Apparently this show was part of a special series put on by Bill Graham called “Day On The Green.” The other major band playing this weekend was The Who. The Dead played back-to-back shows and both Dead sets are featured on Dick’s Pick’s, Vol. 33. In total, the Dead played the Day On The Green series four times, 1974, 1976, 1987, and 1989.
The second set from the 10/9 show is pretty epic so make sure to take a gander at the setlist if you’re not already familiar with this one. The bulk of that set flows so seamlessly together it would probably warrant a single entry for the whole thing. Nevertheless, I had a hankering for Tennessee Jed today, which is what let me to this set in the first place. Jed doesn’t seem like the type of song that people typically rave about, at least not that I’ve heard. Instead it’s more of a workman-like song in a given setlist.
It’s got a great cast of characters like so many Robert Hunter tunes and I’ve always appreciated some of the nuances in the song’s structure and delivery. Take a listen to this version and see how it strikes you. I was quite pleased to listen to this version again with fresh ears.
Keith continues to fill in all the appropriate cracks with little piano figures. Bobby and Donna blend well during the chorus. No one is obviously off the mark. Then, naturally, Jerry flubs the lyrics going into the next verse and takes a few extra measures to regain his bearings.
Phil plays it safe for the most part, sticking to the roots and letting everyone else let loose, only occasionally stepping out with a riff of his own. He does add some cool slides up the fretboard in the Charlie Fogg verse though.
Jerry’s solo seems to be looking for that sense of tension and release. So often he starts with the melody and improvises off of it. Here he starts somewhere else, or so it seems. The melody is almost an afterthought, only bobbing its head above water momentarily so as to mark where they are in the song. As they build out of the solo both Keith and Bobby add figures that really add to what’s going on. One final push and the song ends.
In my opinion, Keith and Bobby really stand out of their ensemble playing in this version, and Jerry’s solo is quite interesting.
Well, here’s a fine tune for a sunny day. Jerry sounds like he is loving singing this one, and the band is doing their usual, goofy stagger. The proof here will be in the central jam, but that is a ways off. For now, the band works its way through the verses pretty snappily until Jer completely forgets the second round of lyrics. They just circle around one extra time and he coughs up the one about drinking all day and rocking all night. Recovery can be a fine thing, and it is here. The next time around, Garcia gets the cobwebs out, though perhaps goes past the delivery a bit. So far, this version is not one to set your clock by or anything. Coming up on 6:00, it is time to see what the guitar can bring, and at first it comes up with some really weird, delayed licks that inspire Phil to twist some up himself. Fun! The remainder of the jam is stunted but alive, and as it progresses it continues to grow. It’s almost worth waiting for, after all.