DF 12: 2/17/82

2/17/82 - Warfield Theater - San Francisco, CA

I'm back, folks, at least for awhile anyway. I don't know how long this blog is for this world, and I think the amount of time I took to finish this entry kind of attests to that. But I thought a new tactic was in order, so this is what I've decided for the meantime: Ben's done a great job collecting the best AUDs available from Archive.org, so I'm going to work to complement that list. Should I continue, I'll be adding one that I come across that isn't there yet, but I reserve the right to highlight one that's already there that just blows me away. So Ben - consider this entry an addition to your list!

Another change: previously, I would listen to a show, and jot down notes in a Word document. Later, I would craft my entry from those notes. I found that my notes weren't specific enough, and I would often have to go back and listen to tunes to get more thorough information about whether they rocked or not. Well what you're reading here is being typed as I listen. I hope to get a more immediate description of the performance this way. I'm not even reading the setlist prior to listening!

Another note: I'm not sure why (and some of you may have noticed this already), but some of the streaming shows at archive.org are streaming doubled tracks. Not sure why that is. It's only mildly annoying, though.

I didn't have anything from 1982 yet, and I really like the early Brent years (the later ones don't suck either, of course). There was a two-show run at the Warfield to kick the year off, and while the first night's AUD isn't great, this night is a bit better (recorded by the same guy). It isn't the best-sounding AUD I've heard, not even close, but the energy is really there, and it's to the point where you can close your eyes and imagine you're there. I really wanted a photo of the marquee with "The Grateful Dead" on it for this entry, but after 10 pages of Google Image Search results, Phil and Friends is a more-than-adequate substitute.

Minglewood starts things off, and although Bobby's vocals are a bit off rhythmically, it still got my head bobbing. Sugaree is great, with Jer doing some serious runs at the 6:30 mark. While the vocals don't come through the mix as well as they could, the guitars and other instruments are right there. It should be noted, however, that Jerry's voice is in TOP form for this show.

On the Road Again! A relative rarity outside of the band's 1980 acoustic performances, and always fun to hear. In fact, since we're at the Warfield tonight, this is probably a nod to the fact that this theatre was the spot for over half of the Dead's 1980 three-set anniversary performances, when this song was played acoustically in the first set. And it's great! The between verses solos are played nice and smoothly, with the drummers providing a really nice groove to jam to. Short but sweet, OTRA leads into Bird Song, another common acoustic number from that magical Fall of 1980. The main jam section kicks in around 4:00 or so, and we're off. A great jam, and Jer and Brent are working together really well here.

CC Rider is next, and while not my favorite Bobby "Blues venture," it does showcase some nice soloing from Jerry and some outstanding organ work from Brent around 4:20 (heh) to 4:45. Wow, is that Bobby or Jer with the nice slide solo after Brent? Either way, some killer stuff, great sound on that solo. Jerry telegraphs "Tennessee Jed" and the crowd responds in turn. What's that crowd response at 4:15ish for? The band wanted to go into the chorus, but Jer just sang another verse. He probably had it wrong, timing wise, but the audience clearly appreciated the band's willingness to just follow. It's a good version of the song, not at the level that the late 1977 ones were, but really enjoyable.

"It's All Over Now" is nice and driving. Nothing outstanding, but a nice solid version of the song. Man, Jerry was so good at telegraphing songs, wasn't he? The whole crowd seems to know that "Loser" is the next tune a good minute before the song starts. Solo is fantastic, Jerry really lets loose, and you're able to lose yourself in the grind of a typically-great minor key "Loser" jam. "Women are Smarter" -- do I smell an end to the set? If so, it's a great choice, particularly after the minor-key "Loser." Very dance-able version, particularly Bobby's vocal entrance on the last verse -- lots of energy. Enjoy!

A Scarlet opens set 2, the band is cooking by the time the pre "Wind in the Willows" solo arrives. And it's a long one! I absolutely adore those extended Jerry Scarlet solos, and this is one is so full of joy that you can hear how much fun Jer and the others are having. The "Fire" transition jam arrives at around 5:30 with a nice guitar harmonic and some solid hi-hats. The transition jam is beautifully-executed, everyone in tune with each other and playing some raging music up until the 13-minute mark and over into the next track, and then collapsing into the relative calm of the beginning of Fire.

Fire is nice, as it usually is. The Estimated that follows, however, nearly steals the second set with its dual soloing by Jer and Bob. It's not often that they trade licks like this, and it's a treat for ears who have heard way too many cookie-cutter versions of Estimated.

"Eyes of the World" is up next, as it traditionally was after Estimated. It's a decent Eyes, but I still have to give the nod to Estimated in this pairing, which is normally opposite of how I usually feel. Odd, that.

Drums -> Space gives way to a beautifully-rendered "The Wheel," perhaps the best song the Dead used to "exit" Space. It's a good rendition, with some very nice dynamic shifts, and it's at its ending nadir that it gives way to the inevitable NFA. NFA starts a little understated, with Jerry playing around a bit and letting the drummers find their rhythm, which they do quickly. The rest of the band backs the leader up nicely. Some slide guitar finds its way into the mix (Bobby, maybe?), and pretty soon the main theme and opening vocals come in majestically. At about the 4:25 mark the band erupts and you can hear how much fun they're having at the end of this show. Some ending soloing and then a bit of improv experimentation lead into "Wharf Rat."

"Wharf Rat" is among the greatest of the Jerry "weepers" that traditionally closed many shows. The only one that topped it (IMO) was Dew. There's something about singing about a down-on-his-luck alcoholic looking back on his life that rings a bit true for almost everyone, especially since the song contains so much optimism for the future. This version is great, with amazing dynamic shifts between the "But I'll get back on my feet...", "I'll get up and fly away...", and "Pearly's been true..." sections. After this last section, the band explodes again into pure unadulterated loudness until bringing it all back down again for "Got up and wandered...". A little bit more experimentation and we're in Magnolia land.

It's a really upbeat version, a bit faster than normal, and very happy. Is it the good vibes in the air, or is the band eager to end the show? Either way, you're not likely to hear a quicker version of this tune elsewhere. In any case, it's very, very good. The SSDD coda is just as good, and just as fast.

"I Can't Get No Satisfaction" encores the show, and we're graced with a false start. The crowd loves it, of course. The song finally kicks in, and everyone's happy again. It's a rolicking affair, of course, with Brent giving some very nice vocals on the chorus. On the whole though, feh. It's definitely of the you-had-to-be-there variety.

Well, that's it, folks. Not sure if/when I'll be back. If I am, it will almost certainly be another AUD to add to the list. If I'm not, it's been a splendid ride.