Disc 1
The first disc contains the entire first set. The band begins with some playful tuning, which at times sounds like a song (or a couple of different songs), led by keys. At this point in the band's career, there were two guys on keys: Bruce Hornsby on piano, and Vince Welnick on keyboard. Both had been in the band for approximately a year at the time of this show, following the death of Brent Mydland in the summer of 1990. This tuning is presented as its own track, as it is more than seven minutes, twice the length of most bands' songs. Most bands wouldn't even include this on a live album, but the Grateful Dead have always been something special, and the fans (myself included) would have been a bit disappointed were it not included here. There are some sweet, even pretty moments, the tuning becoming a gentle, welcoming jam. And then we are into "Jack Straw," which feels like just exactly the right choice. I love Bruce repeating, "Might as well be me," a great touch. It is clear right then the band is ready to give everything at this show. The vocals aren't always as powerful as they could be, but this is a good rendition, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart pushing everything forward with some dynamic drumming. That's followed by "Cold Rain And Snow," a song that is always appreciated. And the guys' voices on "rain and snow" are fantastic. Everything seems to be working perfectly, particularly during the jam. "I'm going where those chilly winds don't blow."
Bob Weir decides then it's time to get good and bluesy, and leads the band into a seriously cool rendition of "Wang Dang Doodle." "Gonna romp and stomp 'til midnight/Gonna fuss and fight 'til daylight." This is totally delicious, a highlight of the first set, featuring some nice work on keys. And when they were singing, "All night long, all night long," I remember hoping they'd play all night long. Final show of the run, final show of the tour. So why not? Certainly the energy was there. And then Jerry Garcia begins hinting at "Candyman," and it isn't long before everyone is on the same page, and the band begins the song. This rendition has moments of touching beauty, and of powerful passion, great peaks and valleys. And Jerry's guitar like swimming through a vibrant sea, then coming up for air and seeing the whole world has suddenly calmed. Another first set highlight, it is followed by a fun "Mexicali Blues," taking us to another place, another time, something the Grateful Dead was so adept at doing. There is some wonderful stuff on keys, but also pay attention to the fun Phil Lesh is having on bass in that section. That song leads straight into "Cumberland Blues." This is one of the songs that stood out to me that night, one of the songs we were talking about afterward. And now, hearing it again all these years later, I see why it stood out. The band is cooking here. Check out Jerry's guitar work. Check out those harmonies. Check out that stuff on piano in the second half. All over a hopping rhythm. A highlight not just of the first set, but of the entire show. Glad to find that my memory on some things is reliable.
The set could have ended there, and no one would have complained. We were all satisfied, as I recall. But the band still had more in store for us before the break. After a bit of tuning, the band went into "Picasso Moon," Bob counting the band into it. This is a song I never cared all that much about, but on that night even this one had a certain power, a certain appeal, a certain attitude, a certain spirit. It's like some of the joy of "Cumberland" found its way into "Picasso Moon." This is probably the best version I ever saw the band do. Then Phil got a chance to sing, bringing great joy to all those in the Phil Zone with a nice rendition of "Box Of Rain." This song always puts me a reflective and accepting frame of mind. This song was the encore of my first show, and it was also the last song the Grateful Dead ever sang. "It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago." And that's how the first set came to an end.
Disc 2
The second disc contains the first half of the second set. The band kicks it off with "Dark Star," a sure sign that the band means to take us to interesting, unusual places. Interestingly, the band played part of "Dark Star" just two nights before (in the pre-"Drums" slot), but didn't finish it. So when the band began it this night (after a sort of tuning jam), I expected to get just the second half of the song, and beginning, as they do here with a wonderful jam, it seems that's precisely what they're going to do. The jam is fairly tight, not going too far out yet, but setting the tone, the atmosphere, a jumping-off point that is delicious on its own. And there is a great flow to the music. Beautiful. The guys begin to test the edges, poking and prodding and thus expanding the bounds. And then Jerry delivers the song's first verse. No one was upset, of course, just surprised to hear that first verse twice in three shows. The jam then takes us into interesting territory, the energy never lagging, and it seems there are little hints of "The Other One" at one point, before the edges begin to tear, and tiny beasts of light rush in to make repairs, or to feast. And then it's more difficult to hold on, so much easier to let go, to let the music decide the course. Something is bubbling up from below, and we watch as it begins to overtake us, lifting us to a different plateau. And as we step out onto it, the band going into "Saint Of Circumstance." Ah, yes! But did we really get two half-"Dark Stars," and not one full one? That made us wonder, but only briefly, as the special glory of "Saint" drove the past from our thoughts. "Got to be heaven, 'cause here's where the rainbow ends." We can see it, or at least hear it. This is an especially good rentition of "Saint Of Circumstance," helping putting us within reach of whatever it is we are going for.
As "Saint" is ending, "Eyes Of The World" emerges. A song that never fails to make me happy, to get me dancing. It eases in, though it knows precisely where it's going, and then we are there, before we even know it. And all the joy is there, that rhythm carrying us through and beyond, the song a celebration of everything we hold dear, of everything we hope to be. Several suns rise throughout the festivity, each one bringing us more knowledge within its light, and more joy. And time no longer matters, is no longer a factor. "The seeds that were silent all burst into bloom and decay/The night comes so quiet, it's close on the heels of the day." Jerry's guitar leads us into a beautiful world of its own creation, planting seeds and watching them burst into life. And while those wither, others burst to life all around them, so there is no reason to despair. This is a wonderful, cheerful "Eyes." And there is a brief "Other One" tease at the end just before the song finds its way into "Drums." A solid, quick pulse, running up a hill. An opening of doors, one after another in quick succession. And what is it that spills in, or out, through those doorways? Time returns, the ticking alerting us. Though what it might mean to us at this point is anyone's guess. For now we have entered a playful, joyous realm, and we are curious about its parameters, watching light bounce off the various surfaces, shoot off into other directions, changing its hue, its components. Heavier, more powerful elements speak, command. They come from a dark shard of eternity, leading the galaxies in a dance. And then strange creatures flutter by, passing through the light and then ceasing to exist. Metal explodes, clashes, and darkness arrives in waves. And as "Space" begins, the music fades out.
That's how the second disc ends. There is no filler material. The second disc contains only forty-eight minutes of music, so certainly more could have fit on it. I have mixed feelings about this. One one hand, as my friend Jon says, they could have put that "Help">"Slip">"Fire" on there. On the other hand, I sometimes don't like the flow of a show to be broken up. And it not being included gives me hope that the full show might at some point be released.
Disc 3
The third disc contains the rest of the second set and the encore. It begins where the second disc left off, as "Drums" turns into "Space." And this "Space" does feel like it is coming to us from some other realm, some place of dubious solidity, of questionable reality, yet a place that is recognizable. Haven't we been here before? Something seems familiar, if only we could hold that piece for more than an instant. Heavier, darker things descend around us, and bright stems of light rise up to meet them. Glass figurines shatter, the pieces dancing briefly before disintegrating. And "Space" moves right into "The Other One," a really nice segue, keeping us in that interesting place, and adding other textures to it. Various elements swirl around us, dancing, but intent upon some end, and suddenly Bob delivers the song's first verse. And darkness rushes at us from several sides, thumping, multiple hearts beating around us. Jerry's guitar seems to point the way out, but then finds more interesting material here in this strange, unsettling land. Then things come together again, and Bob delivers the second verse. That leads back into "Dark Star." Yes, this time we get the second verse. And that verse ends gently, easing out into the ether. We feel lighter now, even soothed. And interestingly, there are elements of "The Other One" present here, if only for a moment. And the band lets itself explore the area, and are eventually welcomed by small sprites, who were probably there all along waiting for that receptive moment.
And the band finds itself settling into "Attics Of My Life," featuring some absolutely beautiful vocal work. This is another song I remember being thought a highlight immediately, and, again, my memory proves accurate. This is a gorgeous, moving rendition of "Attics." It's so good to be held in the arms of this song, as we are here. "When I had no wings to fly, you flew to me." What a beautiful rendition. And then as we're still enjoying that feeling, "Good Lovin'" begins to rise, to approach. Ah yes, give us a song to dance to, a fun number, a celebration, which feels right at the end of this special show. I remember the joy in the room at this point, everyone dancing, everyone's arms raised. These were the moments we all lived for, yearned for, and when the magic was present, enjoyed. What a great way to wrap up this set. And what better encore is there for the final show of a run than "Brokedown Palace"? And that's the song the band gives us. I remember feeling so much love in the room while the band played this song. We knew then we'd experienced a great run and that it was time to go home. "Going home, going home/By the waterside I will rest my bones." But, surprisingly, the band was not done. They went into "And We Bid You Goodnight," the only time they played it that year, and the final time they ever did it. It was such a treat that night, and the crowd was ecstatic. You can hear some of it on this recording.
After that, it would be insane to complain about anything. However, let me just say that this disc contains only forty-four minutes of music. Forty-four fantastic minutes, granted. If there is no plan to release the other Boston shows, a bit of filler might have been included here. But again, I am hopeful that the other four shows will be released at some point (while I'm still alive), especially the fourth show. My memory of that one is that it had the most beautiful "Space" I ever saw the band perform.
CD Track List
Disc 1
- Tuning Intro
- Jack Straw
- Cold Rain And Snow
- Wang Dang Doodle
- Candyman
- Mexicali Blues >
- Cumberland Blues
- Picasso Moon
- Box Of Rain
Disc 2
- Dark Star >
- Saint Of Circumstance >
- Eyes Of The World >
- Drums
Disc 3
- Space >
- The Other One >
- Dark Star >
- Attics Of My Life >
- Good Lovin'
- Brokedown Palace >
- And We Bid You Goodnight
Dave's Picks Volume 59 was released in early August, 2026. My copy arrived on August 2nd. This release is limited to 25,000 copies. Mine is number 7383.
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