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Grateful Dead: Road Trips Vol. 3 No. 4 and Formerly The Warlocks

Rhino

Road Trips Vol. 3 No. 4 focuses on consecutive concerts from May of 1980, a time when Go to Heaven was fresh in the stores and arenas were becoming common venues on Grateful Dead tours. First, there is a Penn State show with many “happy accidents.” For example, a rhythmically confused “Feel Like a Stranger” unfolds into an intriguing jam with Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Brent Mydland’s musical inputs blending in classic, improvisational fashion before the group moves into quieter terrain with a soulful and spacious, “He’s Gone.” Lesh drops bombs on “I Know You Rider” and “The Other One” and Garcia is particularly expressive, vocally, on “Wharf Rat” and “Althea.” The next show is from Cornell University’s Barton Hall, celebrated by Deadheads because of a legendary 1977 performance. Weir acknowledges the historic room during “Playing in the Band,” singing “playin in the barn ” a number of times including during the reprise, which is sandwiched between a soulful “Black Peter” and a fiery “Good Lovin’.”

The Formerly the Warlocks “cigar” box set is one of the best things that The Dead organization has released in some time. The band announced two 1989 Hampton Coliseum concerts at the last minute and under the name Formerly the Warlocks. These 24-track recordings feature two of the greatest second sets of the ‘80s, as well as the end of Garcia’s learning curve regarding MIDI-enhanced guitar. We hear him fumble awkwardly on “Candyman” on the first night, yet by the time “Dark Star” is resurrected on the next night, he has it conquered enough to lead the band seamlessly through a sea of textures with flute, horn and other sounds. Supreme renditions abound here—“Help on the Way” and “Slipknot” return with alacrity and the rare “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” is outstanding. The Dead also offers a riveting rendition of “Attics of My Life,” a beautiful song it had not touched in almost 17 years.