There are several good shows from this day in Dead history, including a solid ’92 venture, a great 1980 night, and an incomplete recording from the legendary Swing Auditorium in ’69. But we head to the 1990 evening at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, for our Dead of the Day. The show gets started with a Bruce-heavy Jack Straw right into a seriously jammed out Sugaree that has to be amongst the best of the later years. A bright and shiny Me And My Uncle> Big River lights it up a bit later as well. And then a fabulous Valley Road has Bruce, Jerry, and Vince dishing out a layered and rocking barn burner to see the outstanding set out. The first set might be good, but the Help> Slip> Franklin’s second set opener makes it clear that the latter half of the show is going to be even better. Throughout this little suite Jerry fires away, Phil lays down an unstoppable bass line, and the rest of the band serves it up as well. The Saint Of Circumstance that comes out next provides a bit of a breather until the coda when the boys come together to make it absolutely smoke. Then they keep the vibe going with an insatiable Eyes, with some lovely keys and, as you would expect, ridiculous guitar from Jerry. After turning spacey, the rest of the band finally cedes the stage to the drummers. Out the other side of Drums and Space comes a stellar Other One that seems to have the band holding off the apocalypse the entire time. It might be the boys’ insatiable power and frenetic energy throughout, or it just might be that vague fear, which, of course, never comes to pass, that Dan Healy was going to modulate Bobby’s vocals, marring what was otherwise a terrific tune. But the apolocalypse does finally arrive as the Dead go into a melancholy, yet wonderful Morning Dew with Jerry’s vocals resonating between the melancholy, arcing runs. When Jerry attenuates the ending, the boys are left a little unsure of what to do next until Phil quickly nudges them into a sweet set-closing Box Of Rain for a really nice cap on the evening.