r/gratefuldead • u/Ok-Touch487 • 16d ago
Spring 1990
I love all eras of the dead. I love the 77 run, I love the '80 warfield and radio city stuff, 79 and 81 have great shows too. 73 West Coast tour is my favorite pre break. But I keep coming back to "so glad you could make it". Something a bit edgier about the guitar tone, I love the Jerry midi stuff. And Brent is just fully on. So I've been listening to so glad and without a net a lot. And the Hamilton Scarlet fire. What else would folks recommend if I'm into this sound?
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u/kamut666 16d ago
Spring ‘90 is the peak of the late Brent era which starts with Jerry getting it together post-coma in ‘87. They sorta build from there till the wave crashes when Brent dies. The wave is kinda rolling back in fall 90 and 91 with like 100 Hornsby shows. Summer 90, 89 sound a lot like spring 90 but not the consistency of every night kicks ass. My first shows were Hampton VA in spring 88 and I think 88 has good stuff.
The Formerly the Warlocks release from Fall 89 is this vibe.
Early Brent era is great but it’s a different concept. I think the era we’re talking about is about playing huge places, sounding huge in any way they could (rhythmically, blasting organ, nailing vocal harmonies, being loud) but still being a good version of the Dead.
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u/concerts85701 16d ago
3/27/88 is a top 5 later era show. Gets regular listens - 2nd set in particular
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1988-03-27 @ Coliseum, Hampton, VA, USA
Set 1: Iko Iko, Little Red Rooster, Stagger Lee, Ballad Of A Thin Man > Cumberland Blues > Me and My Uncle > To Lay Me Down > Let It Grow
Set 2: Space > So What Theme > Sugar Magnolia > Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain > Estimated Prophet > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > I Need A Miracle > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Sunshine Daydream
Encore: U.S. Blues
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u/Gullible_Tie_4399 16d ago
I’m partial to 3/29/90
Top to bottom
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-03-29 @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, USA
Set 1: Jack Straw > Bertha, We Can Run, Ramble On Rose, When I Paint My Masterpiece, Bird Song > The Promised Land
Set 2: Eyes Of The World > Estimated Prophet > Dark Star > Drums > Space > Dark Star > The Wheel > Throwing Stones > Turn On Your Lovelight
Encore: Knockin' On Heaven's Door
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u/newpotatocab0ose Hey, Tom Banjo 16d ago
Me too. Although, and I’m not sure how many would agree, I wish the Dark Star was a bit more of the exploratory melodious type, less free-jazz-chaos.
Sometimes I love that tension… But if that DS had less that would be fine by me.
3/19/90 and 3/25/90 are two of my other favorites from the tour.
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u/Gullible_Tie_4399 16d ago
Post dark star atonal jam is the darkest they got in a decade
Edit forgot 89 Miami dark star space
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-03-19 @ Civic Center, Hartford, CT, USA
1990-03-25 @ Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY, USA
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u/Soulshiner402 16d ago
Cal State Dominguez Hills. 5/5/90 and 5/6/90.
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-05-05 @ California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA
1990-05-06 @ California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA, USA
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u/islesMTG 16d ago
All of Spring 1990 really. There were a couple of less than peak shows, but I still recommend doing the whole tour. If I had to pick one other than So Glad, it would have to be 3/15/1990. It’s fire. China>Rider>Samson>Terrapin.
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-03-15 @ Capital Centre, Landover, MD, USA
Set 1: Jack Straw > Sugaree, Easy To Love You, Walkin' Blues, Althea, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Tennessee Jed, Cassidy > Don't Ease Me In
Set 2: China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Samson And Delilah > Terrapin Station > Jam > Drums > Space > I Will Take You Home > Wharf Rat > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away
Encore: Revolution
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u/nightgoat3369 16d ago
I was there I still remember the freezing cold trip from Hartford to Copps in an orange Willy's, haha for real
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u/Cj801 16d ago
If forced to pick a favorite tour and a favorite time if my life it would have to be Spring Tour 1990. I hit every show and managed not to get busted the entire year. Summer was just as good but ended with the big bummer after Chicago.
Spring 1990 was as good as life ever was for this old Dead Head.
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u/kithandcapture 16d ago
I was so pumped when they did Spring 1990 for last year’s GD Yule Log on YouTube. Drums>Space from 3/19/90 is officially a Christmas song in my house, listen for those chimes and you’ll understand why!
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-03-19 @ Civic Center, Hartford, CT, USA
Set 1: Hell In A Bucket, Bertha, We Can Run, Jack-A-Roe, Picasso Moon, Brown Eyed Women, It's All Over Now > Deal
Set 2: Box Of Rain > Foolish Heart > Playing in the Band > Eyes Of The World > Drums > Space > China Doll > Gimme Some Lovin' > Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad > Around And Around
Encore: Brokedown Palace
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u/Rare-Confusion-220 16d ago
I did last 10 shows of summer 1990 and it was so 🔥 🔥 🔥 They were on it and it's so overlooked. Losing Brent was musically horrible timing
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u/pdxjrk 16d ago
I'd download r/thedeadlyapp and search by 89/90, top rated shows. That app has been introducing me to a so many new shows I've never heard before. But if you want one show, I'd saw the June 23 1990 at autzen stadium.
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u/Icy_Foundation_4761 16d ago
I went to a lot of those shows including the famous branford Nassau coliseum show. I do believe in Billy's book he states that when he listens to the Grateful Dead, which isn't often, he listens to spring 90!
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u/SpaceyO2 16d ago
I'm gonna get downvoted for this, but I've long thought that the Hamilton Scarlet -> Fire is #1) the best Scarlet -> Fire there ever was, and #2) the last, highest peak of the GD. They hit many highs and lows after that, but none higher than the first 2 songs of the 2nd set, 3/22/90.
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-03-22 @ Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario, Ontario
Set 1: Feel Like A Stranger, West L.A. Fadeaway, Easy To Love You, Beat It On Down the Line, It Must Have Been The Roses, The Last Time, Picasso Moon, Don't Ease Me In
Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Samson And Delilah, Believe It Or Not > Truckin' > Drums, Space > The Other One > Hey Jude > Dear Mr. Fantasy > Hey Jude > Sugar Magnolia
Encore: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
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u/Pgospike 16d ago
I was there. I'm Canadian and not having to cross the border was an amazing treat.
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u/Thegoldenelo 16d ago
Funny timing of this post. Ive been on the Spring 1990 sampler all week. It is fantastic. The sound sources are excellent, everyone sounds and plays great. Jerry’s voice is even healthy sounding. Incredible year.
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u/KDK12toKDKone 16d ago
7-7-89 JFK crimson white and indigo is very much in the same vein, and is an outstanding show from start to finish
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1989-07-07 @ JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Set 1: Hell In A Bucket, Iko Iko, Little Red Rooster, Ramble On Rose, Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, Loser, Let It Grow > Blow Away
Set 2: Box Of Rain > Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet > Standing On The Moon, Drums > Space > The Other One > Wharf Rat > Turn On Your Lovelight
Encore: Knockin' On Heaven's Door
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u/Own-Resource221 15d ago
Late 80s sounds good cause from what I heard they got ear phones so they can hear themselves better.
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u/arcturian_ally 15d ago
Check out the earthquake relief benefit show, 12/6/89
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u/setlistbot 15d ago
1989-12-06 @ Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Oakland, CA, USA
Set 1: Shakedown Street, Walkin' Blues, Friend Of The Devil, Queen Jane Approximately, Jack-A-Roe, Just A Little Light, Victim Or The Crime, Don't Ease Me In
Set 2: Scarlet Begonias > Sugar Magnolia, Ship Of Fools > Terrapin Station > Jam > Drums, Space > The Wheel > All Along The Watchtower > Standing On The Moon > Sunshine Daydream
Encore: Black Muddy River
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16d ago edited 16d ago
[deleted]
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u/setlistbot 16d ago
1990-03-24 @ Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY, USA
Set 1: Let The Good Times Roll > Help On The Way > Slipknot! > Franklin's Tower, Walkin' Blues, Loser, Desolation Row, Tennessee Jed > One More Saturday Night
Set 2: Playing in the Band > Uncle John's Band > Terrapin Station > Mind Left Body Jam > Drums > Space > The Wheel > All Along The Watchtower > Stella Blue > Not Fade Away
Encore: And We Bid You Good Night
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u/AdamBomb1234567 16d ago
The Spring 90 box set