1980 was one of those years when the boys were playing consistently well. And this show is all that and more with a top-shelf Althea and Peggy-O, alongside so much more goodness in the early going. But it’s the second half, keyed by a Supplication Jam that is a luscious tour-de-force. The Eyes is frenetic and mesmerizing, the earthquake Drums simply otherworldly, and the Other One> Wharf Rat> GDTRFB exceptional.

The Dead play the last Cryptical ever, wrapping a pulsing cacophonous Other One inside on this evening in 1985. They also bust out Nobody’s Fault But Mine, delivering a righteous rendition before putting it on the shelf for another five years. Bobby is in full effect all night, keying a sharp Stranger opener, taking over when Jerry leaves the stage for Don’t Need Love, going all rock star on Smokestack Lightning, and giving us a crazy take on Lovelight. Check out the crowd response to the rarities and Bobby’s antics and just give the whole crispy recording a listen…

Jerry and the rest of the boys bring it, but Pig’s bluesman-Hells Angels-frontman presence gives the listener something to hold onto in the cacophony of the Dead’s acid-drenched adolescence that is this magnificent show from 1967. Look no further than opening Midnight Hour, which begins in Black Sabbath fashion – a few strong chords and feedback – before turning into a throbbing, totally outrageous tune with Pig at the heart of it, positively bawling and entreating the audience to get up and dance. But don’t stop there, because a Schoolgirl and Viola Lee – with Pig’s ethereal organ – are waiting, along with an Alligator and so much more. You will enjoy the shit out of listening to this proto-primal piece of magic from the boys…

Not being booked for the Sky River Rock Festival did not stop the Dead from showing up and throwing down on this day in 1968. They opened with a masterful Dark Star, romped through Stephen> Eleven, powerfully delivered an Other One Suite, and finished up with an elemental Alligator> Caution> Feedback, the latter of which is epic in its proportions. In sum, the Dead’s set is, like the festival itself, a down and dirty piece of psychedelic Americana and an act of splendid communalism. Oh yeah, and we got a sweet Charlie Miller remaster all cued up for your listening pleasure. Check it out…

Scarlet> Fire kicks off the second set, setting the crowd on notice. And the Dead continue to deliver with a LL Rain before Terrapin and The Wheel out of Space before Watchtower> Stella> Sugar Mags. Dive into the sound now…