Dead of the Day: 05-25-1972
The Strand Lyceum
London, England
Our Dead of the Day could have just as easily come from ’74 or ’77, but we decided to head off to Europe ’72 and the amazing performance the Dead gave at the Strand Lyceum in London. The show rockets off with a Promised Land and then heads into a fine Brown Eyed Women. A song later, Bobby provides some stellar vocals on a loose Black Throated Wind that also includes some fine key work by Keith. A few tunes further on, the boys go into China Cat Sunflower where Jerry trades licks with Keith, Bobby, and Phil, providing an overwhelmingly intense, though short, jam. The Rider keeps some of the same pacing, but streaks off in its own mellower way. The Me and Bobby McGee that comes next is really sweet and melancholy with Jerry’s ragged voice adding a more haggard feel to Bobby’s heartfelt delivery. The band then heads into a Good Lovin’. On this, Pig’s rapping is great as always, but it’s his organ that sparks the incredible, extended blues, jazz, and psychedelic infused jam that serves as the meat of the rendition. After that, the Dead turn right around and hit up a Playing in the Band that is nearly as long and just as spectacular as the Good Lovin’. Following that thirty minutes of rocking, the band shows off its rough and tumble sweetness with a lovely Brokedown.
The second set starts off with four very solid tunes, but it really begins to take off with the Uncle John’s Band and Jerry’s effortless guitar virtuosity on that song. Uncle John’s eventually leads to some spacey territory from which Wharf Rat emerges in its down and out splendor. The Wharf Rat takes us to a Dark Star, which is arguably the best of the tour. So much is in this version, including a nifty couple of minutes where Bobby and Phil play with a Me and Julio theme – the song had just come out in January – while Jerry magically lifts off over it, commenting on it instead of participating. As they descend into feedback, the first intimation of Sugar Mags springs out, is quickly lost, and then, just as suddenly, regained. The boys romp through Sugar Mags, bringing such energy to the tune. Sadly, the last bunch of songs, including a Comes a Time, Sitting on Top of the World, and Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad are missing from the recording. Still, what we have is damn fine.
The Lyceum Theatre opened in 1765, eventually growing into a 2100-seat venue. Over the years, it hosted opera, church services, a circus, and Madame Tussaud’s first English exhibition of her waxworks, as well as thousands of plays and musical performances. After closing in 1939, it was set for demolition before being reborn as the Lyceum Ballroom, which is the incarnation that hosted the Dead in 1972. The venue was again closed in 1986, restored, and reopened a decade later.
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