The Grateful Dead and Philadelphia have a very long history going back to 1968, with some truly exceptional shows played just about every year from 1968 to 1995 with very few annual exceptions. There were quite a few venues in and around Philly that the band played, but the primary Philly home for the band was the old Spectrum, where the Grateful Dead played 53 of their 67 Philadelphia shows. Other venues included JFK Stadium, the Civic Convention Hall Auditorium and Electric Factory.
In 1968, the Grateful Dead made two visits to Philadelphia, the first in April for a three night run at the Electric Factory, followed by a December visit to the Spectrum as part of the Quaker City Rock Festival. In 1969, the band returned to the Electric Factory for a couple of February shows (just two weeks before the famed four night run at the Fillmore West in San Francisco), with two more shows in 1970, at Temple University in May (on the Harpur College tour) and an October visit to the University of Pennsylvania’s Irvine Auditorium (check out some images of that beautiful venue online!). In 1972, the band returned to the Spectrum on 9/21/72, a show that was so good it became Dick’s Picks Vol. 36, the final installment in that archival release series. From 1972 to 1995, the Grateful Dead visited the Spectrum every year with the exception of 1974 (played the Civic Convention Hall instead), 1975 (no shows outside of California), 1976 (played the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby), 1984 (Civic Convention Hall again), and 1991 (no excuse). The other Philly shows were the 1987 visit to JFK Stadium with Bob Dylan, as well as the 7/7/89 show at the same venue, by which time the stadium had been officially condemned (and what a show they played to close out the building!).
Musically, you could count on a great performance in Philadelphia. The aforementioned show in 1972 at the Spectrum was one of the best on one of the finest tours in Dead history; the 1977 Spectrum gig opened one of the other finest tours in Dead history on 4/22/77 (bookended nicely with the new Hartford ’77 CD release that closed the tour on 5/28/77); and the two shows in August 1974 at the Civic were so good they were turned into the terrific Dick’s Picks Vol. 31
(along with 8/6/74 in Jersey City). Although not in Philadelphia proper, the Philly-area Tower Theatre in Upper Darby was the site of the band’s four night run during their Summer 1976 comeback tour when the band was playing small theatres (Portland’s Paramount aka Schnitzer Auditorium; New York’s Beacon; Boston’s Music Hall; Capital Theatre in Passaic; Auditorium Theatre in Chicago; Orpheum in San Francisco), followed by a summer and fall touring season through stadiums and hockey arenas.
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.
Set 1
What could be more appropriate to open the big Saturday night bash in Philly than a rocking One More Saturday Night. I believe the only time I saw the Grateful Dead open a show with OMSN was on 8/5/89 at Cal Expo, and it was a rocking way top open a show. Next up is Brown Eyed Women, and Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, in a slightly different arrangement than it was played two weeks ago in Worcester. Then comes a couple of great Garcia-Hunter tunes, Althea and He’s Gone. He’s Gone was played the first night of the tour and I recall the entire building singing along. This then went into two Workingman’s Dead tunes, Uncle John’s Band and Mason’s Children. The latter, of course, was omitted from the album, but was included on the So Many Roads boxed set, as well as other live versions that have been more recently released. The jam out of Uncle John’s was particularly fine, as were he harmony vocals on Mason’s Children.
Set 2After hearing the second set on Sirius tonight, my friend JM said “they sure are going out with a bang!” and I’ve got to agree, a really great night of music. And kudos to Sirius XM for bringing the show to so many of you, and kudos to the great sound mix that started with Derek Featherstone’s amazing PA mix, enhanced by Peter A. with just the right amount of audience and bottom end blended in to really give you the live album experience. This, of course, is the same audio mix that appears on the CDs available at the shows or later via download. Great work, guys. They pulled out all the stops, as you can see by the setlist, and played a few things people were really hoping for, including the long-awaited (first on the tour) Morning Dew, and the Samson encore, not to mention slipping in classic including Help>Slip>Franklin’s and St. Stephen, to say nothing of The Other One and Revolution. Pretty freaking cool. So, the band really said goodbye to Spectrum in style. Although the Grateful Dead played a load of shows at the Madison Square Garden, the Spectrum was really their east coast home, and it will be missed. Inspired by tonight’s goodbye to Spectrum, I think I’ll pop in 9/21/72, my favourite Spectrum show, and dig some good old Grateful Dead. Onward to Chicago…
Read more about the Dead in our local and national press section.
name to the list of people attending the show.
(Set 1)
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One More Saturday Night
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Brown Eyed Women
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Good Morning Little School Girl
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Althea
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He's Gone>
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Uncle John's Band>
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Mason's Children
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Jam
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Good Lovin'
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Cumberland Blues
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Cryptical Envelopment>
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The Other One>
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Drums>
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Space>
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Morning Dew
(Set 2)
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St. Stephen
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Revolution
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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
spectrum
good bye to the spectrum you have been good to us over the years may the boyz take you out in memorable fashion. they really know how to close a building if ya know what i mean.
loaves and fishes,dont give up dont ever give up!
Still waiting to see some of
Still waiting to see some of the great Dylan covers like Ballad of a Thin Man, When I paint my Masterpiece, and the always energizing Stuck Inside of Mobile!
I also making the prediction of a Help>Slip>Franklin's tonight with a Sampson & Delilah encore ;-)
actually looks like I missed
actually looks like I missed the When I Paint my Masterpiece at Uniondale..oppsss
Then how about I hope they breakout a Walkin' Blues in its place ;-)
how about
How about The Race is On and Must have been the Roses tonight , you know the boys love the kentucky derby...bye bye spectrum, and thank you for a real good time gjs56
poetic justice
how bittersweet is it that 40 years of memories in this building will be simulcast to all of us--I could only do one of the shows and drove down for the Friday show--ups and downs, the boys were stellar as always...goodbye old buddy--40 years and they have to build another corporate sponsored monstrosity--
glad I was there last night--glad I met Kim from Yardley--wish she would msg me--
sigh....enough thoughts for one night,
Phil
What time shoulf the Sirius
What time shoulf the Sirius broadcast be starting?
any second--7:30
any second--7:30
hey ya hi ya everybody ready
hey ya hi ya everybody ready 4 sum dead?!!!
tonight should be a real
tonight should be a real treat--last night was astounding
woooooo
Here we goooooo!