Grateful Moments: Recent Episodes
Francisco Valdivieso
Immerse yourself in some of the Grateful Dead's most magic moments throughout their long, storied career. During every show, the host of Grateful Moments will give you background to the music he's playing, such as date; location; and description of the era the show is set in. Beyond that, it's a simple, direct, no-frills approach to listening to a curated catalog from the 60's to the 90's. Email Gratefuldeadmoments@gmail.com for comments; corrections; suggestions; etc.
Currently on vacation will post content and resume regular schedule upon my return. Thanks!
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May 8, 1977- They Love Eachother and Morning Dew
Cornell University, New York
The most famous Dead show of all time! Spring '77 is the apex of their career, and due to unique circumstances, this show is the most famous show they ever did. In 1980's tape trading circles, this was the most coveted of them all. This episode features 'They Love Each Other' from the first set, and 'Morning Dew' from the second set.
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November 14, 1973- Big Railroad Blues/Cumberland Blues/The Race is on
San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA
Fall '73 is as legendary a tour as it gets. The tour is well known for the Dead's peak improvisational 'space jazz'. When 1973 Dead is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is musical exploration. So, I thought it'd be fun to instead feature '73 material that IS NOT improvisational. These songs come from the first set and are very much rooted in country and rock n roll. But that's one of the great things about this band, is that they can go from this to epic second sets.
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August 6, 1971- Hard to Handle and Turn on your Lovelight
Hollywood Palladium
Although not the last performance of the Dead's original front man (that'd come in late '72), this performance is a swan song in that it's the last of the Pigpen era. Only Pigpen could pull off these songs the way he does it. Truly the end of an era.
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November 1, 1977- Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
Jack Straw and Looks Like Rain
The Dead are back after having missed the '77 summer tour due to a car wreck of one of the members. Classic first set songs showcase a different kind of Dead, not the long-extended jams they're known for, but more country and rock. But we love them the same.
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May 19, 1977- Estimated Prophet/Terrapin Station/Playing in the Band/Uncle John's Band/Drums/The Wheel/China Doll/Playing in the Band
Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
The creme of la creme, the peak of peak Dead. It doesn't get any better than this legendary 2nd set of this mythic tour. The Dead were firing on all cylinders and at peak creativity. From the outro jam of Estimated Prophet to the 2nd go around of Playing in the Band, the band takes you on incredible journey where band members, music, and audience become one.
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November 17, 1973- Playing in the Band/Uncle John's Band/Morning Dew/Uncle John's Band/Playing in the Band.
UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Legendary set from a legendary show from a legendary tour. This is part of the second set. They take you on a journey, only to land back on the same song they started with. This was a common thing they did from this era.
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February 27, 1969- Mountains of the Moon/Dark Star
Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
Vintage 1969 Dead. Mountains of the Moon evokes another time and place. They only played this from '68-'69. It transitions into a primal Dark Star.
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The good news is that the technical problems I have been experiencing seems to have been solved. The bad news is that I am way behind on producing shows. I will do my best over the next couple weeks to resume my regular schedule of every 2 weeks. Thank you for your patience.
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Due to some technical problems, I was not able to record my show today. I apologize. I will try my hardest to work out the problems in the next 2 weeks. Thank you for your patience.
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February 23, 1974- The Other One/Eyes of the World/One more Saturday Night
Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA
As 1974, space jazz, expert level Dead you can get. In the Other One and Eyes of the World they take you to the edge of the cosmos, only to safely land you back in earth in the closer of the night, One More Saturday Night.
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October 19, 1989- Cassidy
The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
As the Dead closed out the 80's, they treated fans to their last great era as a band. After the first couple verses of 'Cassidy', the chemistry of the band fuses, and we're treated to one of the most beautiful jams they ever did. Every band member is playing in top form.
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October 18, 1972- Dark Star
Fox Theatre, St. Louis, MO
CLASSIC 1972 Grateful Dead sound. Doesn't get more cosmic Dead than this. Space Jazz Dark Star for the first 20 minutes and then at approximately the 21-minute mark, Phil Lesh comes out of the cosmos to embark upon a bass solo that is downright dark and forbidding. You can almost hear the rest of the band wondering the same thing you'll be wondering, 'where's he going to take this?'
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October 25, 1979- Shakedown Street
New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, CT
Late 1979 tour is highly revered by Deadheads. Brent Mydland had just joined the band, and he lent them some new, fresh energy. You can tell right off the bat, from Brent's opening lines, that the Dead have entered a new era, post Keith. Just like the '76-'77 Dancing in the Streets, this 1979 version of Shakedown Street is pure funk disco Dead-- in the best of ways.
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June 14, 1976- Crazy Fingers/Dancing in the Streets
Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
Fresh off their almost 2-year hiatus, the Dead are ready to have some fun. The last couple minutes of Crazy Fingers they go into a Spanish influenced, jazz jam which transitions into pure funk disco Dead-- in the best of ways. I will go as far to say this Dancing in the Streets is the best cover song, ever. From Phil's disco funk bass line to Jerry's high energy guitar solo, you will be guaranteed to move.
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August 25, 1972- Cold Rain and Snow/Black Throated Wind/Beat it on Down the Line
Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley, CA
Fresh off their legendary Europe '72 Tour, the Dead kick off one of their best eras that would last till late '74. This era is famous for its cosmic jazz improvisations, but in this episode of Grateful Moments I'm featuring more earthbound songs. Even though they're more straight forward, traditional song structures, don't be tricked by their simplicity! These songs have an almost mythic quality to them, their lyrics an archetype of tragedy and love.
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October 14, 1983- Space/Spanish Jam/The Other One
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
By the 80's, the Grateful Dead had mastered what it meant to conduct a show. Deep in the second set was where the magic happened, and where audience members became one with the band. This 'space' is Jerry at his most creative and inspired. This is the kind of Dead moments which spawned the Deadheads to follow the band around.
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October 14, 1983- Scarlet Begonias/Fire on the Mountain
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
Experience the glorious 80's from this very fine show. In my opinion a true gem. Incidentally this was Trey Anastasio's, from Phish, first Dead show! The transition between Scarlet and Fire is as good as any transition they ever did, and I wouldn't be surprised this transition alone didn't plant a seed in a young Trey's mind to start a band!
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July 27th, 1973- Watkins Glen Soundcheck Jam
Watkins Glen, NY
Free form 1973 jam. If you only had one song you could listen to, to understand the 1973 sound, this is it. This jam came 1 night before they were to play the Watkins Glen music festival. During their soundcheck, they emerged into one of their greatest jams in their entire career.
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February 18th, 1971- Dark Star/Wharf Rat/Beautiful Jam
Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
A truly unique moment. Nothing like it before, nothing like it after. 1971 Grateful Dead isn't necessarily a 'standout' year like, say, 1973 or 1977. BUT. This moment alone makes up for the entire year. Maybe, perhaps, the best thing they ever did. (Although it's impossible to say that.) The 'beautiful' jam comes out of the first ever Wharf Rat, and is the most elusive of all Grateful Dead creatures, never played before, never to be played after.
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June 18th, 1974- Weather Report Suite/Let it Grow/The Other One
Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
You can't get much more '74 than Weather Report Suite and Let it Grow. Bob Weir and John Perry Barlow's evocative, almost biblical imagery give way to the space jazz sound of '74. The Wall of Sound was in full effect by now, and the summer tour of this year was one of the highlights of their career.
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July 16, 1976- Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA
Playing in the Band/Stronger than Dirt/Cosmic Charlie/Samson and Delilah/Spanish Jam
1976 is probably the Dead's most underrated year, for a lot of reasons. But the thing is, it's one of the best. It's the secret, deep catalog, year. Coming off of an almost 2 year hiatus, the boys are tanned, rested, and ready to play. You can hear the hints of what would become the greatness of 1977.
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May 2, 1970- The Other One
Harpur College, New York
May 2nd, 1970 is legendary because of arguably the best first set the band ever did. But...! The 2nd set is just as good, and this 'The Other One', in my humble opinion, is the BEST version of this song in their 30 year career!
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February 28th, 1969- St Stephen/William Tell bridge/The Eleven
Experience the raw energy and power of 1969. The true star of this 3 song piece is The Eleven. Composed by bassist Phil Lesh, 'The Eleven' showcases the Dead's genius of improvisation and odd time signature. Jerry's unique '69 tone will take you away to the far regions of the cosmos.
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April 21st, 1978- Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
The Music Never Stopped
1978 is an often-overlooked year, due to the legendary status of '77. While I would agree that '77 is better than '78, '78 has some true gems, and is underrated in my opinion. This whole show is great, and this is one of my favorite versions of The Music Never Stopped. This is not an insult to Phish-- I'm a Phish fan as well-- but the jam in this song is very Phish like. I can't help but think it helped forge their sound.
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October 9th, 1989- Hampton Coliseum 'Mothership', Hampton, Virginia
Feel Like a Stranger
From the mothership itself, one of the great openers of all time- Top 5. The band is firing on all cylinders and Feel Like a Stranger lends energy to the entire show. 1989, in my very humble opinion, is the last GREAT year of the Dead. Everybody is playing in top form.
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October 10th, 1982- Lost Sailor/Saint of Circumstance
Frost Ampitheatre, Palo Alto, California
Lost Sailor and Saint of Circumstances are some of the most beloved Bob Weir/John Perry Barlow collaborations. They were a mainstay to 1980's shows. Listen closely to the music in Saint of Circumstance and you'll get the perfect example of how all the instrumentation fits in intricate fashion, from the 2 drummers weaving in and out with Phil's bass, to Brent's perfect harmonies.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
I added a premium Grateful Moments channel to Patreon. It's exclusive content for $2.24/month. Go to Patreon.com and in the search bar type in 'Grateful Moments'. Content will feature more of the Grateful Dead's straight forward, rock, and country tunes. The release schedule will be roughly the same as Grateful Moments. Thank you for listening!
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May 9th, 1977- Not Fade Away
Buffalo, New York
Revisit one of the greatest, if underappreciated, Dead shows of all time, May 9th, 1977. Not Fade Away showcases how they took a simple structure of a song by Buddy Holly and morphed it into a living, breathing, thing. '77 at its grooviest.
May 8th, 1977- Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Scarlet Begonias/Fire on the Mountain
Possibly the most beautiful transition between Scarlet and Fire in all the years they played it. You can just feel it was one of those moments where the musicians became one and melted with the audience. Everyone let the music take them away. I guarantee there were numerous Deadheads born that magical May evening in Ithaca New York.
December 1st, 1966- The Matrix
San Francisco, CA
Cream Puff War
Death Don't Have No Mercy
PROTO Dead! The chilling energy of these early Dead recordings beckons the spirit of the 1960's. If you close your eyes, you can still feel the crest of spiritual energy that must have been so present in late '66. These are the fertile seeds of what was to come. It was the energy of these early shows that build the foundation that still lasts today.
November 11th, 1973- Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA
Dark Star/Mind Left Body/Eyes of the World
High art that surpasses all concepts of genre. This is the kind of art that will be remembered, and listened to, in 250 years. I'll let the music speak for itself.
March 26th, 1987 Hartford Civic Center, Harford, CT
Bird Song and He's Gone
Grateful Moments first 80's show from March 26th, 1987!
By '87 the band has their magic sound down to art AND science, having figured out what will transport the audience. The jam inside Bird Song makes this the best of all Bird Songs Brent (IMHO)! Brent highlights the magic of this jam. And then, on the outro of He's Gone, you can almost feel as if you're standing in the Hartford Civic Center in 1987 following the Dead around. Magic times...
September 18th, 1974 Parc Des Expositions, Dijon, France
Drums/Caution
Fusion jazz greatness from 1974. Doesn't get any more 1974 Dead than this. Opens up with a mini Kreutzmann drum solo, followed by a bass accompaniment with Phil Lesh, then into a very jazzy Caution jam.
June 14th, 1968 Fillmore East, NYC
Caution/Feedback
Rip roarin' Caution into feedback from 1968. As primal Dead as you can get. This is Pigpen at the height of his powers.
November 30th, 1979- Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
Terrapin Station-Playing in the Band
Although not as standout of a year as, say, 1977 or 1973, 1979 has its own distinct sound that makes it a contender. By fall of '79, Brent Mydland, who had joined in April, was feeling good and warmed up, and he lent the band a fresh, new sound.
May 9th, 1977 Buffalo, New York
Help on the Way/Slipknot/Franklin's Tower
The day AFTER. In my humble opinion May 9th is better than May 8th, and I love May 8th! Spring '77 finds the Dead at their apex, as tight and creative as ever. 1977 Dead is every bit as creative as 73-74, but there's an extra 'x' factor that makes it something truly special.
May 2nd, 1970 , Harpur College, NY
Entire first set (Acoustic):
Rare acoustic set from 1970.
Set List:
Don't Ease Me In
I Know You Rider
Friend of the Devil
Dire Wolf
Beat it on Down the Line
Black Peter
Candyman
Cumberland Blues
Deep Elem
Cold Jordan
Uncle John's Band
11/15/1972 Oklahoma City, OK
Playing in the Band.
The Dead at their absolute jazziest. '72 kicked off their cosmic/space jazz era and this represents the sound.
February 22, 1969
Dream Bowl, Vallejo, CA
Cryptical Envelopment- The Other One- Cryptical Envelopment
Pure 1969 Dead. No other year captures their young, raw, primal sound. I'll be playing a lot more 1969 Dead in the future, but this piece of music exemplifies their '69 sound. Jerry's tone conjures the spirit of the day.
October 17th, 1974 Winterland San Francisco. One of the last shows before the almost 2 year hiatus. All these Winterland shows are legendary. In my humble opinion, this is the best China Cat Sunflower into I Know you rider transitions. There are some runner ups from '72 and '73, and early '74. But this is the best.
Dark Star into Mind Left Body Jam.
Magic segue from a Dark Star into Mind Left Body. Classic '73 sound. Transition starts approximately 16:00 into Dark Star and completes around 5 minutes later into one of the best, if not the best, Mind Left Body.