Jerry Garcia’s Name-Claiming Journey Beyond the Grateful Dead

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  • Grungy: JGB at the Starry Night in Portland, December 6, 1984

    LN jg1984-12-06.jgb.s1s2p.aud-Rice.124941.flac1644 The second half of 1984 is Garcia’s Rock Bottom period. But it’s not all terrible, and some of it is rather amazing. Ain’t that always the way. My reaction to 12/6/84, a Thursday at the Starry Night in downtown Portland, is similar to my reaction to 8/24/84. The vocals are unprofessional, embarrassingly bad.…

  • Ronnie’s and Rowan’s Returns

    LN jg1981-11-13.jgb.early-late.aud-streeter.123554.flac1644 I cannot believe that things were nearly forgotten that should not have been around this late ’81 JGB tour, namely that Ronnie Tutt was back on the skins. Somehow that information didn’t make it to Garciabase, and thence to TJS, but thankfully Corry Knows and we have the old McNally-Arnold JG List still…

  • Two Keyboards on Tour: JGB, Orpheum Theatre, Boston, February 7, 1981

    LN jg1981-02-07.jgb.early-late.aud-streeter.123543.flac1644 I have some pretty bland listening notes to catch up with posting. Might try to plant a few this weekend. Jerry Garcia Band Orpheum Theatre 1 Hamilton PlaceBoston, MA 02108 February 7, 1981 (Saturday) Streeter early and late complete MAC Miller flac1644 shnid-123543 JGMF retrack –early show (8 tracks,73:36)– a-t01. tuning [1:54] a-t02.…

  • The Grateful Dead: Top-Grossing Act of 1991

    I just picked up a copy of Pollstar‘s 1991 Year-End Special Edition, entitled Year of the Dead, dated December 31, 1991. Though I don’t do much GD stuff, blogger’s stats tell me that GD posts are the most popular. People are funny. But I digress. One of the reasons I don’t do it is that…

  • Render Unto Caesar, 1978

    Garcia was never gonna be homeless after the 60s, but like so many he struggled managing his finances. 1978 was a bad year on various measures, and here’s a simple one: tax liens. I can’t imagine the stress that would be devouring most of us if we were ever to have a lien slapped against…

  • JGB 9/15/76 S.S. Duchess, New York City Harbor, New York, NY

    The relationship between the Grateful Dead and the Hells Angels has been pretty well discussed, though I am sure there’s tons more to say. That’s for others to do. Here I’ll just note that Garcia also worked with the Angels outside the GD framework. I have made a few posts with Hells Angels content. I…

  • There is World-Class Guitar Playing Here (JGB at the Arlington in Santa Barbara, May 19, 1984)

    LN jg1984-05-19.jgb.all.aud-rossi-ford.124791.flac1644 Really great tape. And, while things are a little bit uneven, there’s a lot to like in this performance. The arrangements are generally tight and the guitar playing can be outstanding. This band is together. Melvin plays colorfully, drums strong and bass nice and thompin’. Garcia does a lot of very sophisticated layering…

  • His voice is fading fast: JGB at SUNY New Paltz, 11/29/77

    LN jg1977-11-29.jgb.all.aud-cooper.berger.124217.flac2496 I have already posted about the fascinating setlist rarity, “Here Comes The Sun” popping up in the middle of “Stir It Up”. Neat. Beyond that, I note that this is a pivotal moment in Garcia’s singing. Everything’s still arranged around the highs he could hit early in 1976 and 1977. But in the…

  • Maria ‘Shaking Her Substantial Booty’ at Waterbury’s ‘Decrepit Palace Theater’: JGB 11/23/77, Commander aud

    LN jg1977-11-23.jgb.all.aud-commander-berger.123904.flac1644 I have always had big love for this show. On this listen, the only song that really lights me up is TWLWMYD. (ed.: Blair Jackson points out Mission in the Rain, which is indeed stellar, deep and heartfelt. Good call.) Not sure if that’s because I am not in the mood, or this…

  • Big Daddy: “This is Old And In The Way, and I’ll let ’em stay all night if they want to.”

    LN jg1973-04-21.oaitw.early.fm-FlyingM.125747.flac1644 Old And In the Way Record Plant 2200 BridgewaySausalito, CA 94965 April 21, 1973 (Saturday) 57 minute Flying M FM shnid-125747 –(15 tracks, 57:29, basically complete)– t01. (1) … Going To The Races [0:15] [0:09] t02. (2) The Willow Garden [3:57] (3, 4) [0:18] t03. Katy Hill [2:19] (5) [0:16] t04. Till The…