07-09-1989
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Although today’s Dead of the Day is rightfully the Dead’s last show at Soldier Field in 1995, the other extant show on this date happens to be this scorcher from ’89. It opens with a bright, smoking Shakedown. While Bobby and Brent have a few lyrical flubs, that does not matter a bit when the entire band throws down on a jam fest like this to start the night. The boys had a ton of energy and were clearly enjoying themselves, heading into a spirited Jack Straw before a funky, heavily jammed out West L.A. Fadeaway. Victim or the Crime follows, oozing with an eerie sort of energy in the spacey interstices. Then we get a jaunty Brown Eyed Women before a delicious Queen Jane. After that, the set ends on a jazzy Bird Song with utterly gorgeous solos from Jerry and some rich interplay between him and Brent.
In front of 80,000, the floor crowded with Heads who jumped down, the boys turned to China Cat to take them out of the break. It proves to be an upbeat rocker with Jerry just lifting off on a few runs in the latter half before charging into the Rider segue. And suddenly the boys have the wind in the face, charging across the countryside on that northbound train, heading north. The energy cranks up still further as the song progresses, reaching a feverish pace in the last third of the relatively short – just like the China Cat – Rider. A similarly brief, but oh so powerful, Samson blasts forth next, super-charged by the pounding drums and Jerry’s blistering guitar work. A great Built to Last takes a rare spot in the second set, slower than usual but still so sweet. Truckin’ gets the energy up again lighting off on a rollicking, juggy jam into Drums. Gimme Some Lovin’ emerges out the other end of Space, plodding forth until Phil – who was bombing all night long – starts really putting the bass line into it. The Spencer Davis tune starts the post-Space dance fest, transitioning into a high-octane GDTRFB before settling into Throwing Stones. As Bobby earnestly delivers the lyrics, Mickey and Billy pound out the beat with a little help from the crowd. And, of course, Jerry puts in a righteous performance with some sweet fills from Brent throughout. Eventually, the crowd takes over, clapping out the beat and repeatedly chanting “we are on our own” until the band fires into a ripping Not Fade Away, closing the set with some awesome call and response with the crowd. And the audience stays at it until the band retakes the stage for a beautiful Brokedown encore, putting the finishing touches on one of the best shows of the tour.
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