Dead of the Day: 12-11-1972
Winterland Arena
San Francisco, California
The show starts off with tons of energy on Promised Land. Unfortunately, this part of the tape sounds like it was recorded from the bathroom given how muffled and garbled the sound is. But by the time Sugaree comes out next, the tape is quite clear, which is just in time as the band delivers a resonant version that slowly sucks you in. The rest of the set contains so many highlights that it is hard to point out anything that stands above the rest, but any first-set China> Rider, Box, He’s Gone is worth mentioning. And definitely do not miss the set-closing Playin’, which is so big, bright, and beautiful, laced with mind-melting jams.
The second set is just as majestic as the first, beginning with the light and dreamy Half Step. Obviously, the highlight of the set – and the show for that matter – is the Dark Star, which has its defenders as the best ever. It would be hard to argue with those folks as this Dark Star is lucid and effervescent, bounding along for the first twenty minutes or so. Then Jerry sends out the lyrics, and the entire song takes a turn into some heady spacey territory before gathering itself again and taking off on a funky, off-kilter jam into Stella Blue. The Stella is as moving as they come, and then the boys pop along with a little Big River. After that, the Deal is a rocker, but the Sugar Mags a song later really sends the set out in fantastic, bone-shaking fashion. All-told, this is a stellar, under-appreciated show from late ’72 that has a lot of treats for the discerning fan.

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