I come back to this show all the time I was 13 years old wish I could have seen them at their best

Came down from boarding school with a buddy. Small venue, pretty cool scene. Remember lots of folks with their tongues out getting dosed with liquid. Great Mississippi Half. Always my favorite period.

One of the most thoughtful, beautiful versions of this song I've heard. Always preferred Brent playing organ on Franklin's, but now I'm not so sure.

My favorite Mississppi 1/2 Step, rockin Franklins, the whole shows great!

About three years too early for Touch of Grey Direwolf - must be thinking Alabama. Let's not rush things :)

Mississippi Half Step, Franklins Tower, China Cat and Stella Blue....incredible show! Some crazy days!

Yep, these were great shows... I believe Touch of Grey had Just come out... . Disco-looking Dead... Anyway, on the second night the green windowpane guy came around and we decided to pass... Then we ran into some friends inside who were tripping their brains out on the same.... We see the guy on the floor before the show starts and he breaks off a big piece by hand; he had no more single doses.... My buddy and I split that in half... And, we were off to the races... China/Rider seemed like a 2 hour jam at the time and we didn't want it to end..... Oh man, the good ole' days and the good ole' GRATEFUL. DEAD !

This is really a great show, often overshadowed by the A++ night before, the second of two shows in the little band box, (it is not a coliseum) rocks from start to end. One of many touring regrets was not going to the second night, I had been on the East Coast Fall Mini tour, 6 –shows in September and then the first three of the October tour, but after the first night I had to drive my girlfriend back to Vermont as she had to work Monday AM, tried to convince her that we could still go to the Sunday Cape Cod show, (we had tickets) and drive all night to make to work, but no and her argument that I was going to Nassau in a couple more days was hard to overcome. What a show I missed, and now there is a fairly new 2010 Hunter Seamon’s Matrix. The SBD that is here is what I have, mislabeled songs and all and it switches to the AUD source at the end of Ship, ( The tuning before Playing) so I will now listen to the Matrix source. TheProdigalSon you are correct, the 2 October shows are the only time the Grateful Dead played in the Cape Cod Coliseum. The JGB / Bobby and the Midnights tour, in June of 1982;

1982-06-16 Music Mountain, South Fallsburg, NY
1982-06-17 Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT
1982-06-18 Cape Cod Coliseum, South Yarmouth, MA
1982-06-20 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME

With Jerry and Bobby alternating who opened, if Bobby opened he would stick around for the JGB encore. The Cape Cod show had Jerry opening and I believe we left before the Bobby set to head back to Vermont. Back to the 1979-10-28 Cape Cod, Purple Gel description is right-on, top notch 1st versions as well as a great second set. These two nights in Cape Cod will someday be “Officially” released.

Bob Weir warmed up for JGB later but pretty sure these were the only two night for Dead in sleepy Cape Cod.

Good quality hear and last nights as well.

After a show for the ages the night before, we wouldn't have been too surprised if the boys came out sluggish for this show, but the energy just spilled right over into this night. The Half Step is, IMHO, the best I have ever heard 14 minutes of ecstasy with Phil Stepping up to the task and pushing the jam. After being treated to an epic 21 minute Franklin's the night before, we got another powerful 18 minute Franklin's at the beginning of this one, over 30 minutes in the opening Jam alone.....Awesome!! Often it was dissapointing to see the same song 2 shows in a row, but both these versions were so awesome, there were no complaints. The rest of set 1 was stupendous as well, Althea was very sweet, the Passenger is one of the rawest and best ever and the Music Never Stopped, doesn't seem to ever stop the jam just keeps on going and going and......, and it is a show stopper, top 5 in my book, if not the best ever.

The second set does not let up either. This is as good as the 2nd set from the night before, with Phil bombing the arena with great power, and Brent coming into his own as a force to be reckoned with. Jerry, of course was in top form as well with some of the most memorable jams of the Brent era. The China Cat>Rider is top notch, the Playin In The Band is just what you expect from a Grateful dead anthem, long, and full of sweet jams, riffs and interplay. After drums just keeps going as well with a very nice, slow Stella topped off by a rocking Sugar Mag!!!This is one of those rare shows that shines from the very first note to the last with no let up in between. Good ol' Dead at their best!!! For me this was the best two show run I ever saw, every minute was ecstatic!!
The sound is almost flawless and the Jamming is A++.....Get these shows!!!

I'm really diggin on this China-Rider, and the Althea sounds beautiful.

Jerry rips, Phils boomin The whole band was reelin and rockin. The small arena was pretty cool. This show, was off the hook! Try it..you will like it.

Just like Mr. Hender says "don't get much better than this." Yes, there are shows with superior "moments", but taken from beginning to end, this show just does not let up. Many folks focus on the previous night's explosion (you'd be hard pressed to find a better pre-Drums line-up anywhere), but this show should be viewed on its own. The Franklin's (maybe they had so much fun playing it the night before that they wanted to keep going)is gorgeous and the China trasition into Rider is a work of art. If you gave the first night 5 stars, you have to go with 5 again for this show, although for possibly different reasons.

..they get much better than this one. Of course we know they're out there, but this has to be on the list of the "best of the best" Beginning to end..not a throw away to be had.


Jim

thios show was 10 hotttttt i mean that litterly the place was freakin hockey rink we all packed in like sardeens i dont remember any dancing room in the front it was a hot box i remember sweat poruing off us after we rocked up front for the 1 set then they came back out after a short break it was like 10 min or something like that and rocked that place to ground people were climbing the eye beems and hanging out over head till some crazy kid fell into the audience and landed on a bunch of people "securety securety" it was great both nights

If anyone is looking for a definitive Stella Blue, this may be the one. Please give it a listen, and make sure you tweak your speakers using your EQ to get optimal sound. You will thank me for the reminder...

This Stella is truly beautiful.

What a weekend. Usually a weekend at the Cape is dangerous enough, throw in a couple of shows and its damn near lethal. Quoting and ad-libbing lines from Jaws added to the fun. The best was "I think we need a bigger dose" Thanks for evrything Archive

..is very good, with a fine Mexicali Blues (maybe one of the best?); I just keep playing this one over & over.

Good show, you can really hear Jerry and Brent interacting in the 1st set. I agree, Passenger>Ramble on Rose>Music Never Stopped really shine, they are the prize in ths show. The transition to AUD source in the 2nd set was a little dissapointing, but it lets you feel the party energy.

fraternity brothers went to this show before I arrived at school and raved abt this fav parts are the passenger>ramble>music is great and the china rider and playing from the second set are rockin... I always thought the '79's were some of the weakest shows and man is this a surprise...

Last 6 tracks are AUD...but great show.

I've been in that sweatbox (Cape Cod Coliseum)...it looked like a gymnasium. But general admission was always interesting. Lots of dancin' room!!!

Great show... great playing...but the tracks in the 2nd set are labeled wrong

d2t1 - ChinaCat -> Iknow YOu Rider
d2t2 - Samson & Delilah
d2t3 - Ship of Fools
d2t4 - Playin
d2t5 - drums
d3t1 - space
d3t2 - Stella
d3t3 - Sugar Mag
d3t4 - US Blues

just to let everyone know

After listening to dozens of shows in this collection, this is clearly one of the best in terms of recording and performance quality. Inspired jams and in-tune vocals for the most part.

BTW, does anyone have a recording of the Sept. 1980 show in Lewiston, Maine?

I wrote a review of this performance in Deadbase X. The recording features a truly inspired China Cat-Rider jam. Drums holds a nice surprise at the end. And Jerry's work on Stella Blue is beautiful; the man sure could play a ballad.

Check out the China Cat-I Know You Rider and the Playin' into space. One of the best shows I've ever seen. Jerry wailed!

This show was deffinitely worth the download. Simply connects with the head with strong versions of Mexicali Blues, Music Never Stopped, and Magnolia. If you dont download this one I would say your missing out.