The only Greatest Story I ever saw (in some 45 shows), and as I recall it was absolutely perfect. Sweet little first set.Īny lyrical challenges on Bertha aside, the Bertha->Greatest Story second set opener SMOKED. And was followed by another pillar of 1st-set intensity: had seen a smokin' Let It Grow earlier that week in Landover, and was treated to another-I remember thinking it was cool to see the pony-tailed (Europe 72-looking) Bobby performing (the 73-penned) song. Arguably Jerry's most consistently intense first-set song (though there's Bird Song, too, eh?) and a personal favorite, it delivered as usual. It's All Over Now was always a welcome choice for me, especially over a Dylan cover. To Lay Me Down was a special treat once again (I had seen the breakout at Hampton a few months earlier, but it never became common, and this is the only other one I ever saw). I went in wanting a Shakedown (I was in the mood for Shakedown), and got it as a double opener. "Black" is a fair way to end this fair show.Ģ 1/2 stars rounded down there's not that much life here. To close out the first of four nights, "Lovelite" is straight-ahead and piping hot. It's all automatic mode now., "Dear/Hey Jude" is fine and unmemorable. "The Wheel" is a bit of a mess, "Miracle" is nonsense. Time for "Drums" and "Space" which sound favorable but non-distinctive. "Greatest" is cool and collected, but ehhh."Crazy" flows sufficiently.not much of an adventure - however, it wades along nicely into a get pumped off drum intro to "Truckin." Standard run through though they try and create some excitement at the climax, which sounds kinda ugly. "Let" is delicate filled with 's pointed but not briliant.Ģnd Set: Good cheer should be here with the appearance of "Bertha," but it's rather ineffectual. "Loser" is ironically always a delight, and even despite the sound it soars during the late 5's/early 6's. Time to switch moods and gears informing that bitch that indeed "It's All Over Now." It is moderately entertaining. "To Lay" is a rare treat, but the sound is not vibrant. The song moves at a brisk pace but the jam cuts thin. See the East Coast breakout of "Shakedown" should be a thrilling moment, but considering the sound lacks a sharp propulsive engine, it makes reviewing the show rather tedious. "LTGTR" finds the men in good vocal form. Things end with a good Fantasy>Jude>Lovelight.Īfter such an intensive reviewing schedule I needed a few days vacation as not to overstuff my head.ġst Set: The sound's awfully low and trudgy dull and lessening the listener's excitement. Entire second set is strong with nothing really standing out as being too far above average for this era. Doesn't have the over-the-top energy of some Grows, but it is really well played with interesting contributions from Phil, Bobby, Brent (though his synth sound almost gets annoying at some points), and Mickey. This is a great Let it Grow definitely not your usual Grow for this era. He even leads the band back to the refrain after the jam - rather than Jerry doing it, which in some nerdy way I find interesting. Phil is turned up nicely for the Let It Grow jam, and he has some really great contributions. Sound problems seem to be all sorted out by the start of Loser. Shakedown is good but doesn't have that spark to put it over the top. LTGTR starts loose (maybe related to the sound problems?), but ends nicely (Brent: "somebody told me it might take all night" :-). But it isn't played completely to its potential, unfortuately. The music: one of the best first set song lists I can think of. I think it was an OD - anyone else remember that? I guess that sort of thing became more common later as the scene just deteriorated and H made its big return, but I remember it as a pretty big deal at that time. I remember a guy dying in his tent during these shows and I think someone found him in the morning. We camped across from the Spectrum in the park (the same park where cops took our stash the summer before, but at least didn't arrest us!). The scene: while our group of friends at Landover was enormous, only Larry and I continued on to these Philly shows, and even he took off after the first two, leaving me travelling on my own for the last two Philly shows and then onto NYC for a couple of shows. This is a really solid show with a great song list. Overall: sound isn't great for the beginning of the first set, but jboy goes waayyy overboard in talking it down.