Dead Show/podcast for 8/7/26
The Deadpod
This week, as we approach the end of the “Days Between,” I thought this recording—emblematic of what I think of as the Dead’s ‘third’ period—would be a fitting choice as we remember Jerry. This one comes to us from St. Paul, MN, on August 6, 1982. It’s an energetic show with a tight ensemble throughout. Jerry is playing at a high level, and Brent, along with the rest of the band, is right there with him. There’s a lot to like here, but one of the highlights for me is the 10+ minute “Bird Song,” which flows nicely into “El Paso.” I’m also partial to the “Lazy...
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Dead Show/podcast for 7/31/26
The Deadpod
This week on the Deadpod we head back to the Family Dog at the Great Highway in San Francisco for a superb show from August 3, 1969. This is the kind of set that reminds us just how quickly the Grateful Dead were evolving in that remarkable year, moving from the raw energy of their early material into the open-ended exploration that would define so much of what followed. The set opens with a fine run of songs including “Hard To Handle,” “Beat It On Down The Line,” “Hi-Heel Sneakers,” “High Time,” and “Mama Tried.” From there the show opens up beautifully with a long and...
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Dead Show/podcast for 7/24/26
The Deadpod
This week on Deadpod we’re back at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco for the second set from 7/12/76, a show that has that special midsummer 1976 feel I’ve always loved: relaxed, open, and full of musical space, but with plenty of spark still in the band’s step. The set gets underway with a very nice “Sugaree,” followed by a spirited “Samson And Delilah,” and then we move into one of the great touchstones of the era — “Help On The Way” > “Slipknot!” > “Franklin’s Tower,” played here with real assurance and flow. From there the band keeps the...
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Dead Show/podcast for 7/12/76
The Deadpod
This week takes us to Summer tour 1976 - to the first night of a six night run on the home turf of San Francisco California for a delightful show at the intimate Orpheum Theater on July 12, 1976. 'The Music Never Stopped' provides a fine and fitting opener as the boys return to the stage on the West Coast following their hiatus from touring and the completion of 'Blues for Allah' and an East Coast swing. This first set is filled with old favorites colored with new tempos and some very sweet jams. Some of my favorites include 'Tennesse Jed' (here included from an audience...
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Dead Show/podcast for 7/10/26
The Deadpod
We return this week to the plains of Kansas for the second set of the band’s July 4, 1990 performance at Sandstone Amphitheater. The band comes back as the sun dips down and treats us to a couple of their newer songs, starting with ‘Victim or the Crime’. They lighten the mood with a fine ‘Foolish Heart’, which flows into one of my favorite Brent tunes, ‘Just a Little Light’. Knowing this was one of the last shows Brent ever played, I’m especially grateful to have seen him that final time. A wonderful ‘Scarlet > Fire’ follows—perfect for this sizzling day—and Jerry is...
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Dead Show/podcast for 7/3/90
The Deadpod
On this sweltering Fourth of July weekend, I’ve decided to travel back to another sweltering Fourth—July 4, 1990 at Sandstone Amphitheatre in Bonner Springs, Kansas. With temperatures well over 100 at showtime and no roof over the seating area, this was probably the hottest showtime I’d ever experienced. For me, it was a deeply memorable night: not only the last time I’d see Brent before his tragic passing, but also a show with some killer versions of classic songs. The first set, which we’ll hear this week, is a bit short—the boys were getting scorched with the sun shining...
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Dead Show/podcast for 6/26/26
The Deadpod
This week’s Deadpod features the Grateful Dead’s second set from June 4, 1978, at Campus Stadium, University of California, Santa Barbara—a show that captures the band in a confident and fluid late-’70s mode. The set opens with a lively “Samson and Delilah,” followed by a nicely rendered “Ship of Fools” that provides an early contrast in mood. The improvisational core begins with “Estimated Prophet,” which unfolds patiently before transitioning into a bright and engaging “Eyes of the World.” (nevermind Bobby stepping on Jerry's solo). The Eyes is a bit on the...
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Dead Show/podcast for 6/19/26
The Deadpod
This week’s Deadpod takes us back to sunny California for a Sunday show at the University of California, Santa Barbara, on June 4, 1978. This is their first show in about a month following the excellent Spring tour, and the band sounds like they’re in great spirits—evidenced both by the between-song banter and the upbeat performances throughout the set. A somewhat unusual pairing opens things up, with “Bertha” flowing into “Good Lovin’”—be sure to listen for Garcia’s vocal touches there. You might also notice Bobby’s vocal substitution in “Me and My Uncle,” a small...
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Dead Show/podcast for 6/12/26
The Deadpod
This week’s Deadpod features the second set from June 6th, 1992, a performance that captures the Grateful Dead’s late-era mix of looseness, drive, and exploratory spirit. The set opens on a joyful note with “Iko Iko,” before shifting into a spacious “Estimated Prophet” that leads into a rare second-set “The Same Thing.” From there, the mood turns inward with a heartfelt “He’s Gone,” setting up the transition into “Drums” and “Space.” Out of “Space,” the band launches a powerful “The Other One,” bringing a darker, more intense energy before easing into...
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Dead Show/podcast for 6/5/26
The Deadpod
This week’s Deadpod comes from a listener request, as we head to Buffalo, New York, and the Grateful Dead’s performance at Rich Stadium on June 6, 1992. It’s firmly in the early ’90s period, with Vince Welnick on keys and the band leaning into a more polished, modern sound while still drawing on their deep songbook. In this first set we get a very ’90s opener with “Touch of Grey” into “Greatest Story Ever Told,” followed by a focused “Althea” and a lively “It’s All Over Now.” The mood then shifts into a more acoustic‑flavored stretch with “Friend of the...
info_outlineSaturday night in Chi-town brings us a second set that opens with the soon‑to‑be‑released “Touch of Grey,” delivered in a tight, confident reading. A funky “Man Smart (Woman Smarter)” follows, with Jerry and Brent locking into some lively interplay that keeps the energy high. “Terrapin Station” then unfolds and the band shows their trademark virtuosity, taking us on a vibrant, narrative‑driven ride. From there they drop into a deep, heavy Drums and Space segment—one of the real highlights of the set—before slamming into a powerful “Truckin’.”
That sets up the ballad slot, and Jerry turns in an outstanding “Wharf Rat,” rich with emotion and dynamic nuance. Bobby then leads the band into “Throwing Stones,” complete with some fiery Garcia solos, and “Not Fade Away” closes the set in classic call‑and‑response fashion. The crowd, clearly feeling that extra X‑factor in this post‑drums stretch, keeps the “NFA” chant going until the band returns for a heartfelt and moving “Black Muddy River” encore
Grateful Dead
UIC Pavilion - University of Illinois
Chicago, IL
4/11/1987 - Saturday
Two
Touch Of Grey [6:00] >
Man Smart (Woman Smarter) [7:39] >
Terrapin Station [11:29] >
Drums [7:47] >
Space [6:48#] >
Truckin' [7:14] >
Wharf Rat [8:40] >
Throwing Stones [8:48] >
Not Fade Away [6:18]
Encore
Not Fade Away [ 0:52] >
Black Muddy River [6:16]
You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:
https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod042426.mp3
"hold onto the memories, they will hold onto you"