05-17-1981 Onondaga County War Memorial, Syracuse, NY

1981-05-17Onondaga County War Memorial, Syracuse, NY
Set 1: Alabama Getaway > Promised Land, Peggy-O > Mama Tried > Mexicali Blues, They Love Each Other > Minglewood Blues, Candyman > Looks Like Rain, Big Railroad Blues > Little Red Rooster, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You RiderPromised Land,

Mexicali Blues,

They Love Each Other >

Candyman >

Big Railroad Blues >

China Cat Sunflower >
Set 2: Cold Rain And Snow > Samson And Delilah, Ship Of Fools, Estimated Prophet > He's Gone > The Other One > Drums > Space > Saint Of Circumstance > Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia,
E: Satisfaction
Samson And Delilah,

Estimated Prophet >

E: Satisfaction
Corrections / Observations
Received by Dick1981-06-09
Tape SourceBarry Glassberg
Review Entry Date1981-07-03
Dick's ReviewA very rousing version of Promised Land and the recording now sounds equal in quality to 5/16/81- Ithaca. Not much happening until a fairly nice They Love Each Other nothing exceptional but for this tune it is a bit more than usual. Minglewood Blues is not as exciting as usual but it still is penetrating. Both Candyman and Looks Like Rain are unusually intense but the latter is one of the best with Garcia bursting his notes into your being. Big Railroad Blues is also noticeable but Little Red Rooster raises the hair on your arms. China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider is another thrill, ending one of the best 1st sets of the tour. Garcia is definitely hot tonight!!! Not much happening in 2nd set until an unusual closing section to Estimated Prophet which is similar to the set up for Eyes Of The World. The Other One starts quickly and blazes away for about 5 minutes of thrills and is easily the 1st noticeable thing in the 2nd set and the highlight of the jam so far. The 1st jam section following a mediocre Percussion jam is pretty intense at the beginning with Lesh and Weir combining to create a nice sound. I don’t know how they came up with Saint Of Circumstance since it comes out of nowhere ant it is pretty rousing. Garcia does some fine playing on Wharf Rat which has more bite than his playing up to this in the 2nd set. Sugar Magnolia (Highlight of jam) is real fast and great and Garcia is relentless.