Starting out in North Carolina seems like a nice, low-key way to start the tour, away from the craziness of the big metropolitan centers up north, but we expect The Dead will do what the Grateful Dead have always done when playing in places like this: they’ll knock your socks off! The Grateful Dead played 27 times in this great state from 1971 to 1995, with seven shows right here in Greensboro 1980-1991. Based on rehearsals and possible song lists, we expect some surprises for the show, and the tour. As excited as you are to see these guys, I think they’re more excited to see you.
A few notable shows that have taken place in North Carolina over the years include the back-to-back shows in December 1973 at Duke University and in Charlotte, the 1978 Duke show for which you may have the seen the video, the Duke show in 1982 at which Jerry and Phil switched sides (hey, this is big news in the Grateful Dead world!) the two great Charlotte shows in 1989, the Raleigh show in 1990 that featured a power outage during the first-set closing Promised Land, and the terrific shows right here in Greensboro in 1991 (including the magnificent 3/31/91 show that featured the ultra-good, extra-long Eyes of the World featured on Dick’s Picks Vol. 17). Oh, yes, the Chapel Hill concerts in 1993. Loads of great stuff.
We'll update this page shortly after the show with the setlist and to recap each performance by The Dead as it relates to the context of the Grateful Dead's history at this venue or city.
Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux will be out on the road with The Dead at selected shows, including this one. He'll be hanging out at the Grateful Dead Productions merchandise booth to answer questions, talk about the archives, or anything else. This booth will have available the brand-new Hartford '77 release, Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978, and loads of other great music, and is the only place aside from dead.net where you'll be able to pick up the 9-CD Winterland 1973 boxed set and all of the Road Trips releases including the recent Volume 2 Number 2 from 2/14/68. David will be around before each show, at the set break, and after the show, so feel free to come by and say hi.
A few notable shows that have taken place in North Carolina over the years include the back-to-back shows in December 1973 at Duke University and in Charlotte, the 1978 Duke show for which you may have the seen the video, the Duke show in 1982 at which Jerry and Phil switched sides (hey, this is big news in the Grateful Dead world!) the two great Charlotte shows in 1989, the Raleigh show in 1990 that featured a power outage during the first-set closing Promised Land, and the terrific shows right here in Greensboro in 1991 (including the magnificent 3/31/91 show that featured the ultra-good, extra-long Eyes of the World featured on Dick’s Picks Vol. 17). Oh, yes, the Chapel Hill concerts in 1993. Loads of great stuff.
We'll update this page shortly after the show with the setlist and to recap each performance by The Dead as it relates to the context of the Grateful Dead's history at this venue or city.
Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux will be out on the road with The Dead at selected shows, including this one. He'll be hanging out at the Grateful Dead Productions merchandise booth to answer questions, talk about the archives, or anything else. This booth will have available the brand-new Hartford '77 release, Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978, and loads of other great music, and is the only place aside from dead.net where you'll be able to pick up the 9-CD Winterland 1973 boxed set and all of the Road Trips releases including the recent Volume 2 Number 2 from 2/14/68. David will be around before each show, at the set break, and after the show, so feel free to come by and say hi.
Greensboro pre-show
It's a few hours before the show, and it’s a beautiful NC day to start the tour. After walking through the parking lot in the hours before the show, it’s been remarkable how similar things feel to the way I recall the scene in 1989-1990. The same amount of people, and the same age groups, looking exactly as we did 20 years ago. A couple of signs of this really resonated, specifically the sounds: every few cars you walk by in the parking lot is blasting a different Grateful Dead song, and they melt into one. Everyone is smiling, anticipating a great night of music. And based on the Saturday night soundcheck, the pre-show soundcheck that is going on as I write, and all rehearsal reports, the music should be mighty fine…Set 1
What an opening, a Bobby trio of songs, Music Never Stopped>Jack Straw, Estimated Prophet, a fine bunch of tunes. The best part of the show, aside from the great music, is the reaction of 18,000 fans when Bobby, Phil or Warren sing a key, familiar phrase, or when the drummers kick things into overdrive, or Phil nails that perfect bass bomb in Jack Straw. Very cool. The lights look spectacular, the sound is pristine, and everyone’s having fun. Ending with another big batch of old school Weir tunes was a fine ending the first night’s first set. On to the second set…Set 2
Second set opening with Shakedown Street seemed like an appropriate thing for a place like Greensboro. It’s a huge old building, very funky, and nothing like a funky Shakedown. Watchtower smoked, and Caution, as they say, beyond the pale. The crowd is going nuts, everyone, as you’d expect, dancing like it’s 1967. Two major things have been standing out, aside from the quality of the music: first, the huge number of children out here with their parents, who obviously saw the Grateful Dead and are bringing their children. There are babies, toddlers, ten year olds and teenagers who are being turned onto this music and the scene by their parents who had experienced it 15, 20 and 30 years ago. The other thing is the great number of people who have been coming by the booth to say hello, check out the archival recordings and just happy to be back. To all of those who have stopped by, thanks. A huge thanks.Oh, lest I forget, the Rhythm Devils portion of the show is spectacular! Not only are Billy and Mickey playing their butts off, but the sounds they’re conjuring are stunning, primitive and way out there. Jeff sat in during this portion of the show and added loads of texture and interplay with the drummers. It’s pretty darn cool. Don’t miss it. The ending of the show’s setlist was nothing short of spectacular: Cosmic Charlie>New Potato>Help>Slip>Franklin’s, and what would Sunday show be without Samson and Delilah, played as the encore. The show was lots of fun, and the people had a blast. See you out here…
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name to the list of people attending the show.
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(Set 1)
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The Music Never Stopped
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Jack Straw
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Estimated Prophet
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He's Gone
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Touch of Grey
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I Need A Miracle
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Truckin'
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Shakedown Street
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All Along the Watchtower
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Caution
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Rhythm Devils
(Set 2)
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Space
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Cosmic Charlie
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New Potato Caboose
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Help On The Way
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Slipknot!
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Franklin's Tower
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Donor Rap
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Samson & Delilah
(Encore)
Comments
Greensboro show
I Am So Freakin Excited! Can't wait to see everyone!!!!
Stoked!
Truckin' to G-boro from Macon Jawja Easter morn!!!
The Dead
The Dead will play here and then they're gone
Don't worry, the tour will carry on
Those who knew them, knew them well
Those who didn't ... may they _____________ ________ ______
(fill in the blanks)
( -;
The day has begun, I'll roll to Greensboro soon.
Our time has arrived, this is going to be a historical tour, glad I will get to be part of it.
Coconut Phil, living Free.
Woohooo
Well like Jerry said, All good things in all good time. The time has come its finally here, Dead tour 09 wooohooo.
My first show of the tour is going to be in Albany. Have a great show tonight i'm sure it will be magical. Travel safe and keep your head up.
Love you all, can't wait to see you in the northeast.
READY TO GO!!!
Getting ready to go to Greensboro. It's only an hour and a half. Were just hoping we can get a room. Hope to see you there everyone.
Have a Safe Show All you Good, Kind folks :)
hello to all you fortunate folks attending, bout 2 hrs to go, let the Tour begin; enjoy! I will be there in Spirit. Peas
opener
what was the opener , I would say groovy groovy let the good time roll
GREENSBORO
WOW...WHAT A SET LIST CANT WAIT TIL ALBANY!!!!!!!!!IM NOT GONNA SLEEP ALL WEEK :) !!!!!!!!!
omg... He's Gone> Touch of
omg... He's Gone> Touch of Grey!!! i'm so upset for missing this show. i told myself for months that if i knew they were going to play He's Gone, i'd def. be there... now im gonna have to find a way to make it to MSG.
hope everyone had a great time and makes it home safely!