I'm liking this show. Haven't had to skip one song so far in the first set and I'm in the middle of "Let It Grow".....sounds cool to me, so far sounds like a textbook example of what would be a good first set for 1989. Other than the short amount of songs!

The audience is what's annoying me (a bit) on this; they are just one steady "raaaah", no surging when a new song is played, or when it ends. Maybe the show was that good that they were just "peaking" through the whole thing! Definitely sounds like THEY were having a great time.

Also, could do without Healy slathering flange all over the vocals.

Bob's voice sounds good. Jerry's isn't bad (for 1989!). The drummers haven't blown anything. I don't agree with the description of this show as "lifeless"....and I'm the first one to call a show "lifeless"!

2nd set
The drummers are not at their best....but then again, in the 80s, when were they? Hardly ever! (full disclosure: I prefer the Dead with just Bill, no Mickey). "Truckin'" is a vocal mess. I was digging "Just A Little Light", and I'm digging "Crazy Fingers". The jam in "Playing" is nice, long (almost 15 minutes) and not perfunctory, like so many later versions.

I'll finish this up later, but I've heard enough to rate it, even if they blow it after Space. Three stars means "good" right? Four is excellent. And five is, like, absolute top shelf. So I'm giving this three stars. I certainly wouldn't have gone home complaining; if I was dosed, I most certainly would have much stimuli.

Great recording... this was my first show. Walked in with a mohawk and a Misfits t-shirt and that "Feel Like a Stranger" set the hooks in me as the boys slowly reeled me in (or out) for the rest of the show. To this day those first few notes still give me the chills. I left that show that night believing that Uncle John's Band was the only thing that mattered from then on. Two months later I was piloting my very own school bus/ tattoo studio and I followed the boys for the next year and a half. This show was the beginning of a beautiful and magical life.

We'll see how it sounds.

This could be a great show but I think this version may have been transferred from a tape that was turning a bit too slowly. The vocals are lower and overall slower than audience recordings of the same night. Perhaps someone could correct and maybe even make a matrix?

Do I rate the show or audio? Audio makes sense and thus be rated, but correct if incorrect, of course.

If the audio is available for streaming is there a way to copy it? nn I use a MAC.

Thanks,

Franky Baby

Another top notch 1989 performance. Very high quality sound too.

Alright, back in LA proper... or Dre's neighborhood, Inglewood. Ex-home of the Lakers and Kings and locale of the first Phish show West of the Mississippi after their first hiatus.
1st Set: "Stranger" bounces along pleasantly...the music isn't forceful but it's perkier than the previous two shows. Bobby's a little overactive on the outro jam while Jerry builds to a decent crescendo. "Franklin's" carries some decent buoyancy.the music isn't all that dynamic, but at least Jerry can forcefully declare ' you better roll away' Scowlers delight on the sexy "Walkin." "TLMD" is genuinely conveyed but the music never lifted me...kinda was bored. "Masterpiece" is a comfortable stroll but Bobby's guitar clangs a little too much. "FOTD" is a tad pokey but stirs during its mid-section. Time to corral the horses (intro riff sounds like to me) and "Let it Grow." It's an attractively mounted version with each musician attacking the structure with a renewed vigor not seen since the first show of the year. Imagine six different hands acting off their muse on the same canvas...but they're taking everyone else's contributuions in hand as they paint.

2nd Set: 157 seconds of tuning, and then the second performance of "Just a Little Light." Only Phil appears to understand how to approach the song, which may be why he continues to play it to this day. The ramifications behind the music are dead-serious. After more tuning, they kick into a groovin, well-paced but mildly pronounced "Truckin." "Crazy" also suffers from slight meekness, but the effect 6:20 on is standing outside during a drizzly storm holding -hugging your paramour round and round making aplitter-splat indentations on the developing puddles. The last few chords signal we're in for some "Playin." At first, Phil's anchoring this boat. By the mid 6's Jerry has commenced his mad-cap 'Tom and Jerry' chase which eventually completely deliciously deconstructs. I'm thrilled that men have finally decided to go back to jamming these open-ended tunes. 'Playin' clocks in at almost fifteen before we segue to "Drums." Strange bedfellows occur behind partially hidden corners. Something rather devient is occuring. Perhaps an unblemished soul is being drained of purity and will morph into an ordinary clog of society. The melo-dramatic possibilities seem endless but the tones eventually soften to make way for "The Wheel." Tis its standard pretty ever-floating type. Phil's vocals sound rock-stronger than usual on a solid "Gimme." Start the finger-pointing or head-banging because "Wharf" is excellent. Jerry's voice is a short on dramatics, but the musicians are all feeling one another. A well-earned bouncy "Sugar" closes the set.

A hushed, slightly eerie "Baby Blue" closes the show.

3 1/3 stars

Sound is decent, not too up front if you're into that kinda thing.

Light is a little lagging in tempo. Playin' gets pretty out. Sugar Mags is HOT, the ending sounds almost like they're going into Terrapin in a new key. And Phil and Brent singing Gimme Some Lovin? Are you kidding?

Being my first review I'm staying conservative with my stars-Despite this seemingly low rating, still a recommended show

I do not see what all the fuss is - this is not that great. Maybe I am missing something but Let it Grow for instance is a good barometer if they are on - not seeing it here... Wharf rat is hot.

High 3 /low 4. Just feels lifeless...

my 1st dose

i dunno if its the best of the spring but its good i have no complaints

Extremely impressive show. Standout exceptional versions of Stranger, Masterpiece, Let It Grow, Wharf Rat and Sugar Magnolia. In my opinion, this is easily the finest show of the 1989 February shows.

When spring tour was concerned,SPRING could be before March 21st as long as it wasnt summer tour or Mardi Gras.L.A. in Feb. is spring to me.
Great warmup for a steller year of shows.

This has got to be the best overall show of the Spring. Stranger, Let it Grow, PITB and Wharf Rat are just some of the many highlights. Good sound too. Don't miss!