Search - Grateful Dead :: Dozin at the Knick

Among the Best Live Dead

My Uncle Stu | Boston | 12/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently made one of those listmania lists, my favorite live Dead, and I found myself listening to these CDs for the first time in awhile. I had forgotten how good they are.



My favorite era for live Dead, if I had to pick one, would be the mid to late 70's, when it seemed all the different threads that formed their music were at their best. The music was folksy, bluesy, jazzy, and psychedelic. I could do without Donna's wailing, but that's out of my control, best to tune it out. I think '76 and '77 may have been the years when they were at their most consistent, if you were going to hear a show selected randomly from those years you had a good chance of hearing great music. Contrast that to the end of the Brent era, a time when Jerry himself said they just running on inertia (though worse was yet to come), when the Dead were fully in the "one in three" mode. It always angered me that they didn't feel more obligated to perform well on all nights given the prices for tickets. I know the point of the show was hanging out in the lot, indulging in the things heads indulge in, and dancing ecstatically with your bothers and sisters. I certainly get that and had plenty of good times based on that alone. But there was nothing like those nights when they turned on, when whatever they were doing was working, when it seemed Jerry was playing just to you.



These shows are evidence that, even during their deflated era, they still had those moments. And when they were on, when they were brilliant, they were astonishing and there was still nothing better. This set, compiled from three consecutive shows, shows the late Brent-era Dead at their best, from the songs selected, the group interactions, the solos, the timing, and the overall arc.



I wish I was there. I wish I could be at any show again for that matter, even one of their more disappointing shows was still way more fun than anything else you can do with your clothes on.



Disc 2 may be the single best CD of live Dead I own. Playing in the band --> Uncle John's Band --> Lady with a Fan --> Terrapin --> Mud Love Buddy Jam --> Drums --> Space. Nothing is rushed, but it doesn't take long to build. And then the transcendent moments keep coming, each one seeming more glorious than the last. If you are Phil fan, you'll get great Phil bombs from the bass, and Jerry's solos are soaring and buoyant, peak after peak after peak.

"

Our love will not fade away....

Greg Foster | 10/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great album, especailly the wheel through we bid you good night on disc 3. Great crowd interaction that would bring a tear to any dead fan's eye and make you especially miss Jerry. Recorded in the 1990's the crowd could sense the end and gave back their years of love and appreciation. It is better then any live band and Dave Mathews fans especially should see how a real jam band does it........."

Keepin' the vibe alive

Dark Star-The Other One | The Bus To Never Ever Land | 12/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very good live release although I think that there are better releases out there. This is a collection of a three night run at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany. Many people considered this run to have one great show 3/24 one ok show 3/25 and one below par show 3/26. I think that's a little harsh. An interesting thing is that 3/26 had the most unusual song selection. One of the biggest complaints against this album when it came out was not so much what was on it(although some did complain about the amount of Brent songs) but what was left off. This run of shows had what many people consider to be the all time best Loser. also left off were Black Throated Wind(with different lyrics), the last and one of the best Built To Last, a rare Big Railroad Blues among others. I like the release for what it is. It has a pretty good selection of songs which are rendered well for the most part. Although I have to agree with most of my friends about the over doing of the Brent songs. Stadouts are Bucket, Dupree's, Little Light and Row Jimmy on disc one. I tend to like all of discs 2 & 3 even though I really don't care for I Will Take You Home. A very good release but don't start here."