Dead of the Day: 10-15-1983
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford, Connecticut
Feel Like A Stranger storms out of the gate, opening the show in fine form. The Brown Eyed Women and Railroad Blues are also excellent in the first set. But, beginning with meandering noodling, the Let It Grow enlarges into the real crux of the first half with Brent, Bobby, and Jerry delivering up a sumptuous feast. Unfortunately, the Let It Grow heads into a Day Job to take it into the break. While the first set had its moments, the second is pure joy, beginning with the China Cat and its roaring, tumbling, inestimable jam as Jerry and Brent trade licks. Of course, China Cat eventually segues into I Know You Rider, which roars to life, taking off and soaring. After that, Playin’ comes forth, charging through the lyrics and then heading off on an expedition into the outer realms of the universe, getting into some seriously spacey stuff and almost sounding like it was heading into Dark Star a few times. Instead, the sound of twinkling chimes arrive, heralding China Doll, which comes out beautifully before leading into Drums and Space. The Space, especially, is worth a listen, ranging through some interesting territory and then idling onwards until suddenly the first notes of Stephen burst forth, sending the crowd into convulsions only four days after the Dead had broken out the tune after a five year layoff. The playing and vocals are a bit muddled until the “lady fingers” verse, but it does not really matter, it is still a Stephen – the second to last ever – and from then on it is tight and tasty. Moreover, it is interesting to hear what Brent does with the tune as he only got the chance to play it these three times in October ’83. After the Stephen, a very nice Throwing Stones comes out, followed up by a rocking One More Saturday Night to see the set off. Then the boys come back out for a lovely Brokedown encore.
Dire Wolf
New Minglewood Blues
Brown Eyed Women
Wang Dang Doodle
Big Railroad Blues
Let It Grow >
Keep Your Day Job
I Know You Rider
Playing In The Band >
China Doll >
Drums >
Space >
Saint Stephen >
Throwing Stones >
One More Saturday Night
Encore:
Brokedown Palace
Bob Weir – Guitar
Brent Mydland – Keyboards
Phil Lesh – Bass
Bill Kreutzmann – Drums
Mickey Hart – Drums
Yesterday’s Dead of the Day:
Other October 15th Shows and Recordings:
- 1976 – Shrine Auditorium – Los Angeles, California
- 1977 – Moody Coliseum, Southern Methodist University – Dallas, Texas
- 1981 – Club Melk Weg – Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 1984 – Hartford Civic Center – Hartford, Connecticut
- 1988 – Bayfront Center – St. Petersburg, Florida
- 1989 – Brendan Byrne Arena – East Rutherford, New Jersey
- 1994 – Madison Square Garden – New York, New York

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