Shortlist: Nassau Coliseum ‘94 (March 23, 27, 28)

The Dead played five shows at Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) in March. Only 2.3 of them circulate as soundboards: All of 3/23, 3/27 without the heart of the second set, and only the second set from 3/28.  

This mix pulls excellent performances of 17 songs from those soundboards. There are lots of delights in here, including many of the "small" or seemingly mundane songs. Vince lights things up all over the place. The “Might as Well” is the only occurrence later than mid-1991. The "China Cat" jam might surprise you. "Truckin'," the song, has a fantastic chugging groove, and the jam falls beautifully into "The Other One" from another night. The closest thing to a major blemish is Garcia being uncertain on some “Jack Straw” vocals, but it’s a fiery version nonetheless. 

mp3 mix zipped up here

Part 1 (61 minutes):

  • It’s All Over Now
  • Jack Straw
  • Jack-a-Roe
  • Queen Jane Approximately
  • Johnny B. Goode
  • China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
  • He’s Gone >
  • Goin’ Down the Road, Feelin’ Bad
  • Might as Well

Part 2 (70 minutes):

  • Truckin’
  • The Other One >
  • Morning Dew
  • All Along the Watchtower
  • Samson & Delilah
  • Standing on the Moon
  • Victim or the Crime
  • Rain

Note: Some post-“Built to Last” songs and Drums/Space segments from these shows appear on other “Save Your Face” mixes and aren’t repeated here. The gap in the 3/27 second set tape is apparently the result of a lengthy technical issue break, during which they turned off the recorder - then, didn't remember to turn it back on until the band had played "Iko," "Uncle John's Band," and "Playin'."