I will never forget this show. 2nd row of balcony. I wanted to hear "El Paso" so badly that I blamed myself for "making" Bobby play it when he wasn't prepared! LOL
I was so high at this show but I remember everything! They guy sitting next to me who was smoking opium and then fall asleep for 20 minutes kept offering me some but uhh I passed.
My first Help/Slip/Frank was amazing. The Wharf Rat was soooo spacey that I forgot what song was playing as wild shafts of sound waves flowed through my brain.

Beautiful sounding board. Primal 1984 Dead. I love the 1st set and the " NEW MEXICO " plug from Bobby in El Paso. The Loser is haunting and everyone one comes in sooo nice in the mix. The Smokestack>Spoonful> is drawn out and bluesy! One of the reviewers didn't like Bobby's "scraggly" voice? This band toured immensely and you gonna have nights where the voice isn't perfect. They would always make up in other areas. Jerry's voice was shot on 4-6-85 but he shredded the guitar. I've said it before.. Perfection is overrated!!
Love the pre drums Wharf Rat and the Bertha> Good Lovin torches the end of the 2nd set. The set list and the sound of this show makes me feel at peace with the world when our world is not at peace. FORVER GRATEFUL > FOREVER DEAD > GIVE IT A WHIRL!!! LIFER...

i read a great story about this show,after bobby forgets most of the words to el paso the band is naturally givin him shit about it and referring to bobby jerry starts loser while grinning at bob and that kicks off an epic duel between the two as each attempts out play the other for the rest of the set.another classic GD moment.

Overall, this is a very good show. Well played and strong song selection, though Jerry's vocals are a little shaky tonight (nothing that a good FOB couldn't handle.) Jack Straw is hot and almost as good as 10.20 with a great Peggy-o follow-up. The Smokestack > Spoonful is pretty unusual (I think it works better in a 1st set than a 2nd set.) Iko is good but, the set is short a few songs. The H > S > F is good, standard material with an extra nice Slipknot!... though it gets a touch sloppy right before Franklin's.

The previous reviewer is an idiot. He obviously wasn't there. I was. The roof was coming off the little place from the moment they did Smokestack into Spoonful into Iko to end the first set. If there "was no energy", why did the boys crank out such an amazing second set. The general consensus in the place at the break was that it was a great show, and that was before the second set. Out of 100+ shows from 1978 to 1993 or so, this was definitely one of the best, "No energy"? What an idiot.

lots of cool stuff like smokestack>spoonful>smokestack, the playin' reprise with no actual playin', lots of pre-space time, and that surprise Casey Jones.

but this show's a stinker, for the most part. Bobby's voice is very scraggly, the energy level seems pretty low, and there seems to be a general lack of cohesion. Granted, 84 is a weak year, and this show isn't even one of the best from the year in my opinion, despite what everybody else says. It's unlistenable for me, for most of it. The Jack Straw is nice, as is the Playin' Reprise (without playing playin' earlier).

One of the first shows from this era I got on CD - from good old GD Love, albeit an MP3 version. But many is the night I have cranked up this show with choice refreshments and been transported to another land. Funny - takes me back to those early MP3 and FTP days of the mid 90's - many of the shows that everybody seemed to have on their servers, you know - 5/8/77 and 6/18/74, etc. This was one of them. And now, years later when I've heard most of the 1984 SBD's, I can still see why this show was front in line to be shared digitally.
Had to get out the patchouli and Champa incense for this one, to take me back to that fall of 1984. Pre-coma. The mists of time when the lot was still a small, kind place, and the Cid was still pure and strong.
I realize 1984 is a low year in the ratings game. And true - it's certainly an off year when compared with 1981 or 1989. But the great shows just shine even brighter in comparison.
Right off the bat - Jack Straw into Peggy-O, this tells you that the non-ordinary is the norm for tonight. And indeed, the unusual set lists are a real plus for me in making this a top ten for the year. A Smokestack>Spoonful in Set One?? And Iko Iko to close?? WTF??
And Set Two - hah, they just don't want to stop and do Drums tonight for some reason! Wharf Rat and Gimme Some Lovin are supposed to come AFTER the Drums guys. And a post-Drums Bertha? Other rarities for you trivia fans - they would not play Casey Jones again until 1992!! And this show features the first ever version of Gimme Some Lovin - which reached its peak in 1989.

Loser is where the boat really leaves the shore and the band weaves the spell. Bobby delivers a great version of Smoke>Spoon, with plenty of raunchy guitar from Jerry. The Iko is well-jammed and leaves you upbeat and smiling, exactly what you expect from a Set One, even if it is a bit short. But they make up for it after the sun goes down.
What a monster second set, starting with one of the best Help>Slips of the year. Once Jerry starts the jam section of Slipknot, you know you're on the bus. Near the end, Garcia nails every note of the "knot", as if to make up for the few misses earlier in the song. Then the Franklin's really sails out of ther harbor - energetic and dance-inducing. Sailor has that misty, trance-like feel, with Jerry firing off the runs in between lyrics.
Then - Wharf Rat! Jerry starts quietly with the signature chords - then builds this old war horse to new heights. Listen to Brent's spine-chilling organ fills here. Listen to Garica's raspy truer than life vocal. This Rat is one of most soulful of the year, hands down. The middle section will make your eyeballs spin; Bobby's ringing harmonics, Brent's sub-fathom organ, and more. Finally, there is Drums. You'll need a break by this point, believe me.
A long, 11 minute Space ensues. Again, one of my favorites from the pre-midi era. Lots of echoey and phase shifty guitars. Just weird enough to test your reality, but not too harsh or dissonant.
Then - another surprise. The Playin reprise without a preceding Playin to refer to!!! Of course, the effect of this on the first-time listener, and probably those at the show, is to make you say "Whoah, I'm so baked they played Playin earlier in the show and I can't even remember it!!?) Ha ha. A nice Jam here. Then, without dropping the ball, then enter the home stretch with another surprise segue - Bertha into Good Lovin, letting everyone know they are not gonna let this show fade quietly into the night. Instead they stoke up the engine full steam ahead. Brent's organ work on Good Lovin, as all through the show, is outstanding.
1984 is hit or miss. But when they got it right, the results are well worth collecting. A good Sbd too, maybe A- for clarity. Gotta have!
cheers,
Dr. Flashback :-)

definately 5 for the year. jer's voice is amazingly ragged at points, and the playing can get a bit out of hand to the point of slop at times (although that is part of the beauty of it, i guess), but the energy, song selection and crystal sound make this one a winner for the ages.
i like the jam out of space ALOT...jerry is letting it rip fo' sho'.

folks-this is the shit that always kept us coming back--to be there when it all came together. weir is in real deal form on smokestack/spoonful and good lovin. the slipknot/franklins ALMOST comes off the track but doesn't---teeters a bit but this leaves it more intriguing somehow. no surprise lesh loves this show!--- classically trained guy who always dug the raunchy stuff---passenger or here gimme some lovin and casey jones--lesh sounds really engaged throughout. the casey jones flat out embodies the principal of RAGGED-BUT-RIGHT. nice placement of material also--lost sailor/st. into wharf rat is beautiful and the drums/space is crazy weird like they were in 84/85. i agree with a previous fellow traveler that although we generally view 89-91 as a high water mark--see miami dark star 1989!-- sometimes the free-wheeling franklin stuff from the middle of the decade was less choreographed and just crazier---although more likely to flop badly! the thelonious monk approach is sometimes the best way to create a new vocabulary. know what i mean?

Breathtaking quality and performance. Phil Lesh holds these shows in very high regard.If your searching for the sound especially high quality audio...this could be the one. I find 1984-1986 the bands best and most creative/psychedelic. The music drips like candles. It's not mechanical and tight like the later 80's which I also love to tears.We need some warm lst gen Alpine 84's and 85' sbd's. Is help on the way? 5 stars all the way. Download this special recording.

I saw the first smokestack at Worcester and the whole back end of the show after drums just died. This never lets up and how many smokestack>spoonfull>smokestacks did they ever play - 1 and this is it.... The franklins though is the pick of the litter and is up there with Binghampton '83 and Hampton '81 - This may be in fact the best franklins though they ever played - I have heard at least...

Lost>saint>Wharf rat??? this is the only time I think they did this as well.... From a novelty and musical standpoint this is an unequivical 5. Lastly, I cannot get enough of the vibraphones Mickey plays in space they started doing that Spring I think in Providence for the first time which was also freeking hoot to be at. Healy starts tweaking these and it becomes a very heavy scene for those dosing - ahh the memories...

What a show, the quality is IN-CREDIBLE not to mention the setlist which is also a work or art. Great show boys keep up the good work. lol

first gimme some lovin ever and a great pre drums equal a good time.this is also the first time phil sang lead on a song since 73. download it. would i steer you wrong?

I like finding real hot Jack Straws and This is one. I seen alot of the 89 run and recall Some real hot versions. Any one that wants to post some of their favorites that would cool to see what comes up and check back here another time.
I loved seeing/hearing the Jack Straw at the Alpine 89 summer show. What a blast. I remember it pretty clear beatiful day in all. Glad to have been there.
Thanks ahead of time.

Interesting show all around. the placement of spooful>smokestack with iko closer sets things up for a nice second set. Love the eharf rat and gimme some love before drums. take a listen, you'll be gald you did.

Saw Over 300 Shows This One Still Stands Out As One Of The Very Best!! The Engery That Night Was
Rockin Jerry & Bobby Where Trying To outdo Each Other All Night.It Has It Flaws But That Just Added To The Night.Bobby Forgot The Words To El Paso And The Look Jerry Gave Him.Still Makes Me Laugh.I'll Never Forget This Show.

The first set is really short, but pretty badass. High energy Jack Straw. The blues tunes are awesome, a personal highlight. Help>Slip suffers from miscues, and almost falls apart at the beginning of Slipknot. Damn. Saint Rocks, however, picking it right back up. Wharf Rat is decent, but not outstanding, and Gimme Some Lovin' is fun, if a little off. Brent's voice sounds crazy though through some kinda filter. Casey is a fun encore, and pulled off well. The band is having a good time. The best show of the run, i wish i could give it about a half a star more.

This is a rock-solid show from 1984. The standout is Phil's agressive, in-your-face introduction to Gimme Some Lovin' out of Wharf Rat and Brent's pop-metal harmonies during the song. Fans of mid-80s Dead show definitely consider downloading this (after 6/30/84), but even if this era is not your thing, at least grab the Gimme Some Lovin'.

I'm partial to April Fool's but this was not to shabby !

Next to that Dark Star Greek show, this one here was the show of the year for me. Great little venue, I scored seats at that last minute just before the show and my friend and I squeezed into one seat in the 6th row. Great El Paso, first west coast Smokestack with a Spoonful sandwitched in the middle and an Iko all in the first set. We also got a very soulful Wharf Rat before the drums and then the came the big break0out of Gimme Some Lovin', which was Phil's first real song with lyrics that he started singing again. The memories of this show and the feel of the crowd are not captured on this soundboard tape. Bertha rocked the house and Good Lovin' pushed the energy even higher, especially during the "push back the night" chant. Casey Jones was the great dessert after a great meal. Great night to be a deadhead.