Dead of the Day: 07-07-1989

John F. Kennedy Stadium

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

There were several shows on this date in Dead history, but none stands above the last event at John F. Kennedy Stadium back in 1989. The show rips off with a Hell In A Bucket opener as the crowd goes wild. The band keep the audience rocking with Aiko next before slowing it down just a little bit with a steamy Little Red Rooster. Ramble On Rose, Stuck Inside of Mobile, and Loser are all excellent, but then the boys break into a charismatic Let It Grow that harnesses the best of what they were doing in the late 80s, namely that mind-meld sort of jamming in which each member is not just keying off the others, but finishing their bandmates’ musical thoughts, sometimes before they even had conceived of them. Following the Let It Grow, Brent delivers an immensely powerful performance on Blow Away to close out the first set; this rendition is something to behold.

Recording info
Use alternative player
Identifier:
gd1989-07-07.142782.mtx.tobin.flac2496
Source:
Matrix 2 Source Mix – SBD (shnid = 140152) Recording Info: Ultra Matrix SBD > Cassette Master (TDK MA-XG90); Transfer Info: Cassette Master (Nakamichi CR-7A) > Tascam DA-3000 (DSF 1-bit/5.8 MHz) > KORG AudioGate 4 > Samplitude Pro X3 Suite > FLAC/24; All Transfers and Mastering By Charlie Miller + AUD (shnid = 96993) 24bit 96kHZ file set. FOB AUD: Nakamichi CM300/CP4 shotguns > Sony TC-D5M > Maxell MX-90’s with no Dolby. Mics on 8-foot stand, approx 15 feet in front of SBD area and 15 feet to stage right (Phil side).
Notes:
SBD + AUD Matrix 2 Source Mix (96/24) ——————————————————— – Mixed by kevtobin@yahoo.com – FLAC conversion 28-JUL-2018 – Trader Little Helper – Tagged 28-JUL-2018 – Tag&Rename ——————————————————— Brokedown House Production
Description:
Set 1

Hell In A Bucket >
Iko Iko
Little Red Rooster
Ramble On Rose
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Loser >
Let It Grow >
Blow Away

Set 2

Box Of Rain >
Scarlet Begonias >
Fire On The Mountain
Estimated Prophet >
Standing On The Moon >
Drums >
Space >
The Other One >
Wharf Rat >
Turn On Your Lovelight

Encore:
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

Jerry Garcia – Guitar
Bob Weir – Guitar
Brent Mydland – Keyboards
Phil Lesh – Bass
Bill Kreutzmann – Drums
Mickey Hart – Drums
Lineage:
MAC > Nakamichi DR-8 (with no Dolby) > Edirol FA-66 > Wavelab > CD-Wave > TLH > FLAC 2496. Taped and transferred by Andrew F. January 2009 – matrix mixing by Kevin Tobin
Transferrer:
Kevin Tobin
Play
Pause
Back
Forw.
Volume
00:00
1
Tuning
00:41
2
Hell In A Bucket >
06:33
3
Iko Iko
07:26
4
Little Red Rooster
09:23
5
Ramble On Rose
07:28
6
Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
09:07
7
Loser >
07:22
8
Let It Grow >
12:41
9
Blow Away
12:27
10
Box Of Rain >
05:04
11
Scarlet Begonias >
09:56
12
Fire On The Mountain
13:43
13
Estimated Prophet >
09:12
14
Standing On The Moon >
08:32
15
Drums >
09:12
16
Space >
11:11
17
The Other One >
07:09
18
Wharf Rat >
10:34
19
Turn On Your Lovelight
09:02
20
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
09:07
Choose recording

After break, a short, but solid Box of Rain opens up the action again. Then Jerry starts playing the first notes of Scarlet Begonias, and the race is on as the band blasts through a fast-paced, heady version before dropping into a monstrous, eighteen-minute Fire On The Mountain. The drummers go nuts on the Fire, refusing to relinquish the theme as the entire band torches the tune. A similarly hot Estimated rolls forth into an outstandingly beautiful Standing On The Moon. Drums and Space are up next, and in the latter, a rough, baritone sounding MIDI from Jerry’s guitar starts leading the way towards The Other One, but it is a long time coming. Finally Phil and the drummers more or less announce its imminent arrival with a series of earth-shaking movements. All told, The Other One is very interesting with some seriously funky sounds and interesting compositions with Jerry MIDI-ing it up, the drummers dishing up some fantastic runs, and Phil, Brent, and Bobby blasting away. The Wharf Rat that they finally lead into is spectacular as well, as Jerry’s vocals are particularly lovely. A Lovelight, complete with some peppy energy, closes out the set before a Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door encore.

While doing a standard inspection the day before the show, authorities found the venue to be in such a state of disrepair that they moved to cancel the show. However, there were already so many heads in the parking lot that they wisely decided that it would be less of a problem to let the show go on. Immediately afterwards, John F. Kennedy Stadium was shuttered, just one more venue the Dead saw out.

The Dead released the show as Crimson, White, and Indigo.

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Comments

2 responses to “07-07-1989”

  1. Ouish Avatar
    Ouish

    My first show! 32 years later and this show definitely holds up. Best Blow Away they ever played. The bus came by, swung the doors open and during the Scarlet>Fire I got on board and haven’t gotten off. https://uploads.disquscdn.c

  2. Gus West Avatar
    Gus West

    Just found this page, reading descriptions and I’m in a time warp already. Gotta put the headphones on now and roll away. I may have to get up and dance ..lol…Thanks for the work out into this..

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