Today is Another Trip Back to the Eighties. The Grateful Dead were Playing an Amazing Show at MSG on 9-18-87.

I don't know of a crowd of fans that love to argue, while agreeing, more than Deadheads. Phish fans come close but Deadheads take the cake. There is no debate on this show, however. Almost a year after Jerry's coma, this show proves how far he had come back for us. The man had to RELEARN the guitar. I can't play that good once, let alone forget than have to relearn it again.   

9-18-87 MSG NY,NY Possibly the greatest venue the band played next to Hampton on the East Coast. This show is a masterpiece

I don't know what else to say except to say that on deadlists.com it says in comments, "best show of the year"! When it comes to agreeing on anything, about the only thing Deadheads will agree on is that the band is amazing. Everyone has their favorite years, their favorite keys player, favorite songs, etc. This show begins with Weir asking the crowd "to watch him levitate Garcia" and the band launches into "Hell In a Bucket" and doesn't look back from there. The first set is a little short but the "Bird Song", "Candyman", and "Sugaree" are all top-shelf versions. If you say, " but those are all Garcia songs" well, that's because the fat man was rocking at this show. Weir's incantation didn't levitate Garcia but made Jerry levitate MSG that night. It is a short first set but the second set is one for the ages and don't skip the first because it is so hot you need gloves to handle it.

The titanic second set starts with an absolutely mind-blowing "Shakedown Street". You can hear the crowd go crazy when a band member strums the "giveaway" chord at the song's beginning. This is a matrix so you can hear the audience go nuts. Somehow the band ramps up the energy through the second set through "D>S" into "GDTRFB>Watchtower" which goes into one of the most titanic "Morning Dew"'s ever. I've heard a lot of versions of this song in which people claim it's the best ever but this is up there. Just when you think Jerry has laid it all out and Bobby is closing up shop with a rave-up "Good Lovin'" Jerry decides the song needs a "La Bamba" in it and it is perfectly placed before they slip back into "Good Lovin'" and then come out for an amazing "Knocking on Heaven's Door" to send the crowd out into the NYC night.

Greg Heffelfinger

Grateful Dead

9-18-87

MSG,NY

One	Hell In A Bucket [6:14] > Sugaree [10:32] > Walkin' Blues [6:10] ; Candyman [6:44] ; When I Paint My Masterpiece [4:08] ; Bird Song [9:57]
Two	Shakedown Street [11:56] > Man Smart (Woman Smarter) [6:58] > Terrapin Station [13:06] > Drums [8:25] > Space [6:#50] > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad [5:58] > All Along The Watchtower [4:45] > Morning Dew [10:53] > Good Lovin' [4:11] > La Bamba [1:31] > Good Lovin'[ 2:33]
Encore:	Knockin' On Heaven's Door [8:14]
Comments	:Best show of the year

courtesy of deadlists.com

© 2016 Grateful Music LLC

Today in Grateful Dead History, Bruce Hornsby Joined the Band with New Member Vince Welnick: Video of whole show 9-15-90 MSG NY,NY

  Today in GD history, Bruce Hornsby stepped up to help the music play the band, as Vince Welnick got up to speed in the hot seat.

Originally, having Bruce there was like a shot in the arm for Jerry. Then, Jerry slowly started slipping back into old habits. Bruce and nobody else for that matter could help him. Vince was up to speed, or as close as he was going to get, in some people's opinion. And Hornsby left the band as a member. He still sat in occasionally and played with The Dead and was at the Furthur Festivals.

Today in 1990, Bruce joined the band for the first time. The setlist was somewhat unique for the time, with the second set starting off with what became an encore song, "The Weight". Still dealing with the loss of Brent and to a lesser degree, the full, warm organ sound he added to the songs, the band tried to keep on truckin'.  Vince was hired quickly for his ability to sing high harmonies but his synth and keyboards quickly changed the overall sound of the band. Bruce Hornsby's accordion and grand piano, made the sound a little warmer and allowed Vince to find his footing and it didn't hurt that Hornsby was a deadhead who already knew all the songs. It seemed like the best of a bad situation. While, Vince was welcomed warmly by deadheads the overall consensus was he still needed time in the minor leagues before stepping up in front of stadiums full of rabid fans.It certainly didn't help that Vince's first show was at MSG in NY,NY. One of the most famous venue the band played regularly. That was all in the future, though.  Here is the video of the first post-Brent show with Bruce and Vince.

Written by: Greg Heffelfinger

Set 1
Touch Of Grey
Walking Blues
Candyman
Mama Tried
Mexicali Blues
West L.A. Fadeaway
When I Paint My Masterpiece
Bird Song
Box Of Rain

Set 2
The Weight
Playing In The Band
Crazy Fingers
Uncle John's Band
Drums
Space
Gimme Some Lovin'
All Along The Watchtower
Stella Blue
Throwing Stones
Not Fade Away
E: One More Saturday Night


© 2016 Grateful Music LLC

"They aren't the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do" This night, they were the best band playing. MSG 9-10-91

"They aren't the best at what they do, they're the only ones who do what they do" This night, they were the best band playing. 
MSG 9-10-91 

Today's show is by far the easiest choice of shows I've picked. It started in 90 and almost all of 91' were great tours. This is one of the best shows as an octet. The players all stay out of each other's way. There is plenty of room for everyone to solo and tastefully hold back and let each member step up and do their thing. Naturally, it's a famous show and I don't believe you're a deadhead if you've never heard it. Still, what better way to start the nineties than with a masterpiece because although there were quite a few bright spots most people agree they could tell Jerry was on his last legs. Hindsight is 20/20 though and that didn't stop you from buying tickets, did it? This show speaks for itself but the Branford and Jerry during "Standing on the Moon" along with the "Help>Slip>Frank" and of course, the "Dark Star" all make this a classic. Marsalis sits in the whole show.  There is some great work on keys by Hornsby, egging on Garcia, during,"It Takes a Train to Laugh". Add the always welcome addition of "Black Throated Wind" and it's a show where the music is better than the setlist, and the setlist is FANTASTIC!

Written by: Greg Heffelfinger

The Grateful Dead w/ B.Marsalis at MSG NY,NY 9-10-91

Setlist:

MSG NY,NY (courtesy of archive.org)

9-10-91

SET 1
Shakedown Street
C.C. Rider >
It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry
Black-Throated Wind
High Time
Cassidy
Deal

SET 2
Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower
Estimated Prophet >
Dark Star >
Drums >
Space >
Dark Star Reprise >
I Need A Miracle >
Standing On The Moon >
Turn On Your Love Light

ENCORE
It's All Over Now Baby Blue

Source DSBD>DATs>CDRs>EAC>SHN
Lineage unknown
Transferred by Darrin Sacks and Bill Tetzeli

Notes

Entire show with Branford Marsalis

© 2016 Grateful Music LLC