Hello May Day! hoping this finds you and yours healthy and safe.. This week I'm bringing you the show that kicked off Spring Tour 1974, from the University of Nevada in Reno Nevada on May 12th, 1974 - Mother's Day.. We will listen to the first of this three set show this week, then sets 2 & 3 for a Mother's Day treat next week.

This was an outdoor Wall of Sound show, as well as the first real show of Spring tour, and as usual with Wall of Sound shows, there are some sound issues off the bat - so 'Promised Land' is pretty rough till they get things dialed in. In addition to this this show was very windy - the " Washoe Zephyr" was in full throat and I've read that it was so strong that at times the speakers on the Wall of Sound were spinning around above the muscians' heads.. nevertheless this is a very strong and energetic performance. 'Sugaree' follows the opening 'Promised Land'. You can hear that wind as Bobby announces 'Polka Time!' before leading into 'Mexicali Blues'. 'Tennessee Jed' follows and I enjoy listening to Keith on the keyboards here, as well as Jerry's climaxing solo. A nice 'Jack Straw' follows. That ol' engine keeps on chugging through 'Brown Eyed Women' and 'Beat It On Down the Line'. The highlight jam wise of this first set comes in the closing 'China Cat>I Know Your Rider', which closes the set on a high note.

Grateful Dead May 12, 1974 - Sunday University of Nevada Reno, NV One Promised Land Sugaree Mexicali Blues Tennessee Jed Jack Straw Brown Eyed Women Beat It On Down The Line China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:

http://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod050120.mp3

Many thanks for your kind support of the Deadpod.

Stay well and safe my friends.