09-06-1983
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Morrison, Colorado
Alabama Getaway takes it out of the gate with Brent front and center. The high energy continues on the GSET that follows. Peggy-O finally slows things up a bit, but the band really starts hitting on all cylinders as Jerry delivers a beautiful, bouncy solo. The Dupree’s a song later shares some of the verve of the earlier Jerry tune, but with a bit more Brent-keyed funk. A fiery Minglewood follows, building momentum as it goes until Phil and the drummers are really laying it on while Jerry takes flight. Then, after a moment’s pause, the band goes into Bird Song, and the crowd lets out a roar. Jerry and Brent play off each other throughout, weaving a luminescent, cascading tapestry that is a thing to behold. Coming off that amazing Bird Song, we get a sizzling Lazy Lightning that just ignites into a full crown fire of a Supplication. A rocking Might as Well then takes it into set break.
Help on the Way gets things started again, leading to an intense, face-melting Slipknot! that Jerry, Bobby, and Brent absolutely scorch. At over nine minutes, the Slipknot! is a burner, and the drummers are just relentless throughout. After the classic segue, the boys then launch into Franklin’s, which has its own blistering runs and moments of pure splendor, though Jerry has a little difficulty with the lyrics. A ridiculous Playin’ comes out next, setting off on a massive trip from the theme itself into a reverent, mystical space before Mickey, playing the Tibetan bells, and Billy take over. The Drums is short, but oh so good, and it sets up a fluid and inventive Space. Through the latter half, the boys increasingly intimate and play with Uncle John’s before all coalescing around the theme and giving the crowd, who had been urging them along, a meaty UJB. As you might have called, the UJB eventually comes back around to the Playin’ in a joyous reprise before Throwing Stones> NFA finishes off the set. A gorgeous Brokedown encore finally puts a lovely cap on a stellar Red Rocks show.
We once again have another wonderful Hunter Seamons matrix cued up here. Hearing the audience takes the board to another level, capturing some of the jubilation and awe of those who experienced the magic firsthand while also delivering the clearest rendering of the music itself. But nothing can really capture the experience of this mini-tour – shows in Boise, Salt Lake, Morrison, and Santa Fe over a dozen days – where heads who had traveled from near and far camped for days at each location, creating the town of Deadheads that Wavy Gravy talks about in the final track.
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