The second set is much the same, fabulous, rocking tune after smoking jam. There is little spacy-ness here, but the boys totally make up for it with pure, throw-down, bluesy, rock and roll. After a monster, 25-minute Good Lovin’, the Dead finally throttle back slightly, delivering a Going Down the Road Feeling Bad that is a bit more relaxed, but lacks nothing for beautiful jams and tasty licks. That leads us into a Saint Stephen that builds, gaining intensity and energy as it picks up speed. Eventually, it roars into a Not Fade Away that continues the high energy, wailing up until Uncle John’s, which puts an oh so sweet end to the night.

The Manhattan Center was originally built in 1906 by Oscar Hammerstein, the composer and grandfather of the renowned lyricist. The elder Hammerstein was a serious opera fancier, and he built the Manhattan Center to compete with the more expensive Metropolitan Opera. By offering lower ticket prices, he intended to bring opera to a larger audience. The center includes recording studios and two ballrooms. The larger of the two, the Hammerstein Ballroom seats about 2500 for concerts. For the Dead’s legendary – and only – run in the Hammerstein, which began with this show, it was billed as a Dance Marathon. The Dead, who were already incredibly popular in the New York area – a New York Post critic claimed they could easily fill Madison Square Garden – drew far more than the venue held. The promoters sold extra tickets, hired security guards let hundreds more in for a buck or two, and hundreds more snuck in using all available means, including the roof. Some estimated the numbers at the final show to be near 10,000. Regardless, people were packed, feasting on the incredible music from the Dead.