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.
name to the list of people attending the show.
(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
why the charge?
a band that has allowed taping at its shows and frowned upon folks who would dare to turn around and sell those tapes is now charging for immediate gratification? did i miss something?
Wow! This was a great
Wow! This was a great show. Having seen the GD 8 times from 91-95, this is the best thing i have seen since. The shakedown lot scene was bustling, the weather was perfect and we were lucky enough to have front row on Warren's side.
I knew it was gonna be good from the first notes of Music Never Stopped- kind of a symbolic start. A thick-sounding Jack Straw and Estimated in the first set stood out for me. Second set was of bouncing to start with Shakedown, and an unexpected Caution and Cosmic Charlie. Help-Slip-Franks and the Samson encore all were solid but what really blew me away was seeing Mickey (bout 15 feet away from me!) banging away on Rhythm Devils. It was one of those "X Factor" moments for me. These guys are sounding tight. Bob was all-business but seemed inspired and "channeling" those moments in their music that those who know feel it down deep.
By the way, Warren seems like a great guy-during intermission a fan next to me called out to him while he was wiping down his strings and said something like "sounding great" or whatever. Then he had a roadie come over and give the lady (yeah, she was a hottie) a guitar pick. Just thought that was cool.
This was one of the best shows I've seen since '91 G'boro or ATL 94 and I would recommend any one who has the chance to go see this reincarnation of the band.
That's just my opinion-but thanks guys for bringing the music back in such a timeless and cosmic way!
Wow, this was a great show
Wow, this was a great show inside and out! From the perfect springtime weather on show day here in my home state of NC, to the bustling shakedown lot, and the great conversations with random people. It was the best time I've had and best music I've heard since I saw my 8 shows from '91-'95!
From the first few notes of MSN (kinda symbolic) I felt the energy was good. We were grateful enough to have front row seats on Warren's side of the stage! Estimated and Jack Straw stood out for me in the first set as well. Oh yeah, and I'll never forget how good things felt when they played He's Gone. One of those moments for me.
Absolutely awesome start to the second set for me was Shakedown, then the unexpected Caution. But what really blew me away was seeing Mickey thundering away during Rhythm Devils (15 feet away from me)! It was really amazing and one of those "X Factor" moments for me. Bob sounded better than ever and seemed focused (never saw him crack a smile), as well as in a "channeling" mode to creating that sound, energy and mood that those of us who know love. Cosmic Charlie was another surprise for me and the Help-Slip-Franks was a genuine and solid close to the set. Samson was a thick-sounding cap off to the night, especially when Bob ends it with "That's right".
This is the best thing I've seen since The Grateful Dead in G'boro '91 or ATL '94. I highly recommend anyone who can to check out a show/shows on this tour. This reincarnation is TIGHT!
That's just my opinion.
Thanks guys for bringing back the music that is truly timeless and cosmic. This band has been such a background of tunes to my life in good ways that I'll never forget.
My bad on posting twice
My bad on posting twice there, so there's my two versions on my perspective. Guess I'm not back to reality yet. But get your ass to at least one of these shows if you like the Dead!
go on home your mama's calling you
Hee Hee, to all who love the second set, you will not be disapointed. Wow, what a show. 1st set, Jack straw, estimated, he's gone, truly inspiring. Bobby's mic could have been turned up a little, but he made up for it with those unique sounds he was making with his guitar, wow, has he been practicing or what. Jeff was also awesome, sounding a bit like Mr. mydland on some tunes. Phil was also in great form, and his voice has improved greatly he hit some of those Jerry lyrics right on. Now, the reason why everyone should go to see these shows, set 2, from the first note of that really spacey jam before going into shakedown, you knew it was gonna be hot, and it was smokin hot. From shakedown, it just got even spacier, with all along the watchtower being the only down to earth tune of one long awesome jam, caution, into one of the tightest drums I've heard in a long while, simply mind melting with Jeff adding that funky spaced out sound from his keyboards and Mickey dancin with the sounds as he produced them with such ease into that super spacey space, where did Bobby get those sounds he was making? and striking the classic pose with legs crossed, standing there twisting everyone's heads around, Warren, eyes rolled up in his head, took the lead several times here and it was beautiful. Then, cosmic charlie, what? They NAILED it, it was like undescribable how they effortlessly moved around with the sounds to new potato caboose, just totally unexpected and by this time, we were dancin' our asses off and spinnin' hard. Then, the triple dose of help on the way, slipknot (done perfectly, even nailing the hard changes in that tune) into franklin's tower, which everyone sang. The band sounding like a well tuned engine, a fantastic machine running on all 12 cylinders. Yes, they rehersed, yes, they are back, go see this show, oh yeah, if you can, go see it "altered"
The light show is spectacular.
In DC
It's my birthday and we're seeing the Dead in DC! My wife was fortunate enough to score tickets a while back and we are both so excited for tonight. Wish you all could join us...Smile smile smile!!!
What a GRATE show! Was
What a GRATE show! Was lucky enough to sit next to a guy who had offered good insight in music and Deadheadness in general. It was worth the wait to get the CDs right after the show. I was humming MNS that morning on the drive down from DC (took the scenic route!). The Rhythm Devils > Space was worth the price of admission alone! Will try to upload a couple of pics and videos in a bit. :)
Greensboro show
Been waiting since 2002 to see the dead again. Spent over $600 in tickets travel expenses etc... Drunken Idiots all around me at the show ruined the vibe for me. I was on crutches but still made it 500 miles to the show. Hobbled the whole lot 2 times on crutches! Meet allot of cool people and had a blast. I did notice people selling beer wine and others. It seemed 90% had a drink in hand. Now I am no one to preach and love to drink. I never get so drunk I can't stand up and then try to dance and fall all over everyone around me. The guy who sat in sec. 129 row OO seat 15 should concider his self lucky I did not split his skull open! I have before for much less! I took the high road and left early! missed half the 2nd set! Thanks you drunkin 40 year old jerk off! I was at 9 outdoor show in ca and don't remember all the drunks! in fact I don't remember any booze in the lot! I will never attend a indoor show again! The band sounded great! I did not see much of them due to constant people falling down around me! Ticketmaster nazi's put me behind the stage! I purchased my tickets 2 hours into the presale and that's what I got! Ticketmaster sucks! Geensboro is full of drunks and few dead heads!
Easter
I just had a Blast!! The Parking lot was outstanding and unlike the last poster I never encountered any drunk or problem people. Ratdog, Further, Other Ones all OK but nothing even close to the joy and fun of The Dead! I am a local and want to thank ALL that traveled to dance with us! Hope to see you soon.
Ron
First Sho
This was a siiiiiiick show. I can't go to DC to night or Charlottesville, cause I am on the daily grind back up in CT, literally, working when my boss needs me, chillin, when he doesn't. I will be getting back on the bus tho for sure. I almost wanna blow off work and start touring from albany on, but I only make 70 a day and need a miracle to be able to AND not need a job. Either way, it was a sick show, I felt Jerry in spirit down in Gboro fr sure. Anyone that has a copy of the Tenth Insight of the Celestene Prophecy bring it with them bc i met a chill girl that read half of it but got it stolen from her, she needs to finish it. Help her out, and even if I cannot go the whole way, I will def be in MSG, Hartford, Worchester, Long Island and Possibly E Rutherford. Till the 4 winds may blow u safely home :)