Have to say the Stellar B. And the jam beginning with Eyes is very well done,as said nothing real exceptional but an ll around good show for 78. The run at Uptown is all nice.

Overall a well-played show, not spectacular like the one on the 22nd, but very firey toward the end from Eyes, started by an extended version of Estimated.

The show is more or less a typical 78 show.

When I first heard this show a couple months ago I pegged it at three stars: I loved the second set, but thought the first set and the show in general was a bit uneven. Revisiting this show, jumping around it the other night, listening to the LLR, Peggy-O, Deal, and Estimated, I've reconsidered my rating. Gotta go with four.

This is the first of a three-night run at the Uptown Theater. Evidently an "agreed upon truth, 'There was never a bad show played at the Uptown.' The band always went over the top. And they played here over and over and over again in 78 and 79." Read more: http://www.deadlistening.com/2008/02/1978-may-16-17-uptown-theater-chicago.html#ixzz5EsBWJqXp. Indeed! And while I think there's some rust in this opening night, this is a great show and start to an excellent three-night run and 17-night string of shows until the theater's closing in '81.

More about that rust: For some reason, there's over a week between Eugene and the first night in Chicago. Perhaps a couple mid-west shows were cancelled due to weather. Who knows? But that's at least the thinking of one head. See "Long Live Dead" (blog): http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2012/04/january-15-1978-selland-arena-fresno-ca.html. Why else play Chicago on a Monday through Wednesday when you could have made it there for the weekend?

At any rate, it must have been a treat seeing the dead in this ornate theater that seated 4,381. From 1978 to its closing in 1981, as I mentioned, they would play there 17 times (8x in '78, 3x in '79, 3x in '80, and 3 x in '81). This first run is also unique for being part of a rare winter tour. Rather than taking the usual January and February off (with the obvious exception of Jerry- think JGB), the band toured in '78 and '79. 17 shows in winter '78 and 20 in '79. Jan. 30 is the next stop after the phenomenal Eugene '78 show on Jan. 22, featured on Dave's Picks 23. From Eugene to Cedar Falls, marking the end of the winter run on Feb. 5, the band sounded great. Dick's Picks 18 features tracks from 2/3-2/5/78. So the only shows from this string of seven shows missing the official GD release treatment is this run at the Uptown. (Got that, Dave? Bonus/filler might even include what's missing on D18.)

Highlight in my book is the second set, especially the approximately 60 minutes of jamming that follows the Ship of Fools (Estimated->Eyes->Stella->Franklin's Tower->Around and Around). Check out the rare triple-dose of Jerry, yeah! Apparently, re: the unique Stella->Franklin's pairing, "the Dead never did this before and they aren't going to do it again." Read more on "Today in Grateful Dead History," Daily Does of The Dead: https://dailydoseofdead.wordpress.com/2018/01/30/today-in-grateful-dead-history-january-30-1978-uptown-theater-chicago-il/. No doubt, they kill it.

After returning. To buffalo after the winter land shows , finding out that the dead were "in reach" in Chicago at the ends of the month - wtf ! Why not drive though post Ohio blizzard ice and snow to see 1 show at the uptown. Seemed like a good idea to this a the time 19 year old. Listening to 2nd half of 2nd set - still gives me goosebumps. Such beautiful musicianship dynamics and energy. One of those "little" shows but a real gem. Jerry was in Great form that night - evidenced by the eyes Stella franklins ... Wow

whatever IT may be this night.
Eyes> Stella> Franklin's definitely does it for me.
Jer won't let them go into Drums; a beautiful jam there into Stella. which is a rager
his voice is about to collapse by Franklin's, but his guitar speaks volumes.

1st set -good, some funny banter between songs.
Phil sounding great on Lazy Lightning.
2nd set -Bertha>Good Lovin- extra effort on GOOD LOVIN'-crowd cheers-Phil says thanks!
EYES-nice / 13 minutes in almost Drumz territory and Jerry noodling SPACE before Stella Blue! (Eyes>Stella>Franklin's from Garcia)
JERRY SOUNDS JUST RIGHT ON STELLA!!!
Franklin's is super laid back. (lot o Phil)
Donna? not much except Franklin's > Around
Good to read previous REVIEWS.

Unfortunately, Keith's playing was becoming very percussive. Something a band with 2 drummers did not need. And yes, setlists were becoming very predictable. But, Jerry was playing at a level that transcended Keith's growing drug addiction and declining playing. Still, 78 was the year I really spread my wings a and sacrificed the GPA to see shows in what for me were distant cities. And this show was a favorite at the time.

Stella Blue--->Franklins Tower? Yep this Stella is a keeper. Franklins good too but what a Stella Blue.

I just walked in the service door about 11 AM with my girlfriend and Phil behind me, got passes from Jerry an hour later and stayed for the entire show. It was amazing. At the time I thought it was so good because I was on stage behind some crates. After the show while sipping on a glass of red wine, Bobby said he didn't think it was too good and asked me to come back the next night. (It was a three day show... small theater). However, listening to this, I see it was as good as I thought...a musical gem, a calm before the coming storm.

Special notice and recognition go out to Charlie Miller and co.. for giving us this super cleaned up 78 sbd.. Early 78 the band still had a good deal of positive energy coming out.The set list were getting fairly predectable by this point.This show is a great example of how precise they could play. Real nice job with the vocals, and a nice balance in the mix by the band.. sweet versions of l.l.rain and lightnen,, solid 78 second set.. eyes, stella show jerry was very much into it this night in a small theatre in Chi town,a very listenable show, for anewbie to turn on to..

Great show but for that awful banging sound that Keith's keyboard makes. Ruins an otherwise transcendant Stella solo. Keith also has tendency to duplicate Jerry's melody lines. Very annoying.

That's one stunning Stella, among many other gems from this show ... great inventiveness, great precision.

Killer show. Killer C Miller remaster.

Killer show from January '78. The Dead were still riding out their '77 energy wave at the beginning of the new year. Great jams and performance! Charlie Miller and Co. really did another great job with the remastering or whatever it is he does to bring the best sound possible out of a SBD! One of my favorite jams from the late seventies is Lazy Lightning>Supplication and this version rocks! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY5in8JY0ao