"From Bertha to Walkin' Blues: An Iconic Grateful Dead Setlist"
Description
"Cannabis, COVID, and Concerts: A Grateful Dead Fan's Journey"
Larry Mishkin is back from a break spent in South Carolina with his granddaughter he shares his experience of contracting a mild case of COVID, attributing his quick recovery to his cannabis use. He references studies suggesting that certain strains of sativa marijuana may mitigate COVID symptoms.
The episode features a detailed discussion of a special Grateful Dead concert from July 15, 1989, at Deer Creek Music Theater in Noblesville, Indiana. Larry reminisces about the venue, the band’s setlist, and the memorable experience shared with friends. He highlights key performances from the show, including "Bertha," "Greatest Story Ever Told," "Candyman," "Walkin' Blues," and others.
Larry also covers recent music news, mentioning Melissa Etheridge's performance in Colorado and her upcoming summer tour. He shares updates on the String Cheese Incident's New Orleans-themed show at Red Rocks and Phish's recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, where they performed "Evolve" from their new album.
Grateful Dead
Deer Creek Music Theater Center
Noblesville, IN
With: Judy, Andy K., Lary V., AWell and others
First Dead show ever at Deer Creek which had just opened that year. Became a regular stop on the Dead’s summer tour thereafter and one of the favorite places for the Deadheads given its relatively small size as compared to the stadium venues that soon became the norm for summer tours. Ironically, two days after this one-off Dead played their final 3 shows at Alpine Valley, switched to Tinley Park in 1990 and then starting in 1991 Chicago summer tour shows were confined to Soldier Field with 60,000 attendees.
INTRO: Bertha
Track #2
Garcia/Hunter – first appeared on Grateful Dead (live) aka Skull and Roses or Skullfuck (1971)
Played: 401
First: February 18, 1971 at Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY, USA
Last: June 27, 1995 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
SHOW No. 1: Walkin Blues
Track #5
"Walkin' Blues" or "Walking Blues" is a blues standard written and recorded by American Delta blues musician Son House in 1930. Although unissued at the time, it was part of House's repertoire and other musicians, including Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, adapted the song and recorded their own versions.
"Walkin' Blues" was not a commercial success when it was issued as a "race record" marketed to black listeners. However, the song was received with great enthusiasm by a small group of white jazz record collectors and critics. Producer John Hammond chose "Walkin' Blues" and "Preachin' Blues" as the records to be played at his 1938 From Spirituals to Swing concert, when Johnson himself could not appear (Johnson had died a few months earlier).[15] The 1961 Johnson compilation album King of the Delta Blues Singers was marketed to white enthusiasts. According to most sources, John Hammond was involved in the production and the selection of tracks. The album included the two House-style songs and a song with House-style guitar figures ("Cross Road Blues" and excluded songs in the commercial style of the late 1930s. Notable exclusions were Johnson's one commercial hit, "Terraplane Blues", and two songs which he passed on to the mainstream of blues recording, "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Dust My Broom".
Dead first played it in 1966, once in 1982 and 4 times in 1985. Then, beginning in 1987 it became a standard part of Dead song lists, peaking in 1988 when it was played 23 times. Became one of Bobby’s early first set blues numbers with Minglewood Blues, CC Rider and Little Red Rooster.
Played: 141
First: October 7, 1966 at Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, USA
Last: July 2, 1995 at Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN, USA
SHOW No. 2: Crazy Fingers
Track #12
Pretty standard second set song, usually pre-drums. Fist played in 1975, a few times in 1976 and then dropped until 1982 at Ventura County Fairgrounds (day after my first show). Played 7 times that year, dropped until 1985 (10 times), then dropped until 1987 and then played regularly until the end. Great tune, Jerry often forgot the lyrics and this version is great because Bobby saves him on the lyrics when Jerry starts to go astray. Good fun considering how many times Bobby would forget the words to his songs. But one of those things you remember if you see it happen
Garcia/Hunter, released on Blues For Allah (Sept. 1, 1975)
Played: 145 times
First: June 17, 1975 at Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA, USA
Last: July 5, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO (St. Louis)
SHOW No. 3: Truckin
Track #13
7:00 – end
Hunter/Garcia/Weir/Lesh/Kreutzman (Pigpen went inside to take a nap) by the side of a pool.
Released on American Beauty (November, 1970) final tune on the album
Played: 532 times
First: August 17, 1970 at Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, USA
Last: July 6, 1995 at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, MO
INTO
Smokestack Lightning
Track #14
"Smokestack Lightning" (also "Smoke Stack Lightning" or "Smokestack Lightnin'") is a blues song recorded by Howlin' Wolf (Chester Burnett) in 1956. It became one of his most popular and influential songs. It is based on earlier blues songs, and numerous artists later interpreted it. Recorded at Chess Records in Chicago and released in March, 1956 with You Can’t Be Beat on the B side.
Wolf had performed "Smokestack Lightning" in one form or another at least by the early 1930s,[1] when he was performing with Charley Patton in small Delta communities.[1] The song, described as "a hypnotic one-chord drone piece",[2] draws on earlier blues, such as Tommy Johnson's "Big Road Blues",[3] the Mississippi Sheiks' "Stop and Listen Blues",[4] and Charley Patton's "Moon
United States
