For this Memorial Day weekend edition of the Deadpod, we're traveling to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, for the Grateful Dead's spring tour stop on May 8, 1981. This is early‑'80s Brent Mydland era, and the band sounds sharp and energized: Jerry's in good voice, Brent's keys add color and bounce, and the rhythm section keeps everything moving with plenty of drive and nuance. In this first installment we feature the opening set, a compact but very satisfying run that opens with "Jack Straw" and "Peggy‑O," moves through "Me and My Uncle," "Big River," "Loser," and "Althea," and builds to a strong "Let It Grow" before closing with "Don't Ease Me In." Next week we'll return to Nassau for the second set, highlighted by a big "Shakedown Street" opener, a deep "Terrapin Station" into "Playin' in the Band" sequence, and a powerful closing stretch that feels just right for the start of summer. I hope you enjoy this slice of May 1981 from Nassau.

Grateful Dead

Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Uniondale, NY 5/8/1981 - Friday One Jack Straw [5:38] ; Peggy-O [6:47] ; Me And My Uncle [2:59] > Big River [5:39] ; Loser [8:05] ; C C Rider [7:49] ; Althea [8:43] > Let It Grow[10:27] > Don't Ease Me In [3:12]

You can listen to this week's Deadpod here:

https://traffic.libsyn.com/deadshow/deadpod052226.mp3

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend.....