With a wealth of shows to pick from on March 21, we head to 1972 for our Dead of the Day. The show is a writhing monster of music, marking the first of a seven-night run at New York’s Academy of Music during which the Dead would perfect the sound that would characterize the Europe ’72 tour, which began just days later. Though there are some problems with the mix at the start, the band is on from the very beginning with a fiery Bertha getting things going. But we start to hear a new level and style of playing with the Greatest Story Ever Told as Jerry provides quick and elevated guitar licks that add a new depth to the short Bobby tune. Right afterwards, the Mr. Charlie does not break any new ground, but is fun, funky, and well played. Next up, the band crafts an interesting, powerfully melancholy sound on LL Rain while still jamming the hell out of the tune and providing some nice vocal harmonies. A little later, the Playing will blow your mind as the boys head off in search of new territory, taking that song completely off the hook, pushing it in ways it had never gone before. The Cumberland is also spectacular, easily one of the best the Dead ever played.  The second set gets off to a smoking start with a revelatory Truckin’ that segues to a speedy, strong Drums that morphs into a smoking, mind-altering, nearly eighteen minute Other One. The rest of the set – and there is lots of it – continues to explode with song after song redefining what the Dead were capable of doing with each tune.