This show is usually mentioned in response to the question of best Hallowe'en shows (along with 10/31/80 & 10/31/85). The following night is known for the super-long Scar>Fire and the previous night has one of '79's best second sets. But, along with being the candidate for best Hallowe'en, this show is the best of the Fall tour overall. They had already played Nassau earlier in the year, but this time they did their first 3-days-in-a-row run (which they would do eight more times), at what is arguably the Dead's classic arena. First Set. The first 10 secs or so of China Cat are missing from the official release but the matrix source is complete. It's just a bit rough, then warming up for I Know You Rider. A weird pick for Road Trips v1, since the show before has a great one. Cassidy is uptempo, above average, but this is a super-fit, vegetarian Loser. Don't miss it. The SBD has a fade-out near the end of a solid Big River, again making the MTX preferable. This Althea is on the more contemplative end of the scale, with a great finish, and is the tour's best - even if it's not what it would become the next spring. The last two of the set are hot. Saint of Circumstance is the first great one (they got much better the next spring), and so tight that it leaves 'em peaking for the break. Second Set. A nearly 2hr set. Bobby tells his Dada joke (complete on the MTX), but this time with a tag. Jer then claims it's all black magic, "white rabbit/black magic". This is a long-ass Shakedown and the best of the tour, with several great sections. It got better for me after a few passes. Sold. The interplay is rich: maybe it is black magic. I'm not sure I can rack it against 1/10, but at 17min isn't this the longest one? Passenger takes off too quick for the boys to keep track so Jer has to do some single-string work and Bobby pares down. The only trainwreckage of the set, though it would have been cool if they could have played it at this tempo now and then successfully. Jer tries hard to get on top of it, going hyper. Ramble on Rose returns to the solid; you'll notice an extra measure, and if this was a bathroom song for you, it will surprise you. Estimated is good (but not 10/25 good). This is an uptempo era for Eyes of the World, and this one has several great sections - a couple outright amazing. Drums is like a mid-'80s. It and Space are a definite parcel part of the set. It takes a couple minutes to resolve into Wharf Rat from Jer's first strums. The boys are red hot by this point and Jer has one in the chamber for each section. Truckin' has a great segue in and now this train can't be stopped. They aim to exhaust the Heads. You'll probably want the MTX again for Johnny B. Goode, if you want the vox. 1st Set: B- 2nd Set: B Overall = 3¾ stars HG Highlights: Loser - fit and vegetarian Saint of Circumstance - the 1st great one Shakedown Street - black magic Eyes of the World>Truckin' - a classic '79 sequence SOURCES: The bertha_ashley_17360 has some digi-wavering. The miller_29410 is the best SBD source, but it is runs slow and needs +2% 1st set, and +1% 2nd set (possibly one reason the show is close to a hidden gem). The SBD was mixed for loud keys (for the entire tour), probably by request per Brent, tilting the show toward the matrix treatment. Try the groves_91040 MTX, which also clears some of the lack of atmosphere and the flatness (and needs just +1% pitch), though I wish the ratio favored the SBD more on the 1st set. Jim and Matt are still gods. The third disc of Road Trips 1-1 has China Cat>Rider & Althea, but runs slow, needing +2% pitch.

Grateful Dead Live at Nassau Coliseum on 1979-10-31