For all the fireworks in the first set, it is, unsurprisingly, the second half that takes the cake, beginning with an always appreciated Box Of Rain that has the crowd roaring. From there a brilliant Foolish Heart emerges. While Jerry flubs some lyrics, his playing, along with Brent’s spiritous fills and the mighty jam at the tail end, make this a top-notch version. The Playin’ In The Band into Eyes Of The World that comes out next is the rich nougat at the heart of this show. After a rousing opening to Playin’, the boys lucidly wend through a fractious space, throwing off sparkles and pixie dust until they smoothly transition into Eyes. Like a cascading river in springtime, the Eyes is fast and furious and the boys expertly navigate it all before plunging into a funky, jazz-fueled, MIDI-heavy interlude into Drums. The Drums smokes, leading to an ethereal Space from which China Doll slowly rises. And that China Doll is a precious treat as Bobby and Brent provide a lovely counterpoint to Jerry’s entrancing guitar work. From there, the Dead take the set out with twenty minutes of high energy, dance-heavy rocking on Gimme Some Lovin’, GDTRFB, and Around And Around. A lovely Brokedown bids a final farewell to the Hartford faithful.

This show was the second of a two-night run at the Hartford Civic Center. The two dates were not part of the original East Coast tour schedule. But using their extrasensory powers, the collective Deadhead mind divined that the shows would be announced and ticketed, and stories abound of folks camping out at Hartford Ticketmasters ahead of the sale, before the workers even knew the Dead would be coming to town. Needless to say, the true fans were richly rewarded.