" that follows is simply magnifique. Jerry's solo is hearttugging as the other mediocre instrumentalists clunkily trot beside him. Brent's pounding away on a sloppy "Around" which goes into a pleasant Bobby cheesefest known as "Good Lovin." Hmmm, it's the first tape I've listened to on here that forgoes providing the encore.

The previous two solid incarnations of this review were apparently destroyed, so I apologize for this run of the mill replacement. However, despite a few good highlites, this one ranks as a 2 1/2 star event. Cya tomorrow!