January 18, 2010 - January 24, 2010

This week we're going to listen to music exclusively from the summer tour of 1989, one of the most-requested eras we are asked about, and one of the finest years in the Grateful Dead's final 15 years of touring. We're going to focus on a week that would see the band go from the huge RFK Stadium, to the delightfully small Deer Creek Music Theatre (for the band's first visit there), to the tour closing shows at Alpine.

Our first stop this week is at RFK Stadium at the last of seven huge stadium gigs on the tour. This show, on 7/13/89, was the fifth anniversary of the last performance of Dark Star, and amongst us taper geeks, hopes were high that THEY'D remember, but it was not meant to be. As preposterous as that thought was, just about three months later they'd actually play Dark Star. We have the first set from 7/13/89, made up of Hell In A Bucket, Cold Rain and Snow, Little Red Rooster, Tennessee Jed, Memphis Blues, To Lay Me Down, Let It Grow. Parental discretion is advised on Rooster thanks to Brent's soulful contribution.

From the very next show on 7/15/89 at Deer Creek just outside of Indianapolis, we have the end of the first set, Jack-A-Roe, Queen Jane Approximately, We Can Run, Bird Song. This show was like a huge breath of fresh air. After seven straight shows at some of the east coast's largest and most impersonal stadiums (Foxboro, Rich, JFK, Giants and RFK) it was a real thrill to arrive at the brand new Deer Creek and find such a small venue. And the band rose to the occasion and played a great show.

Last year we played you the opening of the middle show at Alpine on 7/18/89, and this year we're going to listen to the end of the first set, made up of Minglewood, FOTD, Memphis Blues, Bird Song, Promised Land. We hope you don't mind two versions of Bird Song in a row.

Finally this week, we're going to hear music from the final night of the tour, at Alpine on 7/19/89. We'll start out with the opening combination, Hell In A Bucket>Sugaree and then will move on to Mama Tried>Mexicali Blues, Althea.

Stop in next week when we'll check out some music from 1973, 1977 and 1992. As always, we encourage you to write to me at the email address below. It's always great to hear from you with questions or comments.

David Lemieux
vault@dead.net