suzanne vega playing guitar in front of a microphone
Suzanne Vega in 2008 by alterna2 under CC BY 2.0

Suzanne Vega

Her only time playing with the Grateful Dead, on September 24, 1988 at MSG, Suzanne Vega comes out so calm and cool to open the second set with the boys (watch the complete show video). She introduces Chinese Bones, the Robyn Hitchcock tune, to the audience. And as Vega and the band begin to play, Jerry doesn’t take his eyes off her, watching for the changes and taking in her playing while mildly shuffling, his characteristic nod to actually dancing. It takes a while – until the second verse – for everyone to get on the same page. But from then on, things are solid. And after Vega finishes the lyrics, the three guitar players – her, Bobby, and Jerry – turn to each other before setting off on what passes for a short little jam.

There wasn’t much room on the next tune, Vega’s Neighborhood Girls off her debut album, for any jamming. But the boys add some flair to the tune, coming together with Vega for a lovely rendition. And with that, Vega leaves the stage, only to return, without her guitar for the encore of Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door when the other guests – Jack Casady, Hall and Oates, Mick Taylor, Bruce Hornsby, etc. – are thick on the stage.

The September 24, 1988 show was a benefit for the rainforests with all proceeds going to Cultural Survival, Greenpeace, and the Rainforest Action Network. Bruce Hornsby and the Range, who opened, shared the billing with Vega and the Grateful Dead, who headlined and put the night together. But a host of other guests also took the Madison Square Garden stage that night.

While Vega’s music seems a little removed from the Dead’s, Jerry respected Vega’s work immensely and had even caught her live in New York City in 1987. He had gone so far as to say, “I love her,” in response to an interviewer’s question about her music before going on to say, “She’s very there. I thought she was a wonderful performer. She is terrific, really really good.” He also said that he “offered to produce her next record” and really felt a desire to protect her and other committed young musicians.

The love was reciprocated. Vega recorded two songs on Deadicated – China Doll and Cassidy – and looked back on that night on stage with the Dead as one of the highlights of her career. As she said years later, “nothing tops jamming with the Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden…It was mind-blowing. It was amazing. There was something about that moment and Jerry’s energy…We liked each other and there was this nice spiritual connection there.” Of course, saying that nothing beats her half hour with the Dead is something given Vega’s long and illustrious career.

Shows Suzanne Vega was a guest at:

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