I often wait until later in the Spring to pull out a show from 1977, but the anniversary this week of this run of shows moved me to pull this beauty out of the archives and select it for our next couple of Deadpods..

This show took place back on March 18th, 1977 at Winterland in San Francisco. The band is already jelling into the tight unit they're going to become later that spring, and you can hear the excitement in their playing and singing as they bring out new arrangements and new tunes for the first time.. This is a show that Blair Jackson has written about on dead.net as one of his most memorable experiences.. The band was not at all perfect (check out the mistakes during the still-new Mississippi Half-Step) but still reached the sublime (as evidence listen to the Sugaree).. This set features the first live performance of Fire on the Mountain and the transition from Scarlet into Fire is wonderful..

Next week we'll get to hear the wonderful second set..

Winterland Arena, San Francisco, CA (3/18/77) Promised Land Mississippi Half-Step It's All Over Now Sugaree New Minglewood Blues Peggy-O Cassidy Scarlet Begonias Fire on the Mountain You can listen to this week's Deadpod here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod032114.mp3 Happy Spring!! I do want to take the opportunity to encourage you to consider a donation to help keep the Deadpod rolling.. I really want to thank you for your invaluable support!