07-13-1976 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA

1976-07-13Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA
Set 1: Mississippi Half Step, Big River, Peggy-O, Cassidy, Crazy Fingers > Let It Grow > Drums > Let It Grow > Might As WellCrazy Fingers >
Set 2: The Music Never Stopped, It Must Have Been The Roses, Samson And Delilah, High Time, Saint Stephen > Not Fade Away > Saint Stephen > Sugar Magnolia > Stella Blue > Sunshine Daydream, E: Dancin' In The StreetsSaint Stephen >

E: Dancin' In The Streets
Corrections / Observations
Received by Dick1977-10-31
Tape SourceRob Bertrando
Review Entry Date1977-11-03
Dick's ReviewI can’t actually believe it, but here I am listening to a board copy from one of the famous six performances at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco. Rob (Bertrando) says that the 13th, 14th, 16th, and 17th stand out as his favorites of the early tour. He also says that he has some reservations about automatically assuming these boards (which are a little hissy and weak on the high end as Rob notes) are of better quality than the audience tapes that he made. I guess I will always keep a copy of both for one show (7/17/76) just to compare someday. I think the highlight as far as this show is concerned is the jam that ends the first set within the Let It Grow portion, they have taken to putting a tasty drum solo but this time “it gets away” and what transpires is the essence of the magic of the Dead. One specific example amount hundreds! (in red ink) actually it isn’t that good and it is quite short) The 2nd set looks great on paper but the performance was not that exceptional at all. The whole jam lasts 35 minutes and that is usually barely enough time to get past the 2nd Saint Stephen chorus. I don’t think you will ever see Stella Blue sandwiched within Sugar Magnolia. I am convinced that they blew themselves away with that incredible jam ending the 1st set. This is the first show that I find myself enjoying the way they do Dancin' In The Streets!