05-06-1981 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY

1981-05-06Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NYThunder Skull Award
Set 1: Alabama Getaway > Greatest Story Ever Told, They Love Each Other, Cassidy, Jack A Roe > Little Red Rooster, Dire Wolf > Looks Like Rain, Big Railroad Blues, Let It Grow > DealThey Love Each Other,

Cassidy,

Little Red Rooster,

Let It Grow >
Deal
Set 2: Minglewood Blues, High Time > Lost Sailor > Saint Of Circumstance, He's Gone > Caution Jam > Spanish Jam > Drums > Space > The Other One > Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad > Wharf Rat > Good Lovin',
E: Don't Ease Me In
Minglewood Blues,

Saint Of Circumstance,

He's Gone >
Corrections / Observations
Received by Dick1981-05-12
Tape SourceBarry Glassberg
Review Entry Date1981-05-19
Dick's ReviewThis is the big one!! Containing the best and most thrilling jam in 8 years, according to Barry and I at least. They Love Each Other even stands out a little bit but Cassidy has to be the most exciting version ever! Little Red Rooster surprisingly didn’t stand out as much as I expected. Everything is pretty average until Let It Grow which is (very nice is struck out and rewritten with Great) ((one of the best is also written off to the side)) Deal is as usual, it’s normally exciting style but not one of the best like 3/6/81 - Pittsburgh, PA. Saint Of Circumstance seems to be more exciting than usual but what follows is the reason this show gets my highest award. After a usual He’s Gone, we get about 15-20 minutes of the most unique and exciting jamming in many years! This slot after He’s Gone is becoming one of the most fulfilling segments of all but this one is too great for words. It starts with the clearest example of Caution Jam that we’ve heard since 10/19/74 - winterland. This lasts for about 5 min. then things “relax” before diving into another one of the most unique and desirable segments in Dead history the Spanish Jam. This ends the obvious highlight of the show but what follows is also very exciting, including the most thrilling Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad ever. The Other One is excellent but not great as in 10/21/78, 8/13/79, 12/28/80, 3/9/81 etc. The percussion jam is very aggressive and tantalizing or captivating the way Billy keeps this rhythm going. Mickey plays all the way thru too. The following Jam section contains some fine playing as in the style of the 1st jam section. And this builds quickly to a fine The Other One. Wharf Rat and Good Lovin' are pretty average