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I was just reading reviews while listening to this show over on the archive. Very nice recording I might add. Reviewers go from great show to not enough jerry. Well my thinking is this. Sorry to bore anyone if it does. Reviewer: dupree413 - 4.00 out of 5 stars4.00 out of 5 stars4.00 out of 5 stars4.00 out of 5 stars - November 29, 2011 Subject: Jerry's voice/unique 2nd set I am always am struck - given what was going on in Jerry's life (that we now know about) when reviewers write that Jerry's voice sounded terrible. I think he sounds decent - certainly there are songs where he is not on key singing. But his guitar playing was great in '85. Anyway, someone below wrote about the intangibles of this 2nd set. Normally an equip failure (Weir's mic for first verse of Samson) is not a way to kick off a set. But the crowd roars when he can finally be heard. More significantly, the Cumberland>He's Gone>Spoonful seem smokey - if you will. I remember getting this bootleg about a month later and finding this combo to be spine tingling. Definitely not a Jerry ballad after drumz - but still a solid '85 show. 4 stars b/c this imho is a stellar year and the competition is fierce. Reviewer: trail user - 5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars - July 10, 2011 Subject: No, actually, Jerry brings the house down! I have no idea what "corby112" was listening to. This second set rocks. And the whole show is sick. Jerry is up and loud and roaring. The boys are having so much fun playing this great little venue and the East Coast crowd is through the roof. He's Gone > Spoonful > Drums in particular is 5 star. It just melds perfectly from Dead to Blues to Jazz. The Spoonful outro jam segues into an amazing Balafon laden Rhythm Devils segment. The Dear Mr. Fantasy was one of the best they every played, executed perfectly, and a rarity for 1985. The energy of this show rises.. and crushes. Leading up to a huge, perfect, blistering Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away combo to slam close the second set. My review .... Reviewer: jjg4762 - 5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars5.00 out of 5 stars - April 12, 2014 Subject: Sorry if to long. I think heads on the east coast loved the extreme high energy shows and crowds going nuts all night long. I on the other hand prefer those shows almost complete opposite , rather the spacey controlled pace the boys could switch from. I am from east coast... but saw them all over this country close to 500. Look at Boise and Lake Placid for example those are spacey jamming shows with just the rite energy , highs and lows. Another example would be Pittsburg civic 7 6 1987 ENERGY Shakedown > Sampson the aiko day O Drums and then switch to a super mellow Knocking on Heavens Door out space. Love it just like that. They knew they couldn't go threw roof every night each tour had its ups and downs. Yes they were their to perform that 1 givin nite but they had a entire tour to play. Good Example is Richmond in 83 when Bobby says relax we have a whole long tour. Before the encore U S Blues. As far as the comments go on Jerry's voice / playing, this is what made this band so good. Take the Sampson intro Bobs mic isn't working yet so Jerry belts out the first line. Another thing I love is the flow they could go threw SMOKING HOT ENERGY To mellow Jazzy spacey jams. To me that's what made the substances people were on enjoy the music al the more highs and lows ups and downs, Kind of like tripping in the comfort of all your friends then someone having to run to the store for something . Reality set in. Just my analogy of how this band we love played night in night out.

This was the first east coast Bertha following Garcia's arrest in SF and the whole place just exploded and laughed at the "test me test me, why don't you arrest me" line. A great Dead moment where everyone got it and the smiles were everywhere.