The fourth set of the Dave s Picks of live concerts closes out 2012 in fine style as the band returns to the College of William Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia on September 24, 1976.
The first set is above average for this year with Sugaree and Row Jimmy being the early standouts. To end the first set The Dead begin: Playing In The Band and at three minutes into Playing the band heads into a cool spacey jam that finds Keith and Jerry getting way out there and co-sharing wicked lead runs between the piano and guitar and the very pretty jamming makes this one of the better versions captured on tape. At almost 12 minutes in Playing melts perfectly into: Supplication and it s a bit shorter than usual and still evolving as a concert piece but it s great to hear it away from Lazy Ligthning and this was quite different as it morphed yet right back in Playing In The Band for a short reprise to close out set one. Only done this one time
Set two begins with Might As Well and you will notice the energy level of The Dead has increased a bunch and the dragon is breathing fire now. Bob, is spitting out the lyrics to: Samson Delilah with the roar of a southern faith-healer and a cool Loser gives you a chance to take a breath before: New Minglewood Blues takes it back into overdrive.
The center of this second set starts with: Help On The Way gt Slipnot gt Drums gt Slipnot gt Franklin s Tower that is 30 minutes of pure Dead magic and the tempo is rushed in the reprise of: Slipnot but that can happen when the energy level goes out towards Jupiter on nights like this. Franklin s Tower is one of the best versions yet and goes into: The Music Never Stopped and then a faster than normal Stella Blue that almost sounds upbeat and this is another departure from what you normally get.
Around and Around raps up set two and U.S. Blues is the encore but at more than two hours and 3/4 this is a long and mighty two sets of Grateful Dead music and a real special night for the band and the audience.
