The second set opens with a ripping Bertha> Good Lovin’ and then heads into an achingly resplendent rendition of Ship of Fools. The Estimated up next is towering and heads into an Other One that includes some adventurous noodling. In many ways, though, it is the beginning and end of this show that are the real highlights. The Not Fade Away is as breakneck and dynamic as any version from the era. It also sets up an amazing Comes a Time. Donna provides some delicious harmonies for Jerry’s emotional vocals, and Jerry eviscerates the solo while taking every opportunity to drop some tasty little licks throughout the rest of the song. The Sugar Mags that sees the second set out is then a joyous and carefree release from the wrenching emotions of Comes a Time. Then, for an encore, the Dead settle into a lovely Uncle John’s.

Coming the night after the heralded Barton Hall show, this night in Buffalo cannot help but be compared to that earlier show, despite deserving a place in the canon solely on its own merits.  What seems obvious is that the two concerts are entirely different beasts, both spectacular in their own right. Today’s starts off with one of the high points of not just the night, but of the entire tour, an epic Help> Slip> Franklin’s. The rest of the first set is excellent, but maybe a little more loose and freewheeling than the almost precious perfection of the previous night. Undoubtedly, the Scarlet> Fire second set opener from Barton Hall beats out any Bertha> Good Lovin’ sans Pigpen, even this fine one from Buffalo. But from there, the differences between the rest of the two nights’ second sets are a matter of taste. The Estimateds seem the equal of one another, though the NFA of 5-9 is a bit more ferocious and leads into that second-to-none Comes a Time. However, the NFA from Barton Hall is encased in that phenomenally bright and sharp Stephen and is then followed by the immaculate, nearly untouchable Dew. Of course, the One More Saturday Night from Cornell is just no match for today’s Sugar Mags and Uncle John’s. 5-8 really seems to bring together a perfectly tuned and widely appealing setlist with some great playing. The boys bring much the same musically to Buffalo, but it plays out over a less loved and, perhaps, a little less favorable setlist. Feel free to add your own thoughts and arguments in the comments. Regardless, they are both exceptional shows.