Dead of the Day: 10-23-1973
Metropolitan Sports Center
Bloomington, Minnesota
Apparently, the band came out and played Wang Dang Doodle as a soundcheck, trying to get, according to a few people who were there, the house Wurlitzer going for Keith. Judging by some of what Keith delivers during the show, they managed to hook it up. Unfortunately, the band does not really get the sound figured out properly for several tunes, but there is still some great playing to be heard. There are also a few missing songs on our recording – Deal, for instance, is nowhere to be found – though it is the most complete available recording on Archive. Further, much of the first set and the first couple songs in the second are out of order, but do not let that discourage you either. In Promised Land, which really does open up the show, and again later in the night during the Weather Report Suite, Jerry sits back a bit, allowing the space for Keith to really kill it. On Black Throated Wind, Keith also soars, but this time on the, presumably, house organ. By the time China Cat comes around, though, Jerry is front and center, playing an immaculate guitar, taking it into the Feelin’ Groovy Jam before he settles into a relaxed, mellow, soaring sort of sound for Rider.
The second set opens with Half-Step, which we do not have, but then heads into Big River, which is superlative, especially with a scorching run by Jerry in the latter portion. Starting with Truckin’, the recording is complete and properly ordered, which is a good thing because it is also the best portion of the show. The Truckin’ steams along with a ton of energy to the point that Bobby is yelling out the lyrics by the end. Then the music settles down, getting increasingly jazzy before heading into a Nobody’s Fault But Mine Jam that leads into The Other One. At the beginning of The Other One, it is not really clear whether Jerry is just taking the jam in another direction or actually going into the song itself; the theme is there, but the band does not fire it completely for some time, making for an exciting bit of music. Of course, the excitement is just redoubled when they finally, completely lay it on. The boys then ease into a short drum solo, coming out the other side into such a cool spacey jazz jam. A rapturous, complete Weather Report Suite unfolds afterwards. Then a seriously smoking Sugar Mags takes it out.
The show was advertised as a three-set affair, and Casey Jones was just getting things started to great applause. But about halfway through the tune, a couple members of the band stop playing and Phil stammers out “Okay asshole” a few times. Apparently, someone had tried to move beyond the front row towards the stage to which security responded in classic no neck no penis fashion by pounding on the poor hippie. Understated as always, Jerry then intones, “Hey, don’t beat on our audience, guys.” Clearly that did not stop the ruckus as it sounds like some folks tried to take advantage of the situation to rush the stage. Some people who were there contend that Bobby was swinging a microphone stand at security while they went all apeshit, or, alternatively, that Billy was so incensed that he jumped out from behind his kit into the melee. However, there is really no evidence for either scenario on the audio. Whatever went down, the band launched into a hot One More Saturday Night, presumably deciding by the end that the vibe had been harshed a little too much, calling it a night.
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