The Grateful Dead

Date: October 21st, 1971 
Venue: Auditorium Theatre 
Location: Chicago, IL

Keith's second show started with a rowdy and somewhat sloppy version of Truckin'. Keith is quite aggressive during the song portion. The jam starts with typical Jerry meandering that reaches some very interesting spots near its conclusion. Unfortunately, the band returned for a second reprise just as Jerry was getting exceptional. Beyond that, this version of Truckin' was quite typical.

Loser was next. The song portion was solid and featured very aggressive Keith - perhaps too much Keith. The harmonies were at times wincingly bad, and Jerry's solo doesn't quite reach any peaks. Indeed, the singing was so bad that it tarnished this version from average to below average.

Beat It On Down The Line followed and it was pretty standard except for a somewhat flavored Jerry solo.

Tennessee Jed was quickly paced and abrasive. The song portion is very tight and well done with nearly screamed lyrics from Jerry. The main jam gains a lot of steam, but like 10.19.1971, fails to get exceptionally delirious.

Playin' In The Band also is tight during the song portion. Jerry escaped quickly during the brief space and reached some very flavored progressions that surged and peaked beautifully. This version was markedly better than the 10.19.1971 version. Indeed, it was the first exceptional tune of 10.21.1971.

Big Railroad Blues was next. While the first solo was a bit tame, the second reaches a very hot series of notes from Jerry. This wasn't a scalding version, but it certainly was above average.

Jack Straw was next. Jerry's notes during the song portion sounded sluggish. The first jam had very little Jerry flavor, but the second solo reached a nice peak from Jerry.

The next tune was Cumberland Blues. On 10.19.1971 in Minneapolis, the Cumberland was the highlight of the show. This version shined equally well. The rhythm created by the band was superb, and Jerry provided highly flavored ho-down country digging licks to fill the gaps. Perhaps the vocals on this 10.21 version were slightly less in synch than the 10.19 version, but overall, this version was still exceptional.

Comes A Time was next. This tune obviously would work its way into the repertoire, but this version was quite nascent and rough at the edges. It didn't have the swing or the nurturing edge. Jerry's vocals, as well, were a bit off at times. But, unlike the 10.19.1971 version, the outgoing Jerry solo was quite flavored but unfortunately ended out of time with the rest of the band. This tune was improving.

Mexicali Blues was next delivered with a breathtaking pace. But, the Jerry solo didn't reach flavored heights. The band was very tight, but had yet to develop their ability to flavor the pace.

Cold Rain & Snow was sloppy. Keith's piano was a bit too percussive and filled with timing errors, and the harmonies were wincingly bad at times. Jerry's solos were not overly interesting.

One More Saturday Night was incredible. The pacing was extremely fast, the rhythm loaded with flavor, Jerry's solos complicated and tension filled, and the vocal finale downright ugly. The band clearly were enjoying this powerhouse tune.

The second set starts with Casey Jones. This version was a bit rushed. There were timing errors during the song and the vocal finale was not too intense.

Me & My Uncle was next. This was very standard but for some interesting Keith piano that added a seldom reached "nice" flavor to this tune.

Finally, the band forced themselves to breakthrough, by performing Dark Star. The first theme from Jerry is a mixture of Dark Star introduction and the holding and bending of high notes. Jerry reached some very delicate areas while varying the Dark Star theme. Keith plays a very calm but interesting rhythm. The second theme has very interesting Lesh grumblings, while Jerry mostly drifts. The third theme starts with Keith getting a bit psychotic / demented / atonal. Jerry catches on and the band transforms into an angry and aggressive jam. This was a very fast and impressive transition. Just prior to the first verse Jerry reached a very interesting and flavored cycling which the band immediately collapsed around.

After verse one, the band slams into an extremely impressive circus jam with Jerry providing scalding progressive runs. This eventually dissolved into a very short chaotic psychotic jam that melted into Sittin' On Top Of The World. The band was cooking at this point and Keith sounded very impressive.

Sittin' On Top Of The World smoked. First jam was very quickly paced and Jerry nailed his solo. The second was even faster and had a sparks flying feel to it as Jerry's lead had twinge of Dark Star flavor to it.

SOTOTHW flows back into a quick Dark Star jam into the second Dark Star verse. This was a very brief interlude and not extremely impressive.

Me & Bobby McGee is next and it soars with flavor. Bobby's vocals are very tight and in tune, and Jerry's guitar work matches his vocals to a tee. The Jerry solo truly is breathtaking.

This marked the conclusion of the improvisation jamming for 10.21.1971, and in comparison to 10.19.1971, it was a success. Jerry had more of an edge and the improvisation seemed more delicate and less oppressive. 

Brown Eyed Women was next. It sounded, like the other first set tunes, a bit too muscled and not flavored enough. The band was tight, but had yet to figure out this tune.

As with the Brown Eyed Women, Ramblin' Rose was next. It too sounded tight but nascent. Interestingly, there was a second Garcia solo on this version. As 1972 rolled around, that solo would be removed from the repertoire.

Next was Sugar Magnolia. During the SSDD instrumental the band was completely in synch and Jerry provided a flavor laced lead that had high intensity. Weir rounds out the SSDD vocals with nice screaming. While not as impressive as the 12.10.1972 version, this version was definitely exceptional.

The band also rocked St. Stephen to the gills. Indeed, as the band returned to more familiar territory they seemed to relax and the music became exceptional. The St. Stephen finale jam is absurdly well done and gains a ton of momentum. Lesh, in particular, stands out with consistent massive bomb droppings.

The show ends with a stomping JBGoode. The guitar solos were nailed, and Weir's vocals were very in tune including his screams.

While the band's new songs were struggling to obtain flavor, the late second set tunes were being played astonishingly well. Keith, as well, was beginning to fit it. His presence during the Dark Star was very well taken. 

Overall, this show was better than the 10.19.1971 show. The band seemed a bit more relaxed, but their new tunes still sounded averagely rigid. Highlights included the PITB space from Jerry, the overall effort on Cumberland, the stomping OMSN, the first portion of Dark Star, the SOTOTW, the Bobby McGree vocals, and the final three tunes of Sugar Mag, St. Stephen and JBGoode. 

Next the band would head to Detroit.

Set 1: 7.54
Set 2: 7.78
Show: 7.66

Truckin' 7.4
Loser 6.85
Beat It On Down The Line 7.25
Tennessee Jed 7.5
Playin' In The Band 8.2
Big Railroad Blues 7.55
Jack Straw 7.35
Cumberland 8.15
Comes A Time 7.4
Mexicali Blues 7.25
Cold Rain & Snow 6.8
One More Saturday Night 8.75

Casey Jones 7.25
Me & My Uncle 7.1
Dark Star 8.1
Sittin' On Top Of The World 8
Dark Star 7.4
Me & Bobby McGee 8.5
Brown Eyed Women 7.2
Ramblin' Rose 7.2
Sugar Mag 8.2
St. Stephen 8.3
JBGoode 8.25
Rob Goetz ©