03-01-1987
Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center
Oakland, California
Though 1987 would bring the Grateful Dead their highest charting single in Touch of Grey and a level of fame that they had never experienced nor really desired, the band started the year out slowly. Back in January, they played a three-show Chinese New Year run at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium that many fans viewed as lackluster. But they did not take the stage again for another month, returning with a three-show run, again in the Bay Area, at the Kaiser, beginning with this March 1st concert.
The Touch of Grey opener is emblematic of the show itself: bright, fun, and well-played. Highlights abound in the rest of the first set, but the Row Jimmy and Let It Grow that closes the early action out are something special indeed. Jerry takes it slow, letting the Row Jimmy roll out like molasses, a bit of the convention center echo reinforcing the building power of the delivery. And after just a slight hesitation, Let It Grow steams out afterwards on the back of Mickey and Billy’s powerful drumming, Jerry’s buoyant, intricate guitar work, and Bobby’s vivacious vocals.
The second half kicks off with Hell In A Bucket, another song off the soon to be released In The Dark album. And it sets a high energy tone for the set which continues on the Scarlet> Fire that follows, Brent’s keys and Jerry’s guitar really lighting up the Scarlet Begonias and just an all-round effort on a top-shelf Fire On The Mountain. After a nice Samson And Delilah, a haunting Black Muddy River – Jerry’s ragged voice just adding to the poignancy – comes forth, which itself leads into a lovely He’s Gone. The drummers take over on the tail end of He’s Gone, and out the other side of Space, The Other One gathers and then barrels forth. And this leads to the standout moment of the show, Black Peter. Post-coma, Jerry brings a heightened pathos to a few tunes, perhaps no more so than Peter. And on this version he also adds a lengthy outro jam that had been missing for years. Around And Around and Good Lovin’ then see the set out before a Don’t Ease Me In encore.

Leave a Reply