it is hard to believe that we are already at the 19th iteration of this series, but here we are. i wasn’t too keen on the last volume, so i did not have much to say about it. but this one has an interesting back story, and the performance is top rate.

in august of 1992 jerry collapsed from severe health issues and the grateful dead had to cut their summer and fall tours short. he stopped using drugs and went on a strict health regimen and lost 70 pounds in three months. this show, on halloween, was his first public performance after his issues, and his energy and gratitude are palpable. his vocals are clear and inspired, and the guitar playing is heartfelt and joyous. the band is well rehearsed and provided solid backing for him, and john cutler’s recording captures it all very well.

once again the substantial liner notes are very informative, and worth the cost of getting the actual cd instead of downloading it.

this came out almost at the same time as the latest installment of the dave’s picks series – volume 44. a complete show from autzen stadium in eugene oregon on june 23rd of 1990. whereas the jerry garcia band was at one of their peaks in late 1992, you could also say the spring and summer of 1990 was arguably the dead’s last best tour. they were never really this good again, at least on a consistent night in and night out level. five weeks after this show brent mydland died of an overdose, a few days after the end of the tour.

but brent and the rest of the band are in fine form here. dead archivist dave lemieux authors the liner notes on this one, as he was at the show, and paints a picture of the overall scene. little feat opened the show at noon, and the dead came on around 2 in the afternoon and played till five. that would have been a good day, indeed.

while we are at it, i feel like i should also comment on the annual box set that dave lemieux and his crew put together for 2022. ‘ in and out of the garden’ is a sampling of shows from madison square garden in new york city. two shows each from 1981, 1982. and 1983. i buy all of their box sets, partially because i am a collector, but also because they do hold their value. i have mentioned to mrs. redeyegin that my overall dead collection is worth enough to put me in the ground, if it ever comes to that.

but this one was a little disappointing. first of all, it is the early to mid eighties – not one of their stronger periods. and the quality of the recording and the performances are all over the place. you can hear in spots where they had to splice some audience tape into it, jerry’s vocals are not the greatest overall, and so on. i thought the 2 ’83 shows were the best, and there are some very good moments throughout. one definite takeaway is how good mydland was on these shows. every single one. he was a great addition to the band after keith godcheaux, and i wish he was still here. maybe jerry would be, too. jerry was never the same after 1990.

if you are a dedicated collector, you likely may need to get this. but otherwise it is a pretty big investment.

up next – bob dylan’s new book!