03-23-1987
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, Virginia
In 1987, the Dead were charging back after Jerry’s coma. And the Hampton run – the first on the East Coast in ’87 – is about as good as it gets. The crowd knows something special is in the offing – or does the audience inspire the band, creating the moment? it’s hard to tell – erupting from the very first notes of Touch. In the gem of a first set, don’t miss the magisterial Althea, rousing Iko, or lightning-laced Stranger. The second includes a sweet Truckin’ and an Other One that builds and teases out of Space before finally storming forth. But the highlight of the entire evening is the Stella Blue, which is superbly played and so plaintive and pleading, almost as if Jerry himself is begging forgiveness or, at least, asking the assembled Heads to understand his choices.
There is a Charlie Miller soundboard from this show that is pretty hot. But the recording that we have here is an audience from the front of the board. Not only does the music somehow sound crisper on the aud, the FOB also captures the intense energy of the crowd.
Video of this show:
Today’s Dead of the Day:
Other March 23rd Shows and Recordings:
- 1972 – Academy of Music – New York, New York
- 1974 – Cow Palace – Daly City, California
- 1975 – Kezar Stadium – San Francisco, California
- 1981 – Rainbow Theater – London, England
- 1986 – The Spectrum – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1991 – Knickerbocker Arena – Albany, New York
- 1992 – The Palace – Auburn Hills, Michigan
- 1994 – Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, New York
- 1995 – Charlotte Coliseum – Charlotte, North Carolina

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