Really a great era for the band. Bob's guitar can always be heard very well during all the great shows. Along with Bob all the band is playing and singing very well too.

This show has the juice, and a joy to do writing for work while listening. Keep on Growing a great tune for the Dead w/ sweet first set version. Set 2 is just plain wow, w/ the obvious MD opener paving the way for a classic sonic journey; Comes a Time is ethereal and Jerry sings it wearing his heart on his sleeve, love it. Listened to this show twice back to back to take it all in.

The finest Morning Dew outside of Alpine Valley in the Summer of 1988. Check out the Alpine Morning Dew aside from this one it's absolutely Better than this one being the 2nd best one I have ever seen.

Hell of a day in Berkeley, chock full of Vitamin L. First set kicks off with a dreamy Dancin'. Bobby and Brent immediately in sync on vocals with Jerry providing excellent backing. Brent getting aggresive at the end. Hot. Then things settle in nicely with the laid back groove of West L.A. Bad ass intro complete with Phil chuckle and steady work from the Rhythm Devils. Shines through beautifully on this excellent SBD. Crank it up high like Brent. Hot solo from Jerry with Brent tweaking the keys. Nice Bobby vocals on CC as Brent stokes the Hammond. Lovely Peggy-O follows, love this tune. The first half-set concludes with a smoldering Bucket. Set 1.5 up next.

Keep on Growing smokes my eyelid and punches my cigarette. Brent dialing up some serious B3 with Phil going insane on his vocal. Keep on flowing! Classic Summer '85, check out another nice version at Alpine on 6/22. Next up one of my all-time favorite versions of Stagger Lee. Rhythm Devils are the boss of the intro before giving way to Jerry to tell us this classic tale. Let It Grow is next and it is clear there is a kind theme to this smoking hot half set. Keep on Growing, Let It Grow and then Deal? Message received...most high!

This is my first show review. I've been listening to a lot of '85 shows lately, especially the June run, so I figured I would start with the 20th anniversary shows.

Set 1 start with a fun energetic Dancin' that starts the nit off right but it's a been short for my liking with an abrupt ending. This is followed by a standard version of West L.A. Fadeaway with decent vocals from Jerry. C.C. Rider is next and although this version is a bit slow and starts off lackluster, the jam at the end is very energetic with some nice Brent and Jerry soloing, adding some nice energy. Peggy-O can sometimes be very plodding and a downer in the first set but I love this version. Hell i a Bucket kicks things up a notch and the debut of Keep On Growing is a shoe highlight. Even though it is a bit rough around the edges, it sounds like they are having a great time playing. I was only seven years old at the time of this show but I can't imagine how much fun this moment must have been. The momentum continues with a very nice interpretation of Stagger Lee. Let It Grown and Deal close out a solid first set. This section is often sited as a highlight of the show but I find the Let It Grow very sloppy and feel the Jerry never quite gets the rhythm. The eal on the other hand is hot and coses the set nicely.

Set 2 starts with a very tripping Sound Montage with noises and voice samples before the band launches into Morning Dew, a nice rare treat to open a second set! This is one of the better versions the band played in their "later" years. Jerry's voice is a bit rough in spots but musically this version is incredible with a energetic crescendo t the end. Playin' comes next and is fairly standard until it evolves into a psychadelic jam that segues into a pretty version of China Doll. Not the best version by a long shot but nicely played with sweet vocals. One of the highlights of the evening is the Brent/Drums jam that follows leading into a trippy Space. The Truckin' that comes out of space is too shot and pretty sloppy Pretty lackluster really, leading into a surprising Smokestack. This one doesn't really go anywhere but it's always a pleasure to hear a oldie like this one. The Comes a Time that follows is another rare treat but Jerry's voice is cringe worthy in some spots. Again, it's still nice to hear this song at any time. The Sugar Mags that ends the show is energetic and competent but nothing special. Day Job encore is disappointing! Overall, a nice show with some nice rarities and energetic performing. Recommended if you are a fan of the era, especially '85.

... but not great, lets not get carried away! Highlights (for me anyway) were the Keep On Growing, Montage, and the Brent jam out of China Doll into Drums. The rest is kinda 'average', but obviously others disagree.

Thanks again Internet Archive!!!! You Guys kick f----n ASS!!!!

I have been looking for this "Sound Montage" for about 18 years now. It was part of a small handful of tapes that were used to introduce me to the Dead. One was 5-8-77 2nd set(of ALL dates that could have been selected??!!),11-11-71 2nd set-which I just recently found on IA!!, and this partial show, which I remember the guys making all funny sounds into the mics and the guy in the back who keeps saying "turn up the bass-drum!!" Funny as hell 18 years ago and funny as shit today!!
As for the show--Great,for many many reasons, download ASAP to find out why.
PEACE
SG

I dig Healy's effects, something about the bass coming through after the "West LA Fada-way-- D D C" really sounds good...and of course Garcia rips through the solos for some good ol' bluesy space funk

sorry about the lack of explicit details, but I really just love this west LA...I'll listen to the rest of the show sometime, but 85 on the whole rocks, except for those shows at the Berkeley community theatre or the boreal ridge shows

Garcia has a different soul in 85, plus you get all the songs from the late 70s as well as the classics - 1985, word.

It's mellow but about my favorite for the 80s, maybe because it was my first good SBD not long after on trips to Shasta and the Sierra. At that time Deal sounded alot like Day Job. The 2nd set is all good except maybe the encore, though it was appropriate for me at the time. I'd give the 2nd set 5 stars.

The China Doll>Brent jam with drums+balafon is unique. Morning Dew, China Doll, and Comes a Time are among my favorite versions. I like the way Truckin' is born out of space, and Smokestack Lightning works, though Jerry is too down in the mix of Sugar Magnolia. The 2nd set makes a nice gift disc (except to Zeppelin fans), with plenty of room to add a creative replacement for Day Job.

Later...I get Day Job after Sunshine Daydream. Part of the ying/yang-Jerry/Bobby-home/road shadowbox thing. Not sure I got my night job paying yet, gotta get back to the mine.

Ended with Day Job. Why do we dislike this number so much? Love the line about Daddy Driving a v-8 (or stingray) vette. Catchy tune I think.

This was the start of a incredible weekend. I saw show at Red Rocks from 78' on and they didn't really touch the energy of this weekend!

The 1st set had some sound issues but the Sargent Pepper before the set and the "Keep on growin" were Amazin.

The Dew was Huge and the China Doll exquisite.

Only complaint was the Day job instead of Cosmic Charlie which I swear Jerry started but he could have been playin it in my mind-lol.

The Greek probley the beest place to see a dead show A sigh of the dead is the big banner or back drop American Revolutionly Minuteman holding up a guitar and american flag and twenty years so far This was a hot show we were in the front again and before the show started Sgt. Peppers lonenl;y hearts club band 20 years ago today it was hot then dancing in the streets There was something wrong with the sound system and the laughing before west la fadeaway then ccrider the pa wason the blink and a quick 45 minite set o well The Dead were on Then phil broke out Keep on Growing it was hot The 2 set was hot Morning Dew to kick it off And comes a time not performed in a couple of years ya and we still have 2 nights too go rock on Oya in the first set they were fucking around with Weir a girls Voice yelling Bobby Bobby it was very trippeee

Im just the opposite to kindrainbowbrother. I enjoy the second set to the first, but that's just me. However, the first set is great in it's own. Love the Keep on Growin. For me, it's the Morning Dew and China Doll that really stand out. "I guess it doesn't matter anyway" 5 star show

killer show was blessed to see it 4 hits of joe cool and life was grand

This show was an early addition to my tape collection. I got a copy from the taper right after the shows. It has forever remained one of my favorite shows. The Greek is arguably the finest or at least top five venues the band played in the 1980's. Anyway, the recording is great. the Peggy-o is superb. The Bucket is energetic. If you don't love the Keep on Growin, then mmy understanding of what a great performace is must be seriously skewed. The Jerry-Brent interplay at the end is one of those rare "Magic" moments that always keep us coming back for more.
I never listened to the second set as much as the first. The first set I never grow tired of. Don't think, just start downloading.

rather than listening to it. this whole june 85 til mid 86 is smoking hot. a must have. hank hill sez this show rocks i'll tell ya whut.

as 85's go, tough to beat this guy. Very solid and the second set is genius.

holy mother of god. trippiest show i've ever heard. wicked good stuff in 2nd set, check out truckin! hell of its pretty far.. by the middle of 2nd set, your stereo will need to be talked down. hallucinations pouring from the speakers will get ya going even while sober. anyone know anything that even comes close tell me please!

however, there is a little bit of static during beginning of 2nd set, do not fear! you must have this show.

Jerry's Laugh and the seducing "bobby" is also herd on the 6-30-85 Merriweather Post Shakedown, just before the song begins. Check it out. Always makes me laugh.

Not a great show, not a bad show. Dancin's a good opener. Bobbys his usual self - does alot of squeeling. The drums could use to be lowered in the mix a little. This is really a 3 and 2/3 star show. Best china doll ever? Not a chance.

5 stars.. the morning dew ALONE would make me give this show a fiver, although there are other great selections from this show including the playin and china doll. Brent was such a force on the hammond. Crank the morning dew all the way up, its played with such power, ive yet to hear another version like it.

What a lovely lovely contribution. Although the music hear speaks for itself...
...if you were fortunate enough to be there that Friday evening over looking Berkeley into the bay and the bridge, you would be one of less than 20,000 to REALLY expirience what went on inside the Greek that night.
Thanks for the freshening of the memories <3

Best china doll ever, along with post jam. Can find comparable versions, but this one puts a smile on my face ever time...pick up your China Dooollllllllllll!!!!!!!

recording itself is very solid- levels are good and there is little to no hiss present. performance is a little hit-or-miss, with some stumbling on 'keep on growing' but excelling on stuff like the 'dew'>playin' that essentially opens the 2nd set. a little diginoise is present during 'dew' in the right channel as well.