Wouldn't you know it, the only time I saw five shows in a row--Summer 1988--the boys were really off for the most part. Probably a combination of the unbearable heat, and the fact they were breaking in brand new material and figuring out how and where it fit into a set list. This show was the worst of the Alpine shows. The next night..6/23 was the best with an incredible Morning Dew. I saw about 100 shows over the course of my GD touring career and this was the very worst. Particularly memorable about this show was when Jerry became utterly lost on Stella. Agree with all previous posts...no reason to spend any resources at all on this show.

There's no reason to stream or download this show if you weren't there, and even if that is the case, (as it is with me), for posterity's sake only. I was curious, "was that one as bad as I remember"? The answer to that question is (surprisingly) "no", but this was a completely unremarkable show, save for the debut of IWTYH (not a personal favorite). Of course, there's a "morbid curiosity factor" to the Stella Blue, and Jerry did get it together by the end of the song, but at that point, the damage had been done. The show's "highlights" (Tenn Jed, Let it Grow, and Scarlet) seem better than they were because everything else is sloppy and off (especially on Jerry's part). Objectively, I'd call them decent versions, with the rest of the show sub-par or worse. What're ya gonna do? We all knew the risks when we got on board this wonderful train, and even with the relatively weak performance, there's no where else I would rather have been that night. They definitely bounced back for the next show, so it's all good.

Saw most Alpine runs, and saw this 4-night run. We were psyched when the GD ticket office gave us second row center for this night. This show never quite came together, and my first real sense was watching "Let It Grow" never come close to other versions I'd heard. Bobby kept looking at Jerry to get the jam going, but Jerry wasn't pulling his weight. The BIG clue, though, was (to quote Blair Jackson about a different show) "the dreaded 'Scarlet>nothing.'" It didn't go into anything, always a sure sign that the band is not happening that night. Then, the Train Wreck of "Stella" where Jerry couldn't even remember what the chords were! Mickey stopped drumming completely, rested his chin in his hand and looked over at Jerry with a grin on his face; the rest of the band all looked stage left with him. My brother actually prevented me taking a picture of Jerry in this moment. (I did get one of the DEEP furrows in Jerry's brow during the solo.) At the end of the "Quinn" encore, Jerry slapped his forehead to the rest of the band before the final chord, in a classic "duh" expression. It was one long off night, by FAR the worst of the 60+ shows I saw spanning '81-'95. The proof is how hard the band tried to make it up the next night---and "Dew" tore the roof off the place. The audience went beserk; Jerry hit notes unheard before or since---you had to be there... Good quality in this recording. Thanks for letting me revisit it! (I had tapes of the other three nights; never bothered with this one...) Peace.

88 was the year it was very hot & very dry. 89 was the year it rained.

That Foolish Heart doesn't sound like Tangled anymore, but it did that night....And it still chugga chugga chuggas!

Other memories: lots of rain one night and we were camping in the mud after....I always think of that when I listen to that Animal Liberation Orchestra song...Walls of Jerico (Get on that bus if you haven't....shitya!)

Oo-oo-oo-oo oo-oo, it's all right
My time's comin’ but it's not tonight

Get out the tents and set up the floods
Bring in the trucks and make some more mud
Then get the hell out of my way 'cause I'm gonna get wasted
As magic gasses fill the air
It's bad for your health but I don't care
This'll all be gone tomorrow but we'll still be able to taste it
The golden chord is frayed, what was that song they played
Our steed lies melting in the sun
They flooded the parking lot, our tent begins to rot
And I'm in love with everyone
.......
Been drunk for three days but you're doin' fine
Just a little bit out of your mind but you're takin' it easy
All you really need is one more hour of sleep so you
Lay your head upon the floor
Just a little sleep before it gets too deep
You wake up come back for more

Overall: someone else rated this as the "sloppiest" dead show ever, including 95. That's just ridiculous. The first set is strong. The second set has some moments that drift and definitely was the weakest of the four Alpine shows, but overall this is a decent summer 88 show - not the best, but not horrible by any means (I'd agree with O.C.'s assessment that this show, for the most part, didn't have "it"). This is another B quality audience recording (see my review of 6/20 for my thoughts on AUD at Alpine). First "I Will Take You Home" continues the trend of new songs every night during this Alpine run. Only song that really stands out for me is a strong Let it Grow.

The scene: 3rd of the 4 night stand at Alpine. On the off-day, we'd gotten out of the parking lot and found a little store/gas station with a hose around back and managed some good free cold shower time. Man that felt good during this hot hot hot dust bowl year. We also called home to report the set lists to friends. Unfortunately, during those call we found out that our friend Nick had died in a car crash on the same morning that we left to come to these shows. Major bummer that really dampened the mood for the remaining Alpine days, but made the following night's He's Gone very special to us. I remember at this show inbetween sets the drum circle on the far Phil side under the little batch of trees was off the hook. This was one tour before I picked up a drum and started joining in on those jams.

The music: Set I: LTGTR is solid with Brent putting a smile on my face. Hell is fine, but nothing special, except that Phil sounds a bit loud (always nice). The rest of the first set is strong and well played with nothing of particular note, except that the Let It Grow is a really good version, in my opinion. I remember feeling like it was going to just keep on going and going - and listening to it now backs up my memory.

Set II: take two: this was the second version of Foolish Heart, but I think the first was better. Jerry doesn't sound too crisp here. Looks Like Rain is decent, but certainly the one in Maine later on this tour is much better. A little late in the set for Scarlet, but it's a nice treat. Then another new Brent tune? Indeed. Take You Home, of course, does not fit comfortably in this pre-drums slot, but it was still great to hear Brent stepping forward with another new one. Wheel is fine, but yes Stella is U-G-L-Y and Jerry's got no alibi. It sounds like he tries to make up for it by drawing it out for an extra long jam, but the jam itself has some bad feedback problems and Bobby's guitar was annoyingly out of tune. Bobby gets his scream on for a rousing Lovelight. Quinn is nice, but nothing special.

This was the Weds of a Sun-Mon Wed-Thu Alpine run. This was the weaker of the 4. We were fired up for Scarlet+Fire only to get Scarlet_Take you Home. This show just didn't have "it." The next night the vibe was electric.

sloppiest Dead show I have yet come across.

95 included.

do yourself a favor and don't even check it out for the morbid curiosity factor. it is sad.

This source is fairly new and it sounds better than the other aud. 5 tunes in a row are as good as post-coma gets.....jed, let it grow, foolish(despite dropped lyrics), looks like rain, scarlet. Stella is interesting, a disaster from start to finish. Hard to concentrate after that. Sound is very nice, odd nobody else has reviewed this one. 1rst I will take you home, Jerry plays slide. 5 stars to draw attention away from other aud.