1.28.1989 The Orpheum
Theatre
San Francisco, California
Friday
2nd JGB Band Performance of 1989
The first six Grateful Dead
concerts of 1989 (2.5,6,7 and 2.10, 11, 12.1989) were not the best
Jerry performances. With the exception of 2.10.1989 the band sounded
quite awful at times, and at times _really_ bad. Noteworthy within
that mini Dead run was that Jerry's guitar playing sounded listless
at times, distracted, and bored. But these were not the first
performances of the year for Mr. Garcia. Indeed, the JGB performed
at the Orpheum in SF on 1.27 and 1.28.1989. Considering how shoddy
and flat his guitar playing was during the 2.5 through 2.12.1989
Dead run (just one week from 1.27.1989) it is interesting to see
that whatever was affecting him during that week in February 1989
was not affecting him during the final Friday and Saturday of
January 1989.
Saturday, January 28, 1989,
the second Jerry Band performance of 1989, came off the heals of an
above average show the night before. The JGB sounded very tight with
each other, the harmonies were especially sweet, and the overall
feel was that Jerry was playing well. But, Jerry's guitar solos at
times lacked an aggressive edge (e.g., XXX). The overall sound of
the show was a bit sedate. On 1.28.1989 Jerry would change that.
The first set to 1.28.1989
is not in circulation. The Jerry Site provides the set list as I'll
Take A Melody, TLEO, Mission in the Rain, Twist of Fate, That's What
Love Will Make You Do, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
Considering that the second set source that circulates is a
soundboard, hopefully the first set will eventually surface.
The second set begins with
Let's Spend The Night Together. The song portion immediately jumps
out as being full of energy. Jerry's singing is raw and filled with
near screaming, and the harmony provided by the back singers Jaclyn
LaBranch and Gloria Jones is pristine. This version really takes off
during the first guitar solo. Jerry glides through the chordal
structure with numerous licks filled with interesting signature
flavors. This first jam reaches numerous mini climaxes and truly is
impressive. As this fantastic display returns for the ending of the
song, Jerry and the backup singers put forth a beautiful display of
singing. Jerry's voice is filled with inflection and is beaming with
happiness. As Jerry finishes his last "Now I need you more than
ever" one of the back up singers continues with another
"Lets spend the night together" and the other backup
singer sings "Now I need you more than ever" with a slight
giggle. From this Jerry enters the main jam of the song. The first
theme is driving in nature and sends the jam well beyond the
previous night's version. Jerry's improvisation during this first
theme reaches great heights filled with signature note runs and
beautifully bent note sounds. The second theme is more rockin' roll
as Jerry increases the pace and develops into a blistering solo.
Jerry reaches a cyclical series of notes that truly is an amazing
peak. As this theme peaks you can hear one of the backup signers
scream out "Whoo." Jerry finishes this jam with a great
series of notes. As the song ends I immediately am stunned at just
how much better this particular jam was in comparison to the
previous night as a whole and the entire February Dead shows (while
2.10.1989 was a spectacular show, there certainly were not any open
ended jams like this one. The PITB was impressive but at a different
pace and style). Bravo to Jerry for this particular version of Let's
Spend The Night Together.
Next is Waiting For A
Miracle. The song itself is sheer precision. The timing by the band
behind Jerry's vocals is flawless, the harmonies by Jaclyn and
Gloria is utter beauty, and Jerry's reverb on his guitar sounds
almost crunchy. Jerry's vocal delivery is noteworthy as well for his
perfection despite his age at delivering the lyrics and is filled
with moans as well. Jerry's guitar solo leaps from the song and
again filled with very interesting flavorings on the notes and
literally soars. This solo is not just a run through the chords, but
rather is the type of Jerry solo that is just as meaningful as any
of the verses. As the song ends I am left wishing this was a longer
version, but that is what the replay button is for.
As the crowd cheers Jerry
pleads with the crowd stating, "Hey if any more of you are
going to lose it could you wait for in-between the songs? Huh huh,
Thanks we'd appreciate that…We're having a reasonably good time
here, you know what I mean?" If you turn the volume way up
during this you can hear the band members laughing hysterically
including Jerry. A great moment (not for the person who
"lost" it) but for Jerry as he truly sounded happy.
Jerry next chooses to slow
down the pace of the show with "Like a Road." This version
is not the typical version because Jerry's signing again is more
than impressive and mournful. Once again the harmonies created
around Jerry's voice the sound is truly beautiful. Jerry's guitar
solo again is filled with signature runs of peaks and valleys that
adds credence to the song portion. This was the third exceptional
version in a row for this second set.
Don't Let Go is next and
the song portion is equally as impressive as the previous songs. The
jam portion gets extremely deep and is filled with very impressive
jamming. This is in contrast to the 1.27.1989 version which didn't
really didn't take off. This version is over 17 minutes long and the
jam is about 11 minutes of it. Jerry starts the main jam out with a
bluesy impression that opens the jam up and slowly increases its
pace. The second theme provides Jerry reaching a very spacey region.
He hits some very high notes and waffles back and forth in this
space. Seals starts the third theme by adding some psychedelic runs.
Jerry pounces on this and drives the jam deeper but in a manner that
increases the pace. Eventually he begins fanning some notes and the
jam at this point could only be labeled as exceptional. Jerry leaps
out of this and starts the fourth theme that is driving in nature.
He sends the jam driving into the ground with fast note runs and
occasional note blasts. The fifth theme starts with Jerry emerging
from the psychedelic aftermath. He starts a very interesting note
dance that slowly returns the jam to a more structured sound. It is
almost happy in sound but laced with a sense of uncertainty - Garcia
at his best. Jerry reaches his desired sound and enters the sixth
theme that is a complicated series of notes blending from the
structure he had just created to a more tense and angry sound. The
jam reaches some amazing note runs from Jerry here. Jerry climaxes
this theme with a step wise strumming that builds the intensity and
pace to a brilliant peak. He ends this with more note fanning that
is mind blowing. As this ends Jerry returns the band for the final
verse of Don't Let Go. This transition is flawless and makes you
wonder if the band even left the song in the first place.
Out of this mind numbing
jam, Jerry next starts Hope It Won't Be This Way, Always. Jerry's
signing is nearly sarcastic and is filled with nice moans. Again the
harmony from Jaclyn and Gloria is spectacular. The mixture of their
harmony and Jerry's vocals is the finest I've heard (despite really
liking Donna at times, she just doesn't compare in my opinion to
Jaclyn and Gloria). For the jam portion Jerry provides a very nice
series of notes that retains the near sarcasm followed by a very
nice flowing run from Seals. Another exceptional version for this
amazing second set from the JGB.
The show ends with a
blistering Tangled Up In Blue. Jerry's guitar solos are pure
rock'n'roll. As with the preceding songs, the song portion of this
version are flawless and extremely well delivered. The first guitar
solo has very interesting flavorings from Jerry and is matched by a
very boppy rhythm. The second solo gets a bit deeper and provides
several zeniths. The band was truly cooking at this point. Jerry's
runs through the chords climaxed at the perfect times. The final jam
gets even deeper is scalding to say the least. This final jam is
more extended and gives Jerry a chance to show off. The jam reaches
numerous peaks and must be heard.
As the show ends I am truly
impressed. The February and Spring Tour Grateful Dead shows were
very average for the most part (sans 2.10, 4.3, and 4.28.1989). On
this particular night Jerry's jamming was profound. Each song from
this second set is exceptional and shows that Jerry's abilities were
not in question. For many years I was of the opinion that Garcia
just couldn't cook in the late 80s through the 90s. On this
particular night, 1.28.1989, Jerry provided all the evidence I need
to throw that opinion straight out the window. On 1.28.1989 Jerry
delivered one of his finest performances ever. I can't wait to hear
the first set - whenever it is released. But, even if it isn't as
scalding as this amazing second set, this particular night will
always be immortalized in my memory (remember, there were amazing
Dead shows that had flat sets and amazing sets --- see 9.17.1982).
Bravo to Jerry for this truly special performance.
Set 2: 8.92
Lets Spend The Night 9.25
Waiting For a Miracle 9
Like a Road 8.75
Don't Let Go 9
Hope It Won't Be This Way 8.25
Tangled Up In Blue 9.25
Rob
Goetz ©
