Dead of the Day: 08-18-1991
Shoreline Amphitheater
Mountain View, California
There are some other great moments from this day in Dead history – just check out the Shakedown sessions from ’78 – but our Dead of the Day tops it with a brilliant Hornsby-added performance from 1991. The show gets started with a smoking Hell In A Bucket with Jerry and Bruce streaking off and the entire band bringing a ton of energy. Two songs later, they bust out It Takes A Train To Cry, which is so fine with the piano up in the mix and Jerry delivering the goods. Beat It On Down The Line gets off to a humorous start with a flub on the 19 beat intro. Then, as the band comes together for the close, Bruce continues to jam away on the piano as the rest of the boys slowly join back in for another go round, creating a special moment. The West LA Fadeaway, Masterpiece, and Stagger Lee that come out next all have their amazing runs and jams before Johnny B. Goode takes it into the break.
Hell In A Bucket, Jack A Roe, CC Rider-> It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry, Beat It On Down The Line, West L.A. Fadeaway, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Stagger Lee, Johnny B. Goode
Set 2
Deal, Samson & Delilah, Mississippi Half Step, Feel Like A Stranger-> Drums-> Jam-> China Doll-> Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad-> Throwing Stones-> Not Fade Away, E: Brokedown Palace
Deal brings them out of the rest, as the band eviscerates the second half jam, led by Jerry’s achingly beautiful guitar. Samson and Delilah then struts out with Bruce defining the sound in a subtle, but deeply felt manner. A similarly tasty Half Step leads into Feel Like A Stranger before Mickey and Billy take it into a deep, seventeen-minute Drums exploration. Out of a lengthy Space, China Doll emerges, rolling into some dark, intrepid territory. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad> Throwing Stones> Not Fade Away takes it out, keeping the momentum through to the end. Then, we get an emotional Brokedown from Jerry with the rest of the band providing the perfect backing for this incredible version. The show might not have the best setlist, but there are so many strongly played tunes that the night holds together well and provides surprises at nearly every turn. And, of course, Bruce is just on throughout the evening, not only giving his own incredible turns, but elevating Jerry to a different level.

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