Friday, December 31, 1971

I don't know where to start with this show. After a shaky year in 1971 - Mickey's father embezzling money (hence He's Gone), the loss of Mickey, the illness and return of Pigpen and the addition of Keith and a whole new sound - the Dead pull it all together and deliver an awe-inspiring performance. This is without question my favorite show of the year. Bobby storms out of the gate and amid popping balloons gives us a great Dancin- the last until 1976! Jerry shines on Tenn Jed and Loser.

I love this show and I love the archive for letting me replace my god awful sounding bootleg cd with some lovely soundboard shns. I was lucky enough to download this before the hammer came down. Pigpen and Keith, yes! This show is both firey and beautifully played. It marks the final transition from the earlier more raucous (and raw) days of '71 to the fantastic turn on a dime psychedelic cowboys of '72. This is one of my favorite shows on the archive, it's just full of joy and flat out rocks.