There are not enough superlatives for this show: it is not just a good late-period show, nor a good Vince-era show, but a solid and wild three hours of Grateful Dead music. Might this be the finest choogle ever produced in a football stadium in New Jersey? Almost certainly.
About a hundred Dark Star teases, plus an Eyes opener, and a New Speedway Boogie. Go listen to this: 6/17/91 at Giant Stadium.
This was one of the best days of my life.
I gave my ticket away in the parking lot to a young Hare Krishna guy who my girlfriend secretly dosed.
That’s awesome. Conversion judo. I assume the nonsense of his wacky cult didn’t stand a chance against the nonsense of our wacky cult.
All I can say that young man was out with the deer.
What’s happening here is Bruce. I believe he pushed to mix up setlists and it was his idea to open with Eyes. This isn’t pure Vince-era Dead. It’s Bruce/Vince era. I think the momentum they had from ’89 to Brent’s death continued through most of the time Bruce was in the band.
I agree with Clucker here, it is Bruce.
New Grateful Deads make great Grateful Deads when they have no fear of taking the lead.
Bruce H, not afraid
Jeff C, not afraid
Josh M, totally fearless
A few other extremely talented musicians try too hard to fit in, listen to much to Bobby or Phil.
Eyes of the World was broadcast live on ABC’s Live In Concert show. The Dark Star teases were instigated, as I recall, by that scamp Hornsby. The band laughed when the crowd went crazy the first time he did it. Every other hint at those notes left us all with an increasingly painful case of Dark Star blue balls. Nonetheless, I think of this show as the last great choogle in a NJ football stadium.