The first set is a treat, especially the Let It Grow capper. But as usual, the second set is where the real fireworks are. Samson & Delilah is powerful. However, at the end, there is a lengthy period of tuning that really disrupts the flow. Yet with the Sunrise that follows – Donna’s tale of Rolling Thunder and elegy for Rex Jackson – the Dead seem to find direction. And even though there is another lengthy break, the Sunrise informs the Terrapin that rolls out afterwards. By the end of the masterful Terrapin, the Dead are absolutely rolling, taking just a breath before pealing forth the first tocsin notes of Stephen. The Stephen steadily gains strength until it just explodes in several minutes of pure Dead joy. The drummers then take the reigns, taking no time to steer things into Not Fade Away. And the rest of the boys slowly come back into the mix, building into a fervent, sensational beast with the crowd right along with them. Then, the Dead shift gears again, leading into a jazzy meditation on NFA that somehow transitions perfectly into Stella. And that Stella Blue is absolutely rapturous. In the latter half, Jerry lights off and Keith comes along with him, playing utterly fantastic keys that serve as a sort of backdrop and base for Jerry’s own masterful guitar work. Perhaps before Jerry was quite finished, the rest of the band leads into Sugar Magnolia. But Jerry plays it cool, shifting on a dime. And a subdued but scintillating jam – Keith’s keys once again dazzling – gathers in luscious fashion until Bobby comes in for the first verse. A bit later, things get raucous as Jerry rips out a raging solo and blows open what was already a top-flight Sugar Mags. When the Dead finally return to earth, easing out of Sugar Mags, the crowd is going nuts in a fit of ecstasy and release. And Bobby takes to the mic to cooly thank them. But rather than leave the stage, the entire band launches an a cappella coda to the song. And that builds into a full rocking Sugar Mags reprise. And when that too finally comes to a close, those assembled in Dallas just roar their utter delight. But the audience doesn’t quit; cheering loudly for the band until finally, the Dead come back out and unleash a Truckin’> One More Saturday Night encore for the ages.

This show just really makes me smile. It took place on my good buddy’s birthday, and he now lives in Texas. So, I admit that might be part of it. But the music is so good, especially from the Stephen onwards. And stories abound of Texas Heads getting on the bus at this show. For instance, Michael Caruso on setlists.net reports that before this show, he himself had only listened to the band’s releases. What’s more is that he took a girl who only had a vague notion of who the Dead were, who literally had never heard them play anything before. And yet, they both walked away life-long Deadheads. Now that is the power of the Grateful Dead!