Jerry Garcia Solo Forum

Jerry Garcia was not only a driving force (many would say the driving force) behind the Grateful Dead, he was also an exceptional solo musician. His work spanned an exceptionally diverse repertoire, and frequently featured marathon solos that surpassed his work with the Grateful Dead.

We would like your comments and recollections on Jerry Garcia's solo performances. You are welcome to draw on both live experiences and on tapes. We particularly interested in the color from live Jerry experiences, and in realistic reviews on your favorite recordings. Selected responses may be published in a future issue of DeadBase. (Posted 9/6/99)

If you would like to contribute your own review, click here.


08-01-84 The Stone, San Francisco - TJ (tjackm7@aol.com) - Friday August 10, 19101 @ 19:30:05

When I was 19 I hitchhiked down the West coast searching for the hippy ethos, and after a good ol’ time in Eugene I wound up in the Bay Area. Sitting in a dive hostel, more like a homeless shelter, in San Francisco I noticed a newspaper in the grubby TV room with an ad for Jerry Garcia Band at the Stone. Having nothing better to do I hiked up to the Stone early and was surprised to find that a line had already begun to form around the block! Well let me tell you that was the coolest and most enjoyable lineup I have ever experienced. Every kind of freak was there from old school cosmic warriors to tie dyed kids and tourists like myself. Doses the size of small postage stamps and special brownies were going around, the chillum I brought from Vancouver sure came in handy. I soon found out that this was an especially important occasion, it was Jerry's 42nd birthday. Out of love and gratitude for Jer someone in the line had brought a Dr. Seuss book to give Jerry as a birthday present. The book was passed through the line where everyone signed it an drew the craziest pictures. As time went on I noticed half the people from the line were missing, so I peeked around the corner to see that the doors were open. I was lucky I got the last ticket and boosted in. The Stone was a dark intimate kind of place with a tiny stage. The next thing I can remember is Jerry standing right in front of me on stage playing his guitar. Everyone was in a frenzy dancing to “run, run for the roses” and Jerry was looking out on the crowd with a serene grin. John Kahn was way cool laying down the groove while the backup singers were swaying with the music. As they went into Tangled Up in Blue Jerry’s voice took over, the singers backing with “tangled up” was serene. The crowd was in ecstasy, everyone was groovin. At the break someone gave Jerry the Dr. Seuss book in honor of his birthday. Jerry came back to open the second set with How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You, wow man that was cosmic. Jerry was radiating love through the music. There was a vibe of communal good will flowing through the crowd like I had never felt. For the closer Midnight Moonlight was insanity, talk about up tempo, the place was shaking. Needles to say I was on the bus from there on out. Miss you Jerry and John, and thanks to all the kind people who helped “show me the light”.

Peace T. P.S. If anyone has a tape of this show I would love to hear it.


08-01-84 The Stone, San Francisco - TJ (tjackm7@aol.com) - Friday August 10, 19101 @ 19:28:22

When I was 19 I hitchhiked down the West coast searching for the hippy ethos, and after a good ol’ time in Eugene I wound up in the Bay Area. Sitting in a dive hostel, more like a homeless shelter, in San Francisco I noticed a newspaper in the grubby TV room with an ad for Jerry Garcia Band at the Stone. Having nothing better to do I hiked up to the Stone early and was surprised to find that a line had already begun to form around the block! Well let me tell you that was the coolest and most enjoyable lineup I have ever experienced. Every kind of freak was there from old school cosmic warriors to tie dyed kids and tourists like myself. Doses the size of small postage stamps and special brownies were going around, the chillum I brought from Vancouver sure came in handy. I soon found out that this was an especially important occasion, it was Jerry's 42nd birthday. Out of love and gratitude for Jer someone in the line had brought a Dr. Seuss book to give Jerry as a birthday present. The book was passed through the line where everyone signed it an drew the craziest pictures. As time went on I noticed half the people from the line were missing, so I peeked around the corner to see that the doors were open. I was lucky I got the last ticket and boosted in. The Stone was a dark intimate kind of place with a tiny stage. The next thing I can remember is Jerry standing right in front of me on stage playing his guitar. Everyone was in a frenzy dancing to “run, run for the roses” and Jerry was looking out on the crowd with a serene grin. John Kahn was way cool laying down the groove while the backup singers were swaying with the music. As they went into Tangled Up in Blue Jerry’s voice took over, the singers backing with “tangled up” was serene. The crowd was in ecstasy, everyone was groovin. At the break someone gave Jerry the Dr. Seuss book in honor of his birthday. Jerry came back to open the second set with How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You, wow man that was cosmic. Jerry was radiating love through the music. There was a vibe of communal good will flowing through the crowd like I had never felt. For the closer Midnight Moonlight was insanity, talk about up tempo, the place was shaking. Needles to say I was on the bus from there on out. Miss you Jerry and John, and thanks to all the kind people who helped “show me the light”.

Peace T. P.S. If anyone has a tape of this show I would love to hear it.


summer89 shoreline, mountian view - charlie (HARMONKARDON@hotmail.com) - Sunday June 17, 19101 @ 03:59:52

If i remember correctly, in the midst of usual trip under the $5 paper blotter, Jerry walked off the stage suddenly without any apparent reason showing perhaps some dissatisfaction with the rest of the member of the band. It surely was not one of the best shows and trust me it was not a bad dose. Then, he comes back with "Death dont have mercy." Did he have to throw that in just to make up for not so superb performance that night? Or Did he go back to get the lyrics?

I think it was also summer of 89 at Buffalo, NY on July 4th. Overall, nice Jam and good crowd. Bobby took his turn and sang "looks like rain". and guess what, it really started to rain....more like a sprinkle..but did rain. it sure looked and felt like rain.....did he watch the weather channel the night before? or did he also notice the rain?

cj.


summer89 shoreline, mountian view - charlie (HARMONKARDON@hotmail.com) - Sunday June 17, 19101 @ 03:59:39

If i remember correctly, in the midst of usual trip under the $5 paper blotter, Jerry walked off the stage suddenly without any apparent reason showing perhaps some dissatisfaction with the rest of the member of the band. It surely was not one of the best shows and trust me it was not a bad dose. Then, he comes back with "Death dont have mercy." Did he have to throw that in just to make up for not so superb performance that night? Or Did he go back to get the lyrics?

I think it was also summer of 89 at Buffalo, NY on July 4th. Overall, nice Jam and good crowd. Bobby took his turn and sang "looks like rain". and guess what, it really started to rain....more like a sprinkle..but did rain. it sure looked and felt like rain.....did he watch the weather channel the night before? or did he also notice the rain?

cj.


02/02/80 The Stone San Francisco - Jason Tenney (jasontenney@yahoo.com) - Sunday April 15, 19101 @ 20:34:54

I recently obtained this little gem and can't stop listening to it. It's a rare treat to hear Jerry sing with no back-up vocals. True, his singing may be a tad on the frail side at times, but the songs are magnificent and his solos are out of this world!!

This tape features a nice, long version of Harder they Come as well as a Masterpiece in which Jerry fans the hell out of his guitar before dropping back down to deliver the final verse as if it were a lullaby. Speaking of lullabies, the Russian Lullaby performed this evening is stunning in its beauty. The After Midninght>Eleanor Rigby Jam>After Midnight (a common medley at this time) never ceases to amaze.

Do yourself a favor.....get this tape!!! Mine's a 4th gen AUD and is quite listenable!


08/26/89 The Gereek Threatre,Berkely,Cal. - Ira A llekotte (a1akid@hotmail.com) - Wednesday March 28, 19101 @ 09:31:51

One of my all-time favorite J.G.B. shows.A truly memorable "Mission in the rain"being just across the bay from SanFran"s Mission District.However the truly amazing part of this show had to have been when Jimmy Cliff(who opened the show)came out and sang "The harder they come"while the J.G.B. played it behind him.-IF ANYONE has this show I would really love to have a copy.-THANX


11-11-93 Providence Civic Center - Jinglebell Rainbow (mike_lewandowski@premiopc.com) - Tuesday January 9, 19101 @ 12:14:20

My two friends and I took a train from Denver to see Jerry at Hartford Civic Center on the 8th and Providence on the 11th.('93) We had too stop in Springfield Mass. that in itself was a nice look at a run down crime ridden city. The show on the 8th had terrible sound. The Civic Center was a dive. John Kahn's Bass was buried. Jerry Just plain out rocked from the very begining. The most amazing shredding was the song Think. I never seen him play with such Intensity. But the 11th in Providence was a superb concert. The sound was perfect. The Bass was fat. John Kahn was an excellent Bass man, most underrated. The second set opened with a almost 20 min. version of The Way You Do The Things You Do. And a rare When The Hunter Get Captured By the Game that led into An Incrediable Don't Let Go. These were my First two and only JGB concerts. I had a chance to see Jerry in St. Joseph Missouri in '83 w/ Mickey Hart but the show was cancelled. The most amazing thing to me was that I saw the Dead in Richfield Ohio that same year in Sept. and I thought those shows were very dissapointing. Jerry seemed disinterested as our seats were 11th row all three nights, we could see everything. He just seemed bored and tired. They had a song or two here and there that was inspiring but very little overall. What a difference it was on his own 2 months later. It was like he was a new man with a new mission. I will never forget the amazing solo's passion filled vocals from those two nights.


all ANYWHERE - mike cerneant (mcerneant@hotmail.com) - Friday September 15, 19100 @ 21:06:09

I would like to say that ANY JGB show was a worthwile event!! I thought that the best thing about ending a Dead tour was seeing JGB in between! To answer a few of your questions about downloading great shows, I have used Napster. It does take a while to download some of the shows--Their HUGE files!! (I am using a T1 Server too!) Some of the shows are GREAT quality! Also, any one of the Dicks Picks are awesome shows which are REAL easy to order from www.dead.net. Peace... ;-)


all ANYWHERE - mike cerneant (mcerneant@hotmail.com) - Friday September 15, 19100 @ 21:06:05

I would like to say that ANY JGB show was a worthwile event!! I thought that the best thing about ending a Dead tour was seeing JGB in between! To answer a few of your questions about downloading great shows, I have used Napster. It does take a while to download some of the shows--Their HUGE files!! (I am using a T1 Server too!) Some of the shows are GREAT quality! Also, any one of the Dicks Picks are awesome shows which are REAL easy to order from www.dead.net. Peace... ;-)


all ANYWHERE - mike cerneant (mcerneant@hotmail.com) - Friday September 15, 19100 @ 21:03:37

I would like to say that ANY JGB show was a worthwile event!! I thought that the best thing about ending a Dead tour was seeing JGB in between! To answer a few of your questions about downloading great shows, I have used Napster. It does take a while to download some of the shows--Their HUGH files!! (I am using a T1 Server too!) Some of the shows are GREAT quality! Also, any one of the Dicks Picks are awesome shows which are REAL easy to order from www.dead.net. Peace... ;-)


05-20-84 The Country Club, Reseda, CA - Mark Scalise (mnm93@aol.com) - Wednesday August 9, 19100 @ 17:26:20

I starting seeing the Dead in 1983, which was getting to be near the height of Jerry's drug problems. This night in 1984 was pretty standard for the time, which means long, drawn-out solos, and fairly nondescript setlists.

The Country Club was a small, bar-like venue in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles suburb), not too different from the current House of Blues sites, only smaller and plainer. I was dosed this night but I did manage to tape the show, so my memories are not entirely hallucinatory. This show stands out for the opening SUGAREE, and I mean that in capitals. This one easily surpasses the Dead's Lake Acid version from 1983. It was extremely loud and Jerry was just shredding solo after solo, while not moving an inch from his spot on the stage. I clearly remember the waitresses just standing there with their trays full of drinks watching the master at work, in all his scraggly, dirty-shirted, saggy pants glory.

Looking back on the 83-84 period, Jerry was in serious decline, but I still love the shows from that period. Saw the Dead at Ventura later in 84, but that's another tape. . .


08-08-93 Portland Meadows, Portland OR - Jim Stoltzfus (jims@klinegalland.org) - Tuesday June 6, 19100 @ 13:53:07

Writing about shows is almost pointless, but I will say this was one phenomenal show. I mean it was GOOD. Crisp sound, driving rhythm, hot playing. EVERYONE was into it. Nice, warm, sunny weather; I had enjoyed the Seattle show the day before; Mission in the Rain! Get the tapes, get in the right frame of mind, and let it play. Tore Up Over You! Oh man, I hope that in heaven, time travel is possible. I will go to this event after seeing the dinosaurs and re-experiencing the Grateful Dead at the Greek 7/13/84 and at Ventura 7/18/82 (my first show.) YUM.

Jim


08-08-93 Portland Meadows, Portland OR - Jim Stoltzfus (jims@klinegalland.org) - Tuesday June 6, 19100 @ 13:52:36

Writing about shows is almost pointless, but I will say this was one phenomenal show. I mean it was GOOD. Crisp sound, driving rhythm, hot playing. EVERYONE was into it. Nice, warm, sunny weather; I had enjoyed the Seattle show the day before; Mission in the Rain! Get the tapes, get in the right frame of mind, and let it play. Tore Up Over You! Oh man, I hope that in heaven, time travel is possible. I will go to this event after seeing the dinosaurs and re-experiencing the Grateful Dead at the Greek 7/13/84 and at Ventura 7/18/82 (my first show.) YUM.

Jim


10-10-99 Grateful Dead Mp3s??? - brith osinkosky (bosinkosky@hotmail.com) - Wednesday November 10, 1999 @ 22:19:12

I am wondering if I can find any mp3s of the grateful dead and am really looking for mp3s of jerry garcia and david grishman.

Can any one tell me of some good sites with quality downloads?


5/11/92 Warfield Theater, San Francisco, CA - Joe T. Fountain (gorjoe@wenet.net) - Friday October 29, 1999 @ 03:07:19

This was a great Garcia/Grisman show. Wonderful performances of Rosalie McFall, Louis Collins, Wind and Rain, FOTD, Stealin' (a nice treat; my first one), and Sittin' In Limbo. But the biggest surprise was the encore, when they hauled out the novelty song I'm My Own Grandpa (a song I first heard on Dr. Demento's (Barry Hansen) radio show over 20 years ago-a version by a duo named Lonzo and Oscar). It was so out of the blue I couldn't believe it at first. The crowd loved it. A perfect way to end one of the best acoustic shows ever.


10-28-78 Seattle Paramount - Dan McDonald (dmcdonald@lyle.wednet.edu) - Wednesday September 29, 1999 @ 17:50:55

How Sweet It Was! What a show! It was one of, it not the greatest moment in Jerry’s playing career, and was the greatest moment in Keith’s career. Yes, I’m serious. No I’m not waxing on about my first show. I’m referring to a tape we’ve listened to for over 20 years. Twenty years as one of the best tapes we’ve ever heard. An audience tape with some hiss, and not enough sound. Even so the music comes though. All of the soundboard snobs of the world can’t disguise a blow out. By the way, when I say best tape, remember, we had Cornell ever since it was a slow audience tape ten years before Betty boards. The night was October 28, 1978. It was the Jerry Garcia Band and Bob Weir Band in the Seattle Paramount. We all know 1978 wasn’t the Dead’s best year. It was after all, past the Dead’s classic run through 1977. It was even eight months after the great high water mark of 1-22-78 from Mac Arthur Court. Those familiar with Dead Base, will remember Dick Latvala’s review of the Dead show from Winterland on October 21, 1978. He called it,"..the best Dead show ever?" So something was happening late that October of 1978. Yes I was there, but it doesn’t matter. It was my first Dead experience. It’s not always good to have the best first… I was much too much of a neophyte to completely comprehend what was going on. That’s taken twentytwo years to understand and confirm. Forget about the fact that we had to endure two Bob Weir Band shows, it all started with the JGB’s opening tune. This was the Jerry Garcia Band with Keith G., Donna G. Maria M, John K. and others. The Harder They Come. Whew, what a blow out! Not so much the blow out fanning of Cornell and Mac Court, but sweet butterfly high notes. Jerry and Keith interplaying together on the jams, one leaves off and the other takes over. Flawless music, nothing’s ever been as good. Next came Mission In The Rain. This was religious! I swear the hand of God touched them that night. If you ever get a chance to hear this sell your soul! Then a powerful version of They Love Eachother. Then one of the crowning musical expressions, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Keiths lovely, subtle, angelic piano playing begins to build into the song. Later the jamming interplay of Keith’s piano and Jerry’s guitar are one and the same. Sometime through the song one notices that it’s Keith hitting the climaxing high note. How many times does this happen? That’s the thing about this show. Jerry and Keith are joined at the brain. One thinks it and the other’s already done it. All of the shows feature jams where they each play, but I’ve never heard anything like this. The other thing about a JGB show that some people fell compels them to Grateful Dead heights, is the obvious, it’s all Jerry. On this night Keith is playing piano like Jerry plays guitar, and Jerry is playing like nobody else can. There were many other songs, all filled with the same unusually symbiotic playing between the two of them. The first set ended with It’s No Use and The Night They Drove Old Dixey Down. That was enough to raise old Robert E Lee from the grave! After a hasty ovation Jerry returned to do the quintessential Jerry Garcia Band tune; Rueben and Cherise. It was awesome. If the first set was an 11 on a scale of one to ten the second was at least a ten. Not that it was any less of a stellar performance; it was just second. I imagine the second set had as many, or more, of those classic, intertwined jams between Keith and Jerry than the first. The classic opener summed it up; How Sweet It Is. From then on to the end it was one of the great shows ever seen. There was Mystery Train, Catfish John, Second that Emotion, Love In The Afternoon, Lonesome and a Long Way From Home. What a great show!


09/07/95 I was there for the last 2. Missing those shows would have been my first regret in life! - Chicago Dan (sugarmag69@aol.com) - Sunday September 12, 1999 @ 15:23:53

Jerry and the gang always found a way to ease my soul.We all we need to find the ways.


4-10-82a Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ - James Gilbert (morning_dew77@yahoo.com) - Saturday September 11, 1999 @ 11:33:10

From what I've heard, this is one of only two JG solo shows, where it's just him and an acoustic guitar. No back up bands or anything. This is one of my favorite tapes and for good reason. Jerry puts a lot of energy into this show. He starts things out with a good Deep Elm(unless I'm mistaken, I don'thave the tape handy to look at), and doesn't let up there. He hesitates in some places, but that is expected from him since he don't have anyone playing with him. He cruises through songs like Gommorah, Ain't no Lie, Freight Train, To Lay Me Down, Ripple, and a few others. This is a great tape for any body's collection. My tape is obviously a AUD, but to me, it is perfect.


?-05-73 highway pacific, somewhere in California ( i guess!) - Alex pomorski (alex_pomorski@schneider.co.uk) - Thursday September 9, 1999 @ 09:01:00

I am more into the GD, having hundreds and hundreds of hours of music. Unfortunately i can't say the same from the JGB because the bootlegs are very difficult to find . I have this tape, being from a good quality source due to its age. First i have to say that the Expressway to your heart on it just blew my mind away. I would have never thought that Garcia solo would do so powerful songs. This one especially contains a fight in it between to rythmn that fight each other, one being very restricted and pragmatical and logical, and the other one being an amazingly freeform groovy melody, which fight after fight take over the opposite rythmn.This song represent how Jerry was able to deliver music without looking for any effect but what it is really: simple, tender filled with beauty. I can still remember the first time i heard that song, i was so devastated by its power of love and beauty that it went through my body, my heart and my SOUL like a massive wave.I was facing my stereo and i felt on my knees thinking : i can't believe someone can play with so much honnesty, devotion and love. It was like i knew him through this long and clear and powerful solo.Here is a major point for me in the way Jerry used to play: open and honnest being always himself. I see this as being essential because it has a major influence in the directions he takes during his solos: if what has to happen happens it is partially because of that, he never looked for a stylebut was open to receive the inspiration, he was listening to everything without preconceived opinion. He was in love with music and music gave it back to him so well, at so many occasions. I have never seen the Grateful Dead live, neither the JGB. I am french and have been listening to the GD music for the last 8 years. Nothing has had such an impact on my life yet. For us European dead heads, it has been very difficult to approach the Dead culture and History, access the bootlegs ( now it is done !!!), and keep the faith alive.The positive part is i had the opportunity to share this passion with ALL my best friends, so we used to organized big parties with GD music and all that goes with it... I am grateful, even at my level and my 2 major hopes are that the music will keep on spreadind widely (more from the Vaults...)and that the GD history will give birth one day to another band being able to reach the cosmos, touch the SOULS and create magic like the DEAD did for thity years. Faith is in us because we know, and what we know lead us to a mission of testify to the new generations , so that the true spirit can be shared through the next centuries. All my friendship to you all for your time, devotion, the way you care and keep on carrying the light.Keep on doing well, and if by chance i can help on anythinfg from a Europe point of view, PLEASE let me know. LET IT GROW.

Alex


11-9-91 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA - Eric S. Crane (ChpscashdN@aol.com) - Thursday September 9, 1999 @ 01:31:33

How do you describe this show? Easily one of the best concerts I have ever seen in my life, that is, if you call this thing that Jerry gave a concert... First off, Hampton is everything and more you have ever heard about, if you have seen a show at this venue, then you know what I mean, if you haven't, then go see anything at this coliseum, you will not be let down. As we strolled into the place (after waiting outside for a while, it is GA), we immediately noticed that there was an extra keyboard on stage, discussions in the audience led us all to believe that possibly Bruce would be sitting in. We were correct!!! The band came on and quickly started with "How Sweet It Is," and yes it was. The band was in full smile mode, and Bruce was gladly trading licks with Jerry and Melvin, and everyone on stage was excited about Mr. Hornsby's presence. "He Ain't Give You None" was a treat, with Bruce slowly getting into the groove of things, sometimes laying out and tapping his hands on his knees while the JGB got down to business. "C'est La Vie" and "Run For The roses" were very well developed, but the first real magic of the night (not that it wasn't already the bees knees) occurred during "Dixie." It was easily the gem of the set, with everyone feeling that they never should have taken the very best. Garcia and Bruce created those moments that lift you so high that you aren't really sure where the ground is, not that it really matters. When they brought the sound down before the final chorus, the entire place was silent, and right there with Jerry. Pure emotion;the girls sounded like songbirds, Garcia's tone was so incredibly southern. Next up was "Second That Emotion," and we all felt like we were in the Fillmore in 1971. After the mood set by "Dixie," Jerry delivered us from evil with a great dance tune, again he and the band were all smiles, and the grooves were laid down fat. A fine "Sisters and Brothers" with a nice Johnny Cash beat and dandy "Breadbox" rounded out part one. Oh yeah, they played two sets, with the second set showing the phases of Jerry... The first thing we noticed was that Kemper had changed sunglasses between sets, very interesting. The Van Morrison classic "Bright Side of the road" started things off again, with the feeling of love heavy in the air. This brought us into "Shining Star." The passionate phase of Garcia. If you can find a better, more inspired version of this song, let me know. Jerry's solo cleaned the air of Hampton that night, pure bliss. John Kahn rattled us on the downbeat, playing a bassline somewhere between "Walk On The WildSide" and paradise. Every chorus was more triumphant than the last, every note rang truer than the one before. Go on, I dare you to find a better version... "Waiting for a Miracle" gave us a nice rest after what we had gladly been put through, but up comes Jerry in the blues mode with "Think." First off, Melvin and Bruce had a keyboard duel during the song that had Jackie patting Melvin on the shoulder because he was getting unruly, I have never seen him play like that before. Kahn was kind of laughing at his actions, and Bruce was right there with him. Amazing stuff!Jerry wasn't about to be shown up by his own band, so delivered one of the more furious blues solos of all time, with his hands milking the neck of his guitar for everynote he could fine, and everyone he found turned to gold, just beautiful. Like the second song of the set, find a better version of this one, you will be hardpressed. "I Shall Be released" slowed things down a bit, with a very nice interplay between Melvin and Garcia, bringing you down, then taking you up, very cool. Next up was pure psychadelia with "Don't Let Go." Bruce seemed to be in familiar territory with this old ditty, and played somewhat of a march feel to the song as it began, kind of saying, "wow, this is fun, you guys can swing!" The upfront verse were delivered and then space time hit. It sounded like old, old Darkstars. Find a better version, at least try to. I mean really old Darkstars, this jam was out there and stayed incredibly focused. Pure Jerry. We were close enought to realize that they were playing "Midnight, Moonlight" before it was blasted through the speakers, and what a romp this closer was. Melvins 300mph solo at the end was so insane, so danceable, and so crazy that I still laugh when I think about how much fun they were having, not to mention us in attendance. "Wonderful World" was a great encore, with Jerry giving Bruce a solo. When we walked outside it was sleeting, and me and my buddies bought "Old and In The Way" shirts with the 91 tour dates on the back... Get the tapes...


11-30-83 west hartford ct.- agora ballroom - michael riccardo (cjriccardo@snet.net) - Tuesday September 7, 1999 @ 08:56:23

Where to begin! This was my first and only JGB performance i atttended. I was 18 yrs. old and had been attending DEAD shows for about 3 years. Not knowing what to expect-anticipation was in the air as well as a great deal of reefer smoke. Anyway i am getting off track. The AGORA BALLROOM (which is no more)was a very small venue(holding about 1000-1500 people) depending on how many people the management crammed in there. On with the show!!!!!!------> Jerry started out with "I'll take a melody" and seemed in good spirits. John Kahn(rest his soul)was also in good form!! Being a JGB performance he extended the songs with solo's(oftentimes overextending). He only managed to play 8-9 songs the whole evening.I would have been happier if he had cut the solo's down a little and added a few more numbers.By the way the crowd loved it and it was good boppin' music!! Anyway after a very drawn out "I'll take a melody" he went right into "the way you do the things you do" and then "when i paint my masterpeice". This was the1st time i had heard this(as i was not familiar with Jerry's solo work)and it has since become one of my favorites. Then a quick "it's no use"(which is cut on my tape)and in for a break..

Set II starts with a rousing rendition of " Cats down under the stars" The audience reallly ate this one up. And it was one of the songs i wished he had "extended". He then went right into " Rhapsody in Red" which Jerry seemed to like but was not a crowd favorite. He quickly makes up for this with a killer version of " Dear Prudence" -it was like i had never heard it before(This one song made the whole show worthwhile)-but he followed up with my favorite Dylan tune "Tangled up in Blue". AWESOME!!! Then i got to drive my father's car home tripping my brains out-i had just gotten my license. I must say i did very well!!! The quality of the tape i have is not to bad-although it has a few gens on it. I have not seen this tape on anyones list-if anyone has a better copy i have much to trade. Thanks for listening to rambling's of an old HEAD!!!!! PEACE MIKE


01-01-73 keystone korners in Berkeley - Kaniksu (kaniksu@horizon.net.hit)

I received a tapeof "; merely ol' jer playin with friends at a place called keystone korners in Berkeley, circa 1973. nice stuff, and a much different sound from most of his music". Do you have any information about this jam?

08-21-81 Jerry Garcia Band, Fairfax, VA - Springblown (sprngblown@aol.com)

All I can say about this excellent sounding low-gen audience tape is 'get it.' Not only is the clarity fine -- the audience never gets in the way of the music, yet adds to the enthusiasm level -- but the performance is first rate. Personally, I've always thought the '81/'82 incarnation of the JGB was the best ever: Garcia of course, plus Melvin Seals on organ, Jimmy Warren on electric piano/clavinet, Daoud Shaw (former Van Morrison musician) on drums, his then wife, former Mother of Invention, Essra Mohawk on backing vocals (in my opinion, the best vocalist Jerry ever employed... and an amazing singer/songwriter in her own right, and Liz Stires, also on backing vocals. Now, how about this for you? The one and only Phil Lesh sat in for John Kahn on bass this evening! I don't have the tape right here in front of me, so I won't mention the song list -- I forget it actually! -- but let me just say that every song has that something extra that makes for an amazing performance. Perhaps it was Phil pushing Jerry a little furthur. Perhaps it was the combo of Seals and Warren on organ and electric piano that provided some extra oomph. Or, perhaps it was just the product of extremely tight ensemble playing with *GREAT* vocals; accented by some superb harmonizing by Liz and Essra (especially Essra). Perfect example: Essra's scatting improvisations during the guitar solos within "I'll take a Melody." Fantastic!!!

4-23-93 warfield - joel stein (jstein@wiley.csusb.edu)

I'd like to comment on the JGB performance at the Warfield on 4/23/93. This seminal JGB show continues to inspire all of us. I was privlaged to film the second set, it was distributed under the title "Portrait of Jerry Garcia @ Warfield" to many deadheads at vista point camping sites and elsewhere. Each song contains a wonderful refrain, and Jerry really cooks. He smiles throughout, and we can only agree when he sings during Money Honey, "What other man can take my place?" For those who haven't yet seen the video of this show, the song "Eyes of the Maker" is now available at my web site as a quicktime movie, only 60 megabytes! The address is www.math.csusb.edu/faculty/jstein. So go get it and enjoy! Jerry was at once a master magician and every man. His truly humble nature marked him, most of all, as a great teacher. Thankful for the remarkable talent he'd been given and accepting of his own limitations, he met the challenges in his life head on, with a message of love. And for this example we all thank you, Jerry.

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