It is hard to get across just how incredible this show is. It opens with Promised Land, which is great, but it really takes a few songs before the Dead hit legendary status. By the time they start in on Deal, the music is pretty much off the hook (just check out the minute-long jam in the middle of the song). Black Throated Wind is also magnificent, leading into a China> Rider that will blow your mind. The China Cat gets off to a fairly standard start until they hit that first jam a minute in and Jerry shoots off, joyously streaming through the clouds as he rolls along, sings another verse, and then rushes forth again. By the third jam of the song, Keith and Phil are right in there with Jerry, pushing each other even further through crisp and refreshing runs. And on this recording we get the treat of hearing the boys take it into Rider without a clip and pause, making this transition even more face melting. A song later, an unbelievable Bertha closes out the first of three sets. After the break, Playin’ In The Band comes out in all its splendor as the boys throw down with an intense jam that words cannot do justice. But even the Playin’ might be overshadowed in the second set by Bird Song. The Bird Song is ridiculous throughout, but there is a magical spot a little over halfway through that is not to be missed. Billy gets a brief drum solo, almost like they were taking it into The Other One, before the boys all come right back in and pick up with the Bird Song theme. After that, one of the better versions of Greatest Story Ever Told ranges forth, taking it into the last set break. An epic, jazzy Dark Star takes it out of that rest. The interstellar exploration on this tune is almost too much to handle. Clocking in at over thirty minutes, the Dark Star seamlessly leads into El Paso, which is wonderfully charged with the energy and jazz feel of the Dark Star that preceded it. The Sing Me Back Home that rolls out next is also not to be missed.