mayfield@ucbvax.ARPA (Jim Mayfield) (06/20/85)
Sorry for the delay. Here it is: Sunday, June 16, 1985 Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA midnight hour bertha walking blues tennessee jed my brother esau big railroad blues looks like rain mississippi half-step uptown toodeloo promised land -- o -- o -- scarlet begonias fire on the mountain samson and delilah that's it for the other one cryptical envelopment that's it for the other one drums space going down the road feeling bad i need a miracle lovelight wharf rat good loving -- o -- o -- brokedown palace How is it that they always seem to be having as much fun as the audience? Isn't this their job? Maybe it's an old night job that paid off. They opened with a raucous midnight hour. "Walking blues" (is this its name? Could it be "Walking the Dog?" -- never heard either before) was just tremendous; I hope they play it more often. But by far the highlight of the afternoon was a "full" other one. That is, "The other day they waited..." into "Spanish lady come to me..." into "And when the day had ended...". I hope I got the names right above. Not only did we get the summer sun looking down on him (first time since 1971 I'm told), but the cryptical was the most driving, cacophonous, gutsy, mind-invading rendition I've ever heard, on tape or off. Such "moments" (if you can call them that) blot out all hesitation and feelings of guilt when I answer "of course" to the charge "You mean that you went to THREE Grateful Dead concerts in ONE weekend?" - Jim (mayfield@berkeley)