It was a bit of a surprise when some time ago I saw Arrows of Neon among the latest Grateful Dead releases on Spotify. A release that had completely escaped my notice (which, to be honest, doesn't happen very often), and a release about which I could find precious little information. What makes it perhaps even stranger: "Arrows of Neon" is actually the name of a Grateful Dead cover band, so I half-listened to see if this was actually a full-fledged release or something strange. It turned out to be both: it's a recording of the concert the band gave on August 21 1993, but it doesn't sound all that great.
Although that might be selling this show a bit short. It's the opener, Here Comes Sunshine that sounds truly abominable. The harmonies between Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir are shrill and it's that the rest of the concert sounds good, because otherwise I would have blamed it on the recording. However, the Dead did frequently have technical problems or maybe something wasn't set up properly so I suspect that is the case here. Either way: a show from 1993, a year I haven't tackled much before. I have no idea why, especially since there aren't many official releases from this period, but this is quite a ride in terms of setlist. I never expected to hear the Grateful Dead play I Fought the Law but it's right up their alley. To be completely honest, I think the Clash cover (the original dates from 1959 and became quite popular in 1966 in the Bobby Fuller Four version) is slightly better. As an encore though, it's a fine closer.
When you're in the later years of the Grateful Dead, you can be in for a bit of a disappointment. I don't find the quality as terrible as many other Deadheads seem to, but it is true that Jerry Garcia didn't always seem to be on top of things during that period. There's actually very little to criticize about this show at Autzen Stadium - which apparently is actually just the University of Oregon -and Standing on the Moon (those wonderful outbursts of "But I'd rather be with you" complete the experience) is a wonderful trip. It also has a great setlist, including a strange combination of Good Morning Little School Girl that segues into Smokestack Lightning. A combination that also features Huey Lewis (of Huey Lewis and the News fame) suddenly playing harmonica; I wouldn't have immediately classified him as a Deadhead.
No, except for a false start, there's little else to criticize. You can sense from the setlist that they're trying some new things (for example: they started incorporating The Last Time, originally by the Rolling Stones, into their setlist in 1990), and I always wonder what the band would have become if Garcia hadn't died so young.
Tracklist:
- Here Comes Sunshine
- Walkin' Blues
- Lazy River Road
- Queen Jane Approximately
- Bird Song
- Promised Land
- China Cat Sunflower
- I Know You Rider
- Way To Go Home
- Truckin'
- Good Morning Little School Girl
- Smokestack Lightning
- Drums
- Space
- Jam
- The Last Time
- Standing On the Moon
- One More Saturday Night
- I Fought The Law
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