The action gets started with a sparkling Jack Straw that segues into a righteous Sugaree. And, if you still weren’t sure the Dead were on, a soaring, uptempo Cassidy rolls out that is absolutely splendid. A top-notch Jed then rolls out before Mexicali and Cumberland Blues, a twin shot of adrenaline, hot and feisty. And then it is on to the highlight of the first half, a Lazy Lightnin’> Supplication with Phil, Jerry, and Brent putting on a scintillating, stratospheric display for the assembled faithful. An en fuego, fully engulfed Deal then closes out the set, all its energy shoehorned into just six minutes.

China Cat Sunflower, high octane, but still graceful, opens the second half before heading into a similarly speedy but fluid Rider. Always funky, Man Smart Woman Smarter gives the crowd even more reason to dance through the aisles of the amphitheater before a tremendous Never Trust A Woman. On the latter, Brent’s vocals are as fervid and emotional as ever and his organ is so spirited, and Jerry dials up the blues factor to the nines. Then a moody and dark Lost Sailor heads into a rousing Saint Of Circumstance before a monstrous He’s Gone sends it into Drums. On the backend, the band takes a while to find their way out of Space and into Not Fade Away, but that just helps make this NFA such an incredible version, raucous and jammed out to the hilt. An always welcome Wharf Rat comes out next before the boys rock out the show, first with Around And Around, then Good Lovin’, and, finally, in the encore, US Blues.