…there is something so special about audience recordings (specifically those cared for by intentional people who know what they’re doing) that captures the essence of performances so weLL the sound itself is almost psychedelic. Fresh, unique and fuLL of home-brewed aesthetic...

...to begin with, it's not the playing but the sound of the music that sweeps aLL previous belief up into the wind. Flowing effortlessly out like a running water's stream. The only song I've heard extensively (on this tape) happens to be 'sugaree,' which I feel is a great test of energy. As its one of Garcia's more inspired tunes that became royaLLy distinguished (knighted) through this tour and then a few other times in the eighties. But, for what benchmark it serves on this night, I think, it could be contested as best of for spring seventy-seven. Either way, I'd like to sit down with more of this tape to sink down low and then higher. Because only after one listen, my ears beg for more...

...I became very taken with MOTB tapes, because of their virtuosity and respect. You can hear the difference audibly, imaginative and real. Similar to MiLLer sources, they just have personality. I know each song will be great, and I suppose that's not necessarily the issue, or question I am looking to solve. Somehow, I'm stricken with doubt, per usual, enabled by the mind of my own creation. People tend to face one way or another, as it relates to their favorite show. The month of May was maybe destined for greatness. Shouldn't aLL dates be gilded? If not for specific moments, and people that were there to experience them, at their most glorious, euphoric destiny. I don't know. I think it's only fair to assume that every single date is great, if not perfect, simply because it is their highest, most incendiary. I'm rambling. What I'd like to finish saying, is that this tape is amazing...

...not quite done. under further importance, I wanted to finish my ramble by saying how it does not matter what show you're listening to or even what song you've just heard, because that does not change where you are. It might change momentarily the briefest parts of your fragmented being, but again only momentarily. We are constantly changing, just as the universe does also. We are made in its image - so please do not take lightly those thoughts people ramble over in their Brains. Of whether or not THIS SHOW must be the greatest, or that one there. Because, they're aLL the same. And, so are you, if only for right now...

thank you tapers. this show is great. love the balcony recording. sounds is good. can mostly hear keith. donna is great, some nice jerry n bobby work. first set is very beautiful. row jimmy n oeggy o n bertha are all tops. i love jer havin fun and some beautiful guitar workbuilding to unfolding a beautiful wharf rat. pretty subtle show overall, not extremely hard rockin grateful dead night. but last few nights in ny have been turn on a dime grateful dead and im thinking closing night tomorrows gonna be wild. the band is getting so tight and the dynamics so intricate. 4 stars for the pace of the show within the run of shows.

What does it say that there are a total of 29 reviews across 5 sources for this show? It is smack in heart of the spring 77 tour. And happens to be far better than many others from the tour. Is it that folks scroll through, see the AUDs and just the partial SBD, which is sub-par quality for 77 SBDs, and skip over it?

Their loss right. This show seriously smokes and this AUD is beautiful. And let's be real, this Sugaree makes a number of the oft touted versions from this tour come off as rather pedestrian. It is just that special a version. It is right there with 5/11 and 5/28. It can be tough to separate the great from the untouchable when it comes to Sugaree in May 77, but there are a couple that are just overwhelmingly great and this is one.

Liftoff was not limited to Sugaree though. Row Jimmy is exquisite. The Eyes is the only version from 77 other than 9/3 that they crush. The Wharf Rat... jeeez. I'm not sure if it is this one or 5/7. They are both monster versions. Must hear all-timer.

This is just a show that you need to listen to more than a few times if you are not yet familiar with it.

I didn't see anyone mention the beautiful yet blistering Uncle John's.

This was one of the 3 Paladium shows I saw on this run. An excellent show from beginning to end. The first thing that blew my mind was the 2nd slide break by Jerry during ROW JIMMY. Simply sublime. Set 2 had many highlights such as the EYES and the terrific WHARF RAT which came out of some excellent solo Jerry improv. But the highlight of highlights was the epic SUGAREE! I had front row center mezzanine seats and remember Jerry, Phil and Bobby facing each other and feeding off each other as they built the 2nd and 3rd breaks to tremendous peaks. That 3rd break on SUGAREE is a clinic on tension and release.

This Barry G. recording is the shiznit. Possibly the finest AUD of the year. And a dynamite outing, with the band in all of its spring '77 glory, taboot. Excellent jams in Sugaree, Eyes, and Wharf Rat. 4 stars for the show; 5+ for the recording.

I'd take this over a lot of 80s FOB tapes

HOT show, just into the Estimated now but 1st set had amazing versions Row Jimmy and Peggy-O

great show. very solid sounding aud.

don't know what i'm most impressed with: the sound or the work to get the pitch right.

this might be the best aud recording of May 77. Garcias tone is so sweet. Peggy-O is sooo good.

Want to know what it was like at a May '77 Dead show? This will put you right there. Listen to the crowd roar when Jerry steps up to the mic and belts out the last line of Promised Land. And we keep it up - right through a great post-Pig Good Lovin', monster Sugaree, surprising Around & Around and very sweet UJB encore.
Damn, was it 35 years ago?

Barry + MOTB take on an outstanding show with superlative results. Just a fantastic listen!

Of all the recordings of this show posted to date, this is by far my favorite, and the trouble taken to spruce it up (see the notes) is justified by the quality of the show, amply. Late 70's shows are a mixed bag for me--some of the best and worst, and I do not share many Deadheads' unflagging enthusiasm for '77. I haven't listened to all of fabled May '77, but this show is definitely a hot one, with Garcia & Godchaux as on as I could ask for; even Donna Jean is singing beautifully on key, a rare treat for a head who generally feels that she tied the '70s in a burlap sack & drowned them in a river.

Entire show is pure magic

Nothing more need be said, except that Sugaree is amazing!!! I would take a Barry G. AUD over a SBD any day of the week.

This recording is the SH!T...hot performance, great stereo balcony recording, Phil's bass is strong in the mix, just like the soundboards of this era. It sounds like you are inside the Palladium watching the show. We hear a lot of Betty Boards from May '77, but is rare to hear a well-recorded audience tape of May '77.

Please to check out the outstanding ROW JIMMY in this overall fine show (what else would you expect from May '77?). Next night is better, but there are great gems in this show.

5-star performance, 4 star-recording. Sorry, but I'm a SBD snob, and as good as this AUD is, it doesn't quite deliver the necessary 5-star punch. Helluva good show though, and don't forget that Jimmy...Garcia's 2nd bridge break heading into the "broken heart don't feel so bad" verse is worth the price of admission.

I listened to this while working, and didn't notice any flaws. This sounds excellent- great job with the engineering. Thank you for the source.

Nice aud for sure. Great playing (which perhaps, given the date, is redundant). First Jack Straw in 2.5 years; the crowd is psyched to hear it.

Well worth the DL, imho.

Listening to this with a nice headphone setup puts you back in the Palladium.

Thanks to the motb folks for all the hard work on this!

I caught a couple of these shows. I remember when they broke into the Other One (not this night) Phil, Jerry and Bob were all facing each other in a circle jamming. What ever happened to that? Later on in their careers, Jerry would take one side of the stage and Phil would be way over on the other, no communication ... things definitely changed on the scene.

Once again a hearty thank you to all the efforts by the MOTB crew for their meticulous attention to detail.

great sugaree.great end jam,eyes>wharf>nfa>around.just when you think you heard everything something else pops up & kicks you in the ass.that's one reason why we love this band so much don't we.thank you mr glassberg for another fine recording.