The Grateful Dead‘s performance on May 8, 1977, at Cornell University’s Barton Hall, has been praised and held in the highest regard as one of the greatest Grateful Dead shows of all time, and for a good reason. The Dead’s 1977 tour kicked off the 54-date tour in February in San Bernadino and closed out with a four-night New Year’s Eve run at the Winterland Arena in San Francisco. This particular tour was something special. The Grateful Dead was firing on all cylinders, and they were tight and playing with so much fire that it came through loud and clear even on recordings many years later.
Cornell was such a special show for many reasons. One of the reasons is that, at that time, it was the single best-sounding bootleg recording due to the soundboard mastery of Grateful Dead sound engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson. Affectionately dubbed “Betty Boards,” these bootleg releases were the pride and joy of Deadhead tape traders everywhere, but why Cornell? Why is Cornell the “big one?” As one fan explained, “The band played like a well-oiled machine seeming to hit every progression, peak, low, transition, and climax perfectly.”
Another reason is not just the fantastic performance by the band but the performance of each band member. Each member was probably at their creative and performing peak during this show. Bobby Weir at the mic sounded much more powerful and commanding, while Jerry Garcia’s vocals were perhaps at their peak while his guitar playing was mesmerizing. The locked-in groove between drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann was nothing short of perfect, and bassist Phil Lesh laid it down without a care in the world, creating some of the most spellbinding bass guitar work I’ve ever heard. Last but not least, husband and wife team Donna Jean Godchaux (vocals) and Keith Godchaux (piano/keys) were the secret ingredients that made this lineup perfect.
Next, the mix of songs was seen as fan favorites. They included New Minglewood Blues, Loser, El Paso, They Love Each Other, Jack Straw, Deal, Lazy Lightning, Supplication, Brown Eyed Women, Mama Tried, Row Jimmy, Scarlet Begonias, Fire On The Mountain, Estimated Prophet, Saint Stephen, Not Fade Away, Saint Stephen, Morning Dew and, for the encore, One More Saturday Night. The highlight of this performance was their cover of “Dancing In the Streets,” which had the band flexing their ability to change keys multiple times within the song, never losing their footing or focus. You just have to hear it to understand and/or appreciate it.
These days, two core members of the Grateful Dead (guitarist/vocalist Bobby Weir and drummer Mickey Hart) are joined by John Mayer (guitar/vocals), Jeff Chimenti (keys), Otiel Burbridge (bass), and drummer Jay Lane, who has officially taken over the position most recently vacated by Grateful Dead founding member/drummer Bill Kreutzmann for what has been announced as Dead and Company’s final tour. So the band’s announcement to play Barton Hall some 46 years later to celebrate this milestone performance was a huge surprise for the fans.
The May 8, 2023, Barton Hall show sold out in a matter of minutes but Deadheads all over will be able to stream it via live video or stream audio only of the live show via Sirius XM radio. The big question being asked is, what with Dead and Company do? Will they re-create the Barton Hall ’77 setlist entirely or perform a random Dead and Company set? While I feel like that performance is hallowed ground, I think it would be fantastic to revisit this show, especially since this is the best lineup of any of the post-Grateful Dead bands ever. If any lineup could pull it off, this one could do it. Of course, dead and Company will leave us guessing until the first chord is played tonight, so regardless, I think we are all in for a huge treat.
CLICK HERE FOR STREAMING INFO FOR TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCE.
Tonight’s show at Barton Hall is COMPLETELY SOLD OUT. The band, venue, and promoters are urging fans without tickets to please not attempt to be at the venue to avoid any kind of issues of distraction and safety.
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