DF 1: 5/8/80

5/8/80 - Glens Falls Civic Center - Glens Falls, NY

When I decided to do this blog, I knew that the first show was going to be from 1980. It's a year I knew almost nothing about, only that Go To Nassau was from the Spring Tour. It was also Brent Mydland's first full year with the band, which gave me even more motivation to get the goods (I'm a Brent fan). I started listening to shows from 1980 from the very top of the list, and it didn't take me long to get to this little gem, which, as soon as I get my laptop back from the service shop, I will be adding to my collection.

An interesting piece of trivia: one of Phish's most famous shows was performed in this same venue 14 years after the Dead did this show. The first Halloween costume show, in which Phish played the entirety of the Beatles' White Album took place here on October 31, 1994. Now on to the show.

The first set begins as many shows from the Spring tour did: with "Alabama Getaway." The sound isn't great at first. Bobby's guitar is too high in the mix, and Jerry's lead guitar is almost inaudible. This is fixed after awhile, but it's a little annoying at first, almost to the point where some collectors might just be happy with just getting the second set. 'Bama segues into "Promised Land" on this night. When AG opened shows back then, the band would segue into one of two songs: "Promised Land" or "Greatest Story Ever Told." I prefer it when the band goes into GSET, but PL is a pretty solid rocker as well.

Jerry decides to tone things down a bit with a gorgeously played "Friend of the Devil," performed in the slow manner that this song took on in the late 70s. The FOTD's performed during this Spring tour were of exceptional quality, and even though the source for this show that I listened to was soundboard, you can still hear the crowd roaring their approval.

Bobby goes Western next, with a Mama Tried -> Mexicali Blues duo that is played textbook perfect. "Mama" is usually very good, but I find "Mexicali" to be hit-or-miss. This one just gets nailed to the wall.

The "Lazy Lightning -> Supplication" that comes after a nice "High Time" is interesting in that Brent's organ is so high in the mix. This is actually a nice change, since I'm so used to Keith on this song. Brent is so much more of a presence, both instrumentally and vocally than the Godchaux's were, and I usually prefer his input (not that Keith and Donna didn't have their great moments, of course).

"Saint of Circumstance" is one of my favorite Bobby songs, and the version that closes out this first set is not going to be in my top ten ever performed. It starts a bit slow for my tastes from the fading chords of "Lost Sailor" and takes awhile to get going to its usual tempo. The end of the song makes up for it, however, as the band finally finds their footing in the closing jam, delivering a very nice ending punch.

Second set opens with "Uncle John's Band!" Nice, how often did this happen, I wonder? Too bad deadlists doesn't let you search with that parameter. This second set is what made me decide on this show to be the first DF entry. "Estimated Prophet" follows UJB, and "Eyes of the World" is after that. Any set with "Eyes" in it is worth looking at, in my opinion.

A really long "Drums" segment comes after "Eyes", and then toward the end of it is where the magic starts to happen. Phil and Jerry start to lead into a "Space" segment that's well worth listening to. I don't listen to Space probably half the time it comes on during a show, but this one's great. Wonderful paths are explored, everyone's clearly listening to each other, and it's a good length too -- about three and a half minutes. As Space winds down, Jerry goes right into "Truckin'" in a wonderful transition. The Truckin's a good one, and slides GORGEOUSLY into "Stella Blue," the song of the night. It's a nice long and mellow version, until the bridge: "I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel..." is delivered powerfully, with a crunching guitar to back it up. This literally sent shivers down my spine the first time I listened to it, and pretty much sealed the deal for this show.

SB leads into an "Around and Around" -> "Johnny B. Goode" ending, and the band encores with a serviceable "US Blues."

I'd recommend you at least get the second set, and listen to Space -> Truckin -> Stella Blue as often as you can. For the completists, the first set is definitely worth it for the FOTD as well as Mama -> Mexicali, and the great ending to Saint.

I think next week I'm going to delve a little deeper into Brent Mydland's career with the Dead, probably something from the late 80s. Not entirely sure which year yet, but I'm leaning toward 1989. Then again, I could decide I really need to do something from 1971.

Some other finds this week from this time period:

• 1/13/80 - Fantastically joyous "Sugar Magnolia"
• 4/1/80 - Great jam in "Estimated Prophet."
• 5/6/80 - (this show is audience recording only) Great China -> Rider and the transition from Space -> Wharf Rat is spectacular.
• 5/10/80 - (also AUD only) "Comes a Time" will make you weep for its sheer beauty
• 5/11/80 - "Fire on the Mountain" has a eerie crunchy solo at 7 minutes that must have made the crowd scream. Also: wait for Bobby to yelp "Whoops!" during "Loser."