By David Gans

Week of March 8, 2004 or later

This week we begin a three-week series encompassing the complete second set of 3/1/87 at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center (formerly the Oakland Auditorium). This was the first night of a Sunday-through-Tuesday run in the grungy East Bay arena that became our home base after the demise of Winterland.

Sound man Dan Healy wasn't impressed with the fact that I had a contract with the Dead to do the Grateful Dead Hour, and although he grudgingly allowed me to plug a cassette deck into the soundboard feed for this run, it was the only time. Nothing was easy in dealing with the Dead and their crew. (And by the way, thanks to Bob Menke for lending me his Sony D-5 to do this.)

The music was terrific. There was something amiss at the San Francisco Civic in January - as anyone who heard the band's wild stab at the Beatles' "Get Back" on 1/28 can attest - so it was greatly reassuring to hear the GD hit the ground running at the Kaiser a month later.

And if I remember correctly, it was during this run of shows that Herbie Greene did the shoot for the Dylan-Dead tour photo.

Also in this show: a phone interview with Donna Jean Godchaux, who had just released a CD called At the Tablewith her family group, The Heart of Gold Band. This is a sweet and spiritual album that I liked a lot, especially the songs by Brian Godchaux, one of which is featured in this program. As I write this in April 2009, Donna Jean is on the road with a new ensemble, The Donna Jean Godchaux Band with Jeff Mattson. I attended their debut performance at Camp Zoe on April 17, and I give 'em an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

And: a track from the boxed set All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions, which was about to be released.

Enjoy!

Grateful Dead 3/1/87 Henry J Kaiser, Oakland CA
HELL IN A BUCKET->
SCARLET BEGONIAS->
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN
SAMSON AND DELILAH

All Good Things: Jerry Garcia's Studio Recordings
THAT'S A TOUCH I LIKE

Interview: Donna Jean Godchaux

Heart of Gold Band, At the Table
INDIAN TIME
LITTLE RED-HAIRED GIRL

Every Wednesday, we post a program from the Grateful Dead Hour archives for your enjoyment and enlightenment. You can browse or search the playlists - by song title, show date, guest name, etc - at gdhour.com or on the GD Hour Search page, and let me know what program(s) you'd like to hear by emailing me at gdhour@dead.net.

Thank you for listening!
David Gans

Listen Now