What is the Opposite of a Bat Outta Hell? JGB at Keystone, September 10-12, 1976

I am not a huge fan of the syrupy tempos of 1976 JGB, the ultimate comfort band for Our Hero. There are some great sounding tapes, the occasional killer show (4/3/76b), and some spectacular specific songs (“Right Mighty High”, “Moonlight Mile”, “Who Was John” and others are some of my faves), but the overall vibe is just too laid back for me. It has been intimated that I lack the patience and sophistication to appreciate this stuff, which is like fine wine or something. Maybe so.

I have been particularly indifferent to the September performances. The Pirates’ Ball on 9/15/76 is certainly fun, holds a lot of curb appeal, but the music wasn’t the thing for me. The Astor Theatre may have been a deco masterpiece, but Garcia’s one show there on 9/20/76 was dull as day-old dishwater. And so on. I haven’t felt particularly differently about the hometown weekend on September 10-12 at the Keystone Berkeley. The thing that most interests me is the provenance of the board tapes. They look like Betty Board lineage, but they are not among the tapes lassoed together by the ABCD crew. I suspect that Latvala spun copies for Alligator or Kingbee and they entered the world via those benefactors, but I can’t be sure.

Anyway, below I post my listening notes for the three hometown nights, September 10-12, the first of which took place only 5 days after Rex Jackson‘s passing. Here is the thumbnail.

Friday 9/10

  • Nick The Greek opened. He’d do so again on 11/15/76 and then he and Jerry wouldn’t share a bill, so far as I know, until the 3/18/87 Artists’ Rights Today benefit at the Old Fillmore.
  • Reinhart Hohlwein (sp?) pulled a stunning tape.
  • “My Sisters And Brothers” grooves low and slinky.
  • I liked “After Midnight” and this very long version of “I’ll Take A Melody”.
  • Mighty High has great energy, but it’s a little off-kilter here and there.

Saturday 9/11

  • Beautiful Betty Board
  • Sugaree: what is the opposite of a bat out of hell? Whatever it is, that’s how they come in on Sugaree. Sloooowww.

Sunday 9/12

  • Short second set at only 40 minutes. Jerry strums HSII, but it either wasn’t taped or it was closing time and it didn’t happen.
  • Maria Muldaur joins along. I need to check, but I think this is my earliest documented case of her joining the JGB. Sociometrists, take note.
Listening notes below the fold.

Jerry Garcia Band
Keystone
2119 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
September 10, 1976 (Friday)
Hohlwein MOTB 0031 flac2496 shnid-96792
–set I (7 tracks, 73:28)–
s1t01. [0:41] The Way You Do The Things You Do [8:20] [0:44]
s1t02. [0:20] They Love Each Other [7:29] [0:49]
s1t03. [0:17] Midnight Moonlight [7:04] [0:13]
s1t04. Stir It Up [10:33] [1:10]
s1t05. After Midnight [13:23] [1:32]
s1t06. My Sisters And Brothers [7:08] [0:48]
s1t07. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) [12:46] (1) [0:10]
–set II (5 tracks, 55:25)–
s2t01. [0:17] I’ll Take A Melody [17:26] [1:13]
s2t02. Tore Up Over You [10:42] [0:20]
s2t03. A Strange Man [6:29] [3:10]
s2t04. Mystery Train [8:41] [0:28]
s2t05. Ride Mighty High [6:30] (2) [0:08]
! ACT1: Jerry Garcia Band #3
! lineup: Jerry Garcia – el-g, vocals;
! lineup: Keith Godchaux – piano, vocals;
! lineup: John Kahn – el-b;
! lineup: Ron Tutt – drums, vocals;
! lineup: Donna Godchaux – vocals.
JGMF:
! Recording: symbols: % = recording discontinuity; / = clipped song; // = cut song; … = fade in/out; # = truncated timing; [mm:ss] = recorded event time. The recorded event time immediately after the song or item name is an attempt at getting the “real” time of the event. So, a timing of [mm:ss] right after a song title is an attempt to say how long the song really was, as represented on this recording.
! Jerrybase: https://jerrybase.com/events/19760910-01
! JGC: https://jerrygarcia.com/show/1976-09-10
! db: https://etreedb.org/shn/12629 (AUD shnf); https://etreedb.org/shn/16643 (MSR shnf); https://etreedb.org/shn/96791 (this source tape, flac1644); https://etreedb.org/shn/96792 (this fileset).
! map: https://goo.gl/maps/LDc43
! JGBP: http://jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com/2012/02/keystone-2119-university-avenue.html;
! venue: URL http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2010/12/2119-university-avenue-berkeley-ca.html;
 URL http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2011/01/jerry-garcia-and-keystone-shows.html.
! band: Jerry Garcia Band #3 (http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/jerry-garcia-band-personnel-1975-1995.html)
! ad: SFSECDB19760905p37
! historical: Nick “the Greek” Gravenites opened.
! R: field recordist: Reinhart Holhwein 
! R: field recording media: 2x TDK AUDA90
! R: field recording gear: 2x Sony ECM 280 > Sony SD152
! R: lineage: MAC >> Nakamichi CR-7a >> Korg MR-1000 >> DSF [1-bit 5.6448 MHz Stereo] >> Korg MR-1000 => Korg AudioGate >> WAV [24/96]. Transfer By: Bob Menke. Mastering By: Derek McCabe. Tagging by: Adam Egert.
! R: MOTB Release: 0031 24/96
! R: Release Date: 2009-01-05
! R: Special: Rhinotrocity #6
! R: Another amazing up front tape from these guys.
! R: seeder notes: “Patched After Midnight with shnid-16643”
! P: Overall. Comes out of the gate with the deep, slow, percussive JGB #3 feel, not my favorite. 
! P: s1t03 Mid Moon peppy in this period – I love it!
! R: s1t05 AM pitch seems to shift down around 6.
! P: s1t05 AM very powerful guitar work.
! P: s1t06 MSAB does very well with this low, slinky groove they have it in.
! s1t07 (1) JG: “We’re gonna take a break for a little while. We’ll be back a little bit later on.”
! P: s2t01 ITAM a very long and pretty version, especially in the 13 and 14 range when Jerry and Keith are weaving around each other, espec. 14 range. Very nice! Taper talk after the tune noting how long it was.
! P: s2t05 Mighty High has great energy, but it’s a little off-kilter here and there.
! s2t05 (2) JG: “Thanks a lot. We’ll see y’all later on.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry Garcia Band
Keystone
2119 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
September 11, 1976 (Saturday)
MSR > C shnid-15764 shn2flac
–set I (6 tracks, 67:10)–
s1t01. Sugaree [10:42] [0:11] % [0:09]
s1t02. Catfish John [15:27] [0:21]
s1t03. That’s What Love Will Make You Do [12:10] [0:12]
s1t04. Friend of the Devil [8:24] [0:36]
s1t05. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down [9:43] [0:06]
s1t06. Midnight Moonlight [9:03] [0:04]
–set II (4 tracks, 54:05)–
s2t01. I Second That Emotion [10:30] [0:16]
s2t02. Stop That Train [11:49] [0:09]
s2t03. Don’t Let //Go [24:#59] [0:06]
s2t04. Ride Mighty High [6:04] [0:08]
! ACT1: Jerry Garcia Band #3
! lineup: Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals;
! lineup: John Kahn – bass;
! lineup: Keith Godchaux – keyboards, backing vocals;
! lineup: Donna Godchaux – vocals;
! lineup: Ron Tutt – drums.
JGMF:
! Recording: symbols: % = recording discontinuity; / = clipped song; // = cut song; … = fade in/out; # = truncated timing; [ ] = recorded event time. The recorded event time immediately after the song or item name is an attempt at getting the “real” time of the event. So, a timing of [x:xx] right after a song title is an attempt to say how long the song really was, as represented on this recording.
! Jerrybase: https://jerrybase.com/events/19760911-01
! JGC: https://jerrygarcia.com/show/1976-09-11
! db: https://etreedb.org/shn/15764 (this fileset)
! map: https://goo.gl/maps/LDc43
! JGBP: http://jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com/2012/02/keystone-2119-university-avenue.html;
! venue: http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2010/12/2119-university-avenue-berkeley-ca.html; URL http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2011/01/jerry-garcia-and-keystone-shows.html.
! band: JGB #3 (http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/jerry-garcia-band-personnel-1975-1995.html).
! ad: SFSECDB19760905p37.
! historical: Betty on the knobs 6 days after Rex’s passing. Rogers and Burgin opened.
! R: lineage: MSR (2 track 7″ reels @ 7.5ips) > 1 cassette > 2 DAT > Sony R500 playback > Sony CDR-W33 (master CD) > HP 9350i extraction ((EAC v0.9 beta 4) > re-tracking (CD Wave v1.6) > sector boundary verification (shntool v1.01) > .shn encoding (mkwACT v0.97 beta 1). D>CD by Ryan Shriver, CD > SHN by Joe Jupille. A MisSHN in the Rain Installment of the Music Never Stopped Project.
! R: s2t03 Don’t Let Go splice @ 21:05
! P: s1t01 Sugaree: what is the opposite of a bat out of hell? Whatever it is, that’s how they come in on Sugaree. Sloooowww.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry Garcia Band
Keystone
2118 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
September 12, 1976 (Sunday)
MSR>C Miller shnid-26457 shn2flac
–set I (5 tracks, 58:21)–
s1t01. Mission In The Rain [8:55] % [0:28]
s1t02. After Midnight [13:32] [0:16] % [0:02]
s1t03. Stir It Up [12:59] [0:06] % [0:10]
s1t04. Who Was // John [12:#58] [0:06] % [0:05]
s1t05. Midnight Moonlight [8:35] (1) [0:09]
–set II (4 tracks, 40:55)–
s2t01. The Way You Do The Things You Do [7:26] [0:10] % [0:08]
s2t02. Catfish John [13:51] [0:08] % [0:15]
s2t03. Tore // Up Over You [11:51] [0:08] % [0:14]
s2t04. Ride Mighty High [6:35] [0:09]
! ACT1: Jerry Garcia Band #3*
! lineup: Jerry Garcia – guitar, vocals;
! lineup: John Kahn – bass;
! lineup: Keith Godchaux – keyboards, backing vocals;
! lineup: Donna Godchaux – vocals;
! lineup: Ron Tutt – drums;
! guest/lineup: Maria Muldaur – vocals (s2t02-end);
JGMF:
! Recording: symbols: % = recording discontinuity; / = clipped song; // = cut song; … = fade in/out; # = truncated timing; [ ] = recorded event time. The recorded event time immediately after the song or item name is an attempt at getting the “real” time of the event. So, a timing of [x:xx] right after a song title is an attempt to say how long the song really was, as represented on this recording.
! Jerrybase: https://jerrybase.com/events/19760912-01
! JGC: https://jerrygarcia.com/show/1976-09-12
! db: https://etreedb.org/shn/6371 (incomplete MSC shnf); https://etreedb.org/shn/86045 (incomplete MSC, this fileset); 106923 (complete MSC via Miller).
! map: https://goo.gl/maps/LDc43
! JGBP: http://jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com/2012/02/keystone-2119-university-avenue.html;
! venue: http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2010/12/2119-university-avenue-berkeley-ca.html;
 URL http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2011/01/jerry-garcia-and-keystone-shows.html.
! band: JGB #3 (http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/01/jerry-garcia-band-personnel-1975-1995.html). * Note that Corry shows Maria coming in with JGB #4 on 11/15/77. We now have her showing up intermittently throughout 1977. This gig pushes that timeline back almost six months.
! setlist: it almost sounded to me like JG wanted to play HSII after Mighty High. That would make sense, as this only clocks in at 41 minutes. The alternative is that it was closing time.
! personnel: Maria Muldaur makes herself heard at the end of CJ! She is still audible in TUOY. For a perfectly clear instance, check out 11:00.
! R: MSR (2 track 7″ reels @ 7.5ips) > Cass (TDK SA-X100 played back on Nakamichi CR-7A cassette deck Dolby off) > Lucid 9624 A-D converter @ 44.1kHz > DAT (Fostex D5 by Ryan Shriver 2/10/00).
! R: transfer Info: Dat (Sony R500) > Prodif Plus > Samplitude v6.0 > SHN (1 Disc SHN / 2 Discs Audio). Transferred By Charlie Miller, [email protected], 6/19/03.
! P: s1t01 MITR comes out at a snail’s pace.
! R: s1t01 little repeated piece of tuning after the song
! R: s1t04 WWJ splice @ 4:39
! s1t05 (1) JG: “We’re gonna take a break and, uh, come back in, uh, a coupla minutes.”
! R: s2t03 TUOY splice @ 1:45

Comments

3 responses to “What is the Opposite of a Bat Outta Hell? JGB at Keystone, September 10-12, 1976”

  1. Jerry's Brokendown Palaces Avatar

    A quick search finds Maria on stage with Jerry on many occasions.

    2/74 (Compliments session)-Maria Muldaur
    4/20/74-Maria Muldaur
    4/26/74-Maria Muldaur
    5/25/74-Maria Muldaur
    7/1/74-Maria Muldaur
    7/2/74-Maria Muldaur
    7/3/74-Maria Muldaur
    10/12/74-Maria Muldaur
    10/13/74-Maria Muldaur
    10/27/74-Maria Muldaur
    12/11/74-Maria Muldaur
    12/28/74-Maria Muldaur+Donna
    12/29/74-Maria Muldaur+Donna
    6/14/75-Maria Muldaur
    9/12/76-Maria Muldaur
    11/20/76-Maria Muldaur
    6/23/77-Maria Muldaur
    JERRY GARCIA BAND #4
    First show-November 15, 1977 Keystone Berkeley
    Last show-November 3, 1978 Keystone Palo Alto
    3/14/78-"They just asked me to join."-Maria Muldaur
    7/20/79-Maria Muldaur
    12/31/83-Maria Muldaur

  2. Fate Music Avatar

    My point is about JGB. At some point in JGB, she was not a member. At some point she became a member. In between, she occasionally sat in.

  3. Nick Avatar

    The Ride Mighty High from 9/11/76 was included on the JGB "Don't Let Go" CD (5/21/76 Orpheum) that came out in 2001, so does that indicate these Bettyboards may have always been in the vault?

    Good catch with ID'ing Maria Muldaur on the 12th. fwiw, I hear her on Catfish John and Tore Up, but not Mighty High.

    And, just for the record, I respectfully disagree re your assessment of these shows, particularly 9/11/76 which is a longtime personal fav of mine. They are certainly slow, but I find the groove to be sublime and the interplay between Jerry and Keith to be outstanding — Catfish John and even FOTD are great examples of this. Plus, as a small bonus (from my perspective, anyway), I think this is the only Don't Let Go where Keith plays electric piano, which gives it a very nice color. Admittedly, the rest of the month is a mixed bag: I think 9/16 Greenvale is quite good, and 9/20 I remember as being only okay, but that's about it (9/18 Ithaca, disappointingly, is a dud).

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