05-20-1992
Cal Expo Amphitheatre
Sacramento, California
On a glorious day at Cal Expo, the band stormed out of the gate with Jack Straw. And Bertha keeps the energy going as Jerry delivers lucid, bright vocals and splendid guitar work. The band then gets down and funky with Walkin’ Blues, Vince sizzling on the keys. Thinks keep cooking with Brown-Eyed Women before Desolation Row comes forth, Jerry’s potent guitar punctuating Bobby’s vocal rendering of Dylan’s masterful poetry. Stagger Lee is sweet as all get out, coming to a rich and raucous crescendo. Then, after the shortest of pauses, the Dead launch into Promised Land, doing justice to Chuck Berry’s high-octane charger to close out the set.
Jack Straw, Bertha, Walkin’ Blues, Brown Eyed Women, Desolation Row, Stagger Lee, Promised Land
Set 2
Box Of Rain, Truckin’, Crazy Fingers-> Saint Of Circumstance, Drums-> Jam-> The Other One-> Wharf Rat-> Around & Around, E: U.S. Blues
The second half starts strong with a lovely Box Of Rain. But the Truckin’ that follows is a bit sloppy and muddled. And things are not quite right on the Crazy Fingers, which plods along without the magical aura of other versions. However, Saint Of Circumstances recaptures some of the earlier verve, and a little noodling jam makes it seem like they might go into another tune. Instead, the rest of the boys cede the stage to the drummers, who embark on a magnificent, dark trip that was, according to folks who were there, incredibly loud. Nearly from the moment the rest of the band returns, there are hints of The Other One in the foreboding Space, and it is fun to listen to folks riffing on the beat and melody before the song fully forms. And the creative exploration continues as the Dead shoot onwards in The Other One. The Wharf Rat that follows has its moments as Vince’s keys sparkle and Bobby adds a few striking flourishes to Jerry’s achingly mournful guitar solos. Then the band turns to Around And Around, which is a real crowd pleaser as Bobby cheeses out and Vince jazzes it up. A final rocking US Blues encore sends the faithful home or, at least, out to parking lot and campground.

Leave a Reply