Google video of the Dead playing "Eyes Of The World" in '91
July 19, 2006 12:19 AM   Subscribe

Eyes Of The World A 14-minute Google video of the Grateful Dead playing a mid-70s classic in New Jersey in 1991.
posted by persona non grata (59 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
And yes, I know my favourite band sucks, so save it for another dirty hippie who cares. :-)
posted by persona non grata at 12:20 AM on July 19, 2006


defensive, huh?

you might have good reason...
posted by tsarfan at 12:40 AM on July 19, 2006


That didn't take long. :-)
posted by persona non grata at 12:46 AM on July 19, 2006


audio of the rest of the show:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd91-06-17.sbd.gardner.3591.sbeok.shnf
posted by brewsterkahle at 12:48 AM on July 19, 2006


Thanks for the flashback.
posted by msacheson at 12:58 AM on July 19, 2006


Bobby in nut huggers and driving mocs... Beautiful!

Jesus I miss these guys.

When do you think the folks at Grateful Dead Productions will wise up and start selling DVDs of ALL of the shows they filmed during the late 80's and early 90's? I have the few they have put out and to tell the truth I would buy them all. Jesus I miss these guys...
posted by tatnasty at 1:02 AM on July 19, 2006


tatnasty: an old friend of mine, Dave Lemieux, is the current keeper of the Vault and from what he tells me there are big holes in the collection, especially from the late 80s. For example, the summer of '87--when he and I saw our first shows--is non-existant in terms of sosund board audio, so there is absolutely no chance that those dates will be released. A shame, because my first show (and Dave's second) at Kingswood on June 30, 1987, was a smokin' gig.

Thanks for the link, brewterkhale! I wouldn't have guessed for a moment that this was the first set opener! Listening now. What a great night!
posted by persona non grata at 1:32 AM on July 19, 2006


i was going to flag this, but there doesn't appear to be a "flaccid" option.
posted by Hat Maui at 2:11 AM on July 19, 2006


persona non grata Is Coulter's ID on Mefi.

I'm so sorry
posted by NewBornHippy at 2:36 AM on July 19, 2006


It's extremely amusing to see Bruce, fingers flying, while Vince just looks like he doesn't know what the fuck's going on (and oblivious to the fact that he's turned way down in the mix.)

How soon after Vince joined the band did they play this show? Maybe that's the reason.
posted by emelenjr at 4:26 AM on July 19, 2006


Gee, never saw a picture of Mickey Hart before. I like his music, but now I find he's also hot.
posted by Goofyy at 5:13 AM on July 19, 2006


Maybe digaman or someone else can confirm, deny, etc, but maybe the 1987 holes had something to do with The Dead touring with Dylan around that time. Bob didn't want his stuff recorded from what I recall.

Thanks for the link. The haters will be around soon (Hi Keswick!) so put on your asbestos undies.
posted by terrapin at 5:32 AM on July 19, 2006


I was at that show.
posted by crunchland at 5:37 AM on July 19, 2006


Great song to wake up to! I'm a big fan of the ~77 Eyes of the world. Its a totally different sound. But its good stuff non the less.
posted by hex1848 at 6:05 AM on July 19, 2006


vince didn't join the band until 1990.
posted by StrasbourgSecaucus at 6:28 AM on July 19, 2006


[this is yucky.]
posted by glenwood at 6:57 AM on July 19, 2006


thank you for this kind post
posted by pyramid termite at 7:01 AM on July 19, 2006


The band looks as bored as I felt.

However, I did like how at one point Garcia's head appeared on 2 black screens and looked like the were floating. Reminded me of the opening of Zardoz.
posted by dobbs at 7:35 AM on July 19, 2006


For example, the summer of '87--when he and I saw our first shows--is non-existant in terms of sosund board audio

Huh? The Kingswood show you link to is listed on archive.org as a soundboard. Wasn't Healy still around?
posted by docgonzo at 7:50 AM on July 19, 2006


And yes, I know my favourite band sucks...

Well, cliches must start from some chunk of truth. I guess we've found the chunk for this one.

Also, check out the dancing in the first minute... why do deadheads ALL dance like that, with the sideways weaving? I tried acid a few times, but NEVER. The Russians should have won the cold war. ;^)
posted by squirrel at 7:53 AM on July 19, 2006


Weird. I've never been a fan of the band, never really listened to them with the exception of hearing an awful lot of the "in the dark" record since my Dad LOVED that album. I can't believe how much it sounds like the most stereotypical elevator music. I have heard bits of Dead Jams before, and they never grab me, but they always seemed to have a more "classic-rock" sort of jammy sound to them but with more energy and better sounds, like a Hammond/Leslie keyboard instead of that lounge keyboard. I'm just surprised that this is seen as a high point. I don't mean to be a jerk. I am ignorant of the Dead and have no problem with anyone listening to whatever they like. Just trying to say I think this sucks without just saying it sucks. Feel free to make fun of anything I like. For me, 1991 was The Year Punk Broke.

And I can't reasonably defend why I can sit through that. I just can.
posted by JBennett at 8:01 AM on July 19, 2006


too bad about about those '87 shows. This one in particular was probably the best show that I was at.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 8:07 AM on July 19, 2006


Threads about the Grateful Dead are a perfect example of how online communication differs from actual person-to-person interaction.

For example, if you saw a bunch of people standing around at a party talking about how much they loved the Grateful Dead, do you think anybody would join the group only to interrupt their conversation with, "Oh yeah? The Grateful Dead sucks, and all their fans are losers!"

Anyway, thanks for the link, PNG. *I* appreciate it.
posted by Afroblanco at 8:28 AM on July 19, 2006


docgonzo: that would be an error on the archive.org page, I think. I can't remember the exact reason, but when I asked Dave if he had access to a s/b of that show he said that all the s/b and the video from around that time was lost. :-(
posted by persona non grata at 8:36 AM on July 19, 2006


Afroblanco, I fail to see how the Grateful Dead are the qualifier. The same would happen regardless of the band if anyone posted a link to a 14 minute video of them on youtube.
posted by dobbs at 8:39 AM on July 19, 2006


Hmmm. Interesting that one of the reviewers on Archive.org states that this is a soundboard and that the original source is a college university station that Healy gave a tape to. But you can hear the crowd a heck of a lot for a s/b. Anyways, I'm always tickled to listen to it. Fun having a record of the precise moment when my young mind was blown right open (the jam out of Scarlet into Fire).
posted by persona non grata at 8:43 AM on July 19, 2006


Threads about the Grateful Dead are a perfect example of how online communication differs from actual person-to-person interaction.

At least it's easier to ignore and write them off.
posted by crunchland at 8:46 AM on July 19, 2006


Wasn't Healy still around?

Healy didn't leave until 93 I think, once the band finally got sick of him trading SBD patches for 8-balls. 'Course that may not be true/

And I think Terrapin's right, I don't remember taping being allowed at the Dylan/Dead shows in the summer of 87.

Thanks for the link :)
posted by birdsong at 8:59 AM on July 19, 2006




If you're looking to start a GD video collection, this guy is the one you'd want to look to for trades.

I've got some nice videos but I am taking it easy on getting any more since comcast wants to disconnect me for my 700 GBs of bit torrents in June.
posted by Gankmore at 9:46 AM on July 19, 2006


For example, if you saw a bunch of people standing around at a party talking about how much they loved the Grateful Dead, do you think anybody would join the group only to interrupt their conversation with, "Oh yeah? The Grateful Dead sucks, and all their fans are losers!"

Actually, I'd kick them out of my party. ;^)

Seriously, though, Dobbs is right. Posting a one-link youtube space jam by the Dead on the front page of MeFi is not comparable to having a private discussion at a party.

But I'll shut up now because my favorite band sucks, too. That's why I don't post their jams as FPPs and then get defensive when folks offer differing opinions.
posted by squirrel at 9:47 AM on July 19, 2006


Another comment if I might, there's are some holes in the soundboards from 1987, but I don't think it has anything to do with Dylan. Today's show (7-19) is out there in nice Matrix (sbd + aud) format minus the dylan set. (Which was up on gdlive.com for a long time - anyone know if gdlive is gone for good?)

The Alpine Run (6-26 to 6-28) and the July shows are spotty in terms of soundboards. My guess is that many of these might have been traded. However there are some really excellent crowd tapes from that summer tour. No commerical value, but that's ok by me.
posted by Gankmore at 9:54 AM on July 19, 2006


I'm not being defensive, squirrel. At the top of the thread I was trying to deflect the inevitable "the Dead suck ass" comments with a little humour and I haven't responded to the trolls/Dead bashers.

As for the single-link video (Google Video, mind you, and actually of a decent quality and in sync), yeah, not the best FPP material to ever hit MeFi, but I figured a lot of people would enjoy it as much as I did and I suspect they have. It's an excellent performance of a great Dead tune (if you like the Dead, of course). I'm not out to change any monds.

There, now lookit watchoo done! I got defensive. Better go take a hit of nitrous. ;-)
posted by persona non grata at 10:05 AM on July 19, 2006


Gankmore - wow. You just made my Wednesday afternoon. Thanks!
posted by Afroblanco at 10:22 AM on July 19, 2006


one of my fave dead songs. thanks.
posted by gnutron at 10:39 AM on July 19, 2006


The most exciting thing to happen in Deadworld in ages is the latest incarnation of Phil & Friends, which on this summer tour included Joan Osborne and, for most second sets, Trey Anastasio of Phish on guitar. Their show from July 9, 2006 at the brand new venue at Yasgur's farm is available as a free soundboard--they played the setlist from the festival in 69 and ended with a beautiful Jerry tribute since it was the 11th anniversary of the last Grateful Dead show:

PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS - Bethel, NY - July 9, 2006
1: Shakedown Street> Cumberland Blues, This Wheel's On Fire, Candyman, I Know You Rider
2: Uncle John's Band> Jam> St. Stephen> Mama Tried> Dark Star> High Time, *Turn On Your Lovelight
E: He's Gone> Touch of Grey> Box of Rain

Phil Lesh (bass, vocals) - Greg Osby (sax) - Joan Osborne (lead vocals) - John Molo (drums) - Rob Barraco (keys) - Barry Sless (pedal steel) - Larry Campbell (guitar, fiddle, mandolin) - second set: Trey Anastasio replaces Barry Sless
posted by muckster at 10:42 AM on July 19, 2006


Thanks for the info -- and this post -- PNG.

(And it's funny that I, too, have a friend who is a good friend of Lemieux's; six degrees of MeFi separation.)
posted by docgonzo at 11:42 AM on July 19, 2006


As tatnasty mentioned, I feel sorry for Bob's nuts.

That said, allow me to hate on the Dead:

1) Bob Weir: There's a reason you can't hear his guitar. He doesn't know how to play it.
2) Phil Lesh: A better guitar player than Jerry or Bob. Problem is, he's on bass but doesn't know it.
2) Jerry Garcia: The same noodly, trebly, wanky guitar solo for 30 goddamn years. Honestly, he has no soul and no style in his playing. His lack of rhythm is also shocking--you'd think he'd have gotten one after playing for that long, albeit badly.
3) Vince freakin' Welnick, the John Stamos of his day re: playing a keyboard that isn't even plugged in.
4) Bruce frickin' Hornsby, before he moved on to sucking Dave Mathew's cock instead of The Dead's.
5) Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann: Amazing how it takes two mediocre drummers desperately trying to match each other to bring home just how awfully untalented these guys were. Drums/Space? A third-grader hitting the "whip" noise button on a casio over and over is more interesting.

But I don't do drugs any longer, so maybe I'm missing something.

Ahh, that felt good.
posted by bardic at 12:04 PM on July 19, 2006


Ah, bardic, you left out the fact that Garcia's voice sounds like that of an athsmatic pig who got into the fermented barley and that the band's vocal harmonies make the sound of two gangs of street cats having a turf war sound like Mozart.

Hey, that's easy, and kinda fun!
posted by persona non grata at 12:23 PM on July 19, 2006


I actually like Jerry's voice. Seriously. And their shows were a great place to score drugs. The music was just kind of secondary to the phenomenon. And that music was truly awful, IMO. About as bad as the dancing.
posted by bardic at 12:28 PM on July 19, 2006


"To me he wasn't only a musician and friend, he was more like a big brother who taught and showed me more than he'll ever know... His playing was moody, awesome, sophisticated, hypnotic and subtle. There's no way to convey the loss. It just digs down really deep."

I'll take Bobby D's opinion over yours, Bardic.
posted by docgonzo at 12:35 PM on July 19, 2006


First Grateful Dead I've ever really listened to properly (hey I'm only 28) and I like it. Does have a bit of an elevator vibe with some of the sounds used but it's just so cruisey and good vibey.. nice music to listen to when it's 35 deg celsius in London! I thought they were more country-sounding or maybe that's the earlier years? I'm also wondering if the Dead's fanbase was, or is, largely American, or could you say they are just as popular internationally?
posted by Onanist at 1:11 PM on July 19, 2006


FWIW, Elvis Costello is a fan. Which is the only problem I have with my beloved Elvis Costello.
posted by bardic at 1:13 PM on July 19, 2006


Onanist: some of the earlier '70s stuff has a more traditional blues/country vibe and somewhat less of a focus on the jamming and more on songs. The album Europe '72 is a great intro to the Dead, some of it recorded in London, and there is the more recently released Steppin' Out With The Grateful Dead which is drawn exclusively from the England shows from '72. 'Twas a good year and if you are interested I'd encourage you to get your hands on one of those records. When I first got into the Dead I wore out the grooves on my vinyl Europe '72 set.

I think they were more popular in America than elsewhere, but I am sure they had/have a significant following worldwide just by nature of the availability of the music.
posted by persona non grata at 1:26 PM on July 19, 2006


I couldn't make it past that first beachball.
I'm trying to incorporate more Grateful Dead into my listening repertoire, but I'm just not in the mood to see those fuckers right now.

I know. That added nothing. But...it really did feel good.
posted by elr at 1:33 PM on July 19, 2006


I'm always ambivalent about the Dead.
Whenever "Touch of Grey" comes on the radio, I turn it up, and I sing along to "Casy Jones" but whenever I hear a taping or watch a video like these, I'm incredibly bored.

I mean, it sounds like 10 minutes of guitar tuning before anything happens and even then, the whole thing starts to wander.
I know, they're a "Jam band" but man, I wish they'd just pick a song and stick with it.
posted by madajb at 1:36 PM on July 19, 2006


My opinion of the band now being clear, I'd love some youtubey links to those legendarily bad shows where Jerry was too ganked on H and bloated with chilli dogs to stand up. Do Deadheads burn these tapes and pretend they don't exist or proudly display them the way hipsters used to use Kid A cds as drink coasters? I'd like to know.
posted by bardic at 1:55 PM on July 19, 2006


proudly display them the way hipsters used to use Kid A cds

But I thought hipsters liked Kid A and scoffed at the rubes who demanded more guitar rawk from the Oxford Five? I'm so confused.
posted by docgonzo at 1:58 PM on July 19, 2006


docgonzo, you missed the memo from Hipster Central. I'll re-send.
posted by bardic at 2:10 PM on July 19, 2006


without a "soundboard" patch to the cultural phenomenon called "the sixties" (circa 65-75) one cannot really get why the dead, and particularly Mr. Garcia meant so much to so many...

the war, civil rights, the assassinations, the pill (no STD's to speak of), the drugs, the New Left...the generational chasm.

i saw that UFO...
posted by aiq at 2:19 PM on July 19, 2006


muckster - I saw Phil & Friends w/ Trey @ Jones Beach, and was kinda ambivalent about the whole thing. I wasn't quite sure if the chemistry was there or not. There were some brilliant moments (Scarlet->Fire, Stella Blue), some not-so-brilliant (the utterly failed Darkastar->Other One), and some that I couldn't really make out. The whole thing was disorienting for me, since Trey has a highly distinctive guitar style, and I'm not used to hearing it with Dead songs.

Either way, Joan Osborne has a lovely voice, and hearing her sing Dead songs was a treat. If only we could send her back in time to replace Donna.
posted by Afroblanco at 3:27 PM on July 19, 2006


only we could send her back in time to replace Donna.

Ah, the band is gone but the hate remains...

Gotta agree, I've never heard a Donna contribution that added to the song. Usually the reverse. Shame.
posted by docgonzo at 3:53 PM on July 19, 2006


Actually, I think that Donna was okay most of the time. It's just that when she was bad, she was really bad.

Although I would argue that she was certainly no worse then Brent Mydland's plinkety-plink synth of the '80s.
posted by Afroblanco at 3:58 PM on July 19, 2006


I always liked Brent -- when he was singing. His keys got worth as time went on...
posted by docgonzo at 4:20 PM on July 19, 2006


He was a magnificent singer.
posted by persona non grata at 5:36 PM on July 19, 2006


I was at Jones Beach, Afroblanco, and thought it was terrific. I agree that there were moments when the new lineup clicked better than others, but it was always thus. The brilliant moments made it worth it, IMHO. Trey tends to dominate whoever he's playing with, but with Phil he was mainly tasteful, and he added some much-needed energy and direction to the band. To see him, Phil, and Joan tackle "Stella Blue" was a dream come true for me. There are rumors of a Dead fall tour with Bobby and Page onboard but I'll believe it when I see it....
posted by muckster at 6:26 PM on July 19, 2006


"Stella Blue" is one of their best songs.

"Dust off these rusty strings just one more time...

Gonna make 'em shiiiiine (SHIIIINNNE)!"
posted by persona non grata at 6:39 PM on July 19, 2006


muckster - don't get me wrong, I had a good time. It really was a good show. It's just that hearing Trey & Phil together will.... take some getting used to.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:17 PM on July 19, 2006


SHIIIIIINE!
posted by persona non grata at 6:02 PM on July 20, 2006


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