Also because Jay Ashley carved sonic perfection out of the circulating "insiders preferred" Healy SBD.

Ashley's Bertha Remaster manages to hone and whittle away bass and kick distortions.

Was offered all-area passes to attend but did not attend. Instead listened in on the KPFA/KQED direct feed at Ray's Alamo Bunker and was satisfied. At the time I did not find this NYE show particularly great, or lacking, while I was auditing it. Yet, as I listen now I determine that this was generally a well-played show with oh so too numerous highlights to notate.

What sets this NYE apart from the rest is that Ray, the host of this, and other GD NYE broadcasts -- all requested by me, long in advance, of course -- (because Ray and his friends were decided anti- Dead Heads ((they liked Hendrix, Van Halen, Stevie Ray and Rory Gallagher)) -- nonetheless, in deference to my personal request issued two weeks earlier, Ray granted my use of the teevee and FM stereo in the studio, and he really loved this show. Of course he was rudely castigated by everyone invited for giving in to a Dead Head. Yet, he resolutely held his ground and proclaimed this show a triumph.



There were a number of times Ray just ignored his other guests and sat down and listened/watched to that which was transpiring upon the teevee and radio, and ended up telling me that of all the shows he's ever heard, that this one was the best he's ever heard. And here, all along to me, it was one of the most mediocre!

We even left this scene and drove over to another party (thanks Larry Designate Driver) and listened/watched the same simulcast. This had all been pre-arranged by yours truly, of course, and I had also enlisted a limo that had the rolling simulcast in it so we wouldn't miss a moment of the show traveling between parties. I had also installed speakers and monitors in the yards and on the porches to exhibit the simulcast while we were walking from the the house(s) to the limo and back to the house(s).

I was told I HAD to come to this show with other Dead Heads. It was true. It is in my memory forever. I got my nose pierced on the back of one of the buses by a beautiful gypsy. Walking around Dead Alley before the show and after, and everything that happened in between made it an epic night that lives on in my memory. Finding the show here has almost brought me to tears now all these years later. I'm listening to the set and the memories keep flooding back. I'm so happy this site exists and to the Dead Heads that recorded shows are out there continuing to share. So much easier than the mailing tape days as was the way back when, yes?
Happy NYE all! It could only be better if Bill and Jerry were still among us.

Ahhh, my first New Year's Eve Dead show. What a blast! I can't write a full review but there are some high points I wanted to mention. Yes, Tom Tom Club was great. A recording of part of their set is up at Wolfgang's Vault. Clarence was a fine guest to sit in.

I was back in the taper section low in the balcony. The taper section had been on the floor for the first 2 nights of the run but on NYE it was in the balcony to make room for the pre-show volleyball game at the back of the floor. Not sure who was playing (just BGP people or deadheads or a combo) as I had to set up my taping equipment. Anyway, set 1 was lots of fun.

As midnight approached, with nothing but good vibrations in the air, this really trippy, loud music started swirling all around the arena. Bill Graham made a magnificent entrance as Father Time standing on a GIANT mirror ball that had been hidden beneath a dark drape by the taper section. The combination of that music playing with the mirror ball sparkling was quite intense. Then, when the ball hit the stage and Bill jumped off, the lights came on in the hall, the baloons fell, and the band jumped into a super hot Sugar Magnolia>Touch of Grey WITH THE LIGHTS STILL ON! The start of this set was one of the high points of my life!! It was pandemonium with everyone hugging and dancing and playing with the baloons in a frenzy; a true feast for the eyes, ears and the soul. I danced my ass off. It's hard to explain the significance of having the lights on. Part of it was the idea that the band did this so they could see us getting down with them. Some of it was that this seemed to be a sort of acknowledgement that the whole "thing" wasn't just about the music but was about the community and the deadheads appreciating the music as an integral part of the experience as well. Some of it was about the band not being the sole focus but about us all participating in the creation of this special moment together. It was just really different and cool and special.

Yeah, I was disappointed that the Dew was truncated but then we got a very interesting, rocking and unique Sugar Magnolia Jam before the Sunshine Daydream. Then we got that triple encore. It was a very cool show and experience.

Over my years of going to see the band I learned about how subjective experience is. I learned that sometimes you don't appreciate a great show live but the tape kills and that sometimes you can really groove on things at a show that doesn't do anything for you on tape. So, you can all listen to the recording and enjoy it and judge it any way you'd like. All I can say is that for me, this was a show where the music and total experience really entrained with my soul and took me to a higher level. Whether or not this translates to the tape I don't know. I just wanted to relate how special this evening of music was for me because sometimes it's easy to forget that the Grateful Dead was really about making magic. That's just what they did for me at this show and I will carry that magic with me until my dying day. Thanks guys.

You know the boys are enjoying themselves during this show, which makes the show enjoyable for the listener, even if the show itself is not always the best. It's a solid show with few strong highlights, Let the Good Times Roll is a best of and the Sugar Magnolia (plus the reprise) is also fine, but that's about it. The good stuff here is just listening to the Dead have a grand old time. 4 stars.

Overall: this seems to be the FM broadcast. It’s good because it captures the feeling of the show, but the Healey Mix is probably the way to go because its sound quality is better. This show is truly a fantastic show. Great song selection and awesome playing makes this the best NYE show in quite a while (though, not as good as the next year of course).

The scene: Chard and I were in the front row right between Jerry and Brent. We had to get up and get in line at about 9am to get that spot, but it was worth it. You know how everybody has those “Jerry was looking right at me” shows? Well, this was mine. Sometimes during a solo or jam, I’d close my eyes and just bop my head around to the music, following Jerry guitar line, and I’d open my eyes to find Jer staring right at me. I thought I was just high (cid + E = wow), but inbetween sets, Chard was like “Jerry was staring at you for the entire set!!” He was probably just trying to figure out how long I could keep that shit-eating grin on my face! Tom Tom Club opened, and I really thought they were fun.

The music: Brent lights up LTGTR. Listen to Jerry putting extra umph into the “roll away” section in Franklins and you know this show is going to be special. This is my all-time favorite version of Wang Dang Doodle. Bobby’s growling and spitting, Brent’s organ work, Clemen’s sax, it all adds up to sweet sweet perfection. Even West LA (never a favorite of mine) is super strong with Clarence bringing up the energy. One of my favorite Cassidy’s – the entry into the jam is just classic – each person adding just the right subtle touch. Some great little sound effects coming from Mickey during the jam. Full band interplay – they are all in there listening to each other and contributing (as opposed to some jams of this era that would be ruled by just two or maybe three people). Is it just me or do parts of Clarence’s solo in Women R Smarter sound like the theme to that old British comedy show Benny Hill? Drums features Baba Olatunji, Sikiru Adepoju and Kitaro. Olatunji is the one you hear chanting. There's a seamless gorgeous intro to Wheel. Brent’s ethereal intro to GSL, prior to the standard Hammond organ intro is really sweet. The Dew is not the best of 88, but its still really good with a beautiful subtle section that I remember note for note to this day. The 3rd set/encore is good, but at the time I was really hoping for something more (my mistake for having expectations!). Clarence has some great chops for GDTRFB.

I'm giving it a biased five stars jsut because I love this show so much.

wish i was there this seems like it was a great night. great setlist too for a new yaers concert.

This was the only New Years Eve show I saw.

Fun show over all.

4 out of 5.

asscheylus, what are you boycotting? the free music here? the free bandwidth that's provided? ummmm. ok

I can't download it so what the f*** is the use?

New Year's shows usually seem to be about having some fun, not typically where you get the tightest playing. That seemed to be the case on this one.

I was never a big Clarence fan ... he didn't seem to fit the band's sound very well, especially compared to Branford Marsalis.

My preference, better than 87 although most wont agree. Always like this one and my fav LTGTR because of the rare jam before jerry's part that was cut in later years. One of those shows I wish I had attended

This was a New Years that lived up to the hype and expectations. Too bad there wsa not a full tour with Clarence! Every song he is on stage just rocks, from the power chords of West LA to the rocking GDTRFB. Only caution is that the Dew is smoking hot but then runs out of gas before they finish. "Guess it doesn't matter anyway..."

1. It's NYE....
2. Great set list! + s/g Clarence on Sax!!!
3. SBD, with Jay Ashley/Bertha remaster!!!
4. You don't need a fourth reason, just get it.....almost 5 star, but not quite as good as 12/31/81 IMO. And I love the LTGTR>Franklin's opener!!!

This was the first of my 4 NYE GD shows. It is by far my favorite too. Clarence sounds like a full time member of the band!! The 2nd set is just sick. Thanks etree for archiving all these shows, I feel like a kid at Christmas.

this is a great show touch>sugar what a great way to kick off 89. the dew was good also

I agree with TERRAPINCANE on all but the LTGTR>Franklin's opener. I thought it was fairly sloppy and uninspired. Things picked up for me when the big man joins the band for Wang Dang and the rest of the show is very weel played. The rare late first set Cold Rain is nice and leads into a fairly dark Cassidy where Phil becomes very prominent and stays that way for the rest of the show. Second set is a strong set. I found myself driving 95 on the Maine Turnpike during Touch and while the Watchtower/Dew combo doesn't rival that of 9-18-87, it is excellent with Jerry literally screaming during Dew. Overall a good show and well worth the listen. There are definately a lot better out there for this era though

LTGTR>Franklin's is an awesome way to open up a NYE show, and the boys pull it off beautifully...West L.A., Masterpiece, CRS all offer great vocals and tight playing...
1989 starts off with Sugar Mags>Touch>Women are Smarter, all high-energy and tightly played...things slow down with Terrapin, and the ensuing drums segment is fuckin' awesome with Olatunji...
Wheel erupts out of space, then some Brent and Phil harmonies on Gimme Some Lovin...Dew is sick (as always), and the crowd goes nuts for SSDD...
the encore(s) are great, and Clarence Clemons sounds great throughout the encores and the rest of the show....
Try some of the other gems from '88 before you sink your teeth into this one, but when it's time, you'll rank this one high on the NYE list!