09-24-1982
Carrier Dome, Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
In front of 50,000 in Syracuse’s Carrier Dome, the Dead open the action with a rocking Jack Straw. A slow and delicious FOTD comes out next with Brent playing an extended solo in the middle before Jerry starts ripping right along with him. Solid versions of C.C. Rider and Ramble on Rose follow before a sizzling Minglewood. Then the boys pull out a beautiful, kaleidoscopic Bird Song that spills into a lovely Looks Like Rain. After just a moment’s hesitation at the end of LL Rain, Jerry launches them into a high energy China Cat, which has a fervent, Brent-heavy transition into Rider. And the Rider continues with the same kinetic excitement into set break.
Brent launches the second set with a Far From Me that might just be the best one ever. Then we get a dazzling Playin’> Crazy Fingers. As the Playin’ just starts to enter into some spacier territory the boys, very deliberately, shift into Crazy Fingers. The Crazy Fingers itself is airy and sublime, but sort of withers at the end. And what is labeled here as a second Playin’ is really just some noodling in the void afterwards. Throwing Stones launches from that interstice, and the closing harmonies of the Bobby tune give way to Drums. In the Space that follows, Jerry points the way forward into Iko, and the rest of the band quickly picks up the song. After the number, Jerry, Bob, and Brent noodle on the Playin’ theme before some hints of Truckin’ emerge. Suddenly, Truckin’ launches forth in earnest, and the boys clearly have a good time romping through the song, including Bobby revealing that Sweet Jane “took all those drugs and then had her head rearranged.” From there, the band cruises into GDTRFB, which is a rollicking good time. Then things take a dark turn with Black Peter, haunting as ever. Around and Around and Sugar Mags then close things out on a high note. And the Brokedown encore, prefaced by Phil joking about Bobby and his anniversary, is absolutely top notch.
Today’s Dead of the Day:
Other September 24th Shows and Recordings:
- 1972 – The Palace Theater – Waterbury, Connecticut
- 1973 – Pittsburgh Civic Arena – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 1976 – William and Mary College – Williamsburg, Virginia
- 1983 – Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds – Watsonville, California
- 1987 – The Spectrum – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1988 – Madison Square Garden – New York, New York
- 1991 – Boston Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
- 1993 – Boston Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
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