2nd
Grateful Dead, Nassau Coliseum, September 8th 1973
I hate to start every other post with “I can’t remember if I’ve posted this one already or not” but … I can’t remember if I’ve posted this one already or not. This is a great show, and one whose horn does not get tooted nearly enough (sorry), in part for the shadow of it’s big brother from the night before with it’s Truckin’>Other One>Eyes trifecta (and other mindbending glories). But this post is not about that show, it’s about the 8th - and while, yes, true, it’s a bit of an anomaly for it’s lack of a Dark Star or Other One or Playin’, it surely holds it’s own in terms of performance and magnificence and dare I use je ne sais quoi. The Eyes>China Doll is a thing of breathtaking beauty, and between the things that precede and those that follow you will find much to love about this show. Among those may not be the first of only six of Keith’s “Let Me Sing Your Blues Away,” but I suppose that’s why there are only six of them. The Weather Report Suite is a jewel, and there’s a tumbling headiness to the NFA>GDTRFB>NFA sammich that just exhilarates, and that kinda sums up the feel of this show. Heady, raw, tumbling, exhilarating. (Starts off a little slow though, don’t be scared.) If you come for nothing else, dig Bobby’s super-raw tone during the transition jam between China & Rider, and be thankful he’s high up enough in the mix (often a problem). And while you’re at it dig Jerry’s butterfly swoops during same. Man.
Longwindedness aside, this is a great show.
