[Tennessee Jedi]

07/31/82 Manor Downs Texas
SMOKES
Space->
U.J.B. ->
Truckin' ->
Dew

[caspersvapors]

my dad first saw them in 73 (the winterland shows) but his favorite era was the 80s. go figure

[astroman99]

First show 4-18-78
fav years 1974, 1980-1982
although 1967-1969 is damn great!
favorite decade 1960's little league and Marla Fisher.

[FretWilkes]

I fit your theory pretty well.

1st show was September 1973.

Favorite year is 1972, but really love the whole 1970-1974 period. I only saw 2 Dead shows before they went back to 2 dummers in 76, but I'm glad I did. I love the lighter feel, turn on a dime aspect of those early 70s years.

I saw many shows from 1976 through 1990 and one lame 1994 show, but those shows in 73/74 were incredible. I only wish I could have seen them in 1972!

[mijknahs]

I wish I saw them from '71 to '74. I really like those years. I'd probably have a different outlook on the band if I saw them back then.

One thing I've leaned especially recently with recording our own band's shows is that a recording doesn't capture that intangeble feeling you get being there live. Like if the band was really hot and there were some intense moments, when you listen back, it's just not the same and sometimes you can't even tell. I like how Jerry described his experience of shows vs. how the recordings sound (in Playing in the Band by David Gans). Some of the best feeling shows (to Jerry) sound kinda boring on tape. Or a bad experience during the show could sound amazingly good on the recording (interview on the GD Movie).

Jim

[FretWilkes]

One thing I've leaned especially recently with recording our own band's shows is that a recording doesn't capture that intangeble feeling you get being there live.

Jim

You've got that right Jim. They say that "the tapes don't lie" and while that may well be true, they don't tell the whole story either.

I had an audiance tape of an Oakland show that had Brokedown Palace as an encore. Jerry's solo was INCREDIBLE. It just filled the hall with glorious reverb laden golden tones. The same show was released on Dick's Picks later on and I could not wait to get a better quality recording. I put that tune on right away and surprise...close miked all the notes were there, but the majesty I heard on the audience tape was gone. I'm sure being there for that tune as the tones washed over you was beyond thrilling.

Many times I've found that audience tapes can get closer to conveying the actual feel. Close, but no cigar as they say!

[mijknahs]

Yes, that's what I love about good audience tapes. You can feel some of the crowd energy. I love during a jam when it is peaking and the crowd gets louder and louder. A lot of times the same soundboard (although it's crisp and clear and the bass sounds good, etc.) will sound dull or boring. Like they're playing in a studio or something. Greek 7-13-84 comes to mind. The first Scarlet solo is great and the crowd is into it. I just got the soundboard and it just not as fun to listen to.

Jim

[Maybeck09]

I agree. I grew up with aud tapes from friends and the sound of the band was kind of far away. But I loved the energy of the crowd. Especially some good Hampton ones. The archive has several (I think Charlie Miller?) where the clean soundboard is mixed with some audience to get the concert hall feel. And get some back and forth between band and crowd.

Brad

[boxorain]

First show was '87

Favorite time periods are '73-'74, '68-mid '70, & '87-'91 - in that order

[krzykat]

First show 1980 fav era 85-90 post brent just doesn't cut it for me either

[tigerstrat]

Yes, that's what I love about good audience tapes. You can feel some of the crowd energy. I love during a jam when it is peaking and the crowd gets louder and louder.

Or where a seemingly expended solo unexpectedly begins to burn brightly again, and some dude in the audience lets out a blood-curdling scream at the precise moment that I would have, had I been there.

[mijknahs]

Or where a seemingly expended solo unexpectedly begins to burn brightly again, and some dude in the audience lets out a blood-curdling scream at the precise moment that I would have, had I been there.

Exactly. Those moments bring a smile to my face. Soundboards are just lacking in that respect.

[FretWilkes]

GDRadio.net is playing 5/23/72, Strand Lyceum.

1972 baby!!!

Snotty Alligator tones, bouncing Big Brown, Weir spanking a Gibson, Pigpen, 1 drummer, Keith and they're all leaning into it!!! What's not to LOVE.

1972: High Water Mark. There, I said it!

EDIT: I forgot to mentin WAH-WAH. Nobody uses a wah-wah better than Jerry
no-bah-dee!

[Henry]

I agree to that theory if only partially. I saw the Grateful Dead for the first, and regretfully only, time in '81 (remember I'm in Europe so there's less possibilities). I actually really dig the stuff from the time when Brent was new to the band, about '79-'80. Lots of energy and Jerry had some serious highlights too. On the other hand, I'm not that much a fan of the Keith and Donna era. But looking at the whole picture, my favorite era is really '70-'71. Of course I was only 5-6 years old at that time so I wouldn't find out about it until much later...