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Welcome to the weekly newsletter that brings you the most interesting and significant facts from Grateful Dead History, along with reviews of the music for the week ahead! The idea is to give all you Heads a "Heads up" on the interesting and cool stuff the Grateful Dead were up to on this week in history! So tell me what you think!

Here's the highlights and listening recommendations for Issue 15, for the week of May 6th, 2024, so check it out:

May 6th

5/6/80 Recreation Hall, Penn State University, State College, PA - A really fun, energetic show that was mostly released on Road Trips Volume 3 Number 4. First set highlights include "Lazy Lightning > Supplication", "Althea", "Lost Sailor > Saint of Circumstance". Second set highlights include "China Cat > I Know You Rider", "Stranger > He's Gone > Other One".
5/6/81 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY - Officially released on Dick's Picks Volume 13. A truly legendary show due to the voracity of the playing. The band is on fire, and it's intense! Highlights are "Cassidy", "Rooster", "Let It Grow > Deal", "Sailor > Saint", "He's Gone > Caution Jam > Spanish Jam". The entire ending of the second set is sweet as well.

May 7th - Bill Kreutzmann's birthday (1946)

5/7/72 Bickershaw Festival, Wigna, England - Officially released on Europe '72 Complete Recordings and Europe '72 Volume 2. Another amazing show from this amazing tour. The entire show is great but the highlights are in the second set. "Greatest Story" is a Jam Anthem version, "Dark Star > Drums > Other One > Sing Me back Home", "Lovelight > GDTRFB > NFA". "Lovelight" is a Jam Anthem version.
5/7/77 Boston Garden, Boston, MA - Officially released on May 1977: Get Shown The Light. This one lives in the shadows of "the" show from the next night, but there is a lot of excellent music here. Some people prefer this show to the 8th, but I love them both. Highlights include the Jam Anthem version of "Half Step", "Music", "Terrapin > Samson", and "Eyes" through the end of the show.
5/7/79 Kirby Field House, Lafayette College, Easton, PA - Probably the best Dead show you've never heard. This entire show ranks among the all-time best performances in my opinion. Highlights are "Don't Ease", "Me & My Uncle > Big River" and the Jam Anthem version of "Passenger" to close set 1. Set 2 highlights are "Shakedown", "Estimated > Eyes" and the post-D/S "NFA > Black Peter > Around & Around" all featuring a guest appearance by John Cippolina. Hot, Hot, Hot!!
5/7/80 Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithica, NY - Another excellent show on this day that lives in the shadows of 5/8/77, but again - there are some epic moments here. Notable highlights include "Jack Straw", "Cassidy", "Shakedown > Bertha > Playing > Terrapin" and the entire post-D/S portion of the set. Officially released on Road Trips Volume 3 Number 4.

May 8th

5/8/77 Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithica, NY - What else can I say that hasn't already been said? I just take it for what it is: another killer show during a peak time in the Dead's history. It is one of my all-time favorite shows, partly because it was one of my first high quality tapes and I played the shit out of it. The combination of the superior sound quality and the flawless performance made it a go-to for me in the early days. As I acquired additional similar high quality recordings, it wasn't played as frequently. But every time I revisit this show, I'm always blown away like it's the first time I'm hearing it. The ability for this show to make me feel that way is what makes this show stand out so much (for me at least). The highest highs of this peak show are "Dancin'", "Scarlet > Fire" (Jam Anthem versions), "Estimated", "St. Stephen > NFA (Jam Anthem version) > St. Stephen > Morning Dew" (Jam Anthem Version). Officially released several times including May 1977: Get Shown The Light, and Cornell 5/8/77
5/8/79 Recreation Hall, Penn State University, State College, PA - If you're sick of 5/8/77 and looking for something different to satisfy your soul, look no further. This is a really strong show. Every song is played with conviction and purpose. The boys are in sync the entire time and there are some truly beautiful moments that you don't want to miss! Highlights include "Promised Land", "They Love Each Other". "All Over Now", "Row Jimmy", "Stagger Lee". The second set explodes with one of the best "Scarlet > Fire" you'll ever hear. An excellent "Terrapin > Playin'" and post-D/S "Other One > China Doll > Playin' > Good Lovin' are all standout moments. "China Doll" is a 110 show breakout. Finally, a fat and funky "Shakedown" encore will have you dancing your ass off. I like the Barry Glassburg MOTB Nak 700 FOB tape. Unfortunately it seems like the Vault tape is missing for this show otherwise I suspect it would have been released already.
5/8/80 Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY - Another incredible May 8th show that you might not heard before. High-energy show full of great moments, and it helps that there are some really nice tapes available. Highlights include "Alabama Getaway > Promised Land", "Friend Of The Devil", "High Time", "Lazy Lightning > Supplication", "Sailor > Saint". The entire second set is a blast. "Uncle John's Band > Estimated > Eyes" and all the post-D/S rock and roll.

May 9th

5/9/77 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY - Officially released on May 1977: Get Shown The Light. This is an excellent listening companion to 5/8/77 and other May, 1977 shows. What's interesting is how the Dead were experimenting with song placement during this time period. This show gives you an amazing, tight version of "Help > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower" show opener. A beautiful "Cassidy" follows. A Jam Anthem version of "Music Never Stopped" closes the first set. The entire second set is excellent but the highlight is "Estimated > Other One > Drums > NFA > Comes A Time (Jam Anthem version) > Sugar Magnolia". The "Uncle John's Band" encore is a perfect treat to end this standout show.
5/9/79 Broome County Arena, Binghamton, NY - A highly underrated show that you should definitely give a listen to, especially if you've heard 5/9/77 a bunch of times and are looking for something new. The boys are locked in and they deliver the goods. High energy performances abound here. The "Sugaree" opener is a massive 16+ minute banger. "Minglewood", "Friend Of The Devil", "Stagger Lee" and "Jack Straw" are all perfectly played with extra magic dust to put them over the edge. Then you get the second set, which bubbles over with energy and emotion. Don't skip this show!
5/9/87 Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, CA - This entire show is one excellent "Sugar Magnolia/Sunshine Daydream" sammich. And boy, is it tasty!! This song played as a show opener has historically been strongly associated with the infamous 12/31/78 New Year's Eve performance (and they only did this a total of 5 times), so you know you're in for one hell of a party when they open with it! This is the show that was used for filming of the "Touch Of Grey" music video and several members of the audience were invited back stage afterwards to help with the filming of the video. Other highlights include "Sugaree", "Let It Grow", "Touch Of Grey > Looks Like Rain > He's Gone", "Wheel > Other One > Wharf Rat > Around & Around > Sunshine Daydream". The "Iko" encore lets you know the party ain't over!

May 10th

5/10/72 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands - Officially released on Europe '72 The Complete Recordings. Of course this is a very well-played show. It's "the" tour, after all. Highlights include “Mr. Charlie”, “China Cat > I Know You Rider”, “Black Throated Wind”, “Chinatown Shuffle”, “Playing”, “Tennessee Jed”, “Greatest Story”, and the entire second set.
5/10/78 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT - Officially released on Dick’s Picks Volume 25. An incredible show that we’re lucky to have in perfect audio quality straight from the Vault master tape. The boys are fully synced with each other for this entire performance and there isn’t a single bad moment. Highlights include “Jack Straw”, “Cassidy”, “Let It Grow > Deal” in the first set and the “Estimated > Eyes” and “Other One” portion of the second set, but again, this entire show is full of incredible music.

May 11th RIP Bob Marley (1981)

5/11/72 Rotterdam Civic Hall, Netherlands - officially released on Europe ‘72 The Complete Recordings. Not a bad note in the entire show with every song perfectly executed. The band is not messing around, and has you into deep space within the first 5 minutes of the show with the opening “Playing”. After that, you get a bunch of typical but perfectly executed songs. “China Cat > I Know You Rider” is the other big first set highlight. The second set contains the big jam highlight with “Dark Star > Drums > Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia > Caution (final time played) > Who Do You Love (final time played) > Truckin’, Uncle John’s Band”. This “Dark Star” is one for the ages and is one of Howard Werner’s Jam Anthem versions for good reasons- it’s downright epic!
5/11/77 St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, MN - Officially released on May 1977. This show continues the tradition of perfectly executed May 1977 performances. Highlights include “They Love Each Other, “Big River”, “Lazy Lightning > Supplication”, “Sugaree” in the first set. The second set highlights include “Estimated”, “Scarlet > Fire > Good Lovin’”, “Uncle John’s > Space > Wharf Rat > Around and Around” and a sweet “Brokedown” encore.
5/11/78 Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA - Officially released on Dick’s Picks Volume 25. Highlights include a passionate “Cold Rain And Snow” opener, a sweet “Loser”, and a silky-smooth “Lazy Lighting > Supplication” to close the first set. The second set kicks off with a massive “Scarlet > Fire” and then a funky “Dancin’ > Drums > Space > NFA” which segues into an emotional “Stella Blue”. They rock it out with “Around and Around” to close out the set. For the encore Bobby walks back out on stage wearing a Werewolf Halloween mask and they jump into “Werewolves”. Bobby lays down some sweet slide and Jerry sings his heart out. You’d think they were done, but no. They launch into a rocking version of “Johnny B. Goode” to close it out with a rare double encore!

May 12th

5/12/77 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL - Officially released on May 1977 And features another perfect performance from one of the bands most historic tours. A unique, laid-back “Bertha” kicks off the show. “Half Step > Dancin’” is a fun, funky set closer. Second set highlights are “Terrapin > Playing > Drums > NFA > Comes A Time > Playing”
5/12/91 Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA. Bruce Hornsby gives a nice boost to this excellent show. The band is energized and putting out highly expressive material here. Highlights include “Althea”, “C.C. Rider > Takes A Lot To Laugh, Takes A Train To Cry (1177 show break out- 6/10/73), “High Time”, “Black Throated Wind > Deal” in the first set. Second set highlights are the “Help > Slipknot! > Franklin’s Tower.

BTW, If you're not yet familiar with Jam Anthem versions of songs you can read all about it in Deadology II by Howard Weiner. Check it out here along with all his other great books.

And that's all for now! Of course, if you want to follow along in your very own copy of my book On This Day In Grateful Dead History: A Daily Listening Journal I still have some copies available here. Once they're sold out, I will have to decide whether or not I'm going to have more made. The costs of printing and shipping have gone way up in the last few years since I had them printed so I'm not sure if it's worth it or not. So get one now while you can! https://www.gratefuldeadbook.com/tigdh

Peace out my good people. Until Next week!

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